Repeated removal of Wyrmrest Accord's Pride Threads

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Happy Pride!
That’s what I would like to say, but it seems that trying to celebrate Pride month on any of the Blizzard sub-forums is strictly forbidden.
As of this posting, I believe we’ve have had 7 of our Pride threads deleted. There were instigators trying to rabble rouse, but nothing so inflammatory was posted in any of the threads to justify their deletion.

Players on Wyrmrest Accord would like to talk about LGBTQIA+ themes and character pairings without being reprimanded because they are not heteronormative.
Thanks!

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Might be better to keep it to somewhere more private. I do support the LGBTQIA+ community, but one thing with the forums, you’re going to get all types of people here, and all it takes is for one person to fully ruin the thread.

Besides, if need to, you’re welcome to use the LGBTQ+ Megathread and Lounge in General Discussion Forums.

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Hold please.

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Sorry, had a couple of meetings and I didn’t want this one to get out of control before I could reply properly.

Generally speaking, the Community forums are intended to provide a space for players to discuss the game and its various aspects, such as quests, classes, dungeons & raids, items, transmogs, etc… Off-topic threads are usually discouraged and may be removed when brought to the attention of the Community or Moderation teams.

That said, we also understand that a community bonds over more than just their shared interest in a game. This is why we have allowed certain off-topic threads to exist in some of the Community forums over the years. Those “lounge” threads provide a space where players may interact with each other outside of strictly game and game related discussion. Allowing a space where they may greet one another, share personal updates and form friendships that may go beyond just the in-game environment.

It’s common for players to want to start discussions around events or holidays in the same space they typically frequent, the forums. As Moderators we try to find a balance between allowing folks to discuss the subjects that are of interest to them and preventing forum clutter that may hinder access to meaningful, game-related discussions.

In this particular case, there was already a “lounge” thread in General Discussion that provided space for the LGBTQIA+ community and others to engage in topics meaningful to them. Adding more threads of a similar nature in multiple locations risked crossing into spam territory. Allowing one in another location also raises questions of consistency. Why allow a topic in one forum but not in another?

So to be clear, the threads weren’t removed simply because people reported them enough to get their way. They were deleted because they were considered off-topic and in excess of what we have been allowing.

Recreating a thread that has been moderated is technically a violation of the Code of Conduct, so continually recreating the thread in protest may have resulted in the temporary removal of posting privileges. So far, we’ve chosen not to take that step, but that leniency shouldn’t be taken for granted.

So what does this all mean going forward? We’ve decided that, because we believe a realm’s community and community-building efforts are important, threads specific to that realm may be allowed, within reason. This stance is subject to change, especially if we find that it is having an adverse impact on the forums.

Happy Pride.

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This is very disheartening to hear.

Players on RP servers tend to enjoy interacting with each other on their own subforums instead of going into General Discussion, just because the moderators have the approved thread to speak about a topic that impacts so much of the player base.

So the threads on Wyrmrest Accord were deleted purely because the General Discussion exists and the General Discussion is the only thread allow for this particular topic?

Why didn’t you state that when closing the threads instead of leaving it a mystery?

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I would advise highly against calling Vrak a bigot, I can assure you he is not and you calling him so shows that you are only here to cause dissent and troll. They are allowing LGBTQ+ threads, however they are trying to control them so that they do not get out of control and turn into spam. We don’t need one on every subsection of the forum. They are not saying that there can’t be threads, they are saying that if they feel that they are getting excessive and out of control they will be deleted.

And apparently since you are too busy accusing people of horrendous things because of ignorance you seemed to have missed that they are open to allowing them in realm forums as long as they are about that realm. You actually quoted Vrak saying that and then turned it into another name calling accusation.

And before you go there I’m LGBTQ+ so don’t insult me with your ignorance by trying to say that I’m a bigot as well.

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Correct, on RP (Roleplay) servers people tend to make characters and sometimes their sexuality comes up in conversation on the server forums.

The forum of the server they are RPing on.

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I like the implication that one pride thread a year is “excessive spam,” too. Like wow, guys, we’re spamming so much by making one thread a year.

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Reporting. If a thread isn’t brought to our attention it may not be moderated.

No, it wouldn’t be. However, I was under the impression that the thread was simply a “happy pride” one. I didn’t moderate the first one so apologies if that wasn’t the case.

That sounds like it would be a discussion about the game and story content, so I don’t see an issue. For that particular one, it would probably be best discussed in the Story Forum, but it wouldn’t be an issue to be within a realm’s community either.

It wasn’t a threat, but I would be remiss if I did not cover the Code of Conduct and how continually recreating threads that have been moderated does violate those policies.

If you have the URL I can see about restoring it.

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I think these responses are showing why these threads are getting deleted, and why Blizzard wants to keep off-topic threads to a minimum.

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Yep you are just here to troll, even threw in the tired “boot licker” name calling. Again how dare you call Vrak a bigot. No one is taking anything away from you. They are trying to give us the ability to have threads while also trying to keep it in control. I’m not going to get furious because I can use logic and not just emotions.

You don’t speak for me or any other LGBTQ+ person. You are simply here to cause problems. You aren’t going to be happy no matter what is done.

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By the by, trolling in the most heavily watch forum is a bad idea. The blues here don’t take kindly to folks who try to pick fights. The reason isn’t a factor.

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Nevermind. I found it.

I’ll be restoring it in a moment and remove the other ones.

Folks, I understand the frustration and I am sorry if you felt targeted or otherwise not seen. That is the furthest from the truth. The subject or title had nothing to do with the removal of the other threads, we’re simply trying to be as consistent as we can when it comes to threads that are generally considered “off-topic”.

Looking at the original thread I would say that the focus wasn’t simply a happy pride one, but overall discussions. In the future, if a thread is removed and as the OP, you are not certain why, please submit a Forum Appeal under “Can’t post on forums”. That way we can review what happened and see about restoring the thread if an error was made. We are human after all and may make mistakes.

Unfortunately, it seems that this discussion is a little heated, with accusations of bigotry, which seems odd directed at me, but since many of you don’t know me it feels easier to do so. I’m going to keep this thread closed. I’ve restored the other one and merged one of the existing threads into it so hopefully bridge the gap a bit.

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