Can there be a social contract for American citizens? Looks like this contract is based on another country’s culture and belief systems.
Would be nice if their wasn’t implicit prejudice in your new contract. Especially for basic constitutional rights of American citizens that our culture is based upon. E.g., religion.
American rights are not being impugned upon - not by the ToS, CoC or this contract. Some things just don’t belong in-game. Even then, if you don’t agree to it, don’t accept the contract and good luck to you in finding a game better suited to your needs.
The short answer is this: The game is considered to be private property in which the owners/creators of said private property can make rules stating how people act while playing the game. Every property owner has that right.
The long answer:
In regards to constitutional rights, you don’t have any when it comes to private property. The owner of said property has the right to remove anyone from the property (game in this case) for any or no reason. We’ve seen it stated again and again about how “free speech” is being violated because they were silenced or actioned in some other way because of how they acted. Free speech only covers you in that you’re free to speak however you wish, but it does not mean free from consequence.
Blizzard has the right to implement rules and processes to limit what people say in their game. This is something that’s always been done. The Social Contract is just a way to get the existing rules front and center.
The ability for players to express themselves is important and we don’t wish to infringe on your ability to so do. However, it is important to understand, we are not the government, to which the Constitution would apply.
This is a privately owned environment, much like you would have at a movie theater, mall, or someone’s house. In those areas they have established rules that there are certain behaviors that are not allowed. The same exists here. In this environment we ask that everyone follow specific rules that we have established, they are covered in our EULA and Code of Conduct.
These rules are based on the common good for all players, for all regions.
However, as noted by my colleague, if you have feedback, you’ll want to direct it appropriately so our game Developers can see it.