Microsoft not budging on banning Black Ops players using disrespectful imagery
Leo Chan - Monday, November 22, 2010 12:36pm (PST)
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Only Nazi zombies should be wearing swastikas loud and proud
Stephen Toulouse, Microsoft's Director of Xbox Live Policy and Enforcement, reaffirms his company's right to exercise the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use to ban Gamertags when it sees them engaging in something it deems disagreeable to the general community. Toulouse specifically discussed his beef with players who had beef with Microsoft's decision to ban anyone using politically incorrect imagery as logos in Call of Duty: Black Ops, specifically the Nazi swastika.
While Toulouse acknowledged there is a far deeper history behind the swastika outside of the 1940's, he explains that he cannot afford to give benefit of the doubt to anyone using it as a personal in-game logo, especially if they're using the swastika as "revised" by the National Socialist party. The debate arises when Toulouse is faced with what some detractors describe as double standards in Xbox LIVE's policy enforcement. Toulouse addresses these in a recent blog posting:
"The Xbox LIVE profile and in game content you create is accessible by everyone. You do not have the context inside of it to explain your long winded contrarian view that your pithy text that violates the Terms of Use or Code of Conduct is actually intended to change people's minds about a commonly held understanding.
"It's not political correctness, it's fundamental respect. If you think the swastika symbol should be re-evaluated by societies all over the Earth, I think that's great. Your Xbox LIVE profile or in game logo, which doesn't have the context to explain your goal, is not the right place to do that. And by the way, that doesn't just go for the Swastika, it applies to many other symbols as well that my team does indeed take action on when we see it.
"TL;DR: If you see offensive symbols in Call of Duty, Black Ops, report them using the in game option and they will be taken care of. If you want to argue that swastikas are actually AWESOME, go to another forum. On Xbox LIVE they are not allowed. :> "
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Unstoppable_Luke Nov 22, 10
Damnit, I thought the swastikas were allowed. Oh well, time to start reporting people with that too.
Rune Ripper Nov 22, 10
although i'm in belief that as it's a game that's rated 18 and that they shouldn't be so strict, it's annoying seeing pointless emblems of genitalia... i don't understand why it'd be funny for people to see a *bleep* when they view a profile. perhaps it's a sign of the player being a dick.
CAGarber Nov 22, 10
yeah i saw one with a horse on its hind legs with its wang out, pretty funny, yet immature lol
metalhead4105 Nov 22, 10
Just one? I've seen hundreds, some of them do give me a cheap laugh though.
Hellfire29 Nov 22, 10
I wonder why Microsoft bothers doing any of this stuff. As far as I can see, there's no legal reason and it seems to annoy more people that it pleases.
CAGarber Nov 22, 10
I dare say it... i'm call of dutied out... burnt out. taking a break.
shadowhunterxyz Nov 22, 10
uh what is the Nazi swastika again? (hasnt played BL OPs)
Moop Nov 22, 10
I've seen some pretty horrible emblems actually, mostly sexual ones that really indicate that the player is an immature child. I'll now be happily reporting every symbol I see.
Ncjpr1993 Nov 23, 10
Is this saying that anything inappropriate is not allowed, or just things offensive to a certain group? I'm not the kind of person that you would usually see with a dick for an emblem, but seriously, it's time they stop treating Call of Duty like a kids game.
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