Blizzard community,
Our world has a long history of racism. Humans create groups, and then create divisions between groups unlike themselves. Ironic how we need each other as social creatures, yet we developed the practice to ‘other’ humans who at first glance don’t look like what we see in the mirror.
I have made it a personal obligation to educate myself about trauma others endure, and to work to change those experiences for them. Many within Blizzard come from a place of strong purpose, with a will to do in order to help society.
Last year at BlizzCon, I made a commitment for Blizzard to do better. We pride ourselves on learning and growing, and doing something now that reflects our company and community values. I also said that our actions would matter more than our words—we have been publicly silent until now because action is the important part.
Let me be clear: Blizzard stands in solidarity with those fighting against racism, because racism is as dangerous as any pandemic for those affected. We stand with those fighting against social and institutional structures that promote inequality among people of color.
Last week, AB announced donations to the Equal Justice Initiative, the United Negro College Fund, and the Management Leaders of Tomorrow (MLT) to fight systemic racial inequality. At Blizzard, we are working on initiatives for our community and our workplace.
In our games: For many years, we’ve had teams working with A.I. and machine learning to reduce toxicity and hate speech, as well as to help improve the overall gaming experience. Since January 1 this year, we’ve banned over 30,000 accounts for these reasons, as well as issued more than three million total hours of player suspensions. These penalties have notably improved our game environments: over the last two years, we’ve seen a 43% reduction in poor behavior reports, and a 59% reduction in the re-offense rate. And while this is progress, we’ve identified other places where we can use this technology and have more work to continue to do toward this effort.
In our relationships: We are also reviewing our partnerships to identify opportunities to support Black-owned and diverse businesses, and to amplify the voices of Black content creators and influencers.
Juneteenth: Today at Blizzard, we are observing Juneteenth with the goal of encouraging employees to take the time to be educated. We hosted a virtual session with a leader in our home city of Irvine, California, so employees can learn more about implicit bias, implications for law and policy, and how they can get involved in local efforts to drive change. We have also provided a list of resources to help coworkers self-educate, and shared ways to get involved in advocacy.
Ongoing: We are stronger with more diverse views and experiences. We are committed to being a more equitable workplace, including how and where we recruit, our HR practices, and employee support. We will also put an ongoing employee education program into place. This program will include more training and education (with the materials purchased from Black and minority-owned businesses), and Blizzard-wide town halls with experts on allyship, advocacy, and racism.
All of this work will continue to make Blizzard better, and play some small part in a larger, positive shift.
To our Black community, colleagues, and partners, Blizzard stands with you.
Black lives matter, today and always.
- J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment
Reminder that Black Lives Matter is a political movement. It doesn't actually care about black people or police brutality (abuse of authority). All it's done is cause division and racial disharmony.
BLUE Live Matter
... solidarity with cops ...
100% this
For those who don't understand: a few cops don't represent all cops.
They obey orders; accidents may happen but hey they are humans, they err.
Also, police is an organization which exists in every country in the world. Saying that all coos are evil is just retarded
Blue lives matter is some shit someone made up to deflect. Of course cop lives matter as do all. However being a cop is a job they can take that blue uniform off at the end of the day.
where are the P.eople o.f. C.olour, in the Alliance.
This is a tremendous opportunity, to tell the story of how you think power is really balanced, and, your commitments to integrating members of the Horde into the Schools of the Alliance, to establish W.orld o.f W.arcraft II.
If all lives matter why is it called Black Lives Matter?
Don't say that black people were punished because they were black because in Africa white people were punished because they were white.
It is supposed to be a reminder in a ''time of tragedy'', not a ''racist statement''. Idk, something something America something
I saw people knee before black people because they were black.
Those people don't understand that that is racist; all races have been discriminated.
Yes, Americans have a tendency to flail themselves for being white. It is disgusting.
I couldn't care less about US sociopoliticss but it is pretty obvious that #blacklivesmatter doesn't mean that other lives don't matter. Eh, nevermind, who cares
This is not the point. The points are:
1) The post is stupid. All lives matters you cannot underlaying what you are doing for black people in order to make a "perbenism" post with which aim? The only aim that I see here is to increase increase Blizzard's business.
2) The post is also pointless because people are playing Blizzard's game, like all games, in order to be relaxed. Who wants retarded donkeys that inside games makes offences based on skin's colour, gender, religion and so on. It is obvious that you have to put away this retarded monkeys. Because people want to be respected, especially in relaxing time. You don't need to underlaying this garbage, this is part of your job.
3) Moreover, If you are not interested in sociopolitical things, like it should be, since you are developing games, you can't take a position now and don't take it during Hong Kong's issue. What is the point? Black lives matter and yellow lives don't matter?
4) It is obvious that black lives matter, we are people like others. What is the point in underlaying this garbage.
For these reasons, for me, this post is disgusting.
I agree that the post is utter garbage. I was just explaining the logoc behind the #.
I believe that companies which have a global market shouldn't preach about sociopolitics of a single country. The rest of the world doesnt give a shit about what goes on in the US. This is just bad business practice.
Despite being 13% of the population
Blizzard: Black lives matter
Also Blizzard: Fck Hong Kong
Also Blizzard: The light shall burn you!
No, that isn't remotely true. China brings in more money than the entire global black community combined. They don't think that yellow lives don't matter lol they are just smart enough not to throw their entire business under the bus because of internet outrage. This is different. It is a simple PR stunt that doesn't cost them anything.
Oh, I think it'll cost them down the line.
No one is arguing that it isn't a business decision. Lucrative or not it's still hypocrisy. Hypocrisy that goes unacknowledged all too often.
Nah, even if the entire US market drops out because of China it still won't make a significant imoact simply because of the sheer volume of consumers.