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Topic: Why is NintendoLife censoring comments on Hong Kong and Blizzard?

Posts 1 to 20 of 59

Kienda

I'm wondering why NintendoLife is censoring comments on Hong Kong.

The top comment on this NintendoLife article had a message about Hong Kong but is now gone: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/10/nintendo_download_1...

It said something like "Don't buy Overwatch on the Switch. Remember to boycott Blizzard #FreeHongKong".

I don't know exactly what it said because it has been deleted, but it was along these lines. It had about 30+ likes and 5+ dislikes.

The comment was made by @Jolt and there are replies to his comment still visible where someone is saying this is not the place for political statements - which is FALSE.

NintendoLife had an article during Eurovision last year about Pikachu and there were a number of political comments on there regarding Israel and the Palestine. They were not censored.

There have also been numerous debates in the comment sections about Brexit, LGBT and other things. So why is it that NintendoLife is deleting comments about Hong Kong?

Edited on by Kienda

Kienda

Eel

Well, not that it was me or that I can give you a definite answer, but we don't actually allow users to advertise boycotts or organize social movements in the site.

Regardless of the cause, behavior like that is usually moderated. Maybe you're just noticing this in particular because you care about the subject?

And no, this really is not the place for political debate. If the moderation team misses something, that's simply because we are human.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

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Kienda

@StableInvadeel So if someone were to just write, "I don't like Blizzard - Free Hong Kong", that would not be censored but calling for a boycott and to not buy it is not allowed?

Kienda

Eel

It would be kinda weird to add that at the end like it's some sort of signature, but I would personally not do anything about it if it was just that.

Unless it casues some sort of problem in the comments afterwards. Or the user gets too into it.

Just remember I'm just an individual and don't speak for the entire moderation team. Others might mod it, since it's still political in origin.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

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Kienda

Well the Blizzard comment was relevant to the article it was related to. So if the article was a Blizzard one and people made that statement it wouldn't be weird, especially as feelings are high about it right now.

Having been viewing NintendoLife for a number of years and active in the comments for the past couple, there are numerous times where people have stepped out of line and are not censored. Then a key one about Blizzard and Hong Kong is censored... It just doesn't sit well with me.

Kienda

Eel

Looking at the context of that comment, it was also kinda off topic.

It managed to derail the entire discussion about the weekly download list and made it about Blizzard and China. So yes, that's probably why it was removed.

Not sure why were the replies left in though.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

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Kienda

@StephanDLW what was the content of your message? It does matter if they are going to be censoring all Hong Kong comments.

Kienda

edhe

I'd say it's a matter of keeping the comment thread on topic. The article was about the Nintendo downloads of the week. Not everyone is interested in Blizzard kowtowing to the Chinese government.
Now, if the article was the review for Overwatch, it might be more appropriate - I'd happily leave my own tribute to the cowards at Blizzard, if it wasn't so redundant, but it's never a good idea to get too political in these matters, as it quickly spirals out of control.

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Kienda

@edhe I can understand your viewpoint, however, NintendoLife chose to highlight Overwatch in the image of the article. I literally went straight to the comments because I knew there would be a debate about Hong Kong going on.

It was there, as predicted, and now the pro-Hong Kong comments got deleted whilst the pro-China ones stayed. That is fishy.

Kienda

Kienda

I'm not saying all comments have been deleted, but the most prominent pro-Hong Kong comment was.

And, yes, I'm a little touchy about this. My wife's family comes from Hong Kong. We're very concerned about Hong Kong and since the Blizzard thing, where I have had a company I have trusted for many years let me down, I now don't want NintendoLife, my most viewed website, to also be going down the route of censoring about Hong Kong.

Kienda

Eel

Well, if it's any better, we just try to stop most political discussions, since they rarely bring good things.

It's not just about this subject, and we are just a few mods so things tend to slip, but it's not like we pick and choose.

Bloop.

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Kienda

Okay, if it is not the policy of NintendoLife then that is fine. However, if you start now to censor comments that simply have "Free Hong Kong" in or anything like that, I will be concerned as like I said before, there are other political statements numerous times on the site that have not been censored.

I want to point out that I am a true Blizzard fan and not someone jumping on the band wagon. If you check back on previous Overwatch on Switch articles I was defending the game and explained how I played Overwatch regularly and planned on getting it on Switch for my son who watches me play on PC.

My love for Blizzard has changed in an instant though. This is a serious issue to some of us and I hope they change their ways.

Kienda

Jolt

I can understand if it was removed to remain neutral even though some of my other comments are there. I guess it's because I said /don't/ buy OW and to boycott Blizzard, whereas my others don't. Either way, we've had a discussion, learnt more and educated more. Blizzard is in deep water and I hope they'll change their ways. Again, free Hong Kong

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PKBegley

So much for Freedom of Speech.

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Heavyarms55

I'm buying Overwatch, and I still play Hearthstone. This idea that Blizzard could have any meaningful impact on the actions of the Chinese government is ridiculous. I completely agree with Nintendolife trying to reign in political discussion on this site like this. Politics has a way of overshadowing everything else and there are more appropriate forums to discuss them. I appreciate NintendoLife's admins trying to keep this site on topic and encourage them to continue.

@PKBegley Freedom of speech is protection from government censorship, private entities are fully allowed to limit whatever they like on their platform.

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Tasuki

I don't let politics ruin a game I enjoy. I will still buy Overwatch on Switch and support Blizzard cause I enjoy their games. To be honest if you let something like this dicate what games you play and enjoy then quite honestly you are just stupid. Why let something not even connected to gaming ruin something you like?

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HobbitGamer

Hold up, are we having this discussion whilst using multiple devices with components created by workers that don’t always benefit from safe or fair labor practices? With many components also created in a major manufacturing country? Yes? Ok.

We still have the report button and staff contact method for questions and concerns, right?

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