Ehhh, yes and no. I’d say that’s a slight oversimplification and that there’s room for nuance in this area as well. Sure, there are no racial differences and no physiological weirdness separating one from the other (eye-colour is the main thing, but that’s up in the air at the moment).
But that’s not how language works. Someone might refer to themselves as a high elf as a short-hand in conversation to emphasise the fact that they’ve defected from the Alliance. Or out of a sense of pride that they didn’t join the Horde until after they got rid of Kael’thas/Garrosh/[Insert-divisive-political-leader-here].
A lot of cultural and mental gymnastics could factor into labeling yourself as a High Elf. It doesn’t automatically have to mean you’re on opposite ends of a swordfight. Heck, a character could even be using the label in the wrong context, in-character.
I appreciate the emphasis on the fact that there is no REAL difference between the two. Though I tend to take issue with the black and white, With Us or Against Us Bush-era rhetoric that tends to permeate these kinds of discussions.
Maybe I’m putting too much stock in Warcraft as a dumb fantasy setting for babies, or in the roleplayers that inhabit it. I just don’t think things like political identities and labels are usually that simple. ^^
There’s room for nuance, and I’d ask everyone to consider that before automatically jumping down other people’s throats for “doing the bad RP”, as some of us are wont to do.
(Also, the nudity has been rectified. Thanks, Armoury.)