Adding my last thread on this topic, which contains more substantive arguments for why this should functionality should be removed in its entirety, or to be completely overhauled in a transparent way.
Also adding below an update:
Blizzard’s own EULA doesn’t actually appear to allow them (in truth they can probably do whatever they please, but they should at least clarify their rules) to issue chat bans outside of racism, violence, and intentionally trying to ruin the experience of others (this intent part seems clear). If they would like to re-draft their EULA, would do better to at least be accurate and phrase as follows: “we can suspend or ban you for any reason whatsoever, and with regard to account silencing, the only requirement is that the other party express being aggrieved.”
If for example, one said in a Battleground “go mine [bad word, but not racist or violence]”, this is indeed worthy of an account silence, nowithstanding the fact that almost no one would be truly aggrieved by this, and the fact that the only intent inherent in such statement is to try and help someone win a game, enhancing their experience and not detracting from it.
Below extract per Blizzard’s own EULA, with emphasis added in bold:
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Disruption / Harassment: Engage in any conduct intended to disrupt or diminish the game experience for other players, or disrupt operation of Blizzard’s Platform in any way, including:
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Disrupting or assisting in the disruption of any computer used to support the Platform or any Game environment. ANY ATTEMPT BY YOU TO DISRUPT THE PLATFORM OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF ANY GAME MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS.
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Harassment, “griefing,” abusive behavior or chat, conduct intended to unreasonably undermine or disrupt the Game experiences of others, deliberate inactivity or disconnecting, and/or any other activity which violates Blizzard’s Code of Conduct or In-Game Policies.
Reading the above EULA extract, it does not reasonably follow that the intent of the drafting thereto is to allow Blizzard to punish people merely because someone else was offended, not least when a statement was never actually directed at a particular person.
These rules badly need to be removed.