Issue with <Z> title being a pro-war Russian symbol

[Cleretic]

It's a Gundam reference, and one that I don't think I've even seen anyone wear as a title. (Granted, it's a very small title, it'd be an easy one to skip over in a crowd.) If you see people try to use it as a hate symbol, that sounds more like material to report than anything, but honestly it sounds to me like you haven't seen people use it like that either and are just assuming that somewhere out there, people are.

Also, it wasn't added in EW post-patches: it's been there since 2.51. That was in 2015.

Also also, not really sure how this is lore. But it's also come up here other times... for some reason.

EDIT: Worth underlining, the Z used by pro-war Russian demonstrators is a very specific Z, it's not just 'the letter, at all, in any isolated context'. Back in 2022 Overwatch moved to remove that Z from a Russian character, but that's because... well, that character was literally Russian, and it was that specific Z. A title that's just the letter 'Z' holds neither of those associations.

[dpld]

you're over two years late when it comes to outrage posting about this title.

Nothing changed in those two years about this. Absolutely nothing.

Also also, not really sure how this is lore.

Where do you think would be a better place to post this? I haven't really used SQEX forums before.

the Z used by pro-war Russian demonstrators is a very specific Z, it's not just 'the letter, at all, in any isolated context'

In today's political climate just having this title on is more than enough. Pro-war Z is just that, a letter. Having no context added and just having a single letter there is more or less how they use it. It's a symbol after all - if you post a right-handed swastika and nothing else people will immediately think of you are as neo-nazi.

and one that I don't think I've even seen anyone wear as a title.

I see it constantly on the EU. Once a day on average.

[Cleretic]

I see it constantly on the EU. Once a day on average.

Then report people once a day on average, if you really think that's what they're doing. Might need to poke the bear until they admit it, though, but if you're right, then they will.

But yeah, you bring up this stuff in General Discussion or something. The only thing you get from raising this in the lore subforum are people telling you the lore behind it--which is 'Gundam reference, also it's been in the game for nine years'.

[Magikazam]

In today's political climate just having this title on is more than enough.

No it not. That just paranoia from your part.

if you post a right-handed swastika and nothing else people will immediately think of you are as neo-nazi.

Except the former is only used for that purpose, while Z is a letter of the alphabet and it's a Gundam reference. By your logic I could label Zorro as pro russian.

[Alenore]

In today's political climate just having this title on is more than enough. Pro-war Z is just that, a letter. Having no context added and just having a single letter there is more or less how they use it. It's a symbol after all - if you post a right-handed swastika and nothing else people will immediately think of you are as neo-nazi.

I understand where you're coming from, but are we to cancel Zorro because he signed his name with a Z? For how long? Are we to ban a letter from the alphabet to be used with no context ever again?
SS were a big part of atrocities commited by Nazi Germany, and yet we have SS ranks in game.

Out of the first page of titles I have earned, I can find "The Exterminator", "Warmonger", "Meat Shield", "Drone Sniper", "Soldier of Fortune", "Unbeliever".
All of them could be potentially problematic to the right demographic.

Should we ban "Unbeliever" because some countries would probably stone you if you were one, and it's offensive to them?
Or Soldier of Fortune because they take part in wars and kill innocents?
Meat Shield because it's reminiscent of how conscript are sent to frontlines to die and take good people with them?
The Exterminator because it could remind people of death camps?

Besides, the "Z" title is not with no context. It's a reward from an achievement, one some peoplemight want to show.