The Ethics Of Gold Farming
by Darren
May 1, 2007 – 11:31 amGold farming has been a controversial issue for years when it comes to World of Warcraft, and it’s no great surprise the issue sparks debate. At the root of the debate is whether there really is an ethical dilemna when one person finds a way to exploit another system for profit. Blizzard, for instance, has always been against the practice, and they use account bans to show their unhappiness. But in the end, people want the gold, so others are willing to do their work for them.
But is it right that this type of practice exists? That’s where the real argument comes in. Of course game purists can’t like this type of behavior. It merely means that the richest player always wins, hardly a sign of a meritocracy, which was probably intended for the game in the first place. If the game play means nothing, it could be argued, then how can it matter to anyone?
On the other hand, it’s hard to get mad at people (many from third world countries) who are making a good living by exploiting an economic anamoly in an extant information system (the game universe). I know I’ve always been a fan of that type of behavior. People are merely providing a service for others who are too busy to play as many hours. Should a person be punished (in game terms) because of having a successful job that requires them to work long hours?
The gold buyers have more money than time. The gold farmers have more time than money. The two join together to create a market.
So the question is, what do you think of the practice of gold farming? Do you think it’s ethical to buy or sell gold to others?
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