So, what would be the ethical questions raised for academic researchers who wanted to study WoW at its highest levels, if they purchased a lvl 60 character off Ebay? If you're trying to evaluate social interaction among the most committed players, and they evaluate it strictly on your level as displayed in the game, is that deceptive?
I'm just thinking how to slide a $500 purchase of a player off Ebay past the accounting department....
Hmmm. I didn't even know you could do that. I should have imagined it though. I'm disappointed in myself for not anticipating that.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't have an ethical problem with it if the person who dons the outfit is, in fact, good enough to seamlessly play a lvl 60 character in WoW. It would be fraudulent if I did it. I think it also makes you a kind of player, one that is not authentic. You have no history even though your position has a history. It's like getting an appointment as a corporate V.P. in order to study the board as an insider. I don't think it's that useful, frankly.
I"m thinking a guild like the one we were discussing in chat yesterday would be a better way to access lvl 60 peeps.
Purchasing a character at 60? I don't see them being very open to you getting into these guilds. You must show demonstrable skill at playing your toon. The strategies and tools available too you at 60 are seriously much different than those at 20 or even 50 for that matter. I also find that the level of expectation for a level 60 character is much higher than other levels, the amount of patience one has for a level 23 character running Wailing Caverns for the first time is much higher than some one at level 60 who, it's assumed, already should have considerable group/raid experience.
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