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Too Much Free Time

by Mike Masnick

Tue, May 31st 2011 5:43am




Filed Under:
china, gold farming, prisons, wow


Chinese Prisoners Forced To Farm Gold?

from the forced-virtual-labor dept

There have been many, many reports over the years about just how much "gold farming" in online games comes from China, but a new report in the Guardian is getting plenty of attention for claiming that real world inmates are being used for gold farming in prisons, where the prisons or their bosses end up with the "spoils." A whole bunch of folks have been submitting the story, and it certainly could be happening, but it does seem pretty weakly sourced. It quotes one guy who was in prison half a decade ago and did the gold farming then. Is there any more contemporary evidence that this is happening?

10 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    icon
    The eejit (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 5:14am

    "I hereby sentence you to farming fourteen million Gold in World of Warcraft for being a dissident. You may not leave the house and you may not use any guides on goldfarming. This court is adjourned."

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 31st, 2011 @ 6:04am

    what I dont really understand

    what I don't really understand is why anyone is surprised by this, and why its a big deal.

    I thought it was pretty well known that chinese jails were corrupt labor houses. The jails even have deals with local authorities to keep them at optimal occupancy for the greater profit of both entities.

    the fact that one tiny aspect of the corruption is wow gold farming seems completely minute.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    icon
    Deirdre (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 6:20am

    It's probably about as useful as having prisoners doing cold call telemarketing.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    icon
    ComputerAddict (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 6:26am

    Re:

    Agreed, It is easily as useful as having them sit in lockdown 23 hours a day, getting 3 free meals, free clothing, free cable TV, etc.

    At least this way there is some dis-incentive for gang members to goto jail... you break the law, your gonna be doing hard labor in what I would assume to be horrid conditions.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 31st, 2011 @ 6:33am

    Re:

    Probably better; can't imagine prisoners have a welcoming manner on the phone.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    Di Fiasco, May 31st, 2011 @ 6:42am

    Watch out! That warlock just got cornered in the shower by three trolls and an dark elf with a big nose!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    icon
    Old Fool (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 6:45am

    Re: Re:

    I bet prisoners who have defrauded millions from their clients have a very good telephone manner.

    In fact I cant think of anyone with better qualifications for cold calling.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 31st, 2011 @ 7:19am

    Re: Re: Re:

    Hello my name is burney madoff. Would you be willing to donate to you local firefighter fund?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    icon
    The eejit (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 7:27am

    Re:

    Clearly a l2p issue, That Lock should have the others Fearlocked.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    identicon
    kjgfkjfi, May 31st, 2011 @ 9:22am

    Gold Farmers camp the best MOBs
    Gold Farmers undermine a games player economy
    Gold Farmers provide an "easy" way to do well in an MMO
    Gold Farmers Suck

    But actually ...
    The people that buy gold from gold Farmers Suck Worse.

    ~kjgfkjfi

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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