Common Districts->Anets Joke Right?

I can only assume that Arenanet concluded that native Anglophonics are as little a "majority" in European districts as native Dutch-speakers.

I see what you mean, but it probably is because all people from other countries tend to be in English Districts, while the French/German/Spanish etc districts only had players from their actual countries.


The French District is for the French, the German District is for the Germans... The English District was for everyone who didn't fit in another district. This is probably because most people can speak English.

If they kept the English District, and made an additional 'Common' District, people would either:

-speak English there, and there would be no difference with the situation we have now.
-or all speak their own language, and nobody would understand each other.
The way it is now, nothing really changed. Except the name went from English to Common. And it is called for, because a great percentage of the English Districts was inhabited by people from other countries.

I love how you didn't seem to notice my addition. I have no other place to go. The Germans selling in Kamadan "common District 1" do.

Frankly, the "common District" is the English district. Since it automatically sends English players there, and the English players are the majority, you can conclude that it is the English District. Only thing is, with the name change, many players seem to have forgotten this.

If the game sent Dutch, Portugese and all those without districts to German districts automatically, then it could have become th "common District". Then you'd be seeing their complaints. Would you tell them what you told us?

I have no complaint with there being a "common District", but I do have a problem with it being the only place I can go.

What is the point of even having a common district when there's already international? Is it not meant for anyone who speaks any language to go to?
Having a common district is redundant at best.

English is one of the most common languages in the world. If the district is called common I would think that makes it for English speaking people.

And seriously, why would you mix the majority of people who are going to speak English with the minority of anyone who doesn't speak French/Spanish/Italian? It's just begging for confusion and irritation at the language barrier. Again, international districts fixed all of this.

Amen to that

Seperating the Districts was the biggest mistake in the first place.

Yes,english is the worlds number one language and this is why ppl think of it as common.I rather see russians get their own district.

Cause they tend to speak English quite well. The difference between big states and small states is that TV and to a lesser other media easily incorporate English into their programs. Movies are not dubbed, instead they are subtitled. This allows the speakers to more readily learn the other language, in this case English, and will in the end adapt more readily to it (in general). This also brings problems in daily life, we will address foreigners in English and other languages as well, which impedes the foreigners from learning our language. Currently we expect foreigners to learn our language (Dutch in my case) just from the book and some silly lessons. But in reality you only learn it well when you are forced to use it, when they notice that you are foreign they will very often switch to English. Go for example to France and you will learn to speak French soon enough.

About the word common, it's a word used properly in this case, according the Oxford dictionary of English. It is not referring to common people or whatever, it refers to a district shared by many people from different countries. The English individuals that are "insulted" should just interpret it in a different way, and not as being a district for the common people. The interpretation show the limitation of your interpretation, or state of mind, not the true intention of the name of the district.
International district didn't solve anything, they are empty and have a high PING. If they were hosted at each continent they would be fine, but now they serve hardly any purpose., Int district 1 (EU), etc would be better then.

I agree with the statement (made a few posts above) that splitting up all gamers into the different districts diluted the playerbase quiet a lot, this is especially noticeable in the smaller outposts and missions.

how about an Amerikan district?! I'm sick of explaining that Armour and colour have a U in them!... and an english district, or even a L337 district?

Sadly I see little basis for the debate, I was originally on the Euro server, and the english districts were still full of several languages. So I jumped to the NA servers to be with the rest of my guild.
Common isn't so bad.

I wonder how many chinese own a PC for playing GW

If you remember the first weeks with the "european districts"
Sure it was fun to read all those different languages but if you inténd to form a group

how about a english and a broken english district. Tho only problem is if you have more districts its harder to form a group to do ´missions

This is why I left European server and am on American. At least 99% of people speak english.

A few quite dodgy attitudes here that are verging on being bigots. Listen to what Inde wrote.

The name of the district title changed, nothing else.

It is just like being in a busy tourist park or area in any major city in Europe.

In that case you shouldn't complain about strangers speaking in whatever language they choose to do so. Everyone is free to speak as they choose. That is how it should be. This is an international game, English is accepted as the primary international language in most parts of the world, but English should not be segregated.

When it comes to you or they wanting to communicate between each other... then a common form of communication is required and takes place if possible. Generally English is accepted as a common language, so if possible that is what is used. Again, nothing has changed from what it was.

What this means is:

a) all players can feel welcome to play where the majority of other players will be. (a good thing)

b) no one can any longer complain when a language other than English is typed. (a good thing)

c) those people who are able to speak several languages are able to communicate with more people (a good thing)

d) English only speakers may not be able to understand some of the comments made in other languages - (not a problem; unless someone is speaking specifically to you, in which case you simply let them know you speak English. This isnt a huge issue in any case, because as already mentioned, most people assume to use English if they are wanting to speak to the most number of people.)

I am in awe of those who are talented in several languages Respect. Ive learnt a little French (mais, c'est mauvais malheureusement :/) and used to have pretty decent Swahili (not much use for that in Europe :P) but it is by no means an easy thing.

Diversity is the spice of life. Go get spicy

edit - Not true actually. Or rather, not actually the quite right question. If English only speaking people want to play with those that speak English (not "English speakers only"...then they can.. it just might be that some of those players speak English as a second language. Nothing wrong with that. All it requires is for you to keep doing what you are doing... when you speak english asking for a group.. you honestly think those who only speak Russian, for example, will want to join you out of choice? It wouldnt benefit them or you. If they have to out of nesessity (ie no other Russian speaking people about - then try and work it out... GW doesnt need detailed communication for all PvE. The map can be used to explain most things)

Do me a favour and read that line out loud, slowly, to yourself :P Doesnt sound that good eh? You said it yourself... English, the majority... thats the point... English was the majority and still will be the majority, so nothing has changed in that respect. So, you may have to see some lines of text in letters you personally dont understand... how is that an issue if it has nothing to do with you. As i said, if you need to communicate with someone, you do so in English and people who understand English will do the same with you.

Not sure about you, but when I go to the international districts it's generally a lot less laggy. So, the high pings might be true for you, but it is not for a lot of other people. As for the amount of people, that's irrelevant. If people don't take advantage of it's purpose then that's them. You can't force others to go there.

It's meant to be a place to go to freely speak what ever language you are most comfortable with, meet people from other areas and give players somewhere separate to go to from the majority that speak English while at the same time giving those who do speak English a place of their own.

Why should English, the majority, have to share the districts with everyone else?

No, I don't. Because the last time I was in the "Common Districts" there were PLENTY of English speakers to group with.

Again, if any post continues to cross into country bashing or anything that I feel could be considered baiting or prejudice it will be deleted.

edit - argh, soo slow, sorry Inde..im editing now to remove the flamebait parts of the ops post you just deleted as i hadnt seen your reply when i responded.

"not good", is your opinion, and, with respect, one that is quite wrong. It is a fact that children who are put in bilingual environments, be it at school and/or at home, they excel at languages and indeed generally potentially achieve better in school in general.

May i suggest that you either did not read or did not understand what i wrote - you do not have to play with anyone in particular, you can choose a group, or choose to not be in a group. You have had that choice, and still have that choice. Nothing has changed.

Of course you dont, that is why you choose to not play in the French district.

This is not a debate.

edit - ahh i just realised you are the one who actually started this thread... Indeed, you did not start this thread to debate, you started it to complain. There is a world of difference. That is why this thread is not useful and most likely should be put down to save Inde further work deleting :/

I wonder if ANet realise that calling someone from England 'Common' is akin to refering to a Yank as a 'Redneck'? Personally, I find it quite insulting to be called 'common'!

^^ In case anyone actually does think that way seriously: may i remind us the meanings of the word common..

common:

1. belonging equally to, or shared alike by, two or more or all in question: common property; common interests.
2. pertaining or belonging equally to an entire community, nation, or culture; public: a common language or history; a common water-supply system.
3. joint; united: a common defense.
4. widespread; general; ordinary: common knowledge.
5. of frequent occurrence; usual; familiar: a common event; a common mistake.
6. hackneyed; trite.
7. of mediocre or inferior quality; mean; low: a rough-textured suit of the most common fabric.
8. coarse; vulgar: common manners.

As you can see, the meaning that you are referring to, is in fact listed at the bottom of the meanings, ie it is the meaning, taken out of its primary context.

The Common Market, Common Currency, Common Foreign and Security Policy, and to name just one more.. Common Criminal Provisions Against Racism and Xenophobia :P

Common implies all languages spoken = so a french person(or anyone) who can speak basic english (or anyone) can join groups but when in an area they dont understand , you understand that?

They achive better in school? So let me make sure you understand the point , which you clearly dont. If you put an english person with loads of french people and he doesnt speak french is he expected to understand? That was the point , read the whole thing not just 10%.

The choice of me not wanting to play with non-english speakers is still there but alot of the time the basics are enough to start with , if it was an english district then fluent english would be expected but because its common its implication is open to all , which as usual you dont understand.

This thread is mixed debat/complain , heres a question for you , what if they took all the non-european districts and put them all onto the american ones and just renamed them - non europeans , so the americans can play with the chinese , japanese and so on , you think theyd be happy? No they wouldnt. Why? Because people want there own area to game and be mainly around people who speak there own language not people who can only speak it basically.

I like how you tell me why I started things and honestly it is a complete joke to change a districts name which had a home countrys main base to imply open to all languages. Anet dont think and neither do you for not seeing the point.

Im not bothered about the implication of common being made offensive because I know thats not the direct they wanted to go in , the direction was to give all the europeans a european server in which all languages are welcome , but at the same time removing the english ones . Nice work .

---
Note from moderator: This thread is already a bit touchy, let's please avoid making things personal, even mildly so.

In the UK ( on its own) Common in some contexts can be derogatory, but its usually saved for use by the "upper" class. Thats where UK falls over sometimes in its class system in my opinion.

Some truth could be put into saying ANET may have been better off calling it a "global" district , I think, but then again someone will probably whine about that.
Personally I have never had a problem with other languages in GW.
I travel extensively through Europe, and I feel as if I have let myself down by NOT being able to ask for something as simple as a coffee or the toilet.
Instead of griping, perhaps some people should maybe try and learn another language. And then you may see it as the boot on the other foot!

The players on the other end are in so much as being "forced" to speak english in some cases because we don't want to try and speak theirs.

Lighten up and just accept that is the way of the world, its not all about you you you! its about the game, so go play it