Opinions on the Gamergate Fiasco

[Imperious Condescension]

For those of you who don't know -it's one big hell of a mother ******** mess. On one end- it came to like this female game developer, Zoe Quinn, who did sexual favors to get better reviews on her games. So that's pissed the gamer community off because now we don't know if this review we're reading for this game is bought or if it's genuine.

Anita Sarkeesian also got her grubby little hands on it, who I personally hate. She cherry picks games or character traits and waters down female characters to "prove" video games are sexist. She erases a lot of what a lot of female game characters are to fit her own agenda. And has even admitted she dosen't even play video games. A lot of the clips in her videos are Let's Plays she took, without permission, and integrated into her own videos, without credit. She just gets her boyfriend to write her scripts and give her material. So that and there is infuriating to me. She uses video games as her platform to be heard as a feminist, even though there ARE better things to fight for as a feminist. (See also- better rights for women in other countries. More safe homes for battered and abused women, etc.)

And then, of course, we get the crazies retaliating against these two. Yes, that's a horrible thing. They've been sent death threats (although it was shown that Anita made a mule account for twitter and wrote her own death threats to beef up her story a little). So yes, the harassment and threats are horrible.

But now because of the retaliation the ENTIRE gaming community is getting blamed. Saying that we're nothing more than a bunch of sexist, virgin, males. But the peopel reacting more calmly to this and giving legitimate points to the cases aginast Zoe and Anita are getting ignored because it's easier for people for those two to harp on the few crazies in the gamer community, which has billions of people. So people are getting angier at that.
So yes, its a whole convoluted mess.

It's being turned into critizing anything those two women do are because theyre a WOMAN and SEXISM. Even though, it's not. It's because they're manipulative and dishonest.

You can do a little more research- though it's hard to sift through some of the more biased articles (namely things on tumblr).

Granted I'm more in pro of the gamer side of this, though that's because I've been a gamer since I could hold a controller.

I am a human rights activist so I can see maybe why people are so quick to jump on the "sexism" or "slut shaming" train against this all. But at the same time, I know enough about video games to pick up that Anita is a fake and has NO IDEA WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.

As for Zoe, I'm not too sure what to think about her. I haven't seen much on either side of the argument for me to form an opinion on her. Maybe someone here can enlighten me either way?

Note: I'm in the process of getting the sources for a lot of my claims. I have them and they'll be linked with each sentence. I'm a busy woman and Tamriel needs to be rid of dragons.

[N3bu]

I wouldn't say the whole Gamer community is like that. But because they're so prominent, especially on the main media feedback of the gaming community (the internet), I wouldn't neither want to be apart of or develop for the gaming community, among other reasons.

Also, I'll be honest, I don't feel much like giving credence to the legitimate outrage at journalistic integrity. Most intelligent people knew that game reviews have been compromised for a long time, and half the time these criticism are being colored with attempts to continue to berate Quinn.

If people want to argue against video game journalism, then they need to divorce themselves from this internet activist movement, 4chan and reddit built it to harass people, as they tend to do. Waiting a couple months for it to die down also might be a good idea.

[Divine_Malevolence]

Heard Jim say a few things about how he's not going to talk about it.
Personally not interested m'self.
Whole thing seems dumb on pretty much every level.

[N3bu]

Also, I'm pretty sure said sexual favors with Quinn never occurred, they we're announced in a bitchy internet rant by her ex.

[Imperious Condescension]

N3bu

Of course the gamer community isn't like that. We have a bunch of crazies but that's to be expected of ANY community ANYWHERE.

The loudest are always that really crazy majority and they're also the easiest to build a case up against.

To be honest I've been listening to people give their takes on the whole fiasco all day.

Most of what I am hearing about is Anita, who I already know about. (One guy had the voice of morgan freeman and I almost fell asleep I was so relaxed!)

I did already know that gaming journalism was pretty bad. (I know game companies pay things such as game informers to give better reviews) But it seems like the Zoe Quinn thing is just another brick in the wall for it. Another load of s**t as we watch what we love go to s**t. And it seems that using sexual favors is more of a low than paying for better reviews.

I haven't posted or commented on this yet, because I did want to see what came of it. But the more that comes out of it- the more the gaming community is facing back lash.

Edit-
As I said before I've been hearing more about Anita through this whole thing and don't know enough about Zoe. I don't know if allegations are true r what ever. I'm looking for sources either way.

ALso your signature just makes me think of communist goofy time.

[This Is NoMercy]

I like gaming as much as the next person, but you have to be blind to not relaize the gaming fandom dose have a serious issue regarding women.

Like, most normal people don't send rape, bomb, and death threats. And before you go on and on about how "not all gamers!!" I've only met a handful of guys who actually realized what was happening was wrong. Almost every other gamer I've met either didn't care, or openly encouraged it. This isn't just a few people doing it, it's a big movement and honestly it needs to stop. (And before anyone starts breathing down my neck on how 'terrible' Anita and Zoe are, I don't care. That's not an exsuce to send threats.) And ugh don't even get me started on the whole "fake geek girl." thing.
Women make up half or so of gaming and have been making games since forever, so its not fair that we're still treated like s**t.

Also, I don't get why the Zoe Quin thing even warranted a scandal. its a free indie game, nobody was ripped off, and nobody is required to play it. She had an angry ex boyfriend, who posted a rant about miscellaneous s**t that may or may not have happened, (but let's face it, angry exs aren't usually very trustworthy.) and we made it into something huge and
none of this really matters, if she got positive reviews, cool. I don't care if she had sex with anybody, and I really don't care if that helped her career.
No one ever cared that much about "gaming journalism" before this. All the neckbeard trolls just found an easy target and used the whole thing as a flimsy excuse.

And c'mon now, if you created a game, and were offered to have sex with 5 attractive women, and that said sex would help your career, you look me in the eyes and try to tell me you would actually refuse because it might "compromise the ethics of gaming". rolleyes
If this whole thing was gender flipped, everyone would be patting male!Zoe on the back and congrating him.

[Imperious Condescension]

Divine_Malevolence

Heard Jim say a few things about how he's not going to talk about it.
Personally not interested m'self.
Whole thing seems dumb on pretty much every level.

Some people have made a few good points.
But it's the same points against Anita and why she needs to stop doing what she's doing.
Even if Anita played video games, I feel like she'd ignore integral parts of a female character and focus on what she wants to see in them. (Elizabeth is nothing more than a damsel in distress controlled by men.) And totally ignore contexts of situations.

[Suicidesoldier#1]

So far I've heard the allegations are untrue, but idk.

I suppose vengeful angry emo boyfriends never lie or go on temper tantrums so, the implications of this are startling.

[N3bu]

Imperious Condescension

N3bu

Of course the gamer community isn't like that. We have a bunch of crazies but that's to be expected of ANY community ANYWHERE.

The loudest are always that really crazy majority and they're also the easiest to build a case up against.

To be honest I've been listening to people give their takes on the whole fiasco all day.

Most of what I am hearing about is Anita, who I already know about. (One guy had the voice of morgan freeman and I almost fell asleep I was so relaxed!)

I did already know that gaming journalism was pretty bad. (I know game companies pay things such as game informers to give better reviews) But it seems like the Zoe Quinn thing is just another brick in the wall for it. Another load of s**t as we watch what we love go to s**t. And it seems that using sexual favors is more of a low than paying for better reviews.

I haven't posted or commented on this yet, because I did want to see what came of it. But the more that comes out of it- the more the gaming community is facing back lash.

Edit-
As I said before I've been hearing more about Anita through this whole thing and don't know enough about Zoe. I don't know if allegations are true r what ever. I'm looking for sources either way.

ALso your signature just makes me think of communist goofy time.

It's irrelevant if it's only the crazies. Because of the nature of the internet they are the primary interface of the wider community. If your going to interact with the internet gaming community you have to deal with these people who are elitist angry misogynists who actually honestly personify the entire PC master race stereotype.

I refuse to take my gaming to a point where I have to "talk" to the internet community about it because I know at least 1 in 10 of the feedback is going to read like half of youtube comments. It's not worth it.

And the truth is it is sexist. Now, it depends on what we define as the gaming community. If we just include everyone who plays games, then it's a pretty small minority, because millions of people play games for recreation but don't export that part of their lives elsewhere. I define the gaming community as the active internet participants, who take part in feedback with gaming content providers, like youtubers and developers. Within THAT community the percentage of unreasonable assholes is much larger because surprise, feedback of a negative nature is something they can't resist.

These people are sexist because they're mostly immature and narrow minded. They're also angry people, and loudly complain and berate anything that doesn't fit their world view. They literally make the internet a worse place and honestly drive good developers away from the gaming industry.

[Imperious Condescension]

This Is NoMercy

I like gaming as much as the next person, but you have to be blind to not relaize the gaming fandom dose have a serious issue regarding women.

Like, most normal people don't send rape, bomb, and death threats. And before you go on and on about how "not all gamers!!" I've only met a handful of guys who actually realized what was happening was wrong. Almost every other gamer I've met either didn't care, or openly encouraged it. This isn't just a few people doing it, it's a big movement and honestly it needs to stop. (And before anyone starts breathing down my neck on how 'terrible' Anita and Zoe are, I don't care. That's not an exsuce to send threats.)

Also, I don't get is how the Zoe Quin thing even warranted a scandal. its a free indie game, nobody was ripped off, and nobody is required to play it. She had an angry ex boyfriend, who posted a rant about miscellaneous s**t that may or may not have happened, (but let's face it, angry exs aren't usually very trustworthy.) and we made it into something huge and
none of this really matters, if she got positive reviews, cool. I don't care if she had sex with anybody, and I really don't care if that helped her career.

if you created a game, and were offered to have sex with 5 attractive women, and that sex would help your career, try to tell me you would refuse because it might "compromise the ethics of gaming".

"Gaming Fandom"? I'm sorry. This isn't tumblr. Gaming isn't a fandom. You don't have a "cinema fandom" or a "knitting fandom". It's a hobby community, I don't know if you just accidentally chose the wrong words in that but it kind of comes off that you aren't too familiar what the gaming community actually is.

And no. It's not even "not all gamers" (wow, what a buzz phrase.) It's not even a majority of gamers. It's a loud, vocal, idiotic minority. Anita and Zoe do deserve criticism for their less than ethical actions, and should take responsibility for them. Anita in her blatant lies and Zoe in her MAYBE prostituting herself to get better reviews.

And when you instantly equate "not all gamers" to "talked to a few guys" and then ask me "if you created a game, and were offered to have sex with 5 attractive women...". (which to the answer, no I wouldn't. But sure. If you believe people roll that way all the time) It comes off as if you're only believe gamers to be male. Once again, not too sure if it's just poor choices of words.

As a gamer that's a woman I take this to be more sexist than anything that's going on because, based on your word usage, you instinctually assume gamers are inherently male.

[Imperious Condescension]

N3bu

It's irrelevant if it's only the crazies. Because of the nature of the internet they are the primary interface of the wider community. If your going to interact with the internet gaming community you have to deal with these people who are elitist angry misogynists who actually honestly personify the entire PC master race stereotype.

I refuse to take my gaming to a point where I have to "talk" to the internet community about it because I know at least 1 in 10 of the feedback is going to read like half of youtube comments. It's not worth it.

And the truth is it is sexist. Now, it depends on what we define as the gaming community. If we just include everyone who plays games, then it's a pretty small minority, because millions of people play games for recreation but don't export that part of their lives elsewhere. I define the gaming community as the active internet participants, who take part in feedback with gaming content providers, like youtubers and developers. Within THAT community the percentage of unreasonable assholes is much larger because surprise, feedback of a negative nature is something they can't resist.

These people are sexist because they're mostly immature and narrow minded. They're also angry people, and loudly complain and berate anything that doesn't fit their world view. They literally make the internet a worse place and honestly drive good developers away from the gaming industry.

Actually the crazies make it entirely relative.

Quote:

rel·a·tive
ˈrelətiv/
adjective
adjective: relative

1.
considered in relation or in proportion to something else.
"the relative effectiveness of the various mechanisms is not known"
synonyms: comparative, respective, comparable, correlative, parallel, corresponding
"the relative importance of each factor"

Considering that the crazies would make up a very small proportion of this, yes it's totally relative. It's the very definition of relative.
They're such a small majority that you need to take into consideration what the gaming community actually feels.
And from what I've experienced, the SJW's who are the ones arguing in fervor for these two are the ones I've seen be more hostile and make the internet a worse place.
There's always going to be jack asses online. This has existed since the dawn of the world wide web. It's too idealistic to think that everyone on the internet is going to be nice. It'd be nice if it could happen- but it won't.
So do you condemn an entire community based on a few loud mouths? By this logic every racist a** hat who think all blacks are criminals are entirely right.
But they're not.

[The Willow Of Darkness]

Imperious Condescension

Some people have made a few good points.
But it's the same points against Anita and why she needs to stop doing what she's doing.
Even if Anita played video games, I feel like she'd ignore integral parts of a female character and focus on what she wants to see in them. (Elizabeth is nothing more than a damsel in distress controlled by men.) And totally ignore contexts of situations.

Not this tired objection...

Just because games contain decent female characters on occasion, it does not resolve the massive number of instances where they do not. Even within the same game. Even with the same character. Just because, for example, Elizabeth is more than a damsel in distress, it does not mean that she is not a damsel in distress, and so get reduced to an object the player must save.

[N3bu]

Imperious Condescension

Zoe in her MAYBE prostituting herself to get better reviews.

No.

It was a rant by her jilted ex. There was no prostitution, but the Gamegate movement needs flame fuel. The very insinuation that it might of happened by perhaps the least reliable source has lead to people harassing not just her, but also her father.

That's not criticism. The GameGate bullshit was created to harass someone and they just scammed people with legitimate concerns into finding reasons to blame these people for the harassment they're receiving. It's disgusting and I refuse to excuse anyone who associates with the movement. You have legitimate problems, fine, but endorsement of this movement is endorsement of what 4chan and reddit is doing.

[Imperious Condescension]

The Willow Of Darkness

Imperious Condescension

Some people have made a few good points.
But it's the same points against Anita and why she needs to stop doing what she's doing.
Even if Anita played video games, I feel like she'd ignore integral parts of a female character and focus on what she wants to see in them. (Elizabeth is nothing more than a damsel in distress controlled by men.) And totally ignore contexts of situations.

Not this tired objection...

Just because games contain decent female characters on occasion, it does not resolve the massive number of instances where they do not. Even within the same game. Even with the same character. Just because, for example, Elizabeth is more than a damsel in distress, it does not mean that she is not a damsel in distress, and so get reduced to an object the player must save.

If anyone reduces Elizabeth to an object they're clearly as big of an idiot as Anita. Reducing a character to cherry picked points is worse than putting in a one dimensional character. Because you're taking a character that has more facets than that and boiling it down to one dimension.

One of the biggest jokes within the gaming community is that Booker is the one that Elizabeth constantly has to save.

It's even referenced in gaia's bioshock item.- "I cannot wait to be shut of this escort mission. The fool keeps running out of health and supplies and I have to keep throwing him more! "