You conjured this one up all on your own.
Honesty, I feel like "this is a human problem" is an excuse. We can deal with symptoms. We don't have to throw up our hands and say that nothing can be done just because the source isn't in our area.
So don't self identify as that. Problem solved.
Interesting.
You can definitely set standards, but you can't always police them, particularly when a lot of communities are built on some profit motive - see Youtube and all the bullshit that goes on there.
Man, I know you're joking, but someone seriously suggests that every damn time.
I'm pretty sure YouTube can police them, it's more a matter of that they don't care. Which is something to criticize.
I mean, we inherently accept that game developers treat their employees like shit - even if it's not harassment, then it's working conditions.
Yes! Talking about it is part of the solution. Listening to marginalized voices, empathizing with them, and speaking out for them as allies in any way you can, wherever you can, is how social change begins. Do you think gay rights would have ever gone as far as they have if people didn't start listening to gay people and learning about their experiences, and then calling out their friends and family for their bigotry and lack of empathy? Of course not! The version of me ten years ago would have never believed you if you told him that he would someday have the right to be married, even in the state of Texas. Change is possible, and the biggest obstacle isn't hate, but the apathy that many on this thread seem to be clinging to because it's comfortable and they don't have to do shit but ignore us.
Yes, everything's gotten pretty fucked up these days (or was always fucked up), but that's no excuse to do nothing! Apathy solves absolutely nothing! Change starts where you are right now: your family, your friend group, and yes, even your interactions on the internet. Start by shedding your apathy and giving a damn about us! Who cares if it's impossible to fix everything? You have the ability to do the right thing, regardless of whether the good guys win!
Not to mention, this thread is a perfect example of people being offended that others don't share the same ideas of identity that they do. Being called a gamer is nothing to be ashamed of, but ignoring the negative aspects of X hobby just to continue to keep carrying an identification card that is meaningless beyond the initial concept is the definition of being a toxic gamer.
Certainly the anonymity of social media and gaming accounts has created an environment where trolls are much more comfortable harassing other people. The stereotypical twitter troll was, before Twitter changed their default avatar, an "egg" who had no identifying features on their account. It's why xxxxSSJ3GOHANxxxx is definitely more likely to throw out some bullshit in a games voice chat than some guy with his real name in his tag. We see these patterns online all the time.
So share those records.
Exactly. I think it's the "elements" what are laid out, their arrangement is of course dictated by the context. It'd be super interesting if anyone could identify those common elements and their common triggers that derive into one conduct or another.
Does it?
Sure, it's a problem.
Sure, but when gamers weaponize their consumer identities to harass developers, women, people of color, and defend multibillion companies & their exploitation of workers, I have to be honest with how terrible they are.
Acknowledgement is a form of solution. If one person engages in abusive behaviour and no one says anything, the statement is made that the behaviour is acceptable. If one person engages in abusive behaviour and they've criticized, it's sending a different message. Part of how people feel comfortable being assholes online gaming and the like is because they've come to view their behaviour as the normal rather than the abnormal, and they assume that people will just shut up and take it.
The OP does offer a solution. Acknowledgement of the problem is the most important part, as you can see from this thread there's a prominent sentiment in the gaming community to NOT acknowledge that there's a problem or worse, harass those that do.
Shitty people are often the loudest. Social media and online communications allow loud people to be loud. It's simple as that.
The only issue is that to the harassed this conversation is wholly ineffectual when it only occurs here in the spaces controlled by like-minded individuals who are against harassment. In this space it seems all well and good to have this discussion but it doesn't translate to a solution to the broader issue because this is occurring in a closed space that they can label as irrelevant at best, worthy of enmity at worst.
If someone says "separate art from artist" after being told who they are supporting, then I think they know who they are buying their game from. And they are fine with it.
But those people are "loud" because others allow it. They won't have an audience if you don't bother to listen to them in the first place.
I don’t disagree that acknowledgement is important...but we’ve seen this thread before.
I'd be willing to bet most people who are making these purchases aren't even considering there is something to separate. But sure, if you ate aware there is an issue of ethical consistency.
OP I’m black and completely disagree with this post.
I've explained why I believe the situations are too dissimilar to be conflated. Can you explain why you believe the situations are nearly exactly the same?
I didn’t say they were exactly the same. I just disagree with you that the rhetoric and dismissal isn’t coming from the same place, the same thinking. Yes obviously it doesn’t have all the history and social context behind it, but what are we even talking about here? Mostly straight, cis, white, male gamers that refuse to turn toward their own community and examine the dangerous and growing issues with it, related to sexism, racism, transphobia, etc and hiding behind bullshit platitudes to paint themselves as a good guy, and feel completely guilt free for being too lazy or apathetic to do anything.
