Hello everyone, how are you doing?
Good? Me too. Bad? I'm sorry to hear that. Indifferent? Well, that sucks.
So before we begin let me start with an introduction. I've been a member of the Escapist since 2008, I've been a gamer - and no, I don't think it's an offensive term - for most of my life, getting my start on the NES and PC back in the 90s. I'm what you might call an omni-gamer in that I enjoy every kind of game for it's own merits. I like RPGs, FPSs, RTSs, whatever you want to call it I can probably find at least one example of that type of game that I have or would enjoy. I'm also married, have dealt with ADHD all my life, currently work as a security engineer for an I.T. firm, am an actor and have been performing for over 10 years now, and am going to school to get a degree in Film
Now before you get bored, there's a point to all of this.
I'm a typically silent member of the community as a whole because I don't believe that shouting at one another makes a change, especially not on the internet where vitriol flows freely thanks to anonymity. I like to think that there are a lot of people like me who, even though the Escapist's forums aren't the worst example of this, are afraid to dip their toe into the conversation because they don't want it to get bitten off.
That being said, since reading the frankly embarrassingly large amount of back-and-forth going on recently thanks to this whole #gamergate thing, and the frankly disgusting treatment of people that has been going on around the internet since it's founding that has somehow ramped up in the past few months, I've decided to issue a challenge to my fellow Escapists - both pro and anti #gamergaters alike.
Pro #GamerGaters, let's start with you first.
I want you to give us a paragraph - doesn't have to be super detailed, just look at the one I did above, describing yourself. Tell us a little about you, about your likes and hobbies, enough for us to see you as a person and not an anonymous person behind a keyboard. Then, explain why you support #GamerGate - and try to be as amiable as possible, we don't want to spark hostilities here.
And then, I want you to admit and apologize for the things you know people associated to #gamergate have done that you find objectionable. Don't try to sweep it under the rug, don't try to ignore or hide it - your movement cannot grow if it's unwilling to acknowledge it's mistakes, or the mistakes of those who claim to support it.
That's my challenge to you.
Anti #GamerGaters, you're next.
Just as with the above, I want you to give us a paragraph. Not the most detailed, just look at the one I did above. Describe yourself, give us a little bit about you and your likes, your hobbies, why you would or would not consider yourself a gamer. Just like with the #GamerGaters, I want to be able to see you as an individual and not an anonymous person behind a keyboard. Then, explain why you do not support #GamerGate - and please refrain from being hostile. I don't want to see facts and links and essays, just your personal opinion.
Then, I want you to admit and apologize for the things you know people who are anti-#gamergate have done that you find objectionable. You know they exist, just as much as the opposite exists. And just like how #GamerGate can't progress if it ignores the worst aspects of it, neither can your side of the argument.
That's my challenge to you.
Now's the part where we ask ourselves "Why should I do any of this?" Well, you don't have to if you don't want to, but I find that so long as we do not accept and acknowledge mistakes on either side of the argument, then the discussion always devolves back into pointing out those flaws as justifications like "Your side did this, so you don't get to talk" - even if what the person is saying is logical and well thought out. And, of course, such dismissals only spur further anger and arguments.
And finally, my challenge to EVERYONE;
DO NOT turn this thread into a quote-a-thon of back and forth essay slinging. There are other threads for that.
DO use this to spark a conversation, to make that crucial connection required to form a sympathetic understanding with your opposition, to try and reach some neutral ground from which to have a rational, adult, and logic filled discussion about the issues we're trying to resolve.
If we just take a minute to get to know one another BEFORE we start the discussion, to understand where each other is coming from and to know that they might not be the worst the opposition has to offer, then maybe we can get somewhere - rather than 300+ pages of bickering.
Maybe, just maybe, right here on the Escapist forums, we can get people to stop slinging around 'social justice warrior' and 'misogynist' whenever this issue comes up.
Are you willing to take my challenge?
Good? Me too. Bad? I'm sorry to hear that. Indifferent? Well, that sucks.
So before we begin let me start with an introduction. I've been a member of the Escapist since 2008, I've been a gamer - and no, I don't think it's an offensive term - for most of my life, getting my start on the NES and PC back in the 90s. I'm what you might call an omni-gamer in that I enjoy every kind of game for it's own merits. I like RPGs, FPSs, RTSs, whatever you want to call it I can probably find at least one example of that type of game that I have or would enjoy. I'm also married, have dealt with ADHD all my life, currently work as a security engineer for an I.T. firm, am an actor and have been performing for over 10 years now, and am going to school to get a degree in Film
Now before you get bored, there's a point to all of this.
I'm a typically silent member of the community as a whole because I don't believe that shouting at one another makes a change, especially not on the internet where vitriol flows freely thanks to anonymity. I like to think that there are a lot of people like me who, even though the Escapist's forums aren't the worst example of this, are afraid to dip their toe into the conversation because they don't want it to get bitten off.
That being said, since reading the frankly embarrassingly large amount of back-and-forth going on recently thanks to this whole #gamergate thing, and the frankly disgusting treatment of people that has been going on around the internet since it's founding that has somehow ramped up in the past few months, I've decided to issue a challenge to my fellow Escapists - both pro and anti #gamergaters alike.
Pro #GamerGaters, let's start with you first.
I want you to give us a paragraph - doesn't have to be super detailed, just look at the one I did above, describing yourself. Tell us a little about you, about your likes and hobbies, enough for us to see you as a person and not an anonymous person behind a keyboard. Then, explain why you support #GamerGate - and try to be as amiable as possible, we don't want to spark hostilities here.
And then, I want you to admit and apologize for the things you know people associated to #gamergate have done that you find objectionable. Don't try to sweep it under the rug, don't try to ignore or hide it - your movement cannot grow if it's unwilling to acknowledge it's mistakes, or the mistakes of those who claim to support it.
That's my challenge to you.
Anti #GamerGaters, you're next.
Just as with the above, I want you to give us a paragraph. Not the most detailed, just look at the one I did above. Describe yourself, give us a little bit about you and your likes, your hobbies, why you would or would not consider yourself a gamer. Just like with the #GamerGaters, I want to be able to see you as an individual and not an anonymous person behind a keyboard. Then, explain why you do not support #GamerGate - and please refrain from being hostile. I don't want to see facts and links and essays, just your personal opinion.
Then, I want you to admit and apologize for the things you know people who are anti-#gamergate have done that you find objectionable. You know they exist, just as much as the opposite exists. And just like how #GamerGate can't progress if it ignores the worst aspects of it, neither can your side of the argument.
That's my challenge to you.
Now's the part where we ask ourselves "Why should I do any of this?" Well, you don't have to if you don't want to, but I find that so long as we do not accept and acknowledge mistakes on either side of the argument, then the discussion always devolves back into pointing out those flaws as justifications like "Your side did this, so you don't get to talk" - even if what the person is saying is logical and well thought out. And, of course, such dismissals only spur further anger and arguments.
And finally, my challenge to EVERYONE;
DO NOT turn this thread into a quote-a-thon of back and forth essay slinging. There are other threads for that.
DO use this to spark a conversation, to make that crucial connection required to form a sympathetic understanding with your opposition, to try and reach some neutral ground from which to have a rational, adult, and logic filled discussion about the issues we're trying to resolve.
If we just take a minute to get to know one another BEFORE we start the discussion, to understand where each other is coming from and to know that they might not be the worst the opposition has to offer, then maybe we can get somewhere - rather than 300+ pages of bickering.
Maybe, just maybe, right here on the Escapist forums, we can get people to stop slinging around 'social justice warrior' and 'misogynist' whenever this issue comes up.
Are you willing to take my challenge?