EA Hosting Panel on Homophobia in Gaming

[Dragonblade146]

Unbelievable. This makes me sick! Why are we catering to certain groups of people? Just because they complain, then we have to make "special" rules for them? I'm not just talking about queers, I'm talking about anyone: Religions, nationalities, races, etc. No special treatment, and no conferences to discuss how we should cater to the needs of these groups who think that they are some-how more special than the rest of us.

I better end this rant before i get the moderators called on me, but it really pisses me off when ignorant stuff like this happens.

Yeah because why would you ever listen to people's concerns and try provide services/products which they can use?

Who really cares?
Its a game.
Games do not need stuff in it about gay's and religion.
People play games to unwind and get away from real life.
Now people are trying to put their bullshit real life issues into video games? NO.
People need to get over themselves, and unwind when playing a game, and here is a grand idea. Don't announce your gay on the internet! Then you wont get made fun of, because no o0ne would know!

 

[Jerious1154]

I didn't read anything other than the title to know what was going on with this article. But um.. I think it is like this. Like most people that tolerate gay couples are fine with it, however, most of them would frown extensively to seeing gay PDA (as I would be one of them.. although I am a bit of a hypocrit as I don't seem to mind two girls making out heh)

If they are trying to see if people would tolerate a gay game to be made? Sure.. some will be fine with it. But does that mean I will buy it ? No.. no thanks...

You should probably read the rest of the article then, because it's not about making "gay games".

 

[Worsle]

Unbelievable. This makes me sick! Why are we catering to certain groups of people? Just because they complain, then we have to make "special" rules for them? I'm not just talking about queers, I'm talking about anyone: Religions, nationalities, races, etc. No special treatment, and no conferences to discuss how we should cater to the needs of these groups who think that they are some-how more special than the rest of us.

I better end this rant before i get the moderators called on me, but it really pisses me off when ignorant stuff like this happens.

Yeah because why would you ever listen to people's concerns and try provide services/products which they can use?

Who really cares?
Its a game.
Games do not need stuff in it about gay's and religion.
People play games to unwind and get away from real life.
Now people are trying to put their bullshit real life issues into video games? NO.
People need to get over themselves, and unwind when playing a game, and here is a grand idea. Don't announce your gay on the internet! Then you wont get made fun of, because no o0ne would know!

Yes lets all close our eyes and pretend nothing is wrong that is the perfect way round any problem. Black people and women should keep quite about it too, I mean if they don't want to be made fun of they should not have come out of the kitchen... err I mean dared to say they where anything other than a white male on the internet.

Also lets remove all real life issues from video games, that is a sensible option. I mean why bother trying to grow the medium into a more varied art form? Nothing to be gained from that, no point ever trying to say any thing deeper than kill the other guys.

Bah I say one of my favourite games is one of the few I have played with a main character who showed genuine confusion over his sexual identity. His character would have been no where near as endearing without it and the game as a whole would have suffered from his removal, so no I don't want to see real life issues removed from games. In fact I would love to see a much more mature treatment of them, might be a forlorn hope but it is my hope none the less.

 

[snuffler]

Spoken like a bunch of teenage, mostly-suburban heterosexual white males.

Fixed that for ya.

I want a meeting for my teenage, mostly suburban, heterosexual white males and I to discuss this issue of being judged by people for being the only group that judges other people. I would also like a place where we can be safe from being judged for our judging of other people online.

HA! see what I did thar?

In all seriousness, this isn't an issue of people that live in suburbs who are caucasian being homophobes, I believe The_root_of_all_evil said it better than I could when he said

For the second point, "gay" doesn't mean the same as homosexual in 'net lingo. In the same way that "fat" or "epic" means something great, "gay" tends not to mean male/male intercourse but "rubbish" in the same way as "fail" or "Aids"...

It's an issue of understanding of the lingo. Like poker, you have to play for a while to understand just what the hell people are talking about. Gay isn't being used as a derogatory term towards people of homosexual preferences, it's just being used as a term for a calling something, as The_root_of_all_evil said, rubbish. It's unfortunate that the word has this definition attached to it and I can see how anyone who is homosexual might find it offensive, but it's true that people aren't directly insulting you. It's a dangerous line to walk on and nearly impossible to tell how far from it you've strayed since everything boils down to people's innate ability to cope with insults on a subconscious level.

So does anyone know what happens to words that are tabooed heavily? Think of the "N" word. It became a swear for most people to use because it was censored so badly. It has a negative stigma attached to it, and is seldom uttered because it's just "too terrible". I don't use the word, but I also don't feel any less privileged for not being able to.

Censorship [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship]; how many people can honestly say when they hear this word they think of GOOD things happening? Adolf Hitler and his Nazi's used censorship hand in hand with propaganda to effectively steer the German population to a state of terror, not only to threat of impending allied attacks, but also of its own government. Since that and many other events [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_censorship], people have been outraged towards any government censorship in western nations. EA can also be seen as a governing body trying to censor something, which is why there is such hostility towards the idea of removing the word gay (or fag) from gameplay and effectively creating the "G" word.

IN SUMMARY both sides present valid points for their arguments. One wants censorship of such discriminatory words, where the other isn't homophobic necessarily, but censorphobic? (an irrational fear of being censored - you heard it from me first).

My position on the issue? I'll stand on the dangerous crossroads and wait. I've been brought up knowing that "sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me", but society's been swinging toward the completely understandable position that feelings matter too. I hope I'm not ignorant, because I certainly understand how people can find words hurtful. Unless you have adorexia [http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Adorexia], words are going to hurt you.


-Spoken FROM a teenage, mostly-suburban heterosexual white male.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

On a side note, if you are gay, why go announcing it over the chat? You have to know what is coming.

Congratulations, you've just pointed out the problem.

 

[HobbesMkii]

Judging from the comments in reply to this, this is something that people do need to be educated about, and the sooner, the better.

It's my feeling that if you are using an epithet, however lightly, you're putting the people designated by that epithet down, unless you're being satirical. Running about XBL or the internet calling people or things that appear problematic gay is a matter of association. It basically says: problem = gay. Therefore, it's not too hard to reverse it and make it gay = problem. Gamers have the same problem with race and ethnicity, too, in large part because hardcore gaming has a heavy price tag associated with it, which non-white and non-Western European groups generally can't cover.

What people forget is John Gabriel's Greater Internet Dickwad Theory. The nature of the internet allows us to say things that we wouldn't say if we were looking into that person's eyes. Essentially, it removes the fear of public speaking, allowing us to say how we really feel and what we really think. And the problem is that the plurality of people are white males who are a little bit racist and strongly homophobic.

Also, kudos to Susan for calling the bullshit and kudos also to Funk for specifying that bullshit.

 

[Orange Monkey]

Unbelievable. This makes me sick! Why are we catering to certain groups of people? Just because they complain, then we have to make "special" rules for them? I'm not just talking about queers, I'm talking about anyone: Religions, nationalities, races, etc. No special treatment, and no conferences to discuss how we should cater to the needs of these groups who think that they are some-how more special than the rest of us.

I better end this rant before i get the moderators called on me, but it really pisses me off when ignorant stuff like this happens.

I think your missing the point. This panel is do disencourage a pointless hatred and to educate everyone on the importance of equality. I mean how would you feel if someone began irrationally hating you because, say, you had blue eyes or brown hair? It is something about yourself that is impossible to change, so you would want the hate to stop wouldnt you? It has nothing at all to do with groups of people believing they are ''more special'' but it is a way to help brings different groups of people together as equals.

 

[Orange Monkey]

I hope this panel helps in the education of equality and to dissuade hate, I find it extremely grating to log onto a chat server or something of the sort and have to point out to almost everyone there
''Gay is not a synonym for Stupid!''

 

[Mr. Tibbles]

A member of an alternative lifestyle was probably called a '******' on xbox live so he called it gay slandering. I know that when I game that calling people gay and faggots it is not a derogatory statement anymore. Its like typing lol in a chat, it just happens. Look at how black people can walk around calling each other 'nigga' but one white guy does it and is racist. People can ***** about anything. If you get insulted by a few words from someone you have never and probably will never meet, then you have problems. Internet slandering is the norm, nobody really cares if your feelings get hurt, grow a pair and move on. But that doesnt make it right to make it a point to go around and harass people on the internet, because nobody likes a troll. (praying for no rath)

 

[Treblaine]

If they cater to the gays, they'd better cater to blacks, whites, men, women, everyone really. This is BS.

EDIT: I agree with some of the people here. People shouldn't be using gaming as a forum to debate social issues. If you're gay, or prejudiced against a group, or are of a certain group, keep it to yourself. It distracts me from pwning you.

That is what this debate is partially trying to do. STOP these prejudiced people hurling abuse everywhere and griefing certain players, these prejudiced dick-heads are not keeping it to them self and it IS distracting from the pwning.

I don't like to hear racial insults like "ni**er" even if they are not directed at me, I don't like to hear homophobic abuse either, it is just sickening. I feel like I have walked in on a KKK meeting. The idea of "keep it to yourself" is just silly, how would you like having to pretend to be gay just to avoid griefing? Word goes around.

And BTW, you may not realise this but businesses "cater to" special groups all the time. Why? Because they WANT THEIR MONEY! Business is business.

 

[bug_chaser]

If they cater to the gays, they'd better cater to blacks, whites, men, women, everyone really. This is BS.

It's not BS, it's exactly the point. How often do you hear "fag" or "jew" used as an insult in an online game? Probably a bit more frequently than you hear "heterosexual" or "christian." This thread is proof that more education is sorely needed-the ones complaining are the ones that are used to being catered to.

 

[CoziestPigeon]

Unbelievable. This makes me sick! Why are we catering to certain groups of people? Just because they complain, then we have to make "special" rules for them? I'm not just talking about queers, I'm talking about anyone: Religions, nationalities, races, etc. No special treatment, and no conferences to discuss how we should cater to the needs of these groups who think that they are some-how more special than the rest of us.

I better end this rant before i get the moderators called on me, but it really pisses me off when ignorant stuff like this happens.

So it's pissing you off how they are trying to stop homophobia? You are right, why the hell did they abolish slavery? Them damn fags are just as bad as the n*ggers! [/sarcasm]

You are either terribly bad at explaining your point, or just a flat out horrible person.

 

[Treblaine]

"look at how black people can walk around calling each other 'nigga' but one white guy does it and is racist."

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. It IS racist when even a black guy calls another black guy "ni**er", it is just you can hardly accuse a black man of being racist but Black civil rights leaders have always opposed the use of that term even and especially when used by African Americans.

I can't be bothered to explain it but to put it simply it is childish logic to say "if he did it, it must be all right for me to do it". And there is a lot more too it than that as just because the target of that word doesn't get angry, it DOES reinforce the perception of racial inferiority or other-ness.

It deeply concerns me that gays seem to be going the same direction with "******" and all it will achieve is drive a wedge between them and the wider straight population yet it is used as a term of endearment just like "ni**er" to bring the "gay community" closer together. There wouldn't even BE a gay community if they weren't run out of the community where they were born due to intolerance.

 

[GamerPhate]

I didn't read anything other than the title to know what was going on with this article. But um.. I think it is like this. Like most people that tolerate gay couples are fine with it, however, most of them would frown extensively to seeing gay PDA (as I would be one of them.. although I am a bit of a hypocrit as I don't seem to mind two girls making out heh)

If they are trying to see if people would tolerate a gay game to be made? Sure.. some will be fine with it. But does that mean I will buy it ? No.. no thanks...

You should probably read the rest of the article then, because it's not about making "gay games".

Yeah I just did and you are right.. stupid titles of articles getting my feathers all ruffled before I read the damn thing heh.

 

[Vrex360]

About bloody time, I'm sick of all my homosexual friends getting harrassed on every single online game they ever go on. I tell you people reveal their dark side when they are online.

But still good on you EA for doing something to benefit mankind at long last. This is a good example of a video game company actually working to solve social issues that revolve around discrimination. Good show.

P.S maybe next we'll see Valve give money to the Cancer Foundation and Bungie donating to Stem Cell reasearch... that would be a good world.

 

[ConnorCool]

as far as I knew, gay has just become another offensive word, with very little meaning anymore. not that I condone the use of the word at all

 

[ShadowKirby]

"look at how black people can walk around calling each other 'nigga' but one white guy does it and is racist."

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. It IS racist when even a black guy calls another black guy "ni**er", it is just you can hardly accuse a black man of being racist but Black civil rights leaders have always opposed the use of that term even and especially when used by African Americans.

I can't be bothered to explain it but to put it simply it is childish logic to say "if he did it, it must be all right for me to do it". And there is a lot more too it than that as just because the target of that word doesn't get angry, it DOES reinforce the perception of racial inferiority or other-ness.

Between your last two posts, you totally resumed my view.

And seriously, this is the Escapist. I came in this topic thinking I'd see intelligent discussions and meaningful debates but no, it feels like XBox Live Lite with "teenage, sub-urban, white (virgin) males" afraid they may catch the gay on the internet.

 

[John Funk]

People need to get over themselves, and unwind when playing a game, and here is a grand idea. Don't announce your gay on the internet! Then you wont get made fun of, because no o0ne would know!

And that will stop people randomly referring to others as "fags" and saying "That's so gay," will it?

Spoken like a bunch of teenage, mostly-suburban heterosexual white males.

Fixed that for ya.

I want a meeting for my teenage, mostly suburban, heterosexual white males and I to discuss this issue of being judged by people for being the only group that judges other people. I would also like a place where we can be safe from being judged for our judging of other people online.

HA! see what I did thar?

No one is calling said group (again, that I used to be a part of) the only ones who judge people. That'd just be silly. We were saying that to claim everything is fine and dandy and not worth the effort isn't all that practical when you have no frame of reference because it's a situation so unlike what you face in your everyday life.

 

[SharPhoe]

I don't know whether or not this is an odd thing for EA to do (it seems like it according to other people here), but I know it isn't a bad thing. I do have a question, though: What is this about Toulouse and the "gay Gamertag" controversy? I've never heard of it before...

 

[Dragonblade146]

People need to get over themselves, and unwind when playing a game, and here is a grand idea. Don't announce your gay on the internet! Then you wont get made fun of, because no o0ne would know!

And that will stop people randomly referring to others as "fags" and saying "That's so gay," will it?

Sadly no.
Most a days now. People are incosiderate.
I am just tired of hearing it all the time, of how they are getting mistreated.
There are honest people out there, who don't care what their sexuality is. I know I don't.