EA Hosting Panel on Homophobia in Gaming

[GothmogII]

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.

I'm wondering about this though. What precipitates this harassment? How exactly do the other players -know- they're gay? Are they keeping tabs on gay players? I mean, is this a result of say, making mention that you're gay in a profile or username? Or typing it in chat or saying it over voice chat? (Or indeed possessing a sterotypical lisp, and, I am stressing sterotypical). Or is it that over the course of a game it just comes up in casual chat, a slip of the finger or wording: i.e. 'Sorry goin' AFK boyfriend is at the door' (assuming the gay player is male), or even in response to a slur, one player calls another a sexual slur, calls something gay, and the Gay player states that that word is offensive to him/her because they're gay etc.

I know I know, white male here, can't understand and it's assumed I'm hetero yadda yadda. What I'm just trying to understand is -how- it comes that someone's sexuality ever comes into play when they're playing online? Games aren't some kind of online discussion forum, or at least, aren't for in-depth discussion. I've been diagnosed with Aspergers, why on earth would I ever have cause to bring that up? Even if someone was throwing around the term 'assbergers' around at someone else during a match?

Then again, when it comes down to it. If the line is crossed into abuse, I agree, the offending player should be banned/kicked. In the same way a person swearing on a server that specifically says no swearing should be banned.

 

[Gerazzi]

EA, stop being so schizophrenic. One moment you're releasing sequel after sequel, the next you're actually doing something good for the gay community.

well, to be fair, they're multitasking.
I'm surprised we're not at Battlefield 2142 yet.

Oh wait.

Yes that terrible pun was intentional.

Please don't hate me.

 

[Dogstile]

since when has homosexuality been an "issue"?

bigots, all of them

 

[snuffler]

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.

I hope you read my whole reply to the article and the quoted texts, cause in it I pretty much agree with you.

 

[essieteric]

They can use them. They aren't denied from playing for being gay. Its just a special interest group, thinking that they deserve special privileges for being different.

Firstly, methinks it isn't about "special priveledges" as much as "equal representation".
And I don't call us a special interest group. People don't choose to join. That's like calling heterosexuality a club, or caucasian Americans a non-profit organisation.

If certain religious parties can complain about certain elements of games...
And groups such as PETA can complain about treatment of animals in games ....
.... The GLBT community also have the right to raise their concerns about their representation in the gaming community.


Lastly, I don't think they would be having the meeting if there wasn't a significant issue to be addressed.

 

[orangebandguy]

That sounds freaking gay (wink).

Lol, good one.

 

[John Funk]

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.

I hope you read my whole reply to the article and the quoted texts, cause in it I pretty much agree with you.

I did, yes, but I felt it was worth responding to because others who might be inclined to raise the same argument you did (in facetiousness) might *not* see where we were coming from

 

[JJDWilson]

As a boy who likes boys, it always irks me that the word gay is thrown around as an insult so easily. When I hear the word "fag" it honestly feels like a straight slap to the face.

Calling a homo or bisexual person a "fag" or "dyke" is akin to calling a black person "n*gger"

This is why I'm in favour of this panel. I know that half the people who use the term don't do so with any direct harmful intentions towards the LGBT community, but it still hurts guys.

 

[Lazzi]

Its not an issue,sure if you play online theres a lot of people who wont like you if your homosexual but then again theres a lot of idiots and jerks in online gaming (unlike us awesome people on the escapist *caughs* im a kissass *caughs* ) but i wouldnt call it bashing,hey no one makes you say your homosexual in a game of battlefield,for all they know you can be an old lady with a strange sence of morality,but nowadays games bash everything and so do gamers so its only natural people cover all subjects,so bottom line is,just ignore the jerks and keep to yourself. And btw everyone has a right of free choice,if someone doesnt like gay people thats his right and choice,and saying they should shut up is hypocritical with all the free speach liberties around.

You can freely state that you dont like one, that just a fact of life and people just have to deal with it.

However when you a minorty the majority closing in on you and barating you for what you are, not a choice that you make. Things feel very different and unsafe.

 

[Bigeyez]

They have provided a safe enviroment for every race, nationality and sexual preference. There is anonimity and there is this little thing called the mute button. Heck on XBL you can even block communication. People online don't need to know your sexual preference. You don't walk into a crowd of strangers and holler "I am (insert sexual preference here) deal with it" so why should the internet be any different? And if you are going to announce your lifestyle choice to the world like it matters to anyone but you, you best be prepared for people not to like or agree with it. If you paint a target on your back people will take shots.

I don't understand why gay people figure they are above the laws of simple social etiquette.

Agreed...While I think it's fine and dandy that they want their issues to be heard there are ways already in place to stop these things. Muting, reporting, blocking is all there for a reason.

I personally don't notice much of this, besides the ocassional kid yelling dude your so gay, but even then they don't mean it literally. It's slang nowadays. I'm not saying it isn't a problem becuase I bet it is, just can't say I've witnessed any of it myself.

 

[Bigeyez]

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.

Teh difference is that race and the color of my eyes/hair is not a choice. It is their chloice to be openly gay, and put that into their profiles. If you put it in your profile, then you need to deal with the consequences.

For example: Lets say that I have a 1/2 inch penis. I do not of course, but for the sake of this arguement, I'm going to use this as an example. If I put that into my profile, and then I get made fun of, then it is my fault. I put it in my profile, I deal with the consequences.

It's not really fair to say it's their fault. It's never anyones fault that other people decide to be asses and make fun of you. But i get your point. We live in the real world and people should expect that putting something in their profile like that is going to get them picked on.

 

[cobra_ky]

For one, I don't believe that any group has the right to complain. In one of my previous posts I had said: religions, nationalities, races; nobody should be able to complain about these things.

so you don't believe in the right to freedom of speech? that's interesting, but ultimately irrelevant. we're talking about online gaming communities which are corporately owned and operated. when you sign up for these communities there are license agreements and terms of use which you agree to abide by. you also authorize the company to take action should you violate your end of the agreement. the purpose of this panel is to figure out how to structure these agreements in such a way to maximize enjoyment for the player base overall.

Secondly, it IS a special interest group. It is in the interest of a special group of people.

what "special group" would this be? it interests me, and i'm not homosexual.

Lastly, you DO choose to join it.

go "choose" to be gay for a week, then come back and say this.

 

[essieteric]

For one, I don't believe that any group has the right to complain. In one of my previous posts I had said: religions, nationalities, races; nobody should be able to complain about these things.

Secondly, it IS a special interest group. It is in the interest of a special group of people.

Lastly, you DO choose to join it.

*breathes*

I think we all have rights to complain about whatever we want to. I mean, you are here complaining about something that you don't agree with. That's perfectly acceptable. I think you have a right to complain - you're angry about something! However, if you have a right, so do others. You can't take away that right just because you believe that you are right and everyone else is wrong.

Secondly, the context of your previous comment confused me so thank you for clarifying your definition for me. With your terminology, aren't you elevating this community to a different status though? I'm not sure if that contributes to the problem as well.

Lastly .... VERY lastly .... the nature vs nurture debate will keep going on. Until we have scientific evidence, I am happy to agree to disagree with you.

My view is this: Believe me, if I had a choice NOT to join it, I would have happily NOT joined it. So would many others. I hate the attention that it gives as people single me out, I detest the fact that I have fewer rights than other members of society, and it fills me with sadness every day that I cannot walk down the street with my partner holding her hand without someone making a MASSIVE issue out of it.

Thanks for responding to my post - you have given me some points to think about.