EA Hosting Panel on Homophobia in Gaming

[essieteric]

[

3)Why would I want to go be gay for a week...or even a milisecond. I'm straight. And I am an antihomosexualist. Why would I want to go be gay?

I'm think it is awesome that you "chose" to be straight.

 

[squid5580]

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.

You know it is funny about the "fag" and "that is so gay" is both fag and gay have different meanings as well as the derogatory ones implied. What I don't understand is why the homosexual community wants to own those words in the first place. Why would a homosexual person take offense to the word gay being used in that way if they are homosexual and not gay? Sure homosexual pride doesn't roll off the tongue like gay pride does but the bottom line is they are just words. Letters arranged in a specific order and the meaning is applied by the user.

I do understand how this matter is important and I do support it don't get me wrong. The problem I see is you could ban the word gay and fag from the earth but that is going to do nothing. The problem isn't the words it is the hearts and minds of people. And I am sorry but having this little pow wow is going to solve nothing. You can take the words but the feelings will still be there. In the real world, on the internet anywhere you go someone is gonna hate someone else for no good reason until someone finds the reset button and the planet starts again. And hopefully they will get it right next time.

 

[cobra_ky]

For one, I don't believe that any group has the right to complain.

1) I LOVE the freedom of speech

isn't complaining a form of speech?

2) Maximise enjoyment? It takes away from my enjoyment that I have to watch my language because these groups think that they are holier-than-thou and are the only ones who get abused online.

<a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.90841>this story was linked in the original article. Read it. if anything, the gay community would AGREE WITH YOU. they think the existing community standards on Xbox Live are too strict. they forbid any mention of homosexuality, positive or negative, whatsoever. how could they possibly get any worse?

3)Why would I want to go be gay for a week...or even a milisecond. I'm straight. And I am an antihomosexualist. Why would I want to go be gay?

you tell me. if it's a choice, then there has to be some reason people choose to be gay, right? can you possibly imagine why they would?

if you can't choose to be gay, and you can't figure out why anyone else would, what makes you think its a choice at all?

 

[essieteric]

[

3)Why would I want to go be gay for a week...or even a milisecond. I'm straight. And I am an antihomosexualist. Why would I want to go be gay?

I'm think it is awesome that you "chose" to be straight.

I think it's awesome too!

I am curious, of course .... when and how did you first decide that you were a heterosexual? Was it a fear of people of the same sex? Is it possible that your heterosexuality could be a phase that you will grow out of? *smiles sweetly*

 

[cobra_ky]

I do understand how this matter is important and I do support it don't get me wrong. The problem I see is you could ban the word gay and fag from the earth but that is going to do nothing. The problem isn't the words it is the hearts and minds of people. And I am sorry but having this little pow wow is going to solve nothing. You can take the words but the feelings will still be there. In the real world, on the internet anywhere you go someone is gonna hate someone else for no good reason until someone finds the reset button and the planet starts again. And hopefully they will get it right next time.

a lot of people are missing the point of "this little powwow". they're not trying to end all homophobia, everywhere, forever. EA and microsoft are putting this on because they want to learn how to make online games that gay people will pay money to play, instead of getting pissed off and quitting. ultimately this is all about making money.

 

[squid5580]

I do understand how this matter is important and I do support it don't get me wrong. The problem I see is you could ban the word gay and fag from the earth but that is going to do nothing. The problem isn't the words it is the hearts and minds of people. And I am sorry but having this little pow wow is going to solve nothing. You can take the words but the feelings will still be there. In the real world, on the internet anywhere you go someone is gonna hate someone else for no good reason until someone finds the reset button and the planet starts again. And hopefully they will get it right next time.

a lot of people are missing the point of "this little powwow". they're not trying to end all homophobia, everywhere, forever. EA and microsoft are putting this on because they want to learn how to make online games that gay people will pay money to play, instead of getting pissed off and quitting. ultimately this is all about making money.

That is easy. When you make an xbl account instead of underground, pro ect ect they could ask sexual preference, race and religious views and then you can only play games online with people who answered the same as you. have some mods using dummy accounts directly from MS to monitor gamertags that get more than X many reports. If you get caught making an account just to troll then you lose your gold membership privileges. 60 bucks is quite a price to insult people for a few days. Problem solved.

 

[Shadedblade]

Spoken like a bunch of heterosexual white males.

Just because this issue doesn't affect you personally doesn't mean it isn't something important that needs to be addressed. From a developer's perspective, you want your community to be as happy as possible, but if you allow open discussion of homosexuality -- which for some people is a large part of their identity -- you open the door to rampant hostility. On the other hand, if you deny the discussion, then you're seen as being biased against homosexuals. So what do you do?

As for not declaring that you're straight, you don't have to. It's automatically assumed that you are.

You know I can't help but feel as if you're opening statement completely invalidated the rest of your post. I really do hate how much the gays, African Americans, and Jews among other groups are discriminated against online, but you're opening statement was a downright fallacy. Do your research, and you will see that while only 49% of Caucasian people voted for Prop 8 in California, 70% of African Americans and 53% of Hispanics voted for it. So while you do make a good point, I call bullshit on your opening statement. Also depending on your voice or behavior people may not assume that you're heterosexual. I have personally seen this happen many times on Xbox Live.
Source for vote: http://www.thetaskforce.org/TF_in_news/09_0115/stories/31_race_overstated.pdf

 

[Shadedblade]

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.

Hahaha, I know some that use Christian as an insult on this forum. It seems as if somewhere around 80% of the active users are Atheists on this, which is really pretty incredible considering that less than 10% of the world's population are Atheists. Its really refreshing though as I know tons of Christians that would like to shove their beliefs down everyone's throats. However, this point is spot on. I do know that when someone calls someone else a "fag" online it is not meant to be a statement against gays, but it still could very well hurt a gay player.

Edit: Double post, I apologize

 

[Iron Mal]

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

What are you talking about? Special privileges? Like what? Noting being ridiculed for their sexual orientation? Which is, by the way, part of every terms of use for online games (Namely XBL and PSN).

So other people break the rules, they complain to get fair treatment, and you say we shouldn't 'cater' to them?
You can't be serious.

It could have something to do with the fact that sexual orientation is not something that comes up in every conversation. You can quite easily tell a person's race, gender or social background from the way they talk, a person's sexual preference is somewhat more subtle (with the possible exception of people who are over the top and flamboyantly gay) in which case it is hard to explain how anyone even discovered said information (unless you tell someone then it is probably going to be rather discreet in an online game).

With this it could be argued that someone who brands about their sexuality online with a self imposed sense of invulnerability probably deserves to have their confidence shaken slightly with a small amount of verbal abuse.

In short, if you know that there is something that you might be ridiculed for, be intelligent and don't bring it up in the public space (especially in the homophobic depths of online hardcore gaming).

 

[Lazzi]

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.

You know it is funny about the "fag" and "that is so gay" is both fag and gay have different meanings as well as the derogatory ones implied. What I don't understand is why the homosexual community wants to own those words in the first place. Why would a homosexual person take offense to the word gay being used in that way if they are homosexual and not gay? Sure homosexual pride doesn't roll off the tongue like gay pride does but the bottom line is they are just words. Letters arranged in a specific order and the meaning is applied by the user.

I do understand how this matter is important and I do support it don't get me wrong. The problem I see is you could ban the word gay and fag from the earth but that is going to do nothing. The problem isn't the words it is the hearts and minds of people. And I am sorry but having this little pow wow is going to solve nothing. You can take the words but the feelings will still be there. In the real world, on the internet anywhere you go someone is gonna hate someone else for no good reason until someone finds the reset button and the planet starts again. And hopefully they will get it right next time.

Then what else could they do?

This is the best, or at least most vivid option they have.

 

[squid5580]

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

Fixed that for ya.

wait, suburban? what does that have to do with it?

EDIT: also, as an ex-teenage, suburban, heterosexual white male, i can't help but feel slightly offended.

Being a hetrosexual white male means you aren't allowed to get offended when someone generalizes us like that. Sorry mate. Dem are da rules.

 

[squid5580]

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.

You know it is funny about the "fag" and "that is so gay" is both fag and gay have different meanings as well as the derogatory ones implied. What I don't understand is why the homosexual community wants to own those words in the first place. Why would a homosexual person take offense to the word gay being used in that way if they are homosexual and not gay? Sure homosexual pride doesn't roll off the tongue like gay pride does but the bottom line is they are just words. Letters arranged in a specific order and the meaning is applied by the user.

I do understand how this matter is important and I do support it don't get me wrong. The problem I see is you could ban the word gay and fag from the earth but that is going to do nothing. The problem isn't the words it is the hearts and minds of people. And I am sorry but having this little pow wow is going to solve nothing. You can take the words but the feelings will still be there. In the real world, on the internet anywhere you go someone is gonna hate someone else for no good reason until someone finds the reset button and the planet starts again. And hopefully they will get it right next time.

Then what else could they do?

This is the best, or at least most vivid option they have.

No the best option they have is to keep everyone separated (see a couple posts up). Or everyone can remember back to kindergarten when they learned about how sticks and stones break bones but names will never hurt.

 

[Zenode]

Why do large companies have to cater to the minority these days. (This includes government) They should be catering to the mainstream audience rather than just a few who get offended.

Rule: If your offended by it DONT DO IT

 

[Devil's Due]

I'm confused as to what they're going to do. Every time someone says "gay" there's a built in system that hears it and bans the player or such? I really do not see how they can stop it completely. Also, what about everyone else who gets insulted and such a lot? It's the internet, full of ignorance. There is really nothing we can do about it.

Last, why do people openly announce they're homosexual in games? Isn't that kind of... inviting, the taunts? If you piss someone off, most morons will just spew whatever comes out of their mouth. The minute you tell them something personal about you, you're just asking for them to use that as ammunition towards yourself.

 

[squid5580]

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.

Have you ever noticed how seriously Peta or these religious groups are taken by gamers? Or how much they are made fun of by gaming community? I am sorry but I don't think the GLBT has any place in the gaming community. Not in a proffesional sense. The gaming community should have 1 single solitary concern. To play games and pwn each other. There shouldn't be any outside force trying to push thier agendas on us. There is tons of soapboxs out there waiting to be used.

 

[KaiusCormere]

Honestly, the way people behave when they have the shield of anonymity is appalling. Racism, Homophobia, Sexism...it's all out there. And I believe that game companies should crack down on the segment of the community that acts in these ways. They won't be missed, and I'm sure more customers will come when they find online entertainment to be a safer place, less full of assholes.

 

[Lazarus Long]

I am curious, of course .... when and how did you first decide that you were a heterosexual? Was it a fear of people of the same sex? Is it possible that your heterosexuality could be a phase that you will grow out of? *smiles sweetly*

I can't decide if you're cleverly awesome or awesomely clever. I haven't been here that long myself, but I would like to welcome you to the Escapist, madame. Thank you for making a bitter old man smile in an increasingly depressing thread.

For those of you who skipped to the end rather than read four pages of posts, allow me to summarize about half of it: "GRRR! WHAT ARE THEY DOING OUT OF THAT CLOSET?"