EFF Joins Reddit in "Gaymer" Trademark Battle

[redknightalex]

I don't really care for the word "gaymer" one way or the other. At first, a few years ago when I first heard the term, I liked it. Gave a better sense of belonging when, at the time, I had none. Now, I'm not sure what the point of it is. There is the allure of being able to identify yourself with two potentially important ideas meshed together, where identity can give you a lot of peace of mind, while on the other hand you have a word that isn't the greatest one to use.

Even a small solace can be a critically important one. I'm bisexual, a gamer, and occasional visitor of /r/Gaymers. While I wouldn't identify myself as a "gaymer" it's a good name for the community and it acts as a nice haven of two larger communities - the "gay community", of which many gay guys don't consider themselves a member for varied reasons, and the gaming community, which can be utterly homophobic in language (frequently) and attitude (less often, but it does happen). Enforcing the trademark will lead to the dissolution of the existing subreddit and force the creation of a new one, disrupting and potentially splitting the community as well as breaking archived links and resources online. Life is fucking awful enough as a gay teenager or twentysomething if you're not in a good and supporting community, so why break up one just to mandate the existence of another with a different name? It's bloody obvious they're two different communities even at a glance, despite sharing the same name and subject matter.

I completely agree with you on those points, and have been there before when a name or a word can mean more than the sum of its parts, it's only the term "gaymer" that I was never sure about. It felt like too much of a spotlight in a way. I guess, for myself as a gay woman, I didn't feel like tagging myself in that demographic when I was so scared of the rampant homophobia online, not just over MP but also in forums.

And I've never thought of the trademark causing that much of a disruption to communities which only help people find a place they can belong to, at least online. I've found others over the years, just as supporting, and I'd never want to be denied that, nor have anyone else's community be taken away from them. This trademark battle is absolutely stupid and, as you said, potentially damaging to many people.

Now I might have to check out the community. May not change my POV on the actual term but safe communities are always welcome. Gods know there aren't enough in real life.

 

[mattaui]

I think it's a bit silly, but only because I despise the need to differentiate people based on unrelated criteria. Gamers are people who play games. I don't care, at all, that you're a Christian gamer, a gay gamer, insert-ethnic-group-here gamer or any of that. I also question the ability to trademark such a term, but a website can certainly be a brand and protected by trademark, so they might end up with a leg to stand on there.

 

[Calibanbutcher]

SO, do I have to call myself "Stramer" then?
Because clearly one has to bring one's sexuality up all the time, no matter what is at hand?
Are there "Gaytarists" as well?
Am I a "Straightarist"
Are there "Gayrummers"? And "Straightummers"?
Or how about "gaydeners" and "stradeners"?



Yes I just used this topic as a hang-up for some terrible puns, sue me...

 

[MrBaskerville]

Seems just as silly as the concept of calling people gamers in the first place. So now there are several of types to categorize gamers? What´s the point and why do we even have stupid terms for people who enjoys videogames? It´s even more stupid when we also have to have specific terms so that we can see that "hey, this guy is gay and he´s a gamer!", because that´s really important to know in a conversation about videogames. Though it does make sense as a label for the community.

As always, i´m just boycutting the entire concept of the Gamer term, i dislike it. I don´t understand what makes gaming so special that people have to brand themselves as "gamer". I like movies and Books more, i don´t call myself a movieman or bookman, while joining some secret society where we shun those who dare say a bad thing about our games.

 

[Flutterbrave]

I'm actually reasonably convinced that the Gaymer are going to be a new elf race in the Elder Scrolls. I mean, you've got your Altmer, Dunmer, Orsimer, Bosmer, Dwemer, Falmer, and now Gaymer. MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

All of my yes.

 

[anthony87]

It's a horrible word. Why would anyone work hard to come up with a word so horrible?

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

Why the hell is this even a thing?

 

[Paradoxrifts]

I'm honestly waiting for a drink manufacturer without a clue to begin marketing an energy drink called, 'Gaymer Aid'.

 

[Strazdas]

The term itself i dislike like i dislike term "Fag". but they can use it if they want.

I do however thing that copyrighting such term is lunacy and hope that EFF wins this one.

 

[weirdee]

Oh hey, he's in the Facebook comments. Must be our lucky day.

 

[Vhite]

Idea of trademark is the stupidest thing in history of law. Why should anyone own the words that everyone can use? Its like patenting a some gas and then suing everyone who breaths because that gas happens to be contained in air.