DC_78 said:
I have never claimed that standard does not apply to me, personally. But I believe that you are trying to say it applies to the movement as if it is a hivemind. Which it is not. There is no Grand King of gamergate or central site that even coordinates strategy. Although here and 4chan seem to be the most likely sources for discussion of strategy and tactics. The Escapist is no more responsible for the worst bile filled forum post or thread than gamergate is to a random horrible tweet.
That said I can understand the thought process of abandoning gamergate. In fact it has been discussed in the big thread before. Ultimately it was seen to be of more harm than good to the movement to split it. In effect the understanding is if you abandon the gamergate name, even to clean up its image by founding another cause it would simply be relabeled the same by the media. Also it would be infected by the same trolls that started the mud slinging and harassment anyway as there are no serious controls in place to stop them nor could there be realistically. There is no magic kill switch on someone's twitter to keep them from using certain #'s. You would simply confuse people, drive some groups away (that maybe need to be driven away but it is opinion), seem less serious losing momentum, and only get painted with the same brush anyway because that is the media's only real tactic at this point to silence the discussion. That and mass censorship.
Honestly I am sorry that even our good members will be seen as women hating trolls. That has been a burden some have carried well, some have not cared much about it, and one which has been too heavy for others causing real depression. This is why I believe some have made numerous threads to try and get fence sitters and even reasonable folks on the other side to look at all the evidence and arguments we have put forward. To validate their own feelings with the wider community to make themselves feel better and to spread awareness. I know spreading awareness is why I respond to threads like this without rancor or anger.
For instance Gamegate has spawned #notyourshield and financed The Fine Young Capitalists efforts, both highlighting diversity in games and gamers more than a thousand click baiting articles on any gamer web site. We have opened up and shined a light on some of games media and the indie scene's bad practices. We have made some good things happen in the industry on transparency that needed to be addressed for the benefit of everyone. I believe we may have even uncovered a case of legitimate racketeering in the Indie awards scene.
My last thought is some people have been hurt, some people have been harassed, some have been forced by their own words to become disillusioned with gamers enough to quit the industry. That is sad, but I think gamers have stood for their rights for a better media and indie scene and unfortunately do to the actions of a few it hurt some people.
