Microsoft Apologizes to Fort Gay for Xbox Live Ban

[sketch_zeppelin]

Heh, heh. This is one of those cluster fuck situations. I understand why Microsoft did what they did but i am surprised that the CS rep didn't even bother to google the location. I guess they figured even if such a place did exist than what we're the chances that the guy lived there and wasn't just playing a clever prank.

They did fuck up though when the Mayor got involved and no one bothered to look into it. Still funny as hell.

 

[2fish]

Well that rep should be slapped then fired, sorry but wouldn't even look up the town when you get a zip code? In 5 seconds you can know if they are telling you the truth. Sounds like a moron or a corporate rule to me.

I like Why, AZ that is a great name for a town.

 

[archvile93]

I'm pretty sure there is a town in Australia called Fucking but I dare not put it in the search on google ¬.¬

It's in Austria.

OT: This doesn't surprise me. I've never seen even one customer service that wasn't total shit, even the one that are said to be good.

 

[Demeglazed]

So heres what i dont get about all this... EVEN IF Fort Gay, WV did not exist... what axactly IS OFFENSIVE about saying that???

 

[viranimus]

"At first I thought, 'Wow, somebody's thinking I live in the gayest town in West Virginia or something.'

Actually it wasnt until the local news station, WSAZ got involved that Mircosoft started to back off.

Ive spent time in Fort gay. Went to Fort gay elementary and middle school. And Im actually in the town as I write this visiting with family. Honestly. I dont know anyone from that town that is genuinely proud to say they live there. You look up the term podunk in the dictonary and it will give you the co-ordinates. Seriously the only thing to do for entertainment in this town is either leave, or hang out either in front of the abandoned car wash, or the exxon station.

As for being the gayest town.. Theres another town in Wv, a little ways off, that is called Mount gay which always seemed like it should have that honor.

The funny thing is that as the legend goes, The towns original name was Cassville, and they changed it TO fort gay. Reminds me of the line from Robin hood: Men in tights. Supposedly they got tired of the locals painting over the C on signs making it look like assville. I doubt its true. The local history plaquard in front of the middle school that locals use to hang clothes on during weekend flea markets in front of the school cites it was named In the revolutionary war because the residents were so happy, but again, highly doubtful.

 

[pigmypython]

For those that don't know there is also a town in Canada called Dildo...in Newfoundland I believe. No doubt same problems lol.

 

[firemark]

Knowing the wonderful world of Xbox Live, as a user myself, I completely understand why someone might at first say no to the location due to it's name. However, if the person gives you a ZIP code, you better look it up! Personally, I hope this kid gets some sort of compensation. I'm glad he's not suing them, because people these days are all too happy to drop a lawyer into things; but I feel that Microsoft should do more than just apologize. On the other hand, I'm glad to see that they at least try to keep an eye on things like this.

 

[StercusCaput]

_THIS_ is what happens when the world becomes overly PC. However, I blame most of the XBL user base for Microsoft's knee jerk reaction to Fort Gay. I am looking at you 13 year old Halo players.

 

[Electrogecko]

Wow this story is already on the wikipedia page for the town.

 

[AshenDoll]

Hopefully thier apology includes 8000 Microsoft Points, eh?

 

[StercusCaput]

Wow this story is already on the wikipedia page for the town.

Probably the biggest news story in a while for them.

 

[GeneticallyModifiedDucks]

I can see how they'd be on edge about the word "gay", what with all the child abuse on Xbox Live recently. Still pretty funny story, and the guy got his account back, so all's well in the end, I suppose.

Woah. Did you just equate homosexuals to pedophiles?

OK, bad choice of words on my part. Of course I wasn't implying that. The word I was looking for was exploitation. I just couldn't remember it at the time and it came out wrong. I apologize.

 

[SurfKansas]

Seriously, I'd hope all the people who refused to even google maps it get fired, immediately. Incompetence is what this is.

See. That was the problem. "Google" maps. Very taboo for Microsoft. Now, if the tech had been asked to look it up on Bing, maybe they would have had better luck.

 

[51gunner]

i feel sorry for the people who live in Dildo, Newfoundland, Canada, if this is how microsoft's customer service works

How about Gaylord, Michigan.

 

[Sacman]

lol I immediately thought of this...
[img height= 300]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/DildoNewfoundland.jpg[/img]
Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...

 

[The Bum]

Why would you name a place "fort gay"?

Way back when it ment happy.

 

[Motakikurushi]

Microsoft, everybody! Full of homophobes! What nice, respectable people they are. And all that hassle just to sign up to a mediocre, overly-priced online service.

 

[BoogieManFL]

While in a way I can see a reason for this to have been seen as an issue, overall I think less of their support reps for refusing to investigate the possibility that he was being truthful.

 

[Buizel91]

It eventually reached the point that the town's mayor, David Thompson, got involved, although he didn't fare any better, being told that the word "gay" wasn't appropriate under any circumstances.

I have a few issues with that statement.

There are loads of places with funny names in the UK which have evolved over the centuries.

<img height=250>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Twatt_road_sign.jpg/450px-Twatt_road_sign.jpg

Don't for get titty hill west Sussex.

I'm glad I live in such a humorous land.

hey don't forget this...

And the guy who didn't check it up should be fired, seriously it would of taken like 5 seconds =S