Microsoft Okays Sexual Orientation in Gamertags

[Orange Monkey]

Hmm well I applaude Microsoft for really trying to make the LGBT community welcome. And speaking as a Gay gamer myself it really warms my heart to see all the horrible things that we have to put up with brought to light. But I wonder if these alterations to policy will actually change anything... Most gay people I know are extremely wary of letting their sexualities known online, it can be a cruel and unforgiving world.

I applaud you for being honest on these forums. I'm heterosexual. If you and I played games together, how does where we get our jollies off really affect our temporary gaming relationship? It really wouldn't unless I was a prick that suddenly didn't like you because I found that out.

Granted if you said a bunch of smacktalk about fornicating my Grandma like in a recent moderator debacle I'd know you didn't enjoy it.

And you seem like a very intelligent and tolerant person, unfortunately not everyone is, some people are simply hateful for not other reason than to hate.

And nah, i'd leave the old bird alone, now you're Grandpa on the other hand...

 

[JaredXE]

Why on earth would they want their orientation listed on their gamertag? XBL is full of immature jackels who will jump on that shit.

As Moviebob once wrote, "Go ahead and make a profile on XBL saying you are something other than a straight white male. Go ahead and see how understanding they are.".

 

[Blimey]

I never understood why it was a big deal anyway. So someone is gay. Wheee. I could easily put "I'm straight." in my Gamer Profile. And I'm 100% sure no one would care. Just like I don't care if someones gay.

Honestly, I don't get why everything has to be such a big deal anymore.

 

[The DSM]

Those names are only going to be used by homophobic 12 year olds probably.

Its going to get abused, and more people will be offended.

 

[xxnightlawxx]

Good.

Serves the homophobes right.

Yup!

 

[Shockolate]

A Gay-mertag, eh?

Puns will not be tolerated. I'm afraid you must be sent through the rehabilitator for your own good and the good of all.

OT: Neat.

Thread De-rail: Disgusting Xenos. You and your Greater Good is nothing but a lie! It is the God-Emprah's will that we use puns, and it is his will that you die!

OP: This won't stop needless harassment methinks. Why would someone want to put their sexual preference in a gamertags anyway? That's just asking to be trolled.

 

[MurderousToaster]

Say hello to one billion "GayAtheistAfghani" etc.

Fantaaaaastic.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

A Gay-mertag, eh?

Puns will not be tolerated. I'm afraid you must be sent through the rehabilitator for your own good and the good of all.

OT: Neat.

Thread De-rail: Disgusting Xenos. You and your Greater Good is nothing but a lie! It is the God-Emprah's will that we use puns, and you shall never take that from us!

OP: This won't stop needless harassment methinks. Why would someone want to put their sexual preference in a gamertags anyway? That's just asking to be trolled.

Hey, hey, hey... No derailing the thread. This is a legitimate topic of discussion.

 

[DazZ.]

I'm glad I can have whatever I want as my name (in most games I play) and so can others. I don't like censorship and I don't find words offensive, it's rare I see people wondering around with racial slurs as names. The fact they can, and it isn't going to get them banned means they aren't breaking rules, I think that might make them less attractive as well.

 

[Shockolate]

A Gay-mertag, eh?

Puns will not be tolerated. I'm afraid you must be sent through the rehabilitator for your own good and the good of all.

OT: Neat.

Thread De-rail: Disgusting Xenos. You and your Greater Good is nothing but a lie! It is the God-Emprah's will that we use puns, and you shall never take that from us!

OP: This won't stop needless harassment methinks. Why would someone want to put their sexual preference in a gamertags anyway? That's just asking to be trolled.

Hey, hey, hey... No derailing the thread. This is a legitimate topic of discussion.

BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Oh well.

It still seems rather pointless to me saying your race, gender, orientation or anything else in a gamertag. The problem is twofold. First is that it won't stop harassment based on tags, and second, like someone said before, people will attempt to use this to be as offensive as possible. Hopefully Microsoft is up to the challenge and crack's down on this sort of thing.

 

[mugetsu37]

There's no reason to broadcast your sexual orientation, gay, straight, lesbian, bi, whatever. Part of an online community is that it allows you to be whomever you want, regardless of whatever situation you might find yourself in. By expressing your orientation you are looking for one of two things:

A) Some sort of romantic or pseudo-erotic relationship/experience with another person which should not be allowed in an online community such as XBOX Live

B) Some sort of special attention as to what sets you apart.

GLAAD members are saying that they're using the gamertags orientations as a form of empowerment and self identification, again I must stress that this won't actually help build a stronger community; it will help set people apart.

 

[Premonition]

Gender, nationality and age I understand. But what's up with all the rest, for christ's sake ... It's like turning a mosquito in to an elephant. Stop treating it like it's abnormal.

 

[MetalDooley]

Ok I gotta say I genuinely don't see why anyone would want to put their sexual orientation/religion etc. in their gamertag.I mean it's just a gamertag not a social networking site

 

[Kermi]

Honestly, this is completely unnecessary and will do nothing to make anyone feel less threatened while playing online.

Not being gay, I guess I don't understand the need to announce my sexuality in every online society I'm a part of to make sure I'm accepted. In my experience the people who feel the need to draw attention to their sexuality are just hoping someone will have an issue with them so they can "defend" their rights.

I don't care who someone is or what they do in their free time when I meet them in real life, so why would I take an interest when I'm shooting at their digital avatar?

I guess since they're allowing it then ok, cool, let's roll with it.

I'll just never get why this is a big deal.

 

[DigitalSushi]

Gamertags are not MySpace. Seriously, no one cares about your orientation, race or otherwise. I understand people want to connect, so I can see region for ping/server quality, and languages for finding people that you can understand.

The real problem is the offending victimisation of the offended er .. err victim!, I suck at English.

Anyway, insults over Xbox Live or PSN or Wii Friends Connect Codes are done by idiots to throw you off your game, its got nothing to do with your actual sexual orientation, your gonna get called a granny fucking ****** whore whatever your Tag is. And who cares what you get called by a stranger over the internet, its only a game!

I was once called a Soulja Boy fan in the ever so important match of Virtua Fighter on PSN, I was using Virtua Fighter to find a cure to all the worlds ill's, so naturally I was mortified.

 

[Jared]

A Gay-mertag, eh?

Oh god thats terrible!! ...lol, I like it!

Heh, If people want to show themselves off, fine by me. Freedom of expression ftw!

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Why on earth would they want their orientation listed on their gamertag? XBL is full of immature jackels who will jump on that shit.

As Moviebob once wrote, "Go ahead and make a profile on XBL saying you are something other than a straight white male. Go ahead and see how understanding they are.".

100% is how much I agree with this statement.

If one thinks exerting their liberal rights on XBL or GfWL is a win for equality... well then they don't play on the internet much do they.

Heck, I've had the most pregidous abuse I've ever experienced on GfWL. I never knew certain people felt such bitterness towards the Irish until then. Then I found the "God hates the Irish" website.