Microsoft Okays Sexual Orientation in Gamertags

[The_root_of_all_evil]

What an atrocious piece of propaganda.

How exactly are they going to know that the tag matches the diversity of the owner?

But it's another way to bring us all together by handily defining those areas that set us apart.

Hooray for closet prejudice.

 

[Rock 'n' Soul]

I don't really have any interest in expressing my sexual orientation over XBL, but I'm glad that the option is there for people that want that sort of thing.

 

[Silver_Shade]

I don't really have any interest in expressing my sexual orientation over XBL, but I'm glad that the option is there for people that want that sort of thing.

I agree with this.

I would have never even thought about adding sexual orientation to a gamertag, but if you want to, why not?

I agree that it has nothing to do with the event at hand, but I don't see it really adding more harm to the horrors of XBL.

 

[Nuke_em_05]

I think it is a good "switch". I mean, from what it sounds like, they didn't allow any orientation posted; straight, gay, or otherwise. So it wasn't really discrimination, it's just a non-feature. So in adding it with pretty much every (general) orientation, it works I guess.

Personally, I don't see what the need is to incorporate "social" information; especially since your gamertag links to your facebook and such now(?). If you have real life friends, you'll get their gamertag from them. If you meet other players that you enjoy playing with online, what more information do you need before you add them to your game network friend's list?

I don't have any sort of need to let people know my orientation, religion, or political standpoint in a profile or handle. If it is an option I'll mark it, but if not oh well.

Sometimes I wonder if all this line-blurring and crossing between IM, Blogs, Social Networks, Online Gaming, etc. is really necessary.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

I'm still baffled as to why people care so much about these things on XBL. I mean I don't think I'd put my orientation on there, considering I'd be holding up a sign in front of XBL's largely pre-teen, shrieking user base that says "I'm part of a minority which is still socially acceptable to slander". They do NOT need the encouragement.

Also who even looks at gamertags? All I know about what's written on someone's gamertag is their handle because it's usually above them in the game I'm playing. I'm not interested in what people's religions are when I'm playing a video game.

People are stupid, that's why

OT: Good for them????

 

[Altorin]

while I think anyone who'd announce that they're gay on XBL is looking for trouble, I do like having the freedom to make my gamertag whatever it I want.

For the record, I'm not gay, but if I WAS gay I would appreciate this change, even if I wouldn't use it.

But I hope there will still be a way to report its use as a slur.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

That's nice and all, but that should have been in there from the start. I don't see the big deal for not allowing people to express their sexuality in their bio, other then to avoid grief from the immature memebers of Xbox Live who would make fun of them for being homosexual.

 

[Riobux]

While I personally wouldn't shove my sexual orientation in my X-Box 360 profile, I agree with this idea. Just because before you could show off almost everything else about yourself in the profile, except your sexual orientation. Sure they meant well, but it's not killing anyone every-time someone spews homophobic stuff. I'd rather see people get banned for using it in a context than for mentioning it at all.

I think it's a step forward that they've allowed people to do it. Just have to hope it works out.

 

[Xanadeas]

People seem to be of the opinion that it's not necessary to have all this information in their gamer tag. While they may be true I think what a lot of these people wanted was just the option to do it. Before it was strictly against the rules so if they did they got in trouble for it... A person shouldn't get in trouble for explaining a part of who they are.

 

[theultimateend]

I say this rhetorically but "Am I the only one amazed that Homophobia lasted more than a year in the US?"

I kind of figured we'd go "Down with Fags!" then after that crowd quieted down everyone would just look back and say "Wow that was foolish" and stop harassing them.

Just find it odd this kind of thing doesn't immediately die out for being absolutely silly. I would have trouble believing a fake universe with this kind of controversy . "Oh yeah right as if people would be that childish for that long."

 

[MR.Spartacus]

A Gay-mertag, eh?

Curse your eyes!
I can see it being done with a simple optional button press. Just make it part of the bio and make it something to click rather than type.

 

[AceDiamond]

People seem to be of the opinion that it's not necessary to have all this information in their gamer tag. While they may be true I think what a lot of these people wanted was just the option to do it. Before it was strictly against the rules so if they did they got in trouble for it... A person shouldn't get in trouble for explaining a part of who they are.

Except that I still fail to see why it should matter to them so damn much that they should let people they play with know what their sexual orientation is. I'm sure that ranks way high up on everybody's "Must know" list about their clan/guildmates, right after "can they play well"

My point is there's a difference between taking pride in who you are and just being obnoxious about it, and this would be the latter.

 

[Talux]

I'm really not sure why people get so upset about someone including their sexual orientation/ethnicity/whatever on a gamertag.

I haven't really used Xbox Live at all but does the gamertag even really appear that much unless you go and have a look at it? I mean it's not as if they're talking all about it over chat and spewing forth a flag or something everytime they get a kill, is it? It's almost as if someone mentions that they're gay in conversation and never says another word about it for the whole evening, and somehow that's obnoxious?

Why is it so bad to have some sort of vague personal information? To me it seems better than playing a game with fifteen human shaped robots who only say 'lol' every now and then.

 

[Xanadeas]

People seem to be of the opinion that it's not necessary to have all this information in their gamer tag. While they may be true I think what a lot of these people wanted was just the option to do it. Before it was strictly against the rules so if they did they got in trouble for it... A person shouldn't get in trouble for explaining a part of who they are.

Except that I still fail to see why it should matter to them so damn much that they should let people they play with know what their sexual orientation is. I'm sure that ranks way high up on everybody's "Must know" list about their clan/guildmates, right after "can they play well"

My point is there's a difference between taking pride in who you are and just being obnoxious about it, and this would be the latter.

It matters because it's a part of who we are. People say that XBL isn't a social network... except it is. You use it to connect to the internet and play games online with other people. It can be used as a way to make friends can't it? I mean you play a game with someone that's particularly awesome, you guys work well together or something and eventually form a friendship... This kinda information can be important then. You may feel otherwise but obviously others feel this kinda thing is important.

Can't you just let them have their moment?

 

[TheCrayonKeeper]

I dont think its going to kick off too well - When Im playing MW2 I dont care if I just got sniped by someone who likes men, long walks on the beach, lynx vice and dalmation puppies.

Its just a gamertag, not a life story
If anyone thinks its necessary then put it in your bio

 

[RicoADF]

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

Same it makes no sence to me, I dont go around showing off that I'm straight and I find it anoying when gays go on about being gay, not because I have an issue with their preference, I'm just sick of them going on about it as tho its a fashion.
If your truely comfterble with the way you are, then theres no need to make a deal about it :S