Video Game Coorporations and Politics.

[Gyrobot]

In fact, I wish people in general would stop doing this. People who "say" they actually support something, but never actually doing anything to support it. If you're not going to throw in some money or march out to protest in support of X, or do something to actually advance X, you don't really support it, you're just acting like you do to make yourselves look good.

This is especially annoying with fake overblown outrage. It doesn't matter whether it's racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. The vast majority of people screaming bloody murder over something done to group X are not only not members of group X themselves they have no intention of doing anything whatsoever to stop whatever it was that was inflicted on group X. This shows they don't actually care, they just want an excuse to justify being jerks to people. This is why this fake overblown outrage tends to be over incredibly petty stuff and the only action any of them ever take is going on Twitter or Facebook or whatever and metaphorically yelling at the top of their lungs to make themselves look like they are bigger and more important than they actually are rather than actually doing something.

At least corporations have the excuse that they're trying to make money off of it by improving their image. These fake outrage people just want any reason to stir up trouble.

I disagree, showing support cows the cowardly agitator looking to spark outrage to sate their personal need for validation in whatever toxic politics they believe in and forced to whatever hole they crawled out of.

Fail to do that and we get shitheel of companies like Running With Scissor's CEO supporting alt/far right political crank in his tweets and the vile game that is Postal 4.

This is part of the reason I am more supportive of EA now is because they took an active stance on their politics and it shows through their games development.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

To be fair, some of them probably know you better than your actual friends do.

 

[Bedinsis]

My opinion on slacktivism (since this is more or less what the discussion has turned into, no matter if the slacktivist is a corporation or an individual) is that it is the bare minimum anyone can do on an issue so only doing that can fairly be criticized as lazy.

It is however not no effort. You do alienate those that hold opposing views, or ideally makes them consider "Maybe I should look into this if this entity is saying this.".

So if e.g. FIFA spotlights the message "say no to racism" (which I've seen them do during an E3 presentation) all I can say is "well good I suppose".

 

[Casual Shinji]

In fact, I wish people in general would stop doing this. People who "say" they actually support something, but never actually doing anything to support it. If you're not going to throw in some money or march out to protest in support of X, or do something to actually advance X, you don't really support it, you're just acting like you do to make yourselves look good.

This is especially annoying with fake overblown outrage. It doesn't matter whether it's racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. The vast majority of people screaming bloody murder over something done to group X are not only not members of group X themselves they have no intention of doing anything whatsoever to stop whatever it was that was inflicted on group X. This shows they don't actually care, they just want an excuse to justify being jerks to people. This is why this fake overblown outrage tends to be over incredibly petty stuff and the only action any of them ever take is going on Twitter or Facebook or whatever and metaphorically yelling at the top of their lungs to make themselves look like they are bigger and more important than they actually are rather than actually doing something.

At least corporations have the excuse that they're trying to make money off of it by improving their image. These fake outrage people just want any reason to stir up trouble.

If fake outrage stirs up trouble how is it not doing something? It might be doing something you don't like, but it is doing something that has a ripple effect. You can't tell me the outrage in the last couple of years hasn't had an effect, say, on Covid? Also, a lot of money is invested in manufacturing outrage because of how effective it is. Twitter mobs are pretty much online marches.

You say these corporations have the excuse of wanting to make money by improving their image, but it's these corporations that actually have the money and influence to make changes, and then don't. Regular people at least have the excuse of not being giant corporations who can throw their weight around.

This is why i laugh when people say "thoughts and prayers" as if that will fix the tsunami that just wiped 20k people off the map. Gimme a break at lease give the redcross some support

Maybe they already gave to the Red Cross, maybe they're just being decent in the face of something terrible, maybe in that one moment all they really have is words of encouragement.

Why are we suddenly so dismissive of people wanting to (verbally) show support, as if we can see into their minds and KNOW they don't really mean it? Ofcourse there are moments when a situation is too dire for just kind words, but to dismiss it outright is stupid talk. If 'thoughts and prayers' or 'I hope you recover' or 'I feel terrible about this' make you laugh (regardless of the circumstances), I'm sorry, but that's being a jerk.

 

[Gyrobot]

Misanthrophy is unfortunately well and blooming in this world.

 

[immortalfrieza]

If fake outrage stirs up trouble how is it not doing something? It might be doing something you don't like, but it is doing something that has a ripple effect. You can't tell me the outrage in the last couple of years hasn't had an effect, say, on Covid? Also, a lot of money is invested in manufacturing outrage because of how effective it is. Twitter mobs are pretty much online marches.

You say these corporations have the excuse of wanting to make money by improving their image, but it's these corporations that actually have the money and influence to make changes, and then don't. Regular people at least have the excuse of not being giant corporations who can throw their weight around.

Fake outrage stirring up trouble does nothing, it's never been anything other than annoying the hell out of other people because they can, not actually accomplishing anything. All the screaming bloody murder in the world will never do anything but fall on deaf ears if it's not backed up by actual action. All it ever does is bother people who don't have anything to do with whatever it is.

Maybe they already gave to the Red Cross, maybe they're just being decent in the face of something terrible, maybe in that one moment all they really have is words of encouragement.

Why are we suddenly so dismissive of people wanting to (verbally) show support, as if we can see into their minds and KNOW they don't really mean it? Ofcourse there are moments when a situation is too dire for just kind words, but to dismiss it outright is stupid talk. If 'thoughts and prayers' or 'I hope you recover' or 'I feel terrible about this' make you laugh (regardless of the circumstances), I'm sorry, but that's being a jerk.

Why are people dismissive of verbally showing support? It's because it's never done anything that's why. It's pretending one is doing something because one is too lazy to actually do something. Words of support or condemnation have never done anything in the history of the human race, actually taking action does. People dismiss it because it's completely insincere, what we pay attention to is people who actually DO something. You mentioned the Red Cross? There's a reason people frequently bring that organization up, because the Red Cross actually works to solve problems instead of just acting like they care to make themselves look good.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Fake outrage stirring up trouble does nothing, it's never been anything other than annoying the hell out of other people because they can, not actually accomplishing anything. All the screaming bloody murder in the world will never do anything but fall on deaf ears if it's not backed up by actual action. All it ever does is bother people who don't have anything to do with whatever it is.

Fake outrage as opposed to sincere outrage? What exactly is the difference? This is already why I have an issue with this entire sentiment; it's fake outrage if it's deemed unimportant by the one claiming 'fake outrage'.

And it accomplishes tons. I'm sure I don't need to name names when it comes to people with enormous platforms spewing loads of nonsense, which is then taken as the gospel truth by thousands of people. Again, look at just the last couple of years. That didn't fall on deaf ears or just annoy people, it had genuine impact.

Why are people dismissive of verbally showing support? It's because it's never done anything that's why. It's pretending one is doing something because one is too lazy to actually do something. Words of support or condemnation have never done anything in the history of the human race, actually taking action does. People dismiss it because it's completely insincere, what we pay attention to is people who actually DO something. You mentioned the Red Cross? There's a reason people frequently bring that organization up, because the Red Cross actually works to solve problems instead of just acting like they care to make themselves look good.

Taking action is not something that appears out of thin air. One doesn't just go out and protest or donate without an outcry or a collective outrage over something. It's what typically spurs people into action. Words. Also, you have no way of knowing that the people you're accusing of pretending or being too lazy AREN'T taking action as well. Again, you're just assuming this because... I don't know.

 

[Gordon_4]

View attachment 6122

I think he’s inferring that some corporations - via data collection - know you in a sense better than some of your friends might. Obviously this is knowing in the academic sense as opposed to the emotional sense.

 

[Drathnoxis]

I think he’s inferring that some corporations - via data collection - know you in a sense better than some of your friends might. Obviously this is knowing in the academic sense as opposed to the emotional sense.

That is what I was implying. Although, knowing in the biblical sense would probably work as well.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Every time I see this thread title I keep thinking it says cooperations.

 

[Dreiko]

Instead of posturing on social media for virtue points, I'd rather they take their stances that they sooooo deeply believe in and use them to generate funds for a good game with a message about those issues. And it doesn't have to be a literal game about abortion, it can be metaphorical and creative and cool instead!

I don't care what they have to say outside of games, and if someone else doesn't show me I don't go looking for it myself, but if they make a good game then I'll give it a chance.


See, in my view most of those companies don't really believe in anything other than making money, so when they tout these opinions I see it as an attempt to manipulate me and score popularity points, which makes me have negative feelings on both the company itself AND whatever it is they are pushing, because that thing apparently has lost all meaning and is just a tool to get cheap pity out of random people for no cost or effort.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

Instead of posturing on social media for virtue points, I'd rather they take their stances that they sooooo deeply believe in and use them to generate funds for a good game with a message about those issues. And it doesn't have to be a literal game about abortion, it can be metaphorical and creative and cool instead!

I don't care what they have to say outside of games, and if someone else doesn't show me I don't go looking for it myself, but if they make a good game then I'll give it a chance.


See, in my view most of those companies don't really believe in anything other than making money, so when they tout these opinions I see it as an attempt to manipulate me and score popularity points, which makes me have negative feelings on both the company itself AND whatever it is they are pushing, because that thing apparently has lost all meaning and is just a tool to get cheap pity out of random people for no cost or effort.

Off Topic. Hey Dreiko, long time no see, you doing good? What kept ya away so long?

 

[Dreiko]

Off Topic. Hey Dreiko, long time no see, you doing good? What kept ya away so long?

Hey there! I was moving cross country and it was a pretty lengthy process so I combined it with a month and change long vegas casino tour vacation. Only got my regular setup back into action a couple weeks back XD.

 

[JMAAMusic]

Instead of posturing on social media for virtue points, I'd rather they take their stances that they sooooo deeply believe in and use them to generate funds for a good game with a message about those issues. And it doesn't have to be a literal game about abortion, it can be metaphorical and creative and cool instead!

I don't care what they have to say outside of games, and if someone else doesn't show me I don't go looking for it myself, but if they make a good game then I'll give it a chance.


See, in my view most of those companies don't really believe in anything other than making money, so when they tout these opinions I see it as an attempt to manipulate me and score popularity points, which makes me have negative feelings on both the company itself AND whatever it is they are pushing, because that thing apparently has lost all meaning and is just a tool to get cheap pity out of random people for no cost or effort.

Rather instead of posturing on social media, people should take it to the streets and actually protest.

 

[Dreiko]

Rather instead of posturing on social media, people should take it to the streets and actually protest.

But this implies it's people doing this, when it's just some employee at a corporation that is hired to manage their social media who works with a group of advertising and marketing professionals to manufacture the most effective marketing strategy. It's not as if a real person actually believes this stuff. People just like to hear it or use saying it as a tool to promote their selfish agendas.

 

[Buyetyen]

Instead of posturing on social media for virtue points, I'd rather they take their stances that they sooooo deeply believe in and use them to generate funds for a good game with a message about those issues. And it doesn't have to be a literal game about abortion, it can be metaphorical and creative and cool instead!

And the exact same people will complain about that. Some people aren't happy unless they're miserable.

On-topic, I'm largely unimpressed with corporations social posturing because it ultimately comes down to their bottom line. Thus, things like rainbow capitalism.

 

[JMAAMusic]

And the exact same people will complain about that. Some people aren't happy unless they're miserable.

On-topic, I'm largely unimpressed with corporations social posturing because it ultimately comes down to their bottom line. Thus, things like rainbow capitalism.

Yeah, it seems a bit ironic. There's corporations like Disney who will posture about LGBTQ+ values while directly funding anti-LGBT republican politicians on our backs. So I understand why you might be unimpressed as I am.