## The gate of gamers

Post by Chris12 » Thu Mar 19, 2015 2:54 pm

The more forum dwelling members will no doubt have noticed the little kerfuffle going on in the world of video games. A little ''war'' has been raging for almost eight month's now and it has shown no signs of stopping. This site has at least a few gamers and others may have come across the hashtag on twitter so, since it doesn't seem to be ending I'l ask the members of my favorite site how they stand on the subject.
For those that don't know: Currently the forum dwelling gaming community has been split into two side. The ''Social justice warriors'' for lack of a better term who want better portray of woman and minorities in gaming. A rabbit faction of those people admittingly try to blacklist or ruin the careers of those they don't like and lets be honest, can sometimes get worked up over minor things or things they don't know a thing about.
On the other side there are the gamergaters who claim to stand for more ethics in game Journalism and who try to reign in an increasingly nepotist and ideology driven press. A rabbit faction of those people admittingly harass or send death treats to feminist activist and lets be honest, can sometimes get worked up over minor things.
For eight whole month's these camps have either been rousing each other on in their echo chambers or otherwise coming out to yell at or ruin careers on the other side. Its hard to figure out were the camps end and the Trolls begin though so that's something to consider.
I hope that was a neutral summery, not picking a side so if there's someone here who's passionately involved on either side...please don't kill me!
So what are the opinions about this mess on this site? I know Anita Sarcesian was name dropped at least once so at least someone knows about it.
As for me, I'm neutral since I don't hold any strong opinion of Feminism, and ethics in game journalism? Its not my game journalism that's under fire since its mostly an American thing. The main Dutch gaming site would make Gaters pretty happy though. Overall its a far from my bed show. On individual bullet points I'd probably be closer to Gamergate but I don't feel inclined to voice my support either way.
A few month's ago I would say I didn't care but....I do care! In somewhat of a dark way but still. The whole thing...well its kind of fascinating how people are willing to ruin careers over what's essentially internet drama!
So yeah, should be a fun discussion right?

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by NemesisPrime » Thu Mar 19, 2015 5:07 pm

It may be an american thing now but this kind of crap spreads like a virus so don't expect it to stay that way for long.
As for me, I'm all for ethnics in game journalism cause the title implies finding the truth and reporting the facts and when someone is engaging in "tit for tat" i.e. giving postive reviews to a game that DOESN'T deserve it then yeah I have an issue with it and when those said people conspire to not only belittle their readers but plot character assassinations it does leave me VERY concerned.
But it goes far beyond that. This is what's called "3rd Wave Feminism" and it's so far removed from ACTUAL Feminism (at least the most vocal parts of it) I dare say it's Fascism wearing the trappings of Feminism cause actual feminists like one who goes by the username "Factual Feminist" and several like her do not like this current crop cause their cause is not women being equal, this is about them wanting to overthrow the non-existent patriarchy and install a matriarchy. They want only THEIR voice to be heard and you have a penis then shut your mouth you oppressive shitlord. How dare you have an opinion! Cause this is the same ilk who had a petition to reduce men to about 10% of the population. THAT EXTREME.
That having been said I do not hate feminists but the vocal minority is poisoning the well.
Everyone speaks in multiple languages...But gag talk is universal and a sock in your mouth is the perfect translator!

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Jason Toddman » Fri Mar 20, 2015 1:29 pm

Sounds like these people are treating gaming as their religion... in more ways than one.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Bourne » Sun Mar 22, 2015 3:30 pm

the only thing I can say is Anita Sarcesian is full of it, she has no clue what's she's talking about and has thrown all gamers into the same barrel. The gamergate thing is just the idiot side of gaming with how its been a mini war now.
Female roles in gaming has improved greater over the last few years, we get stronger female characters in a lot of video games now, the only thing I hate is Anita Sarcesian who calls gamers all basement living anti woman asswhips who send death threats
"Hello i'm The Doctor, basicly run" 11th Doctor
You can call me Dexter (nickname ive been given) im into either being tied up or tying you up
Always looking to hear new self bondage ideas to try out and am open to a TUG buddy in my area (UK)

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by misterg792000 » Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:41 pm

> Bourne wrote:Female roles in gaming has improved greater over the last few years, we get stronger female characters in a lot of video games now, the only thing I hate is Anita Sarcesian who calls gamers all basement living anti woman asswhips who send death threats

No she didn't. Not even close. Maybe you should hear what she has to say instead of trusting man-children who think adults care about "video game journalism" tell you she says.

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Rachel M » Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:43 pm

Relevant: http://www.harkavagrant.com/?id=341

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Chris12 » Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:06 pm

> Rachel M wrote:Relevant: http://www.harkavagrant.com/?id=341

That one was a bit long but very funny.

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Kyle » Mon Mar 23, 2015 8:09 pm

I play video games somewhat frequently, and have somehow managed to avoid discovering much of anything about this.

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Bourne » Tue Mar 24, 2015 4:33 pm

> misterg792000 wrote:

> > Bourne wrote:Female roles in gaming has improved greater over the last few years, we get stronger female characters in a lot of video games now, the only thing I hate is Anita Sarcesian who calls gamers all basement living anti woman asswhips who send death threats

> No she didn't. Not even close. Maybe you should hear what she has to say instead of trusting man-children who think adults care about "video game journalism" tell you she says.

I don't follow anything like IGN im going of what shes said in interviews and on twitter which she has posted, she comes across as being narrow sighted in some ways, its the fact she like most media outlets base videogames being the key reason why a certain behaviour happens, with Anita she says certain video game tropes about woman lead men to assume the same for women in real life which shouldn't be happening cause videogames have never been proved to have any affect on a person behaviour as with most things you are changed by your childhood and parents/role models.
Tbh the whole gamergate thing has prove her right in a lot of ways but the silent gamers (male and female) aren't that way its the smaller percentage being idiots online as they seem to think there are bulletproof
"Hello i'm The Doctor, basicly run" 11th Doctor
You can call me Dexter (nickname ive been given) im into either being tied up or tying you up
Always looking to hear new self bondage ideas to try out and am open to a TUG buddy in my area (UK)

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by wataru14 » Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:09 pm

Even though I enjoy video games, I have completely steered clear of the "gamer" culture because every time I have experienced it it has been pure poison from all sides. I am not by nature a competitive person and in my experience hardcore gaming brings out the very worst in people.
In terms of this controversy, I think the portrayal of women in gaming has improved greatly, but it still has far to go. In the old days, women were pretty much absent unless they were a living MacGuffin. A friend of mine has what he calls the "Sexy Lamp Theory," which states: if you have a female character who could be replaced by a sexy lamp and the game would pretty much play out as it would normally, then you may need to rethink your female character. Stronger and more positive female characters are (and have been) emerging, but they still often fall into tropes that male characters don't.
I don't think the situation is a bleak as it used to be, but there is a lot of room to improve.

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by misterg792000 » Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:56 am

> Bourne wrote:I don't follow anything like IGN im going of what shes said in interviews and on twitter which she has posted, she comes across as being narrow sighted in some ways, its the fact she like most media outlets base videogames being the key reason why a certain behaviour happens,

....no, she doesn't. Have you even watched the videos that started this furor amongst the man-children?

> wataru14 wrote:In terms of this controversy, I think the portrayal of women in gaming has improved greatly, but it still has far to go. In the old days, women were pretty much absent unless they were a living MacGuffin. A friend of mine has what he calls the "Sexy Lamp Theory," which states: if you have a female character who could be replaced by a sexy lamp and the game would pretty much play out as it would normally, then you may need to rethink your female character. Stronger and more positive female characters are (and have been) emerging, but they still often fall into tropes that male characters don't.
> I don't think the situation is a bleak as it used to be, but there is a lot of room to improve.

This is pretty much exactly what she says right here. Not exactly the sort of thing that should inspire homicidal rage amongst a bunch of autists.

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by wataru14 » Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:09 pm

> misterg792000 wrote:This is pretty much exactly what she says right here. Not exactly the sort of thing that should inspire homicidal rage amongst a bunch of autists.

There's no reason to drag autism into this. That's the kind of thing that the people you are criticizing say as an insult. But I understand what you mean. The amount of vitriol that Sarkeesian has drawn is utterly ridiculous.

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Jason Toddman » Fri Mar 27, 2015 3:41 pm

> wataru14 wrote:Even though I enjoy video games, I have completely steered clear of the "gamer" culture because every time I have experienced it it has been pure poison from all sides.

This has been true of fan culture in general for a long time. The same thing happened in sci-fi fan culture way back in the 1930s, for instance. Then you have the Kirk vs. Picard and the Star Wars vs. Star Trek fanboys taking things a notch too far at times in the 80s and 90s. It got pretty bad for a time, though I think it's simmered down now. The game culture thing is nothing new; just a new phase of an old problem.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Chris12 » Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:55 am

I found the gaming fanbase a nice one if you want to gush over a game you like, Ripp apart a rushed piece of crap or grumble about the next publisher selling half the game as DLC. When they talk politics or gender I tend not to participate because its kinda ugly.

### Re: The gate of gamers

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Mar 28, 2015 2:38 pm

Yeah, me to. Even after all this time i can gush about Skyrim (which has plenty of strong females in it anyway; hell you can even play as one) to anyone who wants to listen. This other stuff people are arguing about doesn't seem worth arguing about at all to me.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...