Topic: Apparently theres a new bannable offense on Xbox Live...

[Flames_of_chaos]

And it's a sad one when you consider how people act on Xbox live

Stuff like this is upsetting to me considering how Xbox live isn't a free service and just because you have a different sexual orientation and get harassed by other players because of it is sad and then getting banned is just a kick in the teeth. But then again it doesn't seem like Microsoft will change their ways.

[Adrock]

I hope Microsoft is ready for the sh*tstorm.

Prediction: Microsoft gets sued, they settle, remove the ban, apologize, give a bunch of money toward gay rights groups (ironic how this word is starred out on NWR), then once everyone is over it, they forget it happened and move on to offend someone else. Rinse, repeat.

There's a reason Microsoft is given so much crap. On top of their ass-quality products, they do dumb crap like this, all the while, asshole 13 year olds harassing everyone and their mothers (especially their mothers) get all the Xbox Live freedom they want. Thanks, Microsoft.

[stevey]

Isn't gay/*** spouted 100/s on xbox live anyway?

[Djunknown]

This reminded me of the man who wanted his real name Richard 'dick' yaGwood as a tag, but they wouldn't let him.

Its a thorny issue that has no easy answer. You are paying for a service, but its their servers/space and their rules. I remember a while back that Blizzard banned an openly gay WoW guild, even though they were most likely, good, loyal customers who didn't bother anyone.

The question I'd like to ask is this: Are you guaranteed the protections/rights of your constitution/charter/other vaguely worded parchment in the private-digital sector?

I like destructiod's last sentence:

Also, since when did male gamers hate the idea of lesbians? That just confirms my belief that most Xbox Live players are latent homosexuals.

I hear the kids love to teabag in Halo 3...maybe love it a little too much   

[GoldenPhoenix]

I would like to note we have no idea what all the background is to this, and that there may be more to the story. Do I really care about this? Not really MS has the right to do whatever they want with this service.

[Stratos]

I would like to note we have no idea what all the background is to this, and that there may be more to the story. Do I really care about this? Not really MS has the right to do whatever they want with this service.

Yet eHarmony is sued and forced in a court of law to provide services for *** people. Shows that even online services have to follow rules. I'm sure one of these days MS and others will feel the pressure too.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I would like to note we have no idea what all the background is to this, and that there may be more to the story. Do I really care about this? Not really MS has the right to do whatever they want with this service.

Yet eHarmony is sued and forced in a court of law to provide services for *** people. Shows that even online services have to follow rules. I'm sure one of these days MS and others will feel the pressure too.

Different animal there (though I disagree with the court on eharmony as well). MS has a right to curtail words that they find offensive, and since it isn't a dating site sexual orientation really should have no place on it (if you are looking for sexy singles on Xbox Live Arcade you are in big trouble) in your profile. Personally I wish they would get even more strict, but if they did they'd have to ban virtually everyone on the service!

Also I do want to repeat that there is a good chance we are only hearing part of the story, this is one of those things that raises a red flag with me that there is more to it then posting you are a lesbian in your profile.

[Stratos]

I think that if push comes to shove, the government may be able to interfere there more that you or I would like. But to avoid any possible rabbit trails into the magical land of many blood sucking creatures (poli- the Greek word for 'many' + tics- 'blood sucking creatures') I will leave it at that and not pursue the subject further.

I agree with you GP on there being another half to the story though. Most of these things happen because someone was hurt and rules are typically created when somebody made an initial trespass. There's a reason the youth group Summer camp I was a counselor at bans throwing people off of the house boats into the lake: they threw a guy off several years ago.

[OptimusP]

As a European I can only say...typical american. In Europe this kind of anti-holebi practice is almost unthinkable and goverments will sue you hell the EU will sue you if you ever discriminate holebi's because it's against free market policy (everyone has acces to goods). You see, companies always advocate to work in free markets which abhores that everyone should have acces to your services/products on equal terms with the only criteria being able to pay it. The hypocrsie of these companies comes forth when there is suddenly a huge politcal institution that goes enforcing that. The EU is very strict in that regard, much more-so then the US. Locking out customers who use your service and product the wrong way is legitimate, locking out customers because of their sexual background...big no-no.

I mean, in Europe there quite a lot of kid-shows who's actors have openly admitted homosexuality and none of those countries had any kind of fit about it (maybe a harsh word from the Pope in Italy and also maybe Spain and Poland). If this would happen in the US, you can be certain that some Parent grouping will go bonkers over it.

It seems havng a constitution based on the Enlightement does bring more social acceptance then one with references to a christian-esque deity.

[Deguello]

You know I'd be more inclined to side with Microsoft if any regular session of Xbox Live didn't involve being called every racial epithet on the planet.  And while there may be "more to the story," the facts as they are are pretty damning.  So it's OK and unoffensive and "you need to grow a thicker skin" to log onto to Xbox  Live and be called a gay ass ******, but actually BEING ONE?  That's a no-no.

And the worst part about this is that Xbox Live is a paying service.  It's one of the rare instances where paying money gives you lets rights and privileges than not.

[Plugabugz]

What next? They ban me because I publicly call Deguello a person with two arms and two legs?

YOU PERSON.

[Dasmos]

This is one of the most stupid things I have read. Since when is sexual orientation offensive to anyone but Bible bashers?

I can understand Microsoft exlpaining that there's not much they can do about people harassing others because of their sexual orientation, the Internet is full of bigots and that isn't going to change anytime soon. But for the company to do the discrimination is horrible, what's next are the going to ban anyone of Middle Eastern decent? Will Jewish people not be allowed to pay to play Xbox Live? It's ridiculous.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

It's time to ban human beings from XBL.

Best online service my arse.

[UltimatePartyBear]

Locking out customers who use your service and product the wrong way is legitimate, locking out customers because of their sexual background...big no-no.

The trick here is probably that she wasn't banned for being a lesbian, but for saying she was.  It's a slight difference, I know, but it appears that her profile was deemed the source of disruption in the service, i.e. idiots read it and started griefing her.  The TOS probably has rules that basically put the blame on her for "starting it" (I haven't read the TOS, but they usually prohibit more than enough for CYA purposes, including a blanket "we can ban you for no reason at all if we want to" clause).  So while it's unfair, I doubt there's anything she can do about it.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Hey look, anti-Christian bigotry in this thread, that is OK!

[King of Twitch]

..europe.

[ShyGuy]

You tell 'em Rowsdower!

[vudu]

The trick here is probably that she wasn't banned for being a lesbian, but for saying she was.  It's a slight difference, I know, but it appears that her profile was deemed the source of disruption in the service, i.e. idiots read it and started griefing her. 

I agree with this.  Sexual orientation has no place in your public profile.  I don't care if you like boys or girls.  Then again, I also don't really care about your age, gender or location.  For something like that I just want to know your skill level at games and if you're a total douche.

Here's my profile.

User Name:  vudu
Skill Level:  9 (out of 10)
Douche Level:  4 (out of 10)

[Pale]

Locking this down because OptimusP made it political and GP is trying to turn it into a religious conversation.