The gaming community has taken a toxic and violent turn in recent months, and Karl’s wondering how the rational, compassionate, but ultimately silent majority should react.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/38425/burden-of-the-silent-majority
I don’t think anyone on the NWR staff has been talking about the continuing harassment or disenfranchisement of women or the transgender or any other subgroup in the gaming sphere that isn’t white, straight and male. And I don’t think it’s because they don’t care - I think it’s the opposite, rather. See, Nintendo World Report, and Planet GameCube before it, was founded on the basis of highlighting the best in the world of Nintendo and the industry at large. It was always meant to be a beacon of fun and joyful discussion. Even when we have heated arguments, it’s boxed around the the ideal of civility, patience and kindness. The video game industry needs more places like NWR, especially lately, because the last year, and especially the last few months, have been pretty awful.
Before I move further, I’ll say that if you’re not interested in this topic, and if you just want to go back to talking about how rad the new Mario Kart tracks will be (SO RAD), then you should most definitely keep reading. Because it’s you that I want to talk to. You’re the silent majority - the guys and gals who play video games because you like them and don’t care one lick about the latest inside-baseball political Twitter-fight that just lit up this past week. You’re all wonderful and I know there are so, so many of you.
So why does it feel like the gaming community is so damn poisonous lately? Why are people like Anita Sarkeesian and Zoe Quinn and, most recently, Jenn Frank, concerned about their physical safety after talking about their experiences? You already know the answer - it’s because a vocal minority of misogynists and bigots of all stripes and variations have decided it’s their personal mission in life to drown out the voices of the in-any-way different. That the idea that ladies in video games deserve a fair shake is a tacit condemnation of the current gamer and that the only way to prevent their precious status quo from changing is to tell a “social justice warrior” that you’re going to kill their parents and posting said parents’ address on Twitter.
You already know this is terrible, and inexcusable, and even if these people had a valid point to argue, they gave up any semblance of credibility when they resorted to the most horrendous and violent of tactics. And so you read article after article decrying the gaming community, calling the community a mass of hatred and abuse, and you’re wondering what the hell you did to earn such scorn, anyway.
But see, those articles aren’t talking about you. This whole ongoing debate about how we ought to handle gamers doesn’t have a single thing to do with you. Because you’re the silent majority. You just want to talk about who you’re going to main as in Smash Bros. next month (Toon Link!). And so while all of this back-and-forth is going on, you’ve decided to play the background and simply ignore it. That’s your right, and you’ve decided to rise above it all.
My question is: should you?
That’s not a rhetorical question - I’m honestly asking you. Because I’m constantly asking myself lately what I should do. I think I skew more towards confronting things head on, so when I read about Jenn Frank being forced out of her profession, it makes me unbelievably angry, and it spurs me to speak out against people I see as perpetrators of hatred and bullying. Others have told me that it’s a better tactic to show the gaming industry a better way through my actions, and to be an ambassador of compassion and kindness. I see their point, and I think they have a valid opinion, but it seems too passive for me. If I didn’t speak up and decry the actions of these vicious and callous few, I’d feel sick. It would feel like I’m endorsing them with my silence. That’s just how I feel.
Ultimately, though, I just want gaming to be a safer and more inclusive hobby. I’d like for people to feel safe about sharing their views and opinions without being harassed. I’d like for the big scandal spinning around the blogosphere to be Nintendo’s crazy new business plan again. I’d like to stop seeing people I respect get beaten down into the dirt by lunatics. So I’m asking you - what should we do here, as the gaming majority? How do we foster a better community, and how should we respond to all of this horrible business?
This isn’t a rhetorical question. I’m asking. What do you think?
See, Nintendo World Report, and Planet GameCube before it, was founded on the basis of highlighting the best in the world of Nintendo and the industry at large. It was always meant to be a beacon of fun and joyful discussion. Even when we have heated arguments, it’s boxed around the the ideal of civility, patience and kindness. The video game industry needs more places like NWR, especially lately, because the last year, and especially the last few months, have been pretty awful.
QuoteSee, Nintendo World Report, and Planet GameCube before it, was founded on the basis of highlighting the best in the world of Nintendo and the industry at large. It was always meant to be a beacon of fun and joyful discussion. Even when we have heated arguments, it’s boxed around the the ideal of civility, patience and kindness. The video game industry needs more places like NWR, especially lately, because the last year, and especially the last few months, have been pretty awful.
Then don't post this kind of article. You just contradicted your statement by doing this. This is not going to have any fun or joyful discussion. These rarely, if ever, have peaceful discussions.
Shame on you, ClexYoshi.
If people want to take an article like this and misinterpret it on PasteBin, that's their own prerogative. Fear of being blackballed or boycotted-against should not keep people from speaking up about a state of inequality. I don't think anybody working at NWR would be upset if the site got destroyed because it stood up for equal rights.
My apologies for how I worded that. Didn't mean for it to have such a mafia shakedown-esque tone.
The point I was trying to get across is that an awful lot of this sort of editorial has cropped up, and not for the noble purpose of gaming inequality. Not entirely at least.
I'm saying that Gender Equality is being used as a smokescreen to avoid one journalist having to call out another on the question of ethical reporting.
Also, at one point in my post, I typoed the word "recuse". Can't edit that 'cuz of the talkback thing.
I still respect that this even has a talkback thread, as most of these editorials that have cropped up disable the comments.
Also, I just noticed Karl typed a reply. I'm looking forward to this and will address it's talking points in a separate post.
Your argument is that we should shame people who don't like the way you think and that you need to make them accept your beliefs because that is the "right way to think". I'm sorry, but what part of your original post fostered anymore peaceful discussion then mine? So don't go lecturing me about it.QuoteSee, Nintendo World Report, and Planet GameCube before it, was founded on the basis of highlighting the best in the world of Nintendo and the industry at large. It was always meant to be a beacon of fun and joyful discussion. Even when we have heated arguments, it’s boxed around the the ideal of civility, patience and kindness. The video game industry needs more places like NWR, especially lately, because the last year, and especially the last few months, have been pretty awful.
Then don't post this kind of article. You just contradicted your statement by doing this. This is not going to have any fun or joyful discussion. These rarely, if ever, have peaceful discussions.
Quit trying to poke holes in the argument. That's not what this is about, and by doing so you are not contributing to a peaceful discussion. Karl uses that founding basisas a jumping off point to describe why we must step up and speak out about these types of situations, even if they are uncomfortable and no fun.
...I think people should make what they want to and purchase what they want too. I think if a tenth the effort was spent making more "inclusive" games then complaining about other peoples games the problem could be more effective resolved. Where would I fit into this false dichotomy? I'm all for being tolerant but I'm also for absolute free speech and expression. Including things others find offensive. But I also would never myself say half that stuff.
...Second, nobody likes to hear this but you just gotta ignore the trolls. There always have been trolls and always will be. Stop feeding them.
Most gamers play games to avoid the stupidity of reality. So most are not going to want to argue this unless is affects them directly. The biggest concern of the gaming community right now is Destiny. And nothing is going to stop that train. So yeah, this editorial could have been written at a better time if results were intended. Not saying this is clickbait, but that it was just bad timing.
I don't give a living **** about Destiny if that is what you are implying. A better time would be when almost the entire gaming world doesn't have their head so far up Activision's ass that they don't care about anything else.Most gamers play games to avoid the stupidity of reality. So most are not going to want to argue this unless is affects them directly. The biggest concern of the gaming community right now is Destiny. And nothing is going to stop that train. So yeah, this editorial could have been written at a better time if results were intended. Not saying this is clickbait, but that it was just bad timing.
Pray tell, what is a good time to discuss this then? Heaven forbid the PR-driven Destiny hype trains gets derailed!
Inclusivity should be an issue that affects all gamers directly. Cultural and academic criticism of games should be something that is welcome and debated properly. People use film and music and other forms of entertainment to escape the "stupidity of reality" but they have thriving critical and academic fields of study. If games are art then they deserve the same treatment films got when took queer cinema classes in college. And feminist theory...dear god!
Funny thing about that "glowing preview" Nathan Grayson wrote about Depression Quest. People said at first that it was a review and for the life of me no internet sleuth has found it.
Probably because that "glowing preview" never existed.
Movies are nearly a century old, music has been around since the beginning of time, games have been around for 30 years. See a difference there?
I think moreso than Greyson's report on Indie Game Jam, he prominently links http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/08/admission-quest-valve-greenlights-50-more-games/#more-183169 (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/08/admission-quest-valve-greenlights-50-more-games/#more-183169) Depression Quest and uses a screenshot of Depression Quest to headline above 49 other games. I would say that that's some favoritism and excitement shown towards a game that is about as visually stunning as Zork, and I certainly would not choose to get the attention of people to read my report unless I had some personal investment in said game to want it to be the image associated with the article. These are also written eerily close to each other in January.
I actually have no idea what this is all about. Don't know the circumstances, don't know who the people involved are. The article could have used some more context.
I agree with Khush in that the "silent majority" may be because the majority doesn't even know about these events. It's the first I've heard of it and there is a fair handful of videogame related websites I view daily.
I actually have no idea what this is all about. Don't know the circumstances, don't know who the people involved are. The article could have used some more context.
I agree with Khush in that the "silent majority" may be because the majority doesn't even know about these events. It's the first I've heard of it and there is a fair handful of videogame related websites I view daily.
This recent article on Forbes.com has what I think is the more even-handed overview of the events of the past three weeks:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/09/04/gamergate-a-closer-look-at-the-controversy-sweeping-video-games/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/09/04/gamergate-a-closer-look-at-the-controversy-sweeping-video-games/)
As for not seeing much coverage of the situation on video game related websites, most of them have decided not to report the majority of the related incidents. Most this has been on Twitter, tumblr posts, Youtube videos, and op/eds on various sites.
Second, nobody likes to hear this but you just gotta ignore the trolls. There always have been trolls and always will be. Stop feeding them.
There is a bit of telephone going on with my recounting of these events, which is why I urge folks to watch internetaristocrat's videos, and maybe do their own research when they aren't a bit sleep addled during the day.
As for the issue of ethics and corruption in gaming media, which I consider a completely separate subject that deserves a sober analysis free from the very intense, emotional topic of online harassment, we recorded a lengthy discussion on the matter for RFN 397. I hope the long format of a podcast also allowed us to delve into the topic and address some concerns that a few of you may have. Please check that out in a few days. The word "Quinn" is not uttered.
So... What does this have to do with Nintendo?
Goodbye, NWR. It's been rad, but since I get enough politics infecting and destroying everything else in my life, I have little less than zero time to spend getting worked up over 'inclusion' in gaming, when most of us--that'd be the "silent majority" to which you are referring--*only* care about VIDEOGAMES and not "inclusion" and whatever other PC nonsense is currently rotting the brains of the 'literati'.
So yeah, you keep on keeping on, but maybe, in the future, it might just be wise to stick to core competency and not beat a horse that was so dead 2-weeks ago that you've not only pulverized the skeleton, but now you've revealed that, at the end of the day, "inclusion" is so important to "you" (note: *not* the "silent majority", because it isn't) that it casts a pall over any and everything you publish from this moment forward as being inflected with this anti-intellectual, anti-gaming, childish idiocy.
Most this has been on Twitter, tumblr posts, Youtube videos,In other words, the places where the scum of the earth congregate, which is why I don't go to these sites.
Most this has been on Twitter, tumblr posts, Youtube videos,In other words, the places where the scum of the earth congregate, which is why I don't go to these sites.
Most this has been on Twitter, tumblr posts, Youtube videos,In other words, the places where the scum of the earth congregate, which is why I don't go to these sites.
What does JonTron done to "milk" this besides posting that awful picture one time?
What does JonTron done to "milk" this besides posting that awful picture one time?
Jontron got mad at Tim Schafer after the latter retweeted Anita Sarkeesian's latest video. Some one his inane points included the fact that Anita's videos had comments and likes disabled and that men received equal objectification as women in video games. Schafer called him out on his BS, Jontron felt attacked and his fanbase went on to attack Schafer (who was already feeling heat by people who hate Sarkeesian). Jontron got a stupid hashtag named after him that was immediately co-opted by people who were attacking Quinn, indie devs and journalists.
Goodbye, NWR. It's been rad, but since I get enough politics infecting and destroying everything else in my life, I have little less than zero time to spend getting worked up over 'inclusion' in gaming, when most of us--that'd be the "silent majority" to which you are referring--*only* care about VIDEOGAMES and not "inclusion" and whatever other PC nonsense is currently rotting the brains of the 'literati'.
So yeah, you keep on keeping on, but maybe, in the future, it might just be wise to stick to core competency and not beat a horse that was so dead 2-weeks ago that you've not only pulverized the skeleton, but now you've revealed that, at the end of the day, "inclusion" is so important to "you" (note: *not* the "silent majority", because it isn't) that it casts a pall over any and everything you publish from this moment forward as being inflected with this anti-intellectual, anti-gaming, childish idiocy.
Which explains a lot and makes me disregard any seriousness of this matter entirely.Most this has been on Twitter, tumblr posts, Youtube videos,In other words, the places where the scum of the earth congregate, which is why I don't go to these sites.
[..]paid, professional writers[...]
This is much I would say on this matter, but as I have gone on at length on this topic on Twitter and I intend to address this subject on the next NFR, I'll just leave it at this: I believe the entire structure of the games media is corrupt, with a never-ending cycle of friends covering the games of friends with the goal of one day working alongside them. There is no investigative journalism, and I really do feel there's a deep-seeded hatred within the games press of their own audience. You hear the condescension in their podcasts, and you see it in their writing and how they relate to their readers. It doesn't feel to me that the press represents us anymore as the valiant industry watch dogs they should be. There is no critical analysis, no investigative journalism, and no courage to ask real, hard questions.
Most websites are terrible. But if you know what you want and are not lured in by the stupidity, you can find something useful about almost all of them. Except GameSpot.
This is much I would say on this matter, but as I have gone on at length on this topic on Twitter and I intend to address this subject on the next NFR, I'll just leave it at this: I believe the entire structure of the games media is corrupt, with a never-ending cycle of friends covering the games of friends with the goal of one day working alongside them. There is no investigative journalism, and I really do feel there's a deep-seeded hatred within the games press of their own audience. You hear the condescension in their podcasts, and you see it in their writing and how they relate to their readers. It doesn't feel to me that the press represents us anymore as the valiant industry watch dogs they should be. There is no critical analysis, no investigative journalism, and no courage to ask real, hard questions.
For instance, why has there been seemingly NO critical analysis of Anita Sarkeesian's work on the part of the games press. Why has it been up to the fans to do the critical analysis and fact-checking that you'd think paid, professional writers would be capable of doing? Even if you agree with her views, that doesn't mean her work is beyond approach. And I don't just mean issuing a vague "oh, and I agree with her on some points and disagree on others" statement.
Gaming has always had pricks, and what the "Gamer Gate" people have done in harassing members of the industry and gaming press is not and never will be right. That said, in my view the reason this story blew up as it did is because it shines a spotlight on an problem the press has let fester: the public doesn't trust them anymore.
I think you desire an enthusiast press that has never existed for any other arts, entertainment, or consumer product sector (to my limited knowledge) and probably can't exist in press for consumer products.
To the specific point on Sarkeesians's work, what you propose sounds like making a review of a review which is something that feel is in poor tact and frowned upon in published writing. Sure, that's what happens in university research, but I have rarely seen it in op/eds for pop culture products. I think the games press lets Sarkeesian's videos stand on their own and trust the audience to come to their own thoughts and conclusions in a respectful manner. Or maybe some of them don't care about the videos or their line of thinking and just let the videos exist peacefully out of their minds.