GamerGate by Conor Fricault

Background

cfricault — 2015-04-13 13:43:49 UTC

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamergate_controversy

Who: Several woman video game developers (Zoe Quinn, Brianna Wu)

Anita Sarkeesian

The forums Reddit, 4chan, and 8chan

Chris Poole (Moot)

Adam Baldwin

Milo Yiannopoulis

What: A controversy concerning ethics in video game journalism and sexism in video game culture. \

When: As far back as February 2013 and ongoing

Where: Social Media, mostly Twitter

Why: Because gamers want journalism and reviews that aren't biased towards whatever company or game development team is paying them, and feminists think that video games make men violent and misogynistic, and nobody can compromise or agree with each other.

Positive 1

cfricault — 2015-04-14 13:40:53 UTC

http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2014/09/15/the-gamergate-movement-is-making-terrific-progress-don-t-stop-now/

Bias: It doesn't show any evidence on the other side of the argument or even try to represent it.

Positive 2

cfricault — 2015-04-14 13:41:45 UTC

http://www.cinemablend.com/m/games/-NotYourShield-Video-Shows-All-Different-Faces-Behind-GamerGate-67173.html

Bias: It talks about the mainstream medias negative bias towards Gamer Gate but it doesn't address is own positive bias.

Rachel Williams/ April 16

Rahela909 — 2015-04-16 13:16:06 UTC

I know a lot about this gamer gate mess, and considering that I, a female, also tend to play games on all consoles, get fired up on this. There is no hidden law that says women can't enjoy, make, or judge video game content. Concerning the fact that all the people who oppose women's active rolls in games are neck beard fedora wearing pony lovers, what ever point they're trying to push: its unethical and sexist. BUT according to everyone else, sexism is allowed in the video game world. Why? Because women as a whole don't really matter to society: go ask an old white republican, he will tell you that they don't deserve rights because once a girl is married, all her rights go to her husband. But I digress, these people on Reddit and 4chan attack feminists on tumblr and others sites like that. My question for you is have you seen what they do to people on tumblr and the like? They post all these videos of animal abuse and murder, send them viruses and threats, AND they think it's funny and appropriate. Why is this? Why do they think they're right and think they are running some social movement?

In Response to Rachel/April 16

cfricault — 2015-04-16 13:30:11 UTC

I would respond by saying that I never said that I think women can't enjoy or judge video game content, because I don't. Anyone can judge something to how they see fit, but if they judge something unfairly like calling video games and the men who play them sexist, they have to expect people to fight back. I also am not a Republican and saying that all Republicans are old white men who think that is a ridiculous over generalization. Yes Ive seen what they do on tumblr and other sites, I don't support that and neither do the majority of those in favor of pro GamerGate. My question for you is if people who claim to be GamerGate send death threats and Doxx people, does that make it OK for the opposing side to do it? Because they have, and continue to. I would say that anyone on either side that is doing those things aren't welcome on whatever side they claim to support.

Luke Fulp/April 16

lhfulp — 2015-04-16 17:04:40 UTC

I too am a gamer. I usually just play on my x box but I've now gotten into a game calle League of Legends on the computer. Because of this, I've been paying more attention to what people are saying about video games. And from my personal experience, it's mostly people attacking the way a female character does look. Or acts, or is portrayed, but also some of how the games are to violent. Well guess what people, it's just a game. I know right. It's a huge shock to many people. It's not just women that are taking this to seriously but all kinds of people. The main reason I play video games is because it helps me relax and it helps my imagination run wild and free. As the Positive 1 article pointed out, it wouldn't be fun if all the characters were made to not portray people in the wrong way. Part of the gaming world is throwing out things like "that's what your mom said last night ahheee" or throwing insults out at people. Yes some people take insults poorly or some people get carried away with throwing insults. But it's an actual part if the gaming world. If you make it entirely where you can't do that, and the characters are full, gaming would be very boring. And I would take away a lot of things from people. And as to what Rachel had said about old white republicans. Isn't that stereotyping and attacking some one? Isn't that kind of what you were talking about in your post, about how people can be like that?

Thursday/Link

cfricault — 2015-04-17 13:26:27 UTC

http://videogames.procon.org/

Negative

cfricault — 2015-04-20 13:49:12 UTC

http://gawker.com/what-is-gamergate-and-why-an-explainer-for-non-geeks-1642909080

This article is a great example of the bias and slander against gamers in the way that it sarcastically mocks gamers for standing up for themselves and labels them as mysoginists.

Negative 2

cfricault — 2015-04-20 13:51:51 UTC

http://www.bustle.com/articles/38742-what-is-gamer-gate-its-misogyny-under-the-banner-of-journalistic-integrity

The obvious bias in this article is the writer claiming GamerGate is creating mysoginy in social media within the first paragraph.

Where is ur question son???

Rahela909 — 2015-05-05 13:29:07 UTC

And I didn't mean to offend u lol I am just very against neck beards -Rachel

Question/Misogyny

cfricault — 2015-05-05 13:30:50 UTC

Can video cause people to be misogynistic based on how some females are portrayed in video games

To Rachel

cfricault — 2015-05-05 13:32:25 UTC

I'm not offended at all, there really isnt any reason for me to be. I just posted my question. Also, I'm sorry you think that I'm a neckbeard.

Alex Patten/ answer

pattenduke — 2015-05-05 15:35:21 UTC

I think think females are being stereotyped in video games. They show in most of the video games I've seen look like prostitutes. Especially in racing games. As newer technology comes out, they look more and more explicit. I think video games look down on females in my opinion. They are being just cruel.

Haley Katon/Answer

Haleykaton — 2015-05-05 16:53:48 UTC

I personally don't think people hate females by the way they are portrayed in video games. Men can be portrayed just as bad or even worst but people refuse to see it. Most women don't act or look the way we are portrayed in games. Game designers do that to attract men to the game.

Huan tran/answer

huantran — 2015-05-05 16:58:37 UTC

I don't think the way femals are portrayed in games have any effect on the way real life females are viewed. Videogames are just made for entertainment and most gamers know how to keep the real world seperfrom virtual reality. Females are only portrayed the way they are in games for attraction, as the majority of gamers are male.

Enya DuBois/ answer

duboisenya — 2015-05-05 17:24:30 UTC

I think videogames portray a lot of stereotypes. Generally women in videogames are shown as prostitutes or they wear skimpy clothing, but I don't necessarily think that influences how people think of women in the real world. I feel like even people that are extremely into gaming understand that it is just a game. If anyones opinion changes on women because of how they are portrayed in videogames, they have the problem, no women.

Allen Weatherman posted question #2

allendeeweather — 2015-05-05 18:49:51 UTC

Do you agree that media, not just gaming, is getting too picky about anything anymore or do you think they need to get stricter on the whole situation of violence or drug content?

Justin Absher | Answer on misogyny

JustinAbsher — 2015-05-05 19:06:12 UTC

I think video games can definitely increase misogyny in men because of the way women are portrayed in some games. Many female characters exist for the sole purpose of arousing the audience. This creates a bad view of women and makes them seem like sex objects rather than human beings. I personally prefer games with strong female characters that do not fit into traditional gender roles and are written in a way that goes deeper than physical appearance.

NyteriaJackson/answer

NyteriaJackson — 2015-05-06 15:18:06 UTC

I think that in a alot of viedo they always have the women set as a person that they are not. But it can an cant not cause people to be misogynistic. The reason why i think yes is because you have this gamers that really be into the game and thinks that they live in the game so everytime they see a women based on what games they play the will treat the women like they do in the game. I say no because men should see how women really are. Life shouldn't be all about this video games. I am a gamer my self i play grand theft auto, call of duty and all that but i know what real life is about and i don't have different thought of how people are just because of a game.

Matt Regan/ answer

swimmatt — 2015-05-06 17:18:43 UTC

I think that people can be misogynistic if video games are all they're exposed to. Anyone who bases a real world opinion on what they see In a video game has definitely lost touch with reality. I play lots of video games, but there just games! Most females are portrayed the way they are in video games to get guys to buy them.

Karefa Dabo/Answer 2

karefad — 2015-05-06 17:23:35 UTC

Personally I don't believe that the way women or anyone for that matter is portrayed in a video game should create a pejudice. I play video games and I do not know of many games that portray women in a bad type of way. Even if I did find one - I would be able to differentiate between a game and real life. I believe that people use things like video games as an excuse for their actions - misogyny included.

Alex Prince / Answer

2015-05-07 13:21:27 UTC

I agree with Matt in a lot of ways. I feel if someone grew up on games with little friends that are females, then they would have some misogyny. They may find women more of an object than a thing. But in some games men and women are treated the same. Such as in, "The Last of Us," both the women and men were equal. Lots of video games are moving against women just being an icon than a character with development. But men can also be portrayed badly in games, not ever man is buff with muscles, and not every women should be considered a sex icon in games. But I feel video games are moving against the misogyny in games.

May 5

cfricault — 2015-05-07 13:53:12 UTC

What I learned about Cinco De Mayo is that its not really celebrated in Mexico, apparently a bunch of white people think that its Mexican independence day, and people drink a lot that day for no explicable reason that I can see.

May 5

cfricault — 2015-05-07 13:53:13 UTC

Kevin/ answer

morankevin30 — 2015-05-07 16:23:42 UTC

I think that they are getting a little too strict on it. I dont think that the problem is seeing it in tv, video games, etc. Its that parents dont teach their kind the difference about right or wrong.

AJ Gallo/ Answer #4

ajgallo21 — 2015-05-07 17:04:52 UTC

In video games women are treated very "unique". When we see women in video games they often meet a stereotype and sometimes not positive ones. People should know the difference between video games and real life and treat and feel a certain way about women in real life.

Amy Le / Answer Misogny

yeeamyle — 2015-05-08 10:36:10 UTC

Video games and any other kind of media can cause people to become misogynistic depending on the game and how women are depicted. Misogyny is defined as the hatred for women and can be manifested through sexual discrimination, objectification of women and violence against women. There are certain games that provoke that type of mindset.