#Gamergate

Guess I don't watch enough news, 'cause I've got no clue what this is.. Off to Google, I go!

Edit: Read two articles and I feel dumber, than I did 10 minutes ago. And I still don't know, if I completely get it. Something about sexism in videogames, and teenage boys sending death and rape threats to the women writing the articles? God, I hope it's teenage boys. If it's grown men... In any case, they're idiots. 

Okay.. Well, that wasn't touched on much, in the articles I read(see above edit). So these moderators are trying to defend her, when it was her boyfriend, that was the real victim?

I'm just gonna leave these here

www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-i-learned-as-internets-most-hated-person/

www.cracked.com/blog/4-ways-gamers-still-suck-at-dealing-with-women/

And be on my way.

And? You realize they have some valid points, right?

Maybe that's true for you and the people in your immediate circle, but the fact is the sheer volume of people directing all their venom toward Quinn and considering the source that broke the "scandal" makes this who thing nothing more than a hate campaign. All based on the fact that her ex boyfriend posted a "sexual manifesto" to expose all of her wrong doings. Now, I don't consider that a likely source, which is why the most important word in the case of Quinn is "Allegedly". Unless she herself came out and said, "Yes I slept with people to get better reviews" I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt.

Did she sleep around? Maybe. Do I think that it's right if she did? No. But that's a situation between her, her ex, and anyone she slept with and it's none of the business of the rest of the world. And, it's my understanding (again speaking to the Quinn case specifically) that while she slept with a game reviewer, said reviewer didn't review her game. So no harm there. Even if it was her boss, I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with sleeping with ones employer, unless it's for the sole purpose of improving your standing in the work place. But again, it's my understanding that we have no proof that she actually did any of this, nor do we have proof of the motives for it. Just blind accusations from an anger, overly obsessive, ex and the loud voice of the anger masses.

Now getting to the point of the "bigger issue". I can't say I've been following this "Gamergate" very closely (Sidenote: I hate how every perceived scandal gets it's own "gate" now at days. It makes as much sense as throwing around the word Hitler whenever someone disagrees with you) so I'm not going to pretend to be super knowledgeable on what it has and hasn't accomplished outside of making one woman's life miserable for a time. However, in light of all the "facts" surrounding the Quinn case I'm hesitant to believe much that "Gamergate" uncovers.

Having said that, if there are legitimate cases of gamer makers sleeping their way to good reviews then fine, that an issue - especially if it's running rampant. However, there needs to be more done than just shouting that these incidents happened and insulting the creators who are exploiting this advantage.

This reminds me of all the scandals and sexual favors that have come to light in the comic book industry. That was much more than a case of "sluting it to the top". It was the fact that the male dominated comic industry had becomes an atmosphere where if you were a woman in comics, this behavior was expected. And if you refused, then we will find someone else who will play ball.

So if you really care about change and putting a stop to this, instead of shouting blame at the female game creators first, we need to look at what it is that's creating and perpetuating an environment where this is acceptable. It takes two (or more) to create a sex scandal, and blame need to fall on more than just the women involved (if it falls on them at all). But if this is the result of an environment of the reviewers only giving good reviews to female creators based on weather or not they sleep with them, well then the women aren't exactly to blame. Make no mistake, it's the reviewers who have the power in this situation. It's their word that's going to decide weather or not these games are well received, weather or not all the hard work of the game creators pays off. So yes, it's entirely possible, even likely, that the women involved are less "evil temptresses controlling the gaming world with the power of sex" and more "slaves to a system that forces them to 'play ball' in order for their work to get noticed".

I've read it, and reread it. You bring up some good points. I haven't put too much stock in professional reviews for years. I mean, OXM, which I used to buy for 360 demo discs, before I got this wonderful thing called the internet, and gained the ability to download them for free, gave FF13 a 9/10. ._.

So, if there have been some shady things, going on in the background, either by sexual nature, a payoff, or some other means, it needs to change.

Considering the whole thing going on, good reviews =/= good sales. At the same time, ANYTIME cheating in a relationship happens it's never a good sign the relationship was that strong to begin with.

Now, for that mature statement out of the way, people tend to forget that the internet is really a double-edge sword with an explosive grip and nitro-glycerin for steel. With the ease of access, any jerk with a keyboard can make a comment. What's worse is that a lot of people adopt a new personality, sometimes the opposite of who they are. SAO (Sword Art Online for those that don't know) explored that with the idea of Laughing Coffin, but it's hardly the first example of it.


Personally, I try and be the same online as I am in real life, with a few alterations to online just because I don't want to give too much information. There was one other thing, in person, people have this thing I like to call, "fear of getting punched in the face" if they take things too far. You notice it in drivethrus the most when they have the rudest customers that don't get their way.

Now, take that, add in probably about 100+ miles of difference, and this just becomes another case of cyber-bullying.

Personally, I don't give a crap if she slept with 10-20 guys, that's her choice. Reasons are reasons but if it's all over the industry then people need to start taking a stand against it. Change the industry from the top-down while at the same time, and I know this sucks but maybe we need to actually have some form of moderation for games.

Sorry for any preachy bits, but that's how I feel about this "issue".