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Online Gaming: Invitation to Harassment?

January 14, 2010 in Blog comments 6

Nathan Meunier of ign.com, types up an interesting blog about the issues involving homophobia and harassment in general when playing fellow gamers online. Have humourous digs and subtle names of a comical nature, turned into an all out insult-fest?

The explosive growth of online gaming communities in recent years has created amazing opportunities to go head-to-head against all kinds of players from around the world. But the vast freedom and flexibility of online play on consoles and PC has also given rise to something more insidious – a new place for bigotry and homophobia to manifest and thrive.

"I often hear gamers say 'Why do you have to segregate yourselves? Aren't we all just gamers?' My answer is, quite frankly, no," says De Marco. "There are many people out there who constantly remind us that we are not 'all just gamers.'"
Dark Arcanine via au.wii.ign.com »
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  • 1
    Daweii Jan 14, 10
    Personally just to go slightly of topic here. It has amazed me how much online gaming culture have affected language and culture. I mean 5 years ago, you couldn't describe something as "faggy" among other people without causing offense. Now "faggy" and other terms such as "rape" and other really derogatory terms are used almost daily out of context, because they are so wildly used in the online domain now.

    I find it hard to see how anything can insult anyone these days. It has almost gotten to the point where online arguments are not fueled by childish hate, but are fueled by one persons need to see how far they can push someone. These days if someone called me a "fag" or was like "oh man that headshot like totally raped your mom, dude" i wouldn't bat an eyelid, these words have become a none meaning. I am sure they still offend some but the words are not as powerful as they once were, I mean so much so the word "rape" is almost a joke term, when the actual act is really not funny.
  • 0
    conel3 Jan 14, 10
    No one takes what people say online seriously. It's not a big deal. This article would have also been more appropriate when Helo 3 came out.
    • 0
      Dark Arcanine Jan 15, 10
      You're kidding me right? There's plenty of people who take it seriously. Especially if people who are heaps moral or religious come into it. Okay, so most gamers like most of us are cool with the occasional "did your mum whilst I blew your head off" quip, but at the end of the day, quite a few people get pretty heated about their gaming. Specifically online, so when the insults start flying, it does get a bit ridiculous. And homosexuality should not be used as an insult, it's just as lame as people who swear due to lack of intelligence/maturity to come up with something more constructive.
      • 0
        conel3 Jan 16, 10
        People that let insults over the internet get to them deserve to be insulted.
      • 0
        RabidChinaGirl Jan 16, 10
        Spend a few years on the Internet, and that sort of thing rarely bothers you anymore.

        *feels old*
  • 0
    Play ISDF Jan 15, 10
    People who insult others with lame lines are some of the best people ever. Why? Because usually they have these stupid little comments and they make it so incredibly easy to give a good comeback. Then, they rage. Then, they die. It's so wonderful to see.

    I find that there's no point getting irritated at them, just laugh at them and their petty attempts to troll.

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