Comments on: Xbox Live’s GayGate scandal – A look at the problem of context with gamertags

By: Gemm

Gemm — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:53:12 +0000

http://live.xbox.com/en-GB/profile/profile.aspx?pp=0&GamerTag=fatdyke
Just another example here.
Basically MS are spouting complete crap because they have no idea what their own policies are, and for sure don’t enforce them unless there’s an uproar. They clearly won’t go back on what they’ve said, so they’re going to tighten up their restrictions and I don’t know if I like that idea or not. All I know is that if I get banned for being gay, there’s gonna be hell to pay.

By: AngelsRUs

AngelsRUs — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:19:13 +0000

I’ve been visitin this site for some time now and I thought you’d all be all over this one when I saw it on google news. Seems like you already had it covered but your not blowin a gasket about it which is mad.
Aren’t you all more annoyed about this.. that a sista got her ass booted because MS are a bunch of homophobes?

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:36:12 +0000

It is the responsibility of MS to make their environment safe and enjoyable, for all of us. The amount of games I have played in where people are using homosexuality in a derogatory manner is astounding.
The problem is MS banning the gay victim only sends a message to these rednecks that they’re right and can get away with their abusive behaviors.
I find it ironic that allegedly GLAAD are now involved in this issue? Haven’t you grrls here being trying to get GLAAD to look at video games as one of their ‘media’ options? I remember reading some posts on that. What happened with that? Did they ever get back to you and if so what did they say?

By: Cruxie

Cruxie — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:07:47 +0000

I think MS is lame for this but I m glad to see lesbian gamers didn’t just jump striaght on the hate wagon and roll it into town.
The question of context is good. Nice one.

By: Chris type

Chris type — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:09:31 +0000

Hi. An idea for your letter would be for MS to create icons for LGBT and ethnic groups where banning them would automatically be checked upon MS moderators.
This would probably discourage people from banning people just because they are from a different ethnic group or of a different sexual orientation then they are.
I’m not an online gamer probably because It doesn’t feel right at the moment. But if MS doesn’t move on that, I might send this to my local news.
It is their responsibility to make their environment a safe and enjoyable one.

By: Abbey

Abbey — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:50:40 +0000

I’m very angered by this. I could accept that whatever sexuality someone is doesn’t need to be in the gamertag, except that clearly references to sex and sexuality appear ALL THE TIME, so it seems impossible to interpret their banning as anything other than targeting homosexuals.
Regardless of what the gamertag rules are, banning someone based on their profile – something that exists solely to share information about yourself – is appalling. It’s a clear message that Microsoft considers homosexuality to be a shameful secret that people should keep to themselves.
But, indeed, the issue is fairness. Of course, in order to be fair, Microsoft would have to ban ANY mention of orientation, relationships, or sex from ANY content on Xbox Live and any games that aren’t “Mature” rated in order for their claim that this is simply because it’s inappropriate to carry any weight. Of course, that would be absurd, but so is trying to pretend like there is no such things as lesbians.

By: LesbianGamers

LesbianGamers — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:40:08 +0000

Thanks for the responses so far guys.
@TheFremen
Re “Iamstraight” being hipster speak for being ok, we also considered it as being drug addict speak for not using. As we said, it’s all in the context, we don’t know this person. Therefore perhaps in cases like this MS should contact the person in question for clarification, it’s not like they don’t have all our details (huge logistical questions aside).
Iamgay could be old hipster speak for I am extremely happy, it probably wouldn’t stop it getting banned though.

By: VanessaV

VanessaV — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 07:49:52 +0000

I really wish I had any constructive comment to add. I really do. But after having read this, I just feel angry. And disappointed. Again. At how LGBT people are treated in online gaming, and how big companies still do nothing about it.
They say the politically correct, but in practice, everything stays the same.
As an online gamer since 2001, I am just hugely disapointed, again.
I’ll understand if you don’t approve this comment. :\

By: Xanadugrrl

Xanadugrrl — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:27:19 +0000

See, this is why my gamertag is ambiguous enough that most guys think I’m just a dude named “butch,” and I tend to correct them. The few times that I gamers (both male and female) have figured out I am a woman and a lesbian, I have been harassed so bad that I left the game. And I DID report the behavior to Microsoft, and of course nothing happened. Typical.

By: Thefremen

Thefremen — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:17:10 +0000

I am Straight is also hipster speak these days for “I’m alright/OK”. Given the icon he has that’s actually the meaning I attached. Seems like he’s doing OK with his cool sunglasses on, straight chillin’.
Either way, just goes to show how people can judge context and not machines. I wouldn’t use MS Word’s spellcheck instead of a newspaper editor.