Can someone accurately explain GameGate in a sentence?

[loramin]

Originally Posted by Misto [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I've been reading different articles about GamerGate, and I am starting to think it isn't a real problem.

Just a bunch of women complaining that they are being portrayed as weak and helpless in video games.

But there are plenty of games which don't portray women that way.

So I am led to believe that this isn't a problem and just a form of extreme attention whoring for ugly women who can't be cam-girls.

You've misunderstood. Gamergate began with a few women criticizing the game industry, but that's not what it's about now. What it's about now is the angry nerd reaction to to that criticism, where they think it's ok to make death and rape threats to anyone whose opinion they disagree with. That is what has gotten all the media attention, not some academic criticism of female representation in games.

[paulgiamatti]

GamerGate is a perfect repository for the kind of misogyny demonstrated by the OP. That's all it is, really.

I say if it separates and provides an isolation chamber for misogynists that don't realize the objectification of women in video games is a real issue, then more power to it. I'd rather they be caught in their own idiotic feedback loop than attempt to spew their shit all over the rest of us.

[paulgiamatti]

Originally Posted by loramin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You've misunderstood. Gamergate began with a few women criticizing the game industry, but that's not what it's about now. What it's about now is the angry nerd reaction to to that criticism, where they think it's ok to make death and rape threats to anyone whose opinion they disagree with. That is what has gotten all the media attention, not some academic criticism of female representation in games.

This is also an inaccurate representation of GamerGate. GamerGate began with misogynistic criticism of female journalists, and is still very much the same thing - it's just escalated from criticism to harassment to rape and death threats. The media attention around this is specifically because of the criticism of female representation in games and the video games industry; and industry where women are systematically excluded, and portrayed as background decoration and as mere objects for violence and abuse.

[harnold]

Its sad that you guys are even giving them recognition, just ignore them and they will go away instead of spreading awareness of them

[paulgiamatti]

Ignoring the issue is exactly what got us in this mess.

[Raev]

Originally Posted by paulgiamatti [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The media attention around this is specifically because of the criticism of female representation in games and the video games industry; and industry where women are systematically excluded, and portrayed as background decoration and as mere objects for violence and abuse.

Serious question Paul: while you may disagree with the video game industry, why do you not consider this kind of thing free speech?

[paulgiamatti]

It is by all means free speech, and should remain perfectly legal in every regard. I'm simply arguing, along with people like Anita Sarkeesian, that it should be beneath our contempt and understood as detrimental to a world in which we treat women as human beings - human beings who are every bit as human as men.

It should be unappealing to everyone. The people championing GamerGate have this perception that a less patriarchal video game industry - a less patriarchal world - would somehow be lacking or less pleasing to them. I don't understand this in any way whatsoever. Awareness about issues, whether those issues are tropes or the blatant objectification of women, have never made me enjoy something less.

I'm done dancing around the issue about GamerGate, and I'm calling a spade a spade. GamerGate was founded on misogyny, it promulgates misogyny, it reinforces misogyny, and it is synonymous with misogyny.

[Orruar]

I thought GG started off about corruption in video game journalism and then feminists tried to jump on the issue to gain more awareness to their batshit crazy ideas.

[Raev]

Originally Posted by paulgiamatti [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It is by all means free speech, and should remain perfectly legal in every regard. I'm simply arguing, along with people like Anita Sarkeesian, that it should be beneath our contempt and understood as detrimental to a world in which we treat women as human beings - human beings who are every bit as human as men.

Then why are you so upset? They have the right to create the kind of games they wish, you have the right to criticize them, and women have the right to play or not play those video games as they choose. Why the need for the strong language?

[iruinedyourday]

Well it really started with a female game developer cheating on her boyfriend, that boyrfriend being a stupid nerd and posting on her blog about it like a cry baby. And then everyone in the 4chan realising that hte person she cheated on him with worked as a game journalist.. so they started saying OMG SHE TRADED SEX FOR GOOD REVIEWS! then it turned out the journalist in question, or the publication he worked for never published anything about her game.. so it was just a bunch of stupd nerds shouting fire when there is none.

THEN they tried to say it was about integrity targeting Anita Sarkeesian after her having set up a crowd funded web-series and getting 100k'ish for it. They claimed that her videos could be made for far less than she says they cost to make.. So they started demanding that she publish receipts for all her spending on them, thinking that she was just pulling some sort of internet scam. Using the yet again false accusation as the reason why they are attacking her.

Ironically prior to becoming public enemy #1 for gamergate, the only public connection these two women had with each other were that they spoke out on the web for gaming equality and fair representation for women in video games.

Since then gamergate attempted to say its about 'journalistic integrity' but they also are too dumb to understand that biased reviews are how reviews have worked since the inception of reviews, let alone the life span. You find someone who's opinions match yours, and you listen to them, because you like their opinions because are in line with yours.

tl;dr a bunch of anti social nerds, are all hopped up on crazy pills and also in most cases hate women because of the constant fear of rejection they feel when they get out of bed every day, alone.

Side bonus, everyone IN the games industry listens to Anita Sarkeesian, and HATES gamergate.

At least anyone who is employable!

So the games industry is safe, while 4chan? You can still go there to enjoy people that have similar taste (aside from classic eq) as the racist piece of garbage, Rust1d.