In another example of shocking news related to studies, a recent gaming survey on the homophobia that permeates the video game landscape says that a majority of online players use the words "that's so gay" or another form of "gay bashing" in their time spent shooting people in the face. From Next-Gen:
88% of respondents said they had heard the phrase “that’s so gay” while 84% said they had heard ‘gay’ used in a derogatory fashion. Over 50% said they felt that games portray gay people in a stereotypical way, while 42% believe gays are under-represented in games. 15% said the industry creates a culture where gay employees “feel like they must stay in the closet”. 52% believed that the gaming community is hostile to gay and lesbian gamers. Only 9% said they “never” encounter anti-gay sentiments from online gamers.
Did we really need a study to tell us something like this? Halo is notorious for this kind of behavior and anyone who's played video games online in the past decade certainly hears this kind of talk for just about every minute of play.
What do you expect to happen when you gather a bunch of socially-inept boys behind the safety of a keyboard and make them feel like a man for 15 minutes because they have a virtual rifle in their hands? It's not to say we condone this sort of idiocy, but for the most part it's just mindless babble from youngin's that just don't know any better. Or really, it's just the way of talking for most young boys who use the phrases "that's gay" or "your gay" because they're not smart enough to come up with original insults.
What's your take on the issues that plague online gaming when it comes to hate speech or potential hate speech? Should we just pass it off as normal male immaturity or is it a huge problem that deserves more attention?
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
46 comments | showing # 1 to 46
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
10:55 AM on 02.26.2007
| 
Someone had to say it...
they claimed that gamers where using the term 'cheesy' or even 'cheese' to qualify a gamer as one who ends matches with cheap or unblockable attacks.
as we all know, cheese sales suffered through the late 90's due to this term, as many people would see cheese in the aisles and think of trying to block fireballs.
well the courts ruled that this style of gameplay was indeed cheesy, and the dairy farmers have to live with the fact that this term now has two meanings.
just like when someone hords the energy sword in halo2. thats just gay.
Yeah, the Kids in the Hall did like 15 years ago.
(oh snap, no I didn't.)
Plus I wonder how many anti-retard statements people have heard while playing games.
How original because all fags are bottoms. :)
Utilising the typical "I have lots of black friends" defence, I can also confirm that homosexuals use the term "gay" to mean something bad too. Oh the irony!
Calling a teenager's bluff on homophobia, FTW!
@dorock
What's a fag? Do they have bottoms?
In the UK a fag is a cigarette and they do have bottoms and tops.
In the US....?
Just because youre not offended by being called gay, people who are gay/bi/trans etc may possibly feel shitty or offended because of it. The problem is the fact the majority of people who play games dont realise the impact using shitty insults like that have on people, or let it slip past without caring. There is also the problem of ignorance, you mention transgender and most people go wtf or just take the piss, though, for 14 yr old boy, I guess without parents explaining stuff then its sadly excepted.
It's also pretty gay.
Or maybe it's your dad's subconscious coming through...:D
That said, I did rattle off a few choice words yesterday when playing Crackdown. But it wasn't anything I'd say in front of my Mom.
I call BS. How do you know some of the regular shmoes walking down the street are or aren't gay. You're not allowed to say that there aren't enough gay character and turn around and say that gay characters are stereotypes. IT'S HOW YOU KNOW THEY'RE GAY.
As if all game characters are straight unless they single themselves out as gay. That's as idiotic as assuming all game characters are gay unless they specify that they are straight.
Fucking gay community shoots themelves in the foot with shit like this all the time. It spotlights their own inability to recognise that not all gay people look/act/-broadcast that they are- gay.
I have never said it since.
The idea that two boys would kiss would blow their minds.
Gay is just a word that has seen a change in meaning. As someone said earlier, it did mean happy and colourful, then it was used primarily to describe homosexuals, but now it's mostly used for another purpose. When someone uses the word as an insult, the question of sexuality doesn't even come into it. There is not homophobic intent.
I must admit - even as a rounded grown-up with gay friends and family, I still describe things as gay, and I'd guess that most of us do from time to time.
Racial/sexual slurs are something that would disappear if people stopped getting all butt hurt about them. The ignorant people who use them won't go away, but if you take away the words power by not taking offense, or just blatantly ignoring it, they'll have to find some other way to get to you.
Remember "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"? Don't go around saying it, because you'll sound like a putz, but keep it in mind.
Comedy gold!
How is that possible? Botched statistics, obviously.
Language can be used as a weapon, but its not an unstoppable force. If you don't accept the words someone is speaking to you, they can't harm you.
Kids are going to be exposed to unsavory elements in the world, and theres nothing you can do about that part of it. The parents job isn't to shield the kid from the real world, but to explain why stuff like bigotry isn't how things should be.