LegalFauxPas · @LegalFauxPas
30th Sep 2014 from TwitLonger
If I could say one thing to the industry... #Gamergate
Originally I conceived this as some kind of long form “civil” rant about the host of grievances I have with both Gamergate and the anti-Gamergate side. I decided that’s not going to help anyone. So I thought I’d give anyone who is interested, my view on this fiasco as a gamer, not a “gamergater”, a gamer, to you, the “industry”, both journalists and developers.
You can see my misgivings with Gamergate on show here: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.861486-Female-Game-Developers-Share-Their-Views-on-GamerGate?page=20#21450505
Now if you want to get mad at me you can also read my [arguably overly critical] response to “developer #7”: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.861486-Female-Game-Developers-Share-Their-Views-on-GamerGate?page=3#21436798
TL;DR, Gamergate isn’t simply misogyny, to say so is to fan the flames. People can be sincere and wrong, that is *vital* to remember right now. [Didn’t phrase it well, meant to be advancing “their” arguments and saying they can be sincere, *not* arguing them as my own. I just want this hate to stop.] And in my never ending quest to be hated by both “sides”, onto this post!
Honestly, you have a massive perception issue. The irony of this statement is not lost on me. Many in the industry reasonably declare Gamergate as having a “serious PR problem”, to put it mildly. I suggest, oddly, you also have a massive PR problem. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I think you have one and have done little to improve it. In fact, some of the more mischievous in your industry have happily revelled in *worsening it*. That’s the thesis I want to put to you in this post.
If I could speak to anyone in industry, it’s the ones who are scratching their heads at how this hate could possibly have metasized to what it is now.
First of all, if I have your attention, I want to tell you I'm so sorry for the harassment and abuse you face, there is no justifying or excusing it. No one deserves to feel that same fear for their friends, family or co-workers. The fact that so many of you live with this every day is shameful.
Here’s what I *think* you've been through:
1. Incessant harassment that’s been ongoing for decades.
2. You saw a fellow developer receive an avalanche of hate.
3. Journalists wrote pieces that ostensibly hit out at the horrific behaviour of that one particular awful week.
4. Many gamers had no idea that’s what you were trying to do.
Why?
Because they missed the mark. I've seen the incredibly patient Raph Koster and Damion Schubert going to great lengths to explain to gamers “what was really being said.”
They mention the swatting and the bomb threats. But I don’t see these mentioned in the articles. [Maybe I missed them]. I mostly see two prominent feminists, and their defenders, being harassed.
It should of course be axiomatic that the treatment they received *is* newsworthy. It *is* unacceptable and I fully understand the need to rally against this type of behaviour, especially that kind of hate which is targeted primarily at minorities in the industry. But I don’t know if it quite resonated the way it should have.
Before we turn to the articles, let me put a different viewpoint to you. A “gamer” viewpoint. Does this apply to all gamers? No, but I suspect it applies to a few. Remember: This viewpoint I'm building comes *before* Gamergate kicks off.
A lot of people feel that they are unable to debate the points raised by people like Sarkeesian without being labelled as misogynists. Is this correct? I don’t know, but their perception is there and frankly, it needs to be tackled.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/no-right-answer/8643-Is-Anita-Sarkeesian-Wrong
This video exemplifies this idea. “We don’t want her to stop talking, we just don’t want her’s to be the only allowed viewpoint”.
Why are so many thinking like this? Because the community is toxic, and it’s not just the misogynists poisoning the well, but plenty of “progressives” too. A lot of people are legitimately concerned by parts of Sarkeesian’s videos. The Hitman example is pretty much prime real estate here.
So TB’s rebuttal of part of it here: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/ngiujr.
Gamers have been attacked for a long time, you've probably been attacked too. But you need to avoid the logic of “People hate what’s happening with Sarkeesian because they don’t want games criticised”.
That’s not it, a large portion are frankly horrified at what they regard as one view getting pushed and what *they* regard as serious problems with those arguments simply aren't being answered. They see a press who ignore those points. And an industry who then gives her awards for it.
“Why do they not bring up these objections?” They ponder
“Because it’s an *AGENDA*!” They reason.
It’s not that people want *less* critique of games, it’s that they want *more* critique, they want an end to what they see as an echo-chamber. Are they accurate? I think that’s really beside the point.
My point is that before all of this started a lot of people felt increasingly under attack from broad-strokes. People who were trying to engage with Sarkeesian’s arguments felt belittled, lumped in with misogynists and sometimes even “betrayed”. These aren't just “white men” btw, many minorities seem to feel the same. (#Notyourshield.)
At this stage you might think this is palpably absurd, I suggest many Gamergaters feel the same when you say they’re just misogyny. Please bear with me.
This all comes down to one word: alienation.
A lot of people, before this even happened felt *hated*, yes, hated, by parts of the games press and community. We live in an age where tumblrinaction can continually give you examples of women talking about how they want to murder men. Or, on the same subreddit, Return of Kings can mansplain why women *should* be in the kitchen.
We live in an age of straw-men and outrage media fuelling the flames and handing out the pitchforks. Where you either toe the line, or you’re out. We live in an age where pointing out actual facts concerning what the law is, is enough to get you branded a rape apologist: http://www.popehat.com/2012/10/09/frankly-i-dont-care-how-due-process-makes-you-feel/
Of course, we also live in an age where saying “hey domestic violence against women isn’t cool” gets me described as a “brain-washed feminazi sympathiser”. A most powerful argument I’m sure you’ll agree. [I didn’t even deny it happens to men, I’ve donated to both causes!]
My point is that Gamergate doesn't come about the way it does without these feelings of alienation and *two-way* hatred.
Now the infamous blog post drops. Personally? I roll my eyes. I'm a big privacy fan, I don’t care what happens in your private life and I sure as hell don’t want you telling me about another’s private life. [Seriously man, take that shit down already]. Are they an abuser? Well, unless you have criminal charges to bring, I believe privately discussing it in support structures is the best bet. Bringing stuff like this into the public sphere is very dangerous for all involved.
But there are ties! Between devs and reporters! Eh, honestly, the coverage was so minimal that if sleeping with someone only got you *that*, I’d feel pity, not outrage. I’d at least expect a goddamn review out of the “deal”.
So I'm thoroughly unconvinced. But then some interesting revelations come to the fore along with a *tonne* of rubbish. Reporters supporting developers on patreon? That’s pretty dubious to me, and there was a certain connection made unrelated to “LW” which *does* warrant investigation.
Now here’s where the narrative splits. During all of this Reddit etc all begins “censoring”. Why wouldn’t you? Developers are at risk here. This is really serious so perhaps you go a little bit “trigger-happy”. But you’re playing it safe because nothing is worth a witch hunt which brings someone in physical danger. I totally respect that.
That’s not how it was perceived. A lot of people saw it as censorship, that a legitimate talking point was being prevented from being discussed. You and I? We probably saw the articles as no big deal, but some sincerely *do* think it’s a big deal, and their concerns should be addressed without them feeling belittled. Frankly, I find myself agreeing with the way you acted. I agree with the “censorship”. But I think it was done badly.
When you tried to bring anonymity to patreon, you saw it as protecting people from serious harassment. Others saw it as “covering your tracks”. See what I mean about the PR problem?
You see Gamergate "truthers" digging for anything they can hurl at you. I see a bunch of people [not all] convinced that they need some huge "knockout blow" before they'll be taken seriously and it drives them onwards.
In my honest opinion, you needed a post which honestly and frankly explained the situation, you needed to tell people that there was some serious risk involved here and you needed to suggest solutions. But that didn't happen, all you had was censorship and shadow-bans on reddit (some of which were just ridiculous. For posting a gif? Really?)
But we didn't have that. So instead people feel censored, these people who may already have been feeling “unwelcome” are being shown the door.
And now we get “gamers are dead”. Oh boy. Now *you* meant it to be a rallying call against harassment, something every right thinking person riding the Clapham Omnibus could get behind. But that’s not what it sounded like to *them*.
Again, based not just on the articles but how people had been acting on twitter, reasonable people felt lumped in with misogynists *again*. They felt belittled, lumped in with misogynists and “betrayed” once more.
Harassment is a big issue, and you’re right that when there’s a criminal courses of intimidation and abuse, there are not “two sides” *to that part of the “story”*. I'm sorry, but there are two sides to Gamergate as a whole. The story of the wizards alone proves this reality. As someone who has lost two friends to suicide I tell you I take such a matter very seriously. If you don’t know about that element of Gamergate, I suggest you don’t truly know the crux of the matter.
We had a certain game writer telling Gamergate that they distribute CP. A very serious and frankly foolish thing to say. We've had another explaining that these people are “worse than ISIS”. I mean, are they even trying to diffuse the situation? Or are they revelling in fanning the flames and laughing at the “nerds”?
Enter the Escapist.
Honestly, if it weren't for the actions of the Escapist, this whole thing would have been even *worse*. Can you imagine the crescendo if all these people didn't have an outlet? If every single part of the “mainstream games media” simply brushed it aside? Frankly, you owe Macris and Tito your gratitude. They've helped bring civility when many were happy with trench warfare. They certainly have my thanks.
You see there are in fact good people on the Gamergate tag, some have beliefs I can’t take seriously, and I'm sure I have some that they can’t take seriously either. But they’re still good people. They raised money for a charity whose stated aim was to get women into video games. They've also raised money for the Suicide prevention hotline, about $5,000 dollars: https://www.crowdrise.com/NSHGamers/fundraiser/loping.
These facts alone speak to the goodness of their humanity, and the incredible power for good I think gamers are realising they have.
But we have a most terrible obstacle in our path. The obstacle of hate and anger and this miserable divide we now find. And I suggest to you it is not new, but has been rising for a long time.
Leigh Alexander said this:
“When you decline to create or to curate a culture in your spaces, you’re responsible for what spawns in the vacuum. That’s what’s been happening to games.”
Ironically I actually agree, but I suggest it’s not quite as simple as you think. I suggest hate goes both ways and has been curated by some in the industry and they also need to stop. Do I think they’re the majority? No, but I think they’re loud. (I'm sure you’re seeing the parallel.)
As developer number 6 brilliantly said in the escapist interviews:
“For the first time in the history of games, people in the industry went down into the gutter with the trolls, called them fuckers and assholes, trolled the trolls and incited an organized counter-assault. No one should have to stay silent in the face of an assault, yet I was shocked to see our own abandon basic decorum and pour gasoline on the fire. It created a fissure that I don't think will ever properly heal within the game industry itself.”
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/features/12306-Female-Game-Developers-Make-Statements-on-GamerGate.9
But I disagree with dev #6. I think we can heal it, it’s difficult, but I suggest that Mr Koster and Mr Schubert, simply from acknowledging people and engaging have helped simmer so much of the fear from Gamergaters that they’ll forever be misunderstood and hated. It's an awful thing to be singularly *hated*. ZQ din't deserve it, AS doesn't deserve it, but most of Gamergaters don't deserve it either.
Just as an aside, that letter decrying hatred? I suspect some in the media spun that away from what some of you meant. I know some of you really wanted it to say "misogyny needs to end", but I'm also fairly sure others had more nuance. Some people have done you a disservice in how they've represented it.
I would be remiss if I didn't state that I'm well aware a lot of people in the tag have made it damn hard to talk to them. Although this letter is directed towards “industry” and may seem like I'm putting all the blame on you, I genuinely don’t. I've been very critical of Gamergate, for example in the comments here:
http://www.zenofdesign.com/this-is-the-worst-games-media-ever-except-for-all-the-ones-before/
What's the phrase? "A pox on both your houses"?
I'm of the fervent belief that anger, hate and divisive “politicking” are one of the greatest challenges facing our community today. If you think all of Gamergate love harassers, you’re mistaken, I see lots of them despise it. Many of them have been victim to it. I'm not talking about rude comments, I'm talking about doxxing, threatening emails, phone calls and deliveries. Some of those people also feel like they’re being ignored by industry, almost like “they deserve it”. I'm sure you don’t believe that, yet, for some, I've had to be charitable to decide to believe that. [But see how again, builds a perception?]
Is this the work of anti-GGers? Or trolls looking to fan the flames? Perhaps the latter, perhaps both. It seems odd to me that a group we should be united in dealing with [trolls] have managed to turn us against one another so horrifically.
I think for too long we as a society have allowed hatred to be a substitute for rational politics and for too long we've all turned a blind eye to the hate of people not in our “group”.
So if you want to help dismantle the hate, I have a few calls to action, you may like some of them, you my like none of them. I understand so many of you are terrified of losing your jobs, so I tried to come up with things we can all do to help stop this even if privately, if you like them, share them. Think there are better ones? I’d genuinely love to hear them:
1. Understand that huge swathes of us hold very similar views, yet aren't seeing eye-to-eye, I suggest this is because of perception.
2. Make a genuine effort to “signal boost” people you disagree with, but have done so with kindness. I'm talking stuff like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJihi5rB_Ek. We need people like Kitetales to serve as role models for good, kind and respectful debate. I think journalists are well placed to do this.
3. As for 2, I know many of the GGers hate her views, I'm unconvinced by many of them as well, but, if you’re reading, Sarkeesian’s method of speaking calmly to a camera should be lauded and replicated. Yes, yes I know you think “she’s a fraud” and “makes it up” and all of that. But my point stands, we should applaud people who deliver their content calmly and clearly, even if we vehemently disagree and criticise it.
4. If you think a story sounds increasingly like “good vs evil”, you should perhaps be sceptical, of course this goes both ways for pro-GG as well.
5. Tell gamers what they can do to help stop harassment from *everyone*. Let’s face facts, we have both anecdotes and data that suggest that women are more often targeted for abusive messages online. But there are people who are scratching their heads right now thinking “what about the abuse I'm getting”? If the perception is there, it needs to be tackled. Many don’t feel accepted, and that’s horrible, especially of course LGBTQ+ people.
6. When doing 5, don’t tell them what they *have* to do, it can seem aggressive. But if a favourite developer of ours is going through a tough patch, I'm pretty sure most of GG would want to help you, is there anything we can do to help you? [At the same time, keep in mind, a lot of people view "listen and believe" type ideas as being part of what caused the wizards thing. We have to accept the lack of "easy answers" here.]
7. Realise we have an opportunity. Gamergate has become the focus of a lot of attention, I suggest we need to find a way to really unite us all after this. Perhaps I'm being an idiot optimist, but I refuse to let that possibility go.
In conclusion; developers, I'm sorry for your abuse. It's despicable and you have nothing less than my enduring respect for somehow dealing with it all. But while Gamergaters have made it damn hard to talk to them, many in your industry have helped enrage people, you as a community are potentially best placed to press one another privately not to do so. I suggest that some of you maybe don’t know everything that’s going on here. Regardless of how you feel about Gamergate, I still suggest hate will never stop with even more hate.
In conclusion; journalists, I'm also sincerely sorry for your abuse. I know many of you are hard-working and paid poorly. You aren't trying to ruin games, you've dedicated vast amounts of years and your lives to games, and it’s been chewed up and thrown back at you. No one deserves that and I've come along and made a list of potential unreasonable requests with no right to do so. Similarly however, I suggest some journalists have helped fan horrible flames of hate both wilfully and indirectly.
How do we end Gamergate? I think to begin we need it all on the table. I think we need a long form letter which spells out the kinds of horrible things your industry has been put through. Your Gamers are Dead articles could have been that, but I suggest a lot of them simply helped fuel hate instead. If I could suggest one more thing, it would be to gather and put it all down, tell us what you want us to hear, but at the same time, please oh please, don’t tar everyone with the same brush.
If you write this letter, maybe also include what Gamergaters have been through, recognise that they too have been threatened and pushed to silence. Call on them to realise how serious internet harassment has become as they too have experienced what you have unjustly had to put up with for so long, yet you continue, motivated by nothing more than your love of the industry and the wonders it can provide. We may have a chance to build empathy between "camps".
To put it simply, I think a key element of Gamergate was perceptions from both "sides". I don't think a letter will magically end it, but I think it's the first real step.
Even if you disagree with everything I just said, even if you think I'm just a deluded misogynist sympathiser, I'm still grateful that you even read this.
As both Erik Kain and Miss Angerist have noted: There’s a great divide here and we need to work together to heal it. http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/09/01/the-gamer-is-dead-long-live-the-gamer/
Personally? I think we all need to stop “fighting” and take a moment to truly acknowledge that divide and how truly awful it is.
Have a great day everyone.
PS: Oh god Dark Souls please stop killing me oh god…