Tropes vs. Women Author Driven From Home

[exar333]

This story makes me feel very sad to be a 'gamer'. I enjoy a lot of the games that she critiques, and I can certainly see her viewpoint. I don't agree with everything she says, but she does make some valid arguments, in my opinion. Unfortunately, even if you disagree with her 100%, threatening violence to her and her family is just ridiculous. If anything, that type of response validates her opinion even more. Sad.

Mods - I felt this was appropriate to put in the PCG area, but move if you feel necessary.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2014/08/28/tropes-vs-women-in-video-games-creator-driven-from-her-home-by-online-threats-and-abuse/

 

[Red Storm]

What were the threats? I want to believe her, but she wouldn't be the first to over exaggerate such things to gain more publicity.

 

[exar333]

What were the threats? I want to believe her, but she wouldn't be the first to over exaggerate such things to gain more publicity.

She posted a few, but apparently there were quite a lot of them.

Example: https://twitter.com/femfreq/status/504718160902492160

 

[master_shake_]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuRSaLZidWI

feminism at work

you know why anita sarkeesian was forced from her home because she is a liar

look at me quoting myself...

video is nsfw

 

[master_shake_]

http://youtu.be/9RQIpwi-K9s?t=11m50s

this too

doing it again

again nsfw

 

[thedosbox]

look at me quoting myself

Justifying threats of violence because someone says something you don't like? This sort of idiocy is why I'd never admit to being a "gamer" in real life.

 

[master_shake_]

Justifying threats of violence because someone says something you don't like? This sort of idiocy is why I'd never admit to being a "gamer" in real life.

did you watch the videos?

im certain you didn't, because you didn't have enough time.

she is a straight up liar all of her sexism and misogyny in video games is in her head that's it

 

[mmntech]

The internet is filled with hateful trolls living in their mom's basement?

Anybody who gain's any notoriety on social media is a target of this. People like to be dicks just for the sake of being dicks. That's why there's a block and report button on Twitter. To call it a "threat" is a gross overreaction. Kudos to her for turning it into a publicity stunt.

 

[thedosbox]

did you watch the videos?

im certain you didn't, because you didn't have enough time.

she is a straight up liar all of her sexism and misogyny in video games is in her head that's it

Still not willing to condemn the death and rape threats I see. Nice to see such empathy amongst people who claim there is no sexism in gaming.

Anybody who gain's any notoriety on social media is a target of this. People like to be dicks just for the sake of being dicks. That's why there's a block and report button on Twitter. To call it a "threat" is a gross overreaction. Kudos to her for turning it into a publicity stunt.

That might be reasonable if it those were the only threats she received. When you're getting hundreds, blocking them is time consuming.

 

[lilrayray69]

True, but a lot of game reviewers and commentators get this stuff fairly regularly, too. Lots of them shut down comments on their videos and things. Go to any like IGN review comment section and you'll see people basically threatening the reviewer.

I think by the way she seems to focus particularly on the elements of game she feels is sexist, it's not really surprising to see the response she gets. As those videos above suggested, she could be doing that intentionally for the attention.

The comments and threats made towards her are of course disgusting and out of line, but not unique to her case.

She does seem to have turned it into a publicity stunt, by tweeting things such as she is "safe" and has moved her family out and alerted authorities, etc. and now you've got articles and videos dedicated just to this particular instance.

I dunno...I've not ever watched her reviews prior to this so I don't know exactly what kind of reviewer she is, not that anybody deserves such comments but if you're going to be an opinion character on the internet, I mean come on - it pretty well comes with the territory.

 

[davie jambo]

did you watch the videos?

im certain you didn't, because you didn't have enough time.

she is a straight up liar all of her sexism and misogyny in video games is in her head that's it

Well that is not true , there is sexism and misogyny in games.

However these games are not aimed at woman , they are aimed at teenage boys and young men. So there should be these things in games

I did see that she got crowdfunding of $160k which is utter madness

 

[exar333]

Justifying threats of violence because someone says something you don't like? This sort of idiocy is why I'd never admit to being a "gamer" in real life.

This.

I don't view her commentary/article as 'flippant' or 'over the top'. I may not agree with a lot of what she says, but making threats to her because of what she says is not OK. She can have her opinions and we can have ours, that is freedom of speech. Threatening each other over what we believe in isn't freedom.

 

[exar333]

True, but a lot of game reviewers and commentators get this stuff fairly regularly, too. Lots of them shut down comments on their videos and things. Go to any like IGN review comment section and you'll see people basically threatening the reviewer.

I think by the way she seems to focus particularly on the elements of game she feels is sexist, it's not really surprising to see the response she gets. As those videos above suggested, she could be doing that intentionally for the attention.

The comments and threats made towards her are of course disgusting and out of line, but not unique to her case.

She does seem to have turned it into a publicity stunt, by tweeting things such as she is "safe" and has moved her family out and alerted authorities, etc. and now you've got articles and videos dedicated just to this particular instance.

I dunno...I've not ever watched her reviews prior to this so I don't know exactly what kind of reviewer she is, not that anybody deserves such comments but if you're going to be an opinion character on the internet, I mean come on - it pretty well comes with the territory.

This is partially true. I also have a hard time blaming her 100% since her attackers are essentially enabling this behavior. If she was to sensationalize a single, isolated threat then I would definitely fault her for this. I don't necessarily blame her for highlighting all the (hateful) responses to her article.

 

[thedosbox]

True, but a lot of game reviewers and commentators get this stuff fairly regularly, too. Lots of them shut down comments on their videos and things.

Worth noting that Sarkeesian is also condemned for doing exactly that.

not that anybody deserves such comments but if you're going to be an opinion character on the internet, I mean come on - it pretty well comes with the territory.

Quoting both bits, but highlighting the second, because really - death and rape threats "come with the territory"? Bear in mind this has been going on for years.

As for publicity, her whole agenda is to raise awareness, so it'd be very appropriate if she were to use the haters to do so.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Well that is not true , there is sexism and misogyny in games.

However these games are not aimed at woman , they are aimed at teenage boys and young men. So there should be these things in games

I did see that she got crowdfunding of $160k which is utter madness

What?

 

[Red Storm]

Raising awareness about what? That the internet is a place where people like to be trolls and often say a lot of vile things because for the most part it's anonymous? Who doesn't already know that?

She should stick to her main argument and avoid feeding trolls, of which there are an endless supply.

 

[davie jambo]

What?

Video games are marketed towards teenage boys and young men as that is the people who buy games

 

[master_shake_]

Still not willing to condemn the death and rape threats I see. Nice to see such empathy amongst people who claim there is no sexism in gaming.



That might be reasonable if it those were the only threats she received. When you're getting hundreds, blocking them is time consuming.

im not gonna get all teary eyed for someone who is spreading misinformation sure death threats aren't fun neither are rape threats, but im certain if she had done a PROPER job reporting sexism in video games then she would be praised for her abilities as a communications major.

instead she went the quick way and called men all sexists video games sexist the internet sexist and everything else in between sexist.

you see when you want to rile people up you just have to get them on your side with anecdotal evidence and lies thats how you get a mob together, but if you use rational arguments and facts you have an actual story she chose the former.

 

[thedosbox]

im not gonna get all teary eyed for someone who is spreading misinformation sure death threats aren't fun neither are rape threats, but im certain if she had done a PROPER job reporting sexism in video games then she would be praised for her abilities as a communications major.

Still justifying threats in the name of "DA TRUTH" I see.

instead she went the quick way and called men all sexists video games sexist the internet sexist and everything else in between sexist.

LOL, no.

 

[imaheadcase]

If you are a woman, playing a game looking for woman issues, you are not a gamer and need to move on.

 

[master_shake_]

Still justifying threats in the name of "DA TRUTH" I see.



LOL, no.

wow, just wow.

IF SHE HAD TOLD THE TRUTH IN THE FISRT PLACE THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THREATS. IS THE POINT IM TRYING TO MAKE /CAPS

 

[Red Storm]

wow, just wow.

IF SHE HAD TOLD THE TRUTH IN THE FISRT PLACE THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THREATS. IS THE POINT IM TRYING TO MAKE /CAPS

I have to disagree. This is the Internet, people will say anything to anyone because they can, they don't need a reason, let alone a justifiable one. The difference between a good and bad journalist is that the good ones simply ignore the Internet trolls.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Video games are marketed towards teenage boys and young men as that is the people who buy games

And how exactly does that translate into "It should have sexism and misogyny?"

 

[master_shake_]

I have to disagree. This is the Internet, people will say anything to anyone because they can, they don't need a reason, let alone a justifiable one. The difference between a good and bad journalist is that the good ones simply ignore the Internet trolls.

the issue is the title of her article would have been "nothing to see here, move along"

but that won't generate page hits or kickstarter donations.

her stories are fud and self serving.

problem is for all the negative feedback she gets one person says something way too offensive and that sets a precedent for how everyone who comments back is like.

then you can put up a wall of sexsim and misogyny and then you are untouchable because people with a valid argument are shot down because they are sexist.

 

[Jodell88]

A some what popular person on the internet is getting get threats? This is a regular occurrence and she's not special in any way, shape or form.