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SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

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11–20 of 86 posts

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#11

SXSW had the chance to take a stand for diversity here, choosing instead to show just how shallow they truly are. edit: Added clarification of which "side" I'm on

What's hilarious about this whole thing is that I have no idea which "side" you are on by your comment. I've seen this exact sentiment expressed about SXSW's decision on both /r/KiA and /r/GamerGhazi.

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#12
post #3

Why wouldn't they continue with the programming, and be ready to press charges against anyone who behaves violently?

Austin is located in the American state of Texas, which prides itself on gun ownership. Also, the SXSW conference has already had an instance of violence: a driver ran into a crowd of people and killed a few of them. While not intentional, I'm sure the programmers of this conference are eager to separate their brand from the idea of danger.

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#13

SXSW had the chance to take a stand for diversity here, choosing instead to show just how shallow they truly are. edit: Added clarification of which "side" I'm on

What's hilarious about this whole thing is that I have no idea which "side" you are on by your comment. I've seen this exact sentiment expressed about SXSW's decision on both /r/KiA and /r/GamerGhazi.

It's a mistake to think of it as "sides" rather than a small group of people with a persecution complex, and everyone else wishing they'd broaden their perspective a bit.

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#14
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's hilarious about this whole thing is that I have no idea which "side" you are on by your comment. I've seen this exact sentiment expressed about SXSW's decision on both /r/KiA and /r/GamerGhazi.

It's a mistake to think of it as "sides" rather than a small group of people with a persecution complex, and everyone else wishing they'd broaden their perspective a bit.

What's hilarious about this whole thing is that I have no idea which "side" you are on by your comment. I've seen this exact sentiment expressed about SXSW's decision on both /r/KiA and /r/GamerGhazi.

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#15
post #7

SXSW had the chance to take a stand for diversity here, choosing instead to show just how shallow they truly are. edit: Added clarification of which "side" I'm on

I don't think that's fair to either side of the discussion, or to SXSW. They reportedly received threats and piles of attention over both panels, and they didn't want to deal with that. They allowed both panels to sign up in the name of neutrality and diversity of ideas. And I guess people from both sides made sure neither could have nice things. (SXSW didn't blame anyone, but that's my guess.)

I get it, SXSW is a business, and they want to protect their profits. It makes plenty of sense. SXSW loves attention, they just chose to sit this one out because their analysis concluded that it would be better for their bottom line. They pride themselves as a forward-thinking event, even continuing this spiel in their announcement. It's now obvious to everyone that cares that it was all just marketing.

Ultimately I think this will hurt their bottom line by driving diversity away from their event. Will discussions of racial diversity now be cancelled at the whim of the KKK? These groups operate through threats and intimidation, and I think there is a real risk of other hate groups catching wind of this and using similar tactics to stir up attention for their cause.

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#16
post #3

Why wouldn't they continue with the programming, and be ready to press charges against anyone who behaves violently?

Austin is located in the American state of Texas, which prides itself on gun ownership. Also, the SXSW conference has already had an instance of violence: a driver ran into a crowd of people and killed a few of them. While not intentional, I'm sure the programmers of this conference are eager to separate their brand from the idea of danger.

"Austin is located in the American state of Texas, which prides itself on gun ownership."

That doesn't really follow from the facts as a reason to be concerned about violence. Austin's crime rate is lower than that of most other major American cities, including ones such as Chicago which have heavy gun control. (As per Wikipedia, Chicago's murder rate for 2014 was 15.1, Austin's 3.5.)

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#17
post #6

#SavePoint on why their panel was cancelled: http://www.theopengamingsociety.org/savepoint-dear-community... LevelUp on why their panel was cancelled: https://twitter.com/randileeharper/status/658780409765994496

Which side is which here? I'm not really clued into the whole GamerGate thing...

I have seen Randi Lee Harper say some very unpleasant things, and some even more unpleasant things said about her. I know nothing about the Open Gaming Society, but reading their website it seems like a relatively sane organization.

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#18
I get the liability arguments here, I really do, but people need to understand this is going to keep happening as long as people keep kowtowing to the demands of terrorists.

And I do not see that as too strong a word, either. Making threats against an event because it's against your ideology is the textbook definition of using fear to shape thought and policy.

These threats are never credible. It's high time to stop treating them as such.

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#19
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's hilarious about this whole thing is that I have no idea which "side" you are on by your comment. I've seen this exact sentiment expressed about SXSW's decision on both /r/KiA and /r/GamerGhazi.

It's a mistake to think of it as "sides" rather than a small group of people with a persecution complex, and everyone else wishing they'd broaden their perspective a bit.

No it really is sides.

There are people who enjoy playing video games, and laughing at life.

Then there are the SJWs out to shit on every game, and tell you that you're an asshole for laughing at anything.

Very clear lines drawn by the second group. The first group generally couldn't care less... it's just when the second group causes there to be more censorship or causes a game to be delayed because they don't want their little feels hurt that the first group takes offense.

Re: SXSW Cancels Gamer Panels After Threats

#20

So why not hold the panels in an undisclosed location and webcast them? Preferably for the public, not just conference attendees. Instead of giving the terrorists (for lack of a better word) exactly what they want turn it around and use their threats to garner extra publicity.

There isn't a better word, and we don't need one.
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