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Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

bbc.com

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Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#71

Post by scott_s »

chippy wrote: post #60
retrocombine wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking out against being harassed is not "bathing in the outrage". You sound completely biased, as well. I don't trust you as a neutral observer.

I think there's a difference about speaking out about harassment in general and going against the recommendations of the police who should be dealing with a specific threat. I agree though, it's certainly not "bathing in the outrage" at all. Perhaps the added attention to a cause, perhaps the added news coverage is worth going against the advice of professionals when it comes to direct threats to the safety of onesel…

Who is going against whose recommendations, and in what way?

Sarkeesian chose to not attend because she feared for her safety. Legally, the police could not prevent people from brining concealed weapons, and she did not feel safe. Your comment implies that she is somehow ignoring advice that would promote her safety, in order to gain more exposure. I don't see that happening.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#72

Post by imchillyb »

ben0x539 wrote: post #26
gohrt wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why it's best to ignore the whole thing, except to refer criminal threats to the police for investigation.

It's easy for people who aren't being targeted for harassment to ignore it, but I think we owe it to those who are to not ignore it.

> I think we owe it to those who are (being targeted for harassment) to not ignore it. - ben0x539

No. No we don't. The best thing you can do, as an individual, is not give either side of the debate any further attention or credibility.

Witch hunts are common in any activist crowd. This issue is no different than hundreds of other agenda driven issues.

If you truly want this type of thing to go away, stop talking about it.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#73

Post by pjc50 »

Karunamon wrote: post #27
JayOtter wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

She runs a show called 'Feminist Frequency', dedicated to calling out sexist tropes in video games (amongst other things). She appears to have become one of the enemies of the movement known as "#GamerGate". Proponents of the movement will tell you it's about ethics in game journalism, but in reality it seems to have largely become corrupted by misogyny and the like. Several female game developers and journalists hav…

but in reality it seems to have largely become corrupted by misogyny and the like Not any more than you'll find idiots in any movement - I would liken them more to the vandals that presented themselves during Occupy Wall Street. I hang around the organizing points for the GamerGate stuff - people are remarkably level headed and respectful (and absolutely NOT driven by misogyny). There is no organized harassment happe…

There absolutely is organised harrasment, it's organised on an IRC channel: http://wehuntedthemammoth.com/2014/09/08/zoe-quinns-screensh...

The well is not only poisoned by its originators but entirely made from poison. The whole original premise about corruption of games journalism is absurd; if that's what they were going after, it would look entirely different, because it's mostly a big-business phenomenon rather than an indie phenomenon.

Edit: no, you can't "no true Scotsman" your way out of this one. The movement is entirely mis-targeted by ignoring the big publishers. They also claimed the "success" of getting Intel to pull advertising from a site, which just pushes the whole games journalism business closer to an industry press release republishing facade.

Speaking of Scotsmen, the recent independence debate (which involved "strong emotions" over things that were actually important, unlike gamersgate) was far more civil than this. Tens of thousands of people somehow managed to campaign without death threats.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#74

Post by hashberry »

mturmon wrote: post #13

Her video series, which you can see on YouTube, is actually quite good and well-researched. You might disagree with her conclusions (I agree with them) but even if you disagree, you have to admit she's done a lot of legwork.

It better be. She raised $158K on Kickstarter to make these YouTube videos. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/566429325/tropes-vs-wom...

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#75

Post by kelvin0 »

ceejayoz wrote: post #9
kelvin0 wrote: post #5

I probably watch too many shows, but wouldn't that kind of threat (real or manufactured) actually push the speaker further into the limelight? So if this an actual threat (most likely) the 'bully' is really playing into her hands, so to speak. If this threat is manufactured, well this would indeed be quite a Machiavellian PR stunt ...

> If this threat is manufactured, well this would indeed be quite a Machiavellian PR stunt ... That's a common accusation by the GamerGate folks, but given the number of other women in the gaming arena receiving similar harassment it's pretty believable that these are real.

Gamergate folks? Is that not a generalization? How does one become part of this niche group?

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#76

Post by chippy »

ceejayoz wrote: post #44
hnha wrote: post #28

oh, what a fruitful discussion this might trigger.. What I don't get is how they constantly counter-act the common rules on how to deal with trolls or stalkers. It really feels like they are bathing in the outrage, not interested in actually solving it. And that's one reason why I sadly don't feel any sympathy but rather understand the vocal (non socio-/psychopath) critics. There is no fair discussion so I wish the m…

> What I don't get is how they constantly counter-act the common rules on how to deal with trolls or stalkers. "Common rules" along the lines of "just ignore it" tend to make it easy to pretend such things aren't happening and ignore those calling it a serious issue.

I believe the "common rules" in this case are not "just ignore it" but rather: Take legal advice. Contact the police.

They would probably say "don't talk to the press about it, don't give the attacker more fuel".

In the realm of internet trolls, the classic rule is "don't feed the troll". but an internet troll doesn't make death threats...

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#77

Post by ijk »

Karunamon wrote: post #27
JayOtter wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

She runs a show called 'Feminist Frequency', dedicated to calling out sexist tropes in video games (amongst other things). She appears to have become one of the enemies of the movement known as "#GamerGate". Proponents of the movement will tell you it's about ethics in game journalism, but in reality it seems to have largely become corrupted by misogyny and the like. Several female game developers and journalists hav…

but in reality it seems to have largely become corrupted by misogyny and the like Not any more than you'll find idiots in any movement - I would liken them more to the vandals that presented themselves during Occupy Wall Street. I hang around the organizing points for the GamerGate stuff - people are remarkably level headed and respectful (and absolutely NOT driven by misogyny). There is no organized harassment happe…

> There is no organized harassment happening A simple trawl of 8chan or the gamergate git repository says otherwise.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#78

Post by byerley »

Boy am I gonna regret this,

I know these are polarizing issues, but please take a moment to consider the credibility of the individuals involved and their respective economic incentives. I think that, given objective consideration of the facts, it's clear that Anita Sarkeesian is intentionally fueling controversy for financial gain.

Her claims of life-threatening danger have been repeatedly refuted by law enforcement officials. From the article,

"USU police, in conjunction with several teams of state and federal law enforcement experts, determined that there was no threat to students, staff or the speaker, so no alert was issued."

Meanwhile, her Kickstarter campaign raised roughly $160,000 with meager deliverables - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/566429325/tropes-vs-wom...

and she's presumably being paid well for appearances.

There's a lot of misinformation involved in twitter battles, but one needs only follow the money if you'll pardon the trite reference.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#79

Post by kelvin0 »

idlewords wrote: post #31
kelvin0 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Notice I did not accuse her of anything, simply stating two facts. Why the down votes? All I am saying is that whoever made the threats clearly doesn't want the issue to go away ... Come on guys!

You're getting downvoted because of the obvious and obnoxious insinuation.

Being obnoxious is purely subjective to your perception. Does that make it any less valuable?

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#80

Post by robin_reala »

byerley wrote: post #78

Boy am I gonna regret this, I know these are polarizing issues, but please take a moment to consider the credibility of the individuals involved and their respective economic incentives. I think that, given objective consideration of the facts, it's clear that Anita Sarkeesian is intentionally fueling controversy for financial gain. Her claims of life-threatening danger have been repeatedly refuted by law enforcement…

That objective consideration you’re talking about? It’s not objective. How could the police have known there was no threat? A threat was issued.
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