Live data from Hacker News

Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

bbc.com

1–10 of 348 posts

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#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 ...

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#6
post #2

Never heard of her before. Why is she so famous to elicit such an extreme reaction ?

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 have received death threats; it's all rather ugly.

This is the first time I've seen the movement appear on the front page of HN. I hope the discussion can be kept as civil as things normally are on here.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#7
post #2

Never heard of her before. Why is she so famous to elicit such an extreme reaction ?

committed the "sin" of pointing out misogyny in the video gaming products and community, it seems. It riled up a few folks in 4chan and apparently Adam Baldwin who are taking malicious glee in some astroturfing campaign to essentially ruin her life.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#8
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 ...

The whole of 'GamerGate' feels almost like a PR stunt to turn the world's media against gamers. The irony is almost palpable.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#9
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.

Re: Feminist video-games talk pulled after massacre threat

#10
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 ...

I think that's a bit cynical. The guardian story has some more detail[0]. Basically after the threat she asked "will there be guns allowed at this talk?" and the school answered "Well of course, this is Utah".

(mildly paraphrasing of course)

[0] http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/15/anita-sark...

Post reply on HN