Op Ed

Gamasutra - 'Gamers' don't have to be your audience. 'Gamers' are over.
‘Games culture’ is a petri dish of people who know so little about how human social interaction and professional life works that they can concoct online ‘wars’ about social justice or ‘game journalism ethics,’ straight-faced, and cause genuine human consequences. Because of video games.

Lately, I often find myself wondering what I’m even doing here. And I know I’m not alone.

All of us should be better than this. You should be deeply questioning your life choices if this and this and this are the prominent public face your business presents to the rest of the world.

"When you decline to create or to curate a culture in your spaces, you’re responsible for what spawns in the vacuum."

This is what the rest of the world knows about your industry -- this, and headlines about billion-dollar war simulators or those junkies with the touchscreen candies. That’s it. You should absolutely be better than this.

You don’t want to ‘be divisive?’ Who’s being divided, except for people who are okay with an infantilized cultural desert of shitty behavior and people who aren’t? What is there to ‘debate’?

New Statesman - Tropes vs Anita Sarkeesian- on passing off anti-feminist nonsense as critique. Thanks Derek.
Today, we're going to be looking at some of the common ways in which Anita Sarkeesian is portrayed in the gamer community, and how to assess and critique the mistakes that are made in responding to her work. There are lies passed off as truths and meaningless non-sequiturs presented as devastating proofs by the kinds of people who like to bang on and on and on about the "marketplace of ideas" as if that justifies being a total ass. They don't send death threats, but they build and sustain the environment that means a woman like her is treated the way that she is.

Shacknews.com Opinion- Publishers too reluctant to embrace new consoles.
Wait... what?

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337.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 10, 2014, 01:45
Re: Op Ed Sep 10, 2014, 01:45
Sep 10, 2014, 01:45
 
Sepharo wrote on Sep 10, 2014, 01:19:
Guys, this topic only needed 17 (now 16) more comments to be in the top 10 most commented.

We can do it!
How did we get so many comments when this games journalism incident seems way, way worse but didn't even get 80 on Ars!
336.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 10, 2014, 01:19
Re: Op Ed Sep 10, 2014, 01:19
Sep 10, 2014, 01:19
 
Guys, this topic only needed 17 (now 16) more comments to be in the top 10 most commented.
Avatar 17249
335.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 5, 2014, 12:40
Re: Op Ed Sep 5, 2014, 12:40
Sep 5, 2014, 12:40
 
eRe4s3r wrote on Sep 5, 2014, 05:53:
Beamer wrote on Sep 4, 2014, 12:22:
Jenn Frank, who wrote freelance for The Guardian, has quit writing on games. She's been harassed out. Her sin? She wrote The Guardian's 500 word blog covering #gamergate. She also donated money to Zoe Quinn a long time ago on Patreon and has met Quinn at least once.

She didn't review Quinn's products, and she didn't write something advertising them, she covered #gamergate in a blog (aka editorial.) The Guardian's legal staff reviewed it and recommended she not bother disclosing it.

Is this where we are now? Are our games "journalists" not allowed to personally meet developers nor donate to Kickstarters? What, exactly, do we expect from our game journalists? Do sports anchors not know athletes? Do our music reviewers not spend time backstage or go to awards shows?

They are allowed to do all that, if disclosed BEFORE WRITING AN OP-ED, not AFTER. And Patreon should be 100% forbidden for journalists, not just disclosed.

She actually did do it before, and legal told her to remove it.
Legal. The people that know this better than anyone.
334.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 5, 2014, 05:53
Re: Op Ed Sep 5, 2014, 05:53
Sep 5, 2014, 05:53
 
Beamer wrote on Sep 4, 2014, 12:22:
Jenn Frank, who wrote freelance for The Guardian, has quit writing on games. She's been harassed out. Her sin? She wrote The Guardian's 500 word blog covering #gamergate. She also donated money to Zoe Quinn a long time ago on Patreon and has met Quinn at least once.

She didn't review Quinn's products, and she didn't write something advertising them, she covered #gamergate in a blog (aka editorial.) The Guardian's legal staff reviewed it and recommended she not bother disclosing it.

Is this where we are now? Are our games "journalists" not allowed to personally meet developers nor donate to Kickstarters? What, exactly, do we expect from our game journalists? Do sports anchors not know athletes? Do our music reviewers not spend time backstage or go to awards shows?

They are allowed to do all that, if disclosed BEFORE WRITING AN OP-ED, not AFTER. And Patreon should be 100% forbidden for journalists, not just disclosed.
Avatar 54727
333.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 4, 2014, 12:24
Re: Op Ed Sep 4, 2014, 12:24
Sep 4, 2014, 12:24
 
Mattie Brice has also been harassed into resigning, though I don't know why.
These two were primarily bloggers, nothing more.

It's hard to believe this is about journalism corruption when two insignificant female bloggers are the ones getting so much heat.
332.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 4, 2014, 12:22
Re: Op Ed Sep 4, 2014, 12:22
Sep 4, 2014, 12:22
 
Jenn Frank, who wrote freelance for The Guardian, has quit writing on games. She's been harassed out. Her sin? She wrote The Guardian's 500 word blog covering #gamergate. She also donated money to Zoe Quinn a long time ago on Patreon and has met Quinn at least once.

She didn't review Quinn's products, and she didn't write something advertising them, she covered #gamergate in a blog (aka editorial.) The Guardian's legal staff reviewed it and recommended she not bother disclosing it.

Is this where we are now? Are our games "journalists" not allowed to personally meet developers nor donate to Kickstarters? What, exactly, do we expect from our game journalists? Do sports anchors not know athletes? Do our music reviewers not spend time backstage or go to awards shows?
331.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 4, 2014, 05:36
Re: Op Ed Sep 4, 2014, 05:36
Sep 4, 2014, 05:36
 
Sho wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 21:31:
Anyway, I'm actually sorry I wrote that post in that way.

Me too, my apologies.
330.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 4, 2014, 04:37
Re: Op Ed Sep 4, 2014, 04:37
Sep 4, 2014, 04:37
 
Quinn wrote on Sep 4, 2014, 04:15:
Gotta get this off my chest: I'm not sure what I find more annoying to find on the internet -- fucking stupidity or this neverending political correctness. But I can sure as hell say that the latter is giving me, personally, a nasty itch.

You might want to see your doctor for a cream for that itch. In the meantime, can I recommend a soothing video to take your mind off things?

If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
329.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 4, 2014, 04:15
Re: Op Ed Sep 4, 2014, 04:15
Sep 4, 2014, 04:15
 
Sho wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 21:31:
Julio wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 20:44:
If there's 'fucking stupidity' on both sides, I assume it would also apply to the 'uncomfortable' poster who's mostly sitting on the fence...

Sure, I've been known to occassionally be stupid.

Anyway, I'm actually sorry I wrote that post in that way. It was shitty style, both for retreading already-covered ground and acting as if you're "not in the room". I think we should be better than that with one another in here even when in disagreement, so again, sorry.


Gotta get this off my chest: I'm not sure what I find more annoying to find on the internet -- fucking stupidity or this neverending political correctness. But I can sure as hell say that the latter is giving me, personally, a nasty itch.
328.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 21:31
Sho
 
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 21:31
Sep 3, 2014, 21:31
 Sho
 
Julio wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 20:44:
If there's 'fucking stupidity' on both sides, I assume it would also apply to the 'uncomfortable' poster who's mostly sitting on the fence...

Sure, I've been known to occassionally be stupid.

Anyway, I'm actually sorry I wrote that post in that way. It was shitty style, both for retreading already-covered ground and acting as if you're "not in the room". I think we should be better than that with one another in here even when in disagreement, so again, sorry.

327.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 20:44
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 20:44
Sep 3, 2014, 20:44
 
Sho wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 12:31:
Well, this very thread compared Sarkeesian to Hitler and Stalin. Fucking stupidity on both sides.

If there's 'fucking stupidity' on both sides, I assume it would also apply to the 'uncomfortable' poster who's mostly sitting on the fence...

This comment was edited on Sep 3, 2014, 20:53.
326.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 19:23
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 19:23
Sep 3, 2014, 19:23
 
Beamer wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 19:05:
Al Jazeera US is typically the only major news station that really shows any interest in news.

Hey! "Missing blonde female" for seven days straight is news! Isn't it?
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
325.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 19:17
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 19:17
Sep 3, 2014, 19:17
 
ASeven wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 14:46:
Also, a gamasutra article may have lead to the downgrade of the author of it. People are trying to find more details.

I hope that's not the case.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
324.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 19:05
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 19:05
Sep 3, 2014, 19:05
 
ASeven wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 16:25:
This got huge right now. AlJazeera has posted an article on this. A major news network now has the focus on #Gamergate.

"Criticism of video games and gaming culture, for misogyny and other issues, is commonplace. But a counter trend alleging corruption and condescension in gaming media is now spreading through the hashtag #GamerGate (link is external). The hashtag has been used (link is external) more than 189,000 times, as members of the gaming community debate what they call snobby attitudes of gaming journalists towards players."

GamerHeadlines also posts about the #Imnotyourshield, a new campaign that shows women and minorities saying they want no part of the SJW movement.

"While nothing of note has happened on the gaming media side of events, it looks like the gaming community is once again trying to be heard. And this time, the voices come from a multitude of diverse sources. #NotYourShield is a recent trend that has cropped up on Twitter, coming from several ‘minority’ groups, including women and people of different races, claiming that they are being ignored in the conversation regarding #GamerGate."

I'm really confused as to why some in the comments section are convinced that Al Jazeera article is "showing its bias." It seems to basically throw out the high level facts, using "alleged" and "reported" rather than treating much of anything as having factually occurred. It's shallow and brief, but it's just sticking its toes into these waters.
Al Jazeera US is typically the only major news station that really shows any interest in news.
323.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 18:35
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 18:35
Sep 3, 2014, 18:35
 
Beamer wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 15:57:

What's interesting is that Alexa shows those sites started dipping on 8/1. Which is weeks before this whole thing started. Gamasutra didn't jump into this until last week, yet shows a steep dive all during August. Rockpapershotgun seems to level off their fall when this all hit. Joystiq, a site I don't think has weighed in on this much, shows the exact same steep decline. TheVerge, which has been extremely active in this, shows a very steep rise.

Perhaps something else is leading to this?

Comscore shows Gamasutra down 60% YoY for July (August numbers aren't out yet.) It shows Kotaku down 21%. IGN is down 22%. Rockpapershotgun was down 20%.

Maybe print media is making a comeback?

I miss CGW.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
322.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 16:25
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 16:25
Sep 3, 2014, 16:25
 
This got huge right now. AlJazeera has posted an article on this. A major news network now has the focus on #Gamergate.

"Criticism of video games and gaming culture, for misogyny and other issues, is commonplace. But a counter trend alleging corruption and condescension in gaming media is now spreading through the hashtag #GamerGate (link is external). The hashtag has been used (link is external) more than 189,000 times, as members of the gaming community debate what they call snobby attitudes of gaming journalists towards players."

GamerHeadlines also posts about the #Imnotyourshield, a new campaign that shows women and minorities saying they want no part of the SJW movement.

"While nothing of note has happened on the gaming media side of events, it looks like the gaming community is once again trying to be heard. And this time, the voices come from a multitude of diverse sources. #NotYourShield is a recent trend that has cropped up on Twitter, coming from several ‘minority’ groups, including women and people of different races, claiming that they are being ignored in the conversation regarding #GamerGate."
321.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 15:57
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 15:57
Sep 3, 2014, 15:57
 
ASeven wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 14:46:
Seems there are some consequences for lack of ethics and attacking your own customers that feed you. Traffic in many of the sites associated to the gamer's death debacle is sharply down.

Also, a gamasutra article may have lead to the downgrade of the author of it. People are trying to find more details.

What's interesting is that Alexa shows those sites started dipping on 8/1. Which is weeks before this whole thing started. Gamasutra didn't jump into this until last week, yet shows a steep dive all during August. Rockpapershotgun seems to level off their fall when this all hit. Joystiq, a site I don't think has weighed in on this much, shows the exact same steep decline. TheVerge, which has been extremely active in this, shows a very steep rise.

Perhaps something else is leading to this?

Comscore shows Gamasutra down 60% YoY for July (August numbers aren't out yet.) It shows Kotaku down 21%. IGN is down 22%. Rockpapershotgun was down 20%.
320.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 14:46
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 14:46
Sep 3, 2014, 14:46
 
Seems there are some consequences for lack of ethics and attacking your own customers that feed you. Traffic in many of the sites associated to the gamer's death debacle is sharply down.

Also, a gamasutra article may have lead to the downgrade of the author of it. People are trying to find more details.
319.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 13:10
Sho
 
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 13:10
Sep 3, 2014, 13:10
 Sho
 
Verno wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 13:02:
This thread didn't do anything, maybe a specific poster did but take it up with them and don't try to put all opposing view points into the same bucket.


That really wasn't my intention, but fair enough. I meant to point out that some folks on both sides of the issue resort to the same polemics.


Verno wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 13:02:
There are far more cogent arguments against Sarkeesians nonsense coming from this thread than for it anyway.

I agree some very valid criticism of her work was posted. I think "nonsense" is once a again a too far-reaching summary judgement, though.

But yeah, at this point we're going in circles. I guess the thread's pretty much petered out now.
318.
 
Re: Op Ed
Sep 3, 2014, 13:02
Re: Op Ed Sep 3, 2014, 13:02
Sep 3, 2014, 13:02
 
Sho wrote on Sep 3, 2014, 12:31:
Well, this very thread compared Sarkeesian to Hitler and Stalin. Fucking stupidity on both sides.

This thread didn't do anything, maybe a specific poster did but take it up with them and don't try to put all opposing view points into the same bucket. There are far more cogent arguments against Sarkeesians nonsense coming from this thread than for it anyway.
Avatar 51617
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