What is Digg?460 Comments
- dig1x, on 05/15/2008, -23/+236I think it is pretty clear that the *intent* here is that the Gamertag was believed to be *offensive to homosexuals*, the policy certainly isnt to restrict or shun homosexuals.
It is intellectually dishonest to pretend that MS was trying to condemn homsexuality, banning the gamertag was (in their mind) supporting respectful diversity.
Anyone trying to paint this as MS being anti-gay is just looking to spread anti-MS FUD.
Be honest, who in their right mind would POSSIBLY think that MSFT's intent is to exclude game videogame players? Thats just stupid to suggest. - luchid, on 05/15/2008, -58/+264I'll quote one of the comments, I think it sums up my opinion quite nicely:
"Anyone with a tag like "ILoveGirls" or the aforementioned references to female body parts would not likely be banned. They're expressing their sexuality, and I doubt if you'd have a problem with it.
Also, if you think your kid isn't ready to be called a ***** every time he messes up in counter strike, you should let him or her onto xbox live.
I'm really really sick of everyone thinking that homosexuality is somehow offensive to children or something. " - lacronicus, on 05/15/2008, -16/+145While I don't particularly care for his tone, I understand and agree with the sentiment. I do not find homosexuality offensive, but I generally dislike it when people tell everyone around them things that they don't care to hear. It's not so much that it's offensive, just a bit obnoxious. It's almost along the lines of telling people how much money you make or what your race is, or anything like that; unless it's pertinent to the situation, I don't want to hear about it.
- Maurina, on 05/15/2008, -22/+138Why can't online players keep their sexual orientation out of their names and just play their ***** games.
- Regbooker, on 05/15/2008, -7/+71Shhh, you will ruin the sensationalist and skewed title with that comment. Just follow the Digg herd and protest this homophobic injustice done by Microsoft (add a generic "feel good" Obama slogan for a 20+ Diggs plus)
- hunterscanvas, on 05/15/2008, -55/+112These comments are insane. People are unbelievably homophobic:
jimconsumer at 01:36 PM:
"Keep your sexual preferences to yourself, people. I'm sick and ***** tired of gay people wearing their gayness on their shirt sleeves as a badge of honor. You know what? I really don't want to know how you like your sex. Do you see heterosexuals using monikers that mean, "I like to give it to my woman up the ass?" Hell no, because that would be offensive. Equally offensive is your compulsive desire to tell the world just how gay you are. Knock it the ***** off. Go home and be gay in the privacy of your own home, I support your right to ***** who you want, however you want it, just keep it to yourself, damnit."
"jimconsumer" continues his rant in another 2 comments after that. If this is who is reading and commenting on Consumerist, I think I'm done. - Nobi-Wan, on 05/15/2008, -13/+55It's not that they believe that homosexuality is offensive to children. It's the fact that you're stating your sexual preference in an arena that will either open up an assault of unnecessary commentary or start all kinds of hate speech. There are already enough 12 year olds on Xbox Live saying all kinds of racist, anti-gay, etc. things without having to bait them further with a name like the one in the article. "ILoveGirls" is not the same thing as saying "TheStraightestGamer" which would probably be banned just as easily as "TheGayestGamer." On the other hand, "ILoveBoys" would probably be acceptable because it's not just coming out saying the person is gay, or straight, or it's his girlfriends gamertag. I don't think that stating your sexual preference has any place on Xbox Live... no matter WHAT it is.
Just change your Gamertag and deal with it. It's Microsoft's service and in the fine print they state that they have the right to force you to change your name if it can be deemed offensive to others. Xbox Live isn't a soapbox to spout your political views or sexual preferences... whether it's in your Gamertag or bio or whatever. I'm going to have to agree on the side of MS on this one. - LordVance, on 05/15/2008, -3/+39Yea, I think it's a bit obnoxious. But at the same time I think the gamertag theHETEROgamer is equally obnoxious; do I think it's ban worthy or forced-name-change worthy? No - there are plenty of stupid/obnoxious names out there.
- Herv3, on 05/15/2008, -1/+38I couldn't help, but to be reminded of this awesome video of gayboy on xbox live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6alOnuN-wCY
What will happen to gayboy? - lacronicus, on 05/15/2008, -8/+43For better or worse, "gay" has become an offensive term (that's not to say that being homosexual is wrong, but that the term is used as an insult) in our society, whatever it's original meaning may have been. It's likely on some massive black-list that Microsoft doesn't want people using in their names. "OwnerOfBitches" could be a completely harmless name in one context, but extremely offensive in another; MS simply isn't taking that chance. Sure, it may not be perfect, but they have every right to do it.
- headzoo, on 05/15/2008, -2/+36But for some reason people with the name XxWhiteSupremacyxX go unnoticed.
- Condemned, on 05/15/2008, -4/+34MS has nothing to do with this.
Your XBL gamertag could be "HelloLlama", and if enough people reported it as offensive, you'd be forced to change it.
That's how the system works. - sugarazor, on 05/15/2008, -6/+35If gay people should have to keep it to themselves, so should straight people. NO HOLDING HANDS IN PUBLIC YOU HETEROS!
In fact, everyone should have to keep every personal detail about themselves to... themselves. I know I could word that better, but whatever. If everyone "kept it to themselves," we'd still have segregated restrooms and women wouldn't be allowed to vote. - excalsoft, on 05/15/2008, -7/+34Although everyone has the right to be either gay or straight, is an XBox Live account really the place to announce it one way or the other? What does your gayness or straightness have to do with your love of gaming?
As long as the policy cuts both ways (i.e., gamertags like "TheGayerGamer" and "TheStraighterGamer" are treated alike), I'm completely in favor of Microsoft's policy on this. - Forever-Zero, on 05/15/2008, -9/+36I don't like the way that this guy is going about getting his message across, but I've got to say I agree with him. I'm not homophobic at all, but at the same time, I really don't care what you're sexual orientation is either way. I understand that gays have been discriminated against, so some people feel the need to form a gay community and to do things like "wearing their gayness on their shirt", but it really annoys me when I see someone shouting off about being gay in public just to make some political statement.
Whether you're gay, straight, or ***** sheep, I really don't care. Please keep it to yourself. - Darkhacker, on 05/15/2008, -4/+27Allow me to try to explain. In real life, I'm actually quite "straight-acting" (for a lack of a better term) and I often keep my homosexuality to myself until they know me as a person and I know they won't jump to false conclusions or assumptions based on stereotypes. I am however, a little more open on the internet.
Do some gays flaunt their sexuality to an obnoxious degree? Yes, I won't deny that. However I think some heteros are unfairly classifying what counts as flaunting. Holding hands in public, for example seems, to cross the PDA line for gays while for heteros it doesn't. Straight people can casually mention their girlfriend in conversation while gays have to be more careful about it. I don't think having "gay" in a username counts as flaunting it. If someone had a username of BaseballFan99, would they be flaunting their interest in baseball?
We also tend to have a much more difficult time finding potential partners so it may be necessary to get the message out there. There are about 30x fewer gays than straights. Now imagine how hard it is for you to find a boyfriend or girlfriend and magnify it times thirty.
It's scary to come out. Even today I get really upset and still sometimes think of myself as a freak or that there is something wrong with me because of how much of a minority I am. Despite feeling so heavily out of place at times, I know it will benefit me in the long run. I'll be a much happier person, being with someone I truly love and who can always make me smile. - Vector713, on 05/15/2008, -2/+22Really?
What are you doing Saturday night? - sockpuppets, on 05/15/2008, -2/+21I put on my sequined robe and fabulous wizard hat...
- inactive, on 05/15/2008, -4/+22Dude, my nick was Faggotface McCocksmoker. :'(
- mgrest, on 05/15/2008, -0/+19"just play their ***** games" - is this a new genre I'm not familiar with?
- sugarazor, on 05/15/2008, -0/+19So basically you're saying that you occasionally feel like you want to have sex with another man, but you have it under control?
- xstarsprinklesx, on 05/15/2008, -2/+20Technically, homosexuality *is* literally defined as sexuality between two members of the same sex. But I understand what you're trying to say.. I've often wished the term "homoamorous" or something similar were used instead of homosexuality so as not to imply a mere physical/sexual purpose for the relationship. However, when the term was formed, I believe it was used more to refer to a behavior than to an inherent trait, which is why it probably ended up that way.
- ledguitar, on 05/15/2008, -2/+20Maybe no one would raise their voice in anger because "Atheists can suck by dick" makes no sense.
- nemof, on 05/15/2008, -4/+20Maybe as heterosexuals we haven't had to be persecuted in the same way as gay people. Perhaps they have a legitimate need to make a political statement. People illustrate their heterosexuality all the time, it's never complained about and at the most is just tutted at.
- CAPITALLETTERS, on 05/15/2008, -9/+25That isn't homophobic, you *****.
Definition of phobia: "An irrational or obsessive fear or anxiety, usually of or about something particular".
Not wanting to constantly hear from gay people about how gay they are isn't an irrational or obsessive fear or anxiety of them. - Nobi-Wan, on 05/15/2008, -4/+18And don't be surprised when you're banned with a username like this. I'm wondering if this person TRIED to get banned by using this gamertag just to make a big stink about it. It's actually pretty transparent, if you ask me.
- cricketsymphony, on 05/15/2008, -1/+14kids wouldn't be raised to feel guilty every time sex crossed their mind, either, and would be much more comfortable with their own sexuality.
- ericeman, on 05/15/2008, -8/+23This has nothing to do with Microsoft executives being homophobic, it's just a way of reducing the inevitable hate-speech that comes as a result of using these sorts of gamertags. It's a very small price to pay so that the big-mouthed idiots of Live aren't constantly creating a disturbance and if you can't find a single acceptable tag that doesn't contain any references to your sexual preference than you're just looking to create a problem.
- mCanada, on 05/15/2008, -2/+15You are correct. In fact MS has actually one of the strongest pro-gay policies in America (world) when it comes to hiring people who are openly homosexual. It became such a heated topic that many religious organizations tried to band together and fight MS on this issue. It's the one thing that MS has done right, extremely right. This story is overblown x 20. I suggest you google it (dont trust me)
- 9bpm9, on 05/15/2008, -2/+14Because it's a stupid ass gamertag?
- snoox, on 05/15/2008, -2/+14your name is disruptive, what ever the intention was. get over it.
- bluenullity, on 05/15/2008, -2/+13All of these comments are missing the bigger reason. To be a Dick. Its obvious this is a case of community dicks griefing the person by sending "serious" reports to MS that the name is "offensive". Hell back in my old myg0t days I would have reported the name just to see it frustrate someone.
- estvir, on 05/15/2008, -6/+18Oh no, you can't swear, whatever shall you and your poor vocabulary do? ;_;
- ParanoydAndroid, on 05/15/2008, -2/+14Well I'm a gay male who hangs exclusively with gay males, and we do call each other "hetero" in a jokingly offensive manner (very similar to a group of straight males calling each other fags). And of course we use the term, "breeder" in a disparaging manner to refer to heteros too.
- sockpuppets, on 05/15/2008, -1/+13Would this be an appropriate moment to declare my undying love for hot puppet on puppet action?
http://www.decovo.com/lhpc/lhpc.html - ChinezePanda, on 05/15/2008, -8/+20um.... yes it is.
- Melancholiatic, on 05/15/2008, -2/+13Copy and paste ACTION.
- Gizza, on 05/15/2008, -1/+13Perhaps he was using it in the traditional sense. His name indicates he is a very happy gamer.. happier in fact, than other gamers.
- daizaru, on 05/15/2008, -1/+12My sentiments exactly, more consumerist sensationalist *****. If his name was just theGayGamer I'm sure it would have been allowed, but it was probably taken. I think it's the "Gayer" that makes people wonder if he is trying to use Gay as an adjective of negative connotion like "There's nothing gayer than..." as opposed to saying he's more of a homosexual than other homosexuals.
Unfortunately there just are double standards against minorities. If someone made a name "BlackKiller" does it mean the person likes to kill black people or is it a black person who is a killer. The name is instantly offensive to some people even if that wasn't the intention. As soon as you know the context it's unoffensive, but because we are a Politically Correct society we are forced into not being able to take any chances. This isn't Microsoft being anti-gay or discriminating against gay people, they are just trying to protect themselves and other users from any chance of the name being taken in the wrong context.
You need to look at it from both sides when making a name and not assume context. What would the name mean from a straight person playing it and what would it mean from a gay person playing with that tag.
As long as we live in a politically correct society where an entire days news can focus on a t-shirt with a monkey on it and make people go nuts with rage... this double standard will always exist. - internetcoward, on 05/15/2008, -3/+14Copy paste much? Sheesh. Maybe get some of your own bigoted remarks. As 'offended' as you may pretend to be, you say some offensive things far beyond having the word gay in a name. SO keep your ***** to yourself and stop being a bigot.
- DaHuuuuuudge, on 05/15/2008, -0/+11What the hell does "I'm not gay (yet)" mean?
- coollettuce, on 05/15/2008, -3/+15I'm not saying I agree with homophobia but when he picked that name a part of me thinks he did it to see what people's reactions would be and to try to get a negative response.
- Viend, on 05/15/2008, -1/+11You would be banned for butchering English.
- piwy, on 05/15/2008, -0/+10It's a microsoft product. Which makes it a private forum and thus subject to MS rules.
- phr0stbyte, on 05/15/2008, -3/+12the name made it sound like he was making fun of gays not identifying himself as a homosexual. that would be offensive to a lot of people.
- choopie911, on 05/15/2008, -1/+10Well that's gay.
- UTHTURN, on 05/15/2008, -1/+10Its funny that at the same time your trying to be politically correct you also are using many stereotypes to support you argument.
- mywhitenoise, on 05/15/2008, -1/+9It's funny that you dugg the PS3 ad that shows the naked male with a thumb for a penis.
- sevenslashfour, on 05/15/2008, -4/+13It was a trollish and immature name. Why is this a big deal? Really, hear me out.
It has nothing to do with homophobia. I mean, come on. Seriously? Until we have, y'know, proof that this person is actually flamboyantly gay enough to honestly want to share it with the ever so kind and respectful XBL community, I'm gonna say the name wasn't intended to be quite as innocent as this story makes it out to be. Especially considering it's on the Consumerist, known for it's half-truths and often painfully immature commenters/readers.
And, before you try and pull the homophobia card on me, I'm bi, so good luck with that :/ Regardless, I'm sure I'll get buried for trying to make a point. Sigh. - masamunecyrus, on 05/15/2008, -4/+15How is that message homophobic? If you're tired of people like him, I'm tired of people improperly using the word homophobic. We're about to a situation where the word, "homophobic," has lost all meaning and is simply used as a tag to throw at people you don't like that state something about homosexuality; much in the same manner as "***** you" is thrown around at people.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 462 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is