Racism and homophobia in gaming: Hate speech corrodes online video game experiences

[Lucavi]

Yeah, real talk and all that shit, but simply because one understands why another talks shit doesn't excuse it. Of course using voice chat is a risk, but honestly, there are plenty of times where I'm wishing that I had headphones to throw up when my opponent starts with the nigger jew speak and either someone else is in the room, or I'm trying to focus and just whup some ass.

A few people have suggested splitting the lobbies into regulated and unregulated voice chat games. I don't disagree with the idea. Better to have more choices than less, as there are times where nobody wants to hear that shit, no matter who is saying it.

[Necronus]

I am guilty of saying Nigger and Jew while playing Halo 3. Does this make me a bad person?

Well, while the average person saying this stuff is some dumb punk 12 yr old with the mental capacity of a braindead rodent, there are two big reasons that I figure contribute to the non-racist "normal" people who exhibit this behavior too.

A) Anonymity is the biggest enabler of free speech. Be it Japanese message boards, 4chan, or over voice chat in a video game, being anonymous enables people to quite literally just utter any random thought in our head, good or bad. Repercussions of what we say is normally what keeps us in check.

B) Tactics. Alhough I'd believe this factor ranks below "12 yr old retards" and "anonymity", there are those few who do it for unsportsmanlike, yet honestly tactical reasons. Even people normally unaffected by even real racial/sexual/etc hate can find themselves flustered when barraged with enough of it. And a flustered opponent is a much easier opponent. Honestly, this is the reason that originally spawned those "12yr old retards", except they long forgot it was meant for tactical reasons and not just because they're a bunch spoiled douchebags.

[Draylo]

What does it matter in this day and age anyways? From every direction you can find terrible language in every day life, and it's almost as though the "bad" words have lost their bad meaning. For example, my philosophy teacher the other day was giving an example from the 70s in which he called black people niggers in class. Of course nobody got offended at all, since people walk around calling each other niggas all the time, it has lost it's power as a harmful word these days. The media needs to get their panties out of a bunch about insulting your opponent on an online video games and realize they can't change the millions of young adults and teens out there causing the problem, lol.

Yeah... except be a white guy and say that in front of some random black people and I bet they won't behave the same way.

[Correction]

Next thing you know they'll ban rhymes-with-punt and spiders on xbox live. Those evil totalitarians.

[archibaldcrane]

I think it's hilarious that people act hard/racist/homophobic online anonymously and don't get struck by the irony that they obviously only do so because people can't find them.

Nothing is more gangster than the anonymity of the interwebs.

[Meresgi]

Only a spicniggerjewfag would write an article about this.





Also damn japs should have learned from the first bomb.

[FriemOcin]

The best part is that people think we are actually prejudice / racist when we say this stuff. Fuck that, I just say all those profanities because A.) I am more than likely losing B.) The people on the other side are, in fact, jews or niggers. It's an insult people, Come on. If I have to deal with assholes calling me a Rafter, Bean Muncher, Tobacco Picker, spick, etc then those fuckers can deal with some petty insults. Real Talk.

They're racist too, dummy.

[Sylvrdragon]

The best way that I've found to respond to this shit is to say things they don't understand and act like I won. When they try to come back with something, act amused as though what they said doesn't come close to countering whatever I said to them. When there is absolutely nothing at stake, then acting like you won is the exact same thing as winning.

As far as being offended goes... If you get offended by what someone says to or about you when everyone involved is (for all intents and purposes) completely anonymous, then you deserve to get trolled.

Insults about me that are TO me are absolutely meaningless. Insults about me to someone ELSE only matters if I actually give a damn about the reputation of whatever identity is being slandered. Frankly, my anonymous online personage means little to nothing to me.

[Draylo]

I think its more annoying than offending, they literally say the word gay every 5 seconds.

[Jakson]

Steal their thunder. Tell them you'll brb busy sucking cock, busy being garbage, busy fucking yourself, etc. You'll be doing them a favor cause they'll need new insults.

[Mizango]

ITT: The poor mans Krye.

[Mizango]

Candle in the Sun etc.

[Antithesis]

Well, while the average person saying this stuff is some dumb punk 12 yr old with the mental capacity of a braindead rodent, there are two big reasons that I figure contribute to the non-racist "normal" people who exhibit this behavior too.

A) Anonymity is the biggest enabler of free speech. Be it Japanese message boards, 4chan, or over voice chat in a video game, being anonymous enables people to quite literally just utter any random thought in our head, good or bad. Repercussions of what we say is normally what keeps us in check.

B) Tactics. Alhough I'd believe this factor ranks below "12 yr old retards" and "anonymity", there are those few who do it for unsportsmanlike, yet honestly tactical reasons. Even people normally unaffected by even real racial/sexual/etc hate can find themselves flustered when barraged with enough of it. And a flustered opponent is a much easier opponent. Honestly, this is the reason that originally spawned those "12yr old retards", except they long forgot it was meant for tactical reasons and not just because they're a bunch spoiled douchebags.

When I spout off all of those profanities. I am not thinking of any hatred for said enemy players nor anything bigot. It's just fucking words I am spouting off. Someone fucking headshot me across the map with a god damn Pistol your damn right I'm gonna start spouting off some random amount of bad words. I don't say it be a racist or a bigot I just say it because HOLY FUCK THIS SON OF A BITCH ASS NIGGER FUCKING HEADSHOT ME ACROSS THE MOTHERFUCKING MAP WITH A PISTOL. SON OF A CUNT ASS FUCKER (Hope you get the picture.) If people are so easily offended by this shit, there is a mute button available to you (Lord knows this does not work though.)

Honestly, people getting butthurt over some fucking words.

[euph]

It's not like anyone is being left out of the hating. Everyone gets a bit of it. Alls fair in my book!

[Chun Liroy]

I think that hate speech actually enhances video game experience.

[Kaludneisucks]

Extremely bad. You're going to hell for your potty mouth, mister. Why if I had my way Microsoft would give me your name and address just so I could send you sternly worded letters telling you exactly how inappropriate you are.

this all read far more sexily than was intended, i'm sure.. nevertheless turned on.. sorry..

[Rhyis.]

All games nowadays have a mute player function. Problem solved.

[Antithesis]

All games nowadays have a mute player function. Problem solved.

See: NSFW Avatars and Sigs Thread from a while ago.

[Korietsu]

Haha, I love these guys that shit-talk on live after getting shit on. It's just so easy to go off on them and keep them wondering why the fuck Lee Ermery is yelling at them over the headset.

[Arnwulf]

Well, while the average person saying this stuff is some dumb punk 12 yr old with the mental capacity of a braindead rodent, there are two big reasons that I figure contribute to the non-racist "normal" people who exhibit this behavior too.

A) Anonymity is the biggest enabler of free speech. Be it Japanese message boards, 4chan, or over voice chat in a video game, being anonymous enables people to quite literally just utter any random thought in our head, good or bad. Repercussions of what we say is normally what keeps us in check.

B) Tactics. Alhough I'd believe this factor ranks below "12 yr old retards" and "anonymity", there are those few who do it for unsportsmanlike, yet honestly tactical reasons. Even people normally unaffected by even real racial/sexual/etc hate can find themselves flustered when barraged with enough of it. And a flustered opponent is a much easier opponent. Honestly, this is the reason that originally spawned those "12yr old retards", except they long forgot it was meant for tactical reasons and not just because they're a bunch spoiled douchebags.

ITT: Racism and homophobia are legit video game strategies.