I love homophobia in online gaming.
11-27-07 | 11:00 AM
#26
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Originally Posted by The Bus
If you avoid first person shooters, you'll be OK. You won't find this language playing UNO, or Catan, or a racing game.
11-27-07 | 11:03 AM
#27
DVD Talk Godfather
I've been lucky I guess. I don't hear much trash talk when I play, especially nonsense like that vid.
I obviously don't condone it, but if you don't want to hear shit talk like that don't name yourself GayBoy.
I obviously don't condone it, but if you don't want to hear shit talk like that don't name yourself GayBoy.
11-27-07 | 11:34 AM
#28
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hero
Here's an interview with the guy:
http://www.afterelton.com/blog/brian...-3-pink-pariah
http://www.afterelton.com/blog/brian...-3-pink-pariah
Two-Bite Interview: "xxxGayBoyxxx", Halo 3's pink pariah
Yesterday we linked to a video made by a gamer who, after selecting a suit of pink body armor and the handle "xxxGayBoyxxx", found himself the target of some pretty nasty anti-gay comments while playing Halo 3 online. (If you haven't seen the video, it's included after the jump, but be wary of NSFW language.) We contacted the gamer to ask him a few questions about the video ...
AfterElton.com: So what gave you the idea of picking pink body armor and the xxxGayBoyxxx handle for Halo 3? Was it strictly an experiment?
GayBoy: I bought my Xbox 360 the day Halo 3 came out and it's the only game I play. I started off with an ordinary gamertag and although I would regularly hear gay slurs, it wasn’t incessant, nor was it directed towards me. I then changed my name to something gayer, but still ambiguous, and that’s when things started getting uglier. That’s when I decided to change my gamertag, be proud, "come out", and start recording. Oh, I’ve always had the pink suit.
AE: Are you yourself gay?
GB: Yes, very gay.
AE: Do you think Halo 3 is a game that would particularly attract homophobic players? Maybe in World of Warcraft you could find some nice gay-friendly tinkers to hang with?
GB: My roommate is always on WoW and is part of gay guild. He hears the stuff that I go through and keeps trying to convert me onto WoW. Apparently it’s a friendlier place. Just 2 nights ago, someone said a gay joke on WoW and practically everyone verbally reprimanded him.
AE: What's the response been like to the video, aside from gay journalists bothering you with Q&A requests?
GB: My email account is flooded! Gay and straight people are sending in positive words. Most want to know why I did this. Some even say I was asking to be verbally bashed. I’d like to answer this. Yes, not everything in the video was said with hate. I can take a joke, and I never took offense to what was said in it. My purpose for this video was only to raise awareness. Next time someone is interacting with a gay person, even an obvious one that has gay written all over him/her, that they be sensible. Gays aren’t asking for it, that’s just who they are, and unlike me, they may in fact be hurt by the comments.
AE: Do you have a particular favorite moment of the video? I mean, it's all so charming...
GB: One thing you may not realize because the names are blurred, is that the 3rd clip, where I’m told I will burn in hell, was said by one of meaner players I had encountered on Xbox Live. But after playing a few games and actually talking a bit with him, he befriended me, now we play online a lot, and in one of the last clips in the video, he and his friend are defending me. Aren’t straight allies the best?
AE: The video description makes a reference to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Do you think your experience reinforces that concept?
GB: I don’t think I can answer that. I’m not in the armed forces, I think things are different on the frontlines when your life could depend on this gay guy.
AE: Any words of advice for gay gamers looking to have fun without being attacked or ridiculed? Can you be open and have fun gaming?
GB: Be gay, be pink, and if you’re harassed, just laugh it off. There are great features in Xbox Live that allow you to mute, boot, or report a player, so you have those options if it comes to that. My best suggestion is make some friends online, stick together, and if you can, kick your harassers' butts and see who has the last laugh.
Yesterday we linked to a video made by a gamer who, after selecting a suit of pink body armor and the handle "xxxGayBoyxxx", found himself the target of some pretty nasty anti-gay comments while playing Halo 3 online. (If you haven't seen the video, it's included after the jump, but be wary of NSFW language.) We contacted the gamer to ask him a few questions about the video ...
AfterElton.com: So what gave you the idea of picking pink body armor and the xxxGayBoyxxx handle for Halo 3? Was it strictly an experiment?
GayBoy: I bought my Xbox 360 the day Halo 3 came out and it's the only game I play. I started off with an ordinary gamertag and although I would regularly hear gay slurs, it wasn’t incessant, nor was it directed towards me. I then changed my name to something gayer, but still ambiguous, and that’s when things started getting uglier. That’s when I decided to change my gamertag, be proud, "come out", and start recording. Oh, I’ve always had the pink suit.
AE: Are you yourself gay?
GB: Yes, very gay.
AE: Do you think Halo 3 is a game that would particularly attract homophobic players? Maybe in World of Warcraft you could find some nice gay-friendly tinkers to hang with?
GB: My roommate is always on WoW and is part of gay guild. He hears the stuff that I go through and keeps trying to convert me onto WoW. Apparently it’s a friendlier place. Just 2 nights ago, someone said a gay joke on WoW and practically everyone verbally reprimanded him.
AE: What's the response been like to the video, aside from gay journalists bothering you with Q&A requests?
GB: My email account is flooded! Gay and straight people are sending in positive words. Most want to know why I did this. Some even say I was asking to be verbally bashed. I’d like to answer this. Yes, not everything in the video was said with hate. I can take a joke, and I never took offense to what was said in it. My purpose for this video was only to raise awareness. Next time someone is interacting with a gay person, even an obvious one that has gay written all over him/her, that they be sensible. Gays aren’t asking for it, that’s just who they are, and unlike me, they may in fact be hurt by the comments.
AE: Do you have a particular favorite moment of the video? I mean, it's all so charming...
GB: One thing you may not realize because the names are blurred, is that the 3rd clip, where I’m told I will burn in hell, was said by one of meaner players I had encountered on Xbox Live. But after playing a few games and actually talking a bit with him, he befriended me, now we play online a lot, and in one of the last clips in the video, he and his friend are defending me. Aren’t straight allies the best?
AE: The video description makes a reference to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Do you think your experience reinforces that concept?
GB: I don’t think I can answer that. I’m not in the armed forces, I think things are different on the frontlines when your life could depend on this gay guy.
AE: Any words of advice for gay gamers looking to have fun without being attacked or ridiculed? Can you be open and have fun gaming?
GB: Be gay, be pink, and if you’re harassed, just laugh it off. There are great features in Xbox Live that allow you to mute, boot, or report a player, so you have those options if it comes to that. My best suggestion is make some friends online, stick together, and if you can, kick your harassers' butts and see who has the last laugh.
11-27-07 | 11:52 AM
#31
Moderator
Originally Posted by PixyJunket
Hey! Why does pink have to be reserved for gays? 
11-27-07 | 12:06 PM
#32
DVD Talk God
Originally Posted by Tracer Bullet
Honestly I find it hard to want to buy an Xbox because of this reason.
It may make me rethink playing online with random people I don't know, but it wouldn't affect my decision to buy a 360. But then, I honestly don't have the time for the online game playing. I'm luck to get 30 minutes of console time in.
11-27-07 | 12:11 PM
#33
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From: Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Originally Posted by Groucho
It's also apparently for "goths" (if you watch The Amazing Race). And circa 1985 douchebags.
11-27-07 | 12:12 PM
#34
DVD Talk God
AE: Do you have a particular favorite moment of the video? I mean, it's all so charming...
GB: One thing you may not realize because the names are blurred, is that the 3rd clip, where I’m told I will burn in hell, was said by one of meaner players I had encountered on Xbox Live. But after playing a few games and actually talking a bit with him, he befriended me, now we play online a lot, and in one of the last clips in the video, he and his friend are defending me. Aren’t straight allies the best?
That's nice to hear.
I wonder what XXXJesusLovesYouXXX or similar names would get for a reaction.
GB: One thing you may not realize because the names are blurred, is that the 3rd clip, where I’m told I will burn in hell, was said by one of meaner players I had encountered on Xbox Live. But after playing a few games and actually talking a bit with him, he befriended me, now we play online a lot, and in one of the last clips in the video, he and his friend are defending me. Aren’t straight allies the best?
That's nice to hear.
I wonder what XXXJesusLovesYouXXX or similar names would get for a reaction.
11-27-07 | 12:14 PM
#35
Moderator
Originally Posted by kvrdave
I wonder what XXXJesusLovesYouXXX or similar names would get for a reaction.
11-27-07 | 12:17 PM
#36
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From: Ft. Wayne, Indiana
probably a similar reaction Dave. In every FPS with strangers it's manditory to have a guy in the room that singles out a gamertag he finds funny and then talk shit the entire game. If not that then you have white dudes talking like black guys calling everyone *********** or people who apparantly think that repeating the catchphrase from some shit ass rap song is super cool.
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God love em.
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God love em.
11-27-07 | 12:18 PM
#37
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
If I play online, I don't even plug in my headphones unless there's someone in the game I know and then I just use a private chat channel. I know it pisses some people off, but it beats listening to the typical 'banter' in games like Gears, Team Fortress, Halo, etc.
11-27-07 | 12:18 PM
#38
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From: Formerly known as "Vryce"/Detroit, Michigan
Yeah, it happens a lit. I still find myself remembering some kid who singled out my gamertag and couldn't come up with anything better then "hey, canis means dog"
Yet he kept on the whole game taunting me evertime I'd get near him. He sounded no older then 12.
Yet he kept on the whole game taunting me evertime I'd get near him. He sounded no older then 12.
11-27-07 | 12:44 PM
#39
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by maxfisher
If I play online, I don't even plug in my headphones unless there's someone in the game I know and then I just use a private chat channel. I know it pisses some people off, but it beats listening to the typical 'banter' in games like Gears, Team Fortress, Halo, etc.
11-27-07 | 12:46 PM
#40
DVD Talk Legend
It is kind of depressing. My guild in WoW is generally a bunch of friendly, mature players. Every now in then someone will make some really degrading gay slur/joke, and everyone will laugh. I wonder if they'd boot me from the guild if they knew I was gay?
11-27-07 | 12:50 PM
#41
DVD Talk Hero
People make gay and race jokes and comments all the time, 95% don't mean a damn thing and I highly doubt your guild would kick you for something like that.
Casual convos these days, around here at least, are littered with racial and sexual degradation. Most people throw em around like they're nothing because, for most of em, theres very little meaning/genuine feeling behind them.
Casual convos these days, around here at least, are littered with racial and sexual degradation. Most people throw em around like they're nothing because, for most of em, theres very little meaning/genuine feeling behind them.
11-27-07 | 12:57 PM
#42
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by RichC2
People make gay and race jokes and comments all the time, 95% don't mean a damn thing .
guy1 complains about not liking living in Florida because there are too many gays there.
guy2 says "Well you should move to Alabama, we bash em here!"
Laughter ensues...
maybe it's easy for you to say things like that don't mean anything, but for me, it's a little bit more difficult. Especially when it comes from people that you've been playing with for months and almost considered online-friends.
11-27-07 | 12:59 PM
#43
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Save Ferris
Is there another name for someone who hates gays other than homophobia?
Last edited by Breakfast with Girls; 11-27-07 at 01:06 PM.
11-27-07 | 01:10 PM
#44
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by joeblow69
I don't think I've EVER heard a race joke on WoW vent. here's an example of the last homophobic thing I heard:
guy1 complains about not liking living in Florida because there are too many gays there.
guy2 says "Well you should move to Alabama, we bash em here!"
Laughter ensues...
maybe it's easy for you to say things like that don't mean anything, but for me, it's a little bit more difficult. Especially when it comes from people that you've been playing with for months and almost considered online-friends.
guy1 complains about not liking living in Florida because there are too many gays there.
guy2 says "Well you should move to Alabama, we bash em here!"
Laughter ensues...
maybe it's easy for you to say things like that don't mean anything, but for me, it's a little bit more difficult. Especially when it comes from people that you've been playing with for months and almost considered online-friends.
11-27-07 | 01:24 PM
#45
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Tracer Bullet
That's when you step up and tell them you're gay and you don't appreciate it.
11-27-07 | 01:31 PM
#46
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Don't tolerate gay-bashing comments in my gaming (or any hate speech, for that matter). In WoW, I have spoken up and asked people not to do it, and we have kicked people out of the guild for refusing to respect those rules. On Xbox Live, any player that comes out of the gate with comments like that gets an instant mute, then negative feedback and an "avoid player" left on them. I do it every time. I rarely encounter it, but it's out there and I do what I can to avoid it.
11-27-07 | 01:37 PM
#47
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From: Orlando, FL
I don't play games online for the most part but the ones I have played were on the PC, where comments were written rather than spoken. Many of the servers I visited had explicit rules saying "No homophobic/racist remarks," etc. Anyone who started in with that shit was immediately banned in many cases.
I've heard nothing but horror stories about people on Halo servers, and of course most of it is from high school kids or younger.
I've heard nothing but horror stories about people on Halo servers, and of course most of it is from high school kids or younger.
11-27-07 | 01:43 PM
#48
Also, as a note for Xbox Live. Hate speech is actually grounds for a complaint versus an "avoid." Enough complaints filed against them and voice is permanently stripped from their account. So be sure to take the more dramatic step.
11-27-07 | 02:05 PM
#49
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by xmiyux
Also, as a note for Xbox Live. Hate speech is actually grounds for a complaint versus an "avoid." Enough complaints filed against them and voice is permanently stripped from their account. So be sure to take the more dramatic step.
11-27-07 | 04:57 PM
#50
Originally Posted by CKMorpheus
I always do... I'm not any sort of minority but if I hear any sort of racist slang or anything more than just the typical "fuck you!" or "you suck", I always give them a negative review and file a complaint. I didn't pay fifty bucks a year to hear these idiots spit remarks I haven't heard since junior high.
I'll reiterate though, get with a good clan/group of gamers who will back you on stuff like this. Makes all the difference in your online experience.