BogusMeatFactory wrote:On the thick skin argument I find that to be incredibly wrong. You should not HAVE to have thick skin to play a video game. You should not avoid a game that you genuinely enjoy because people are extremely abusive sociopaths. We like to always say that it is perfectly acceptable, because "It has always been like that." No it hasn't. It is not the way it has always been and people need to be held accountable for their actions.
Yes, it has always been this way. There was no golden age when people weren't human, ie, ratbastards. It's unfortunate that things are this way but you just have to deal with it. You're not going to change human nature.
If someone says, "I know where you live and I am going to rape your wife," even though I know they have no idea where I live and won't do that, they should be held accountable. If someone is punished for threats of violence and mayhem in real life, why not in the virtual world?
Because you know it's just trash talk, and getting butthurt because someone said mean things to you on Call of Duty in no way constitutes a need for law enforcement.
You have people that call the police on Streamers with bomb threats and terrorist threats, you have people who take that abuse to an extreme that goes beyond the game. That is a product of the, "It was always this way," mindset and it is sick.
Well, it
has always been this way. Have you never heard of the death threats sports stars receive when they screw up a game? This is not new, what's new is people thinking they're entitled to a life free of other people saying terrible things.
BogusMeatFactory wrote:Report people. Constantly report people if they behave in a way you find to be abusive. If you are of the thick skin mentality, that's fine, do what you want, but if you are hurt by it, report it. Period.
No, no, no. People are so weak these days. "Oh, I'm so hurt by those mean words. Help me."
I think it's far better to err on the side of being too lax rather than tightening up the laws when it comes to free speech. It's not exactly easy to get that kind of right back once it's lost. Heck, people might get hurt in the process.
BogusMeatFactory wrote:From what I know of the competitive fighting game scene, there isn't a lot of the North American aggression in Japan.
"North American" aggression? Have you never played on UK servers?
BogusMeatFactory wrote:Trash talk is fine. I am ok with people calling me a noob or a hacker and all that stuff is fine. My brother's wife is a big gamer and laughs when people say horrible things. I have witnessed them telling her, "I am gonna get you pregnant and burn you alive to hear your unborn child's screams." and I am leaving some choice words out. That is horrible.
Yes it is. And from what you're saying, it sounds like she knows exactly how to handle that sort of thing. She doesn't need you to be offended for her.
dsheinem wrote:BoringSupreez wrote:dsheinem wrote:as bad as it can be for everyone, imagine how much worse it becomes if there's any perception you aren't straight, white, and/or male...
Probably feels about the same as it does for straight cis white males who are tired of being demonized as the standard of insensitivity and misogyny.
Insensitivity and misogyny as well as empathy and kindness are of course present across all groups, but almost any/all online abuse I've ever heard that targets people based on their identity singles out individuals who appear to be outside the demographic majorities.
Well, usually. I see transgenders, gays, and straight people who feel the need to be offended for others firing back in a manner just as hostile more and more lately, especially over the past two years or so.