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Women gamers... [mod edit - Topic About Online Harassment in Games)

gracefieldgracefield Member UncommonPosts: 279

News from the BBC...

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18280000

 

 

No doubt there will be a comment or two about that...

 

[mod note - edited title]

«134567

Comments

  • BeansnBreadBeansnBread Member EpicPosts: 7,254

    I've been called a dumb slut from a girl gamer in Halo 2 way back when. I instantly laughed.

     

    Although I can see how it might get old. You don't need to be female to be degraded constantly in online games. Especially random ranked matches in FPS games.

  • YamotaYamota Member UncommonPosts: 6,593

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

  • pierthpierth Member UncommonPosts: 1,494
    Originally posted by colddog04

    I've been called a dumb slut from a girl gamer in Halo 2 way back when. I instantly laughed.

     

    Although I can see how it might get old. You don't need to be female to be degraded constantly in online games. Especially random ranked matches in FPS games.

    This ^^; in any game that allows trash talking there will be sexual harassment.

  • ComanComan Member UncommonPosts: 2,178

    Oh come on. The guys who call her bitch and such would yell at her even if they did not know she was female and prolly yell at male players just as easily

    I might be absolutly wrong though, but I really really doubt they are being target explicitly, well maybe by a few extra stalkers (with also happen to a female friend on skype :P and well in her actual life) and some misplaced comment, but is it really as bad as this article is making it out to be? I mean you really believe these people would not troll other players or does it simply make more impact on a female gamers then on males? 

    I have been on a chat with that same female friend and people clearly behave differently toward females. That can not be denied. She has had the stranges conversations, but those people got on the chat to talk to females. I just can not see someone going to play a video game just so he can trashtalk women. 

  • MurlockDanceMurlockDance Member Posts: 1,223

    My way around it (not a perfect solution) is to claim I am male, roll male characters, never speak on ts or vent, and stick only to guildchat/raid chat, etc.

    The peace of mind I get from this is worth more than the hassle I get if people catch on that I am a woman gamer. It is not just how men react, it is also other women gamers. Sometimes it is fine when the cat gets out of the bag, but it also can go very badly wrong.

    Even though I would prefer to just be accepted for who I am, past experiences have taught me that in online games it is better to say that I am a dude and leave it at that.

    Playing MUDs and MMOs since 1994.

    image
  • RenoakuRenoaku Member EpicPosts: 3,157

    Harassment is not uncommon, but there is only one thing I agree with. Some wome are the B word no joke I have met a couple of them and seriously they are internet trolls they need to go.

    But in general the harassment can be a lot.

  • DreddNoxxDreddNoxx Member UncommonPosts: 10

    I just had to link this... 

    http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6258778/xbox-girls-get-revenge

    (language warning)  

    Four wheels move the body... Two wheels move the soul!

  • MurlockDanceMurlockDance Member Posts: 1,223
    Originally posted by Coman

    Oh come on. The guys who call her bitch and such would yell at her even if they did not know she was female and prolly yell at male players just as easily

    I might be absolutly wrong though, but I really really doubt they are being target explicitly, well maybe by a few extra stalkers (with also happen to a female friend on skype :P and well in her actual life) and some misplaced comment, but is it really as bad as this article is making it out to be? I mean you really believe these people would not troll other players or does it simply make more impact on a female gamers then on males? 

    I have been on a chat with that same female friend and people clearly behave differently toward females. That can not be denied. She has had the stranges conversations, but those people got on the chat to talk to females. I just can not see someone going to play a video game just so he can trashtalk women. 

    Nah, it is definitely not female gamers only who get it. Nationality can be a source of lots of insults, political beliefs, sexual orientations, whatever. With women though it can be extremely visceral and nasty. However, I would prefer to be insulted online (unpleasant but harmless) than to get stalked (potentially a life ruiner). Everyone should do their bit to keep people from being stalked!

    I think the question isn't whether women get it worse than men but rather why do people think they can behave this way in general in games? Why does online competitive gameplay have such a horrid culture behind it especially? Why support this form of unpleasantness since no one on the end of the stick of disrespect enjoys it?

    I think that some sort of online sportsmanship would be a nice thing to have.

    Playing MUDs and MMOs since 1994.

    image
  • CalerxesCalerxes Member UncommonPosts: 1,641
    Originally posted by colddog04

    I've been called a dumb slut from a girl gamer in Halo 2 way back when. I instantly laughed.

     

    Although I can see how it might get old. You don't need to be female to be degraded constantly in online games. Especially random ranked matches in FPS games.

     

    Thats true I imagine being smack talked in MW3. CS or Battlefield is par for the course for male and female players alike. Though it still doesn't make it right to do it and there are of course many a dickhead who will take it to the limits of personal freedom becoming sexist, racists or homophobic  and the likewhich is a problem that needs to be addressed as common decency shouldn't be sidelined just because you are in a competitive environment, calling the ref a wanker will still get you sent off in a Football/Soccer game.

    This doom and gloom thread was brought to you by Chin Up™ the new ultra high caffeine soft drink for gamers who just need that boost of happiness after a long forum session.

  • CalerxesCalerxes Member UncommonPosts: 1,641
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

     

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    This doom and gloom thread was brought to you by Chin Up™ the new ultra high caffeine soft drink for gamers who just need that boost of happiness after a long forum session.

  • BeansnBreadBeansnBread Member EpicPosts: 7,254
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

     

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

  • CalerxesCalerxes Member UncommonPosts: 1,641
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

     

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

     

    It starts by us gamers not accepting it in the first place as if "It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there."

     

     

    This doom and gloom thread was brought to you by Chin Up™ the new ultra high caffeine soft drink for gamers who just need that boost of happiness after a long forum session.

  • BeansnBreadBeansnBread Member EpicPosts: 7,254
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

    It starts by us gamers not accepting it in the first place as if "It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there."

    So what happens after it starts? What happens after I believe people are not rude by nature on the internet?

  • SquishydewSquishydew Member UncommonPosts: 1,107

    Yeah ehm.. I felt horribly shallow when i first read this, but i really dont think this is exclusive to women..

    People are just generally rude on the internet, men get just as much abuse as women.

     

    Besides, if a community is so horrible, just leave it.

    If games with bad communities die out, I'm sure eventually developers will catch the drift and try and find ways to do something about it.

  • aspekxaspekx Member UncommonPosts: 2,167
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

     

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

    this requires that we speak up. and as in life the loudest most bullying bigots get heard and everyone else laughs and plays along so as not to rock the boat. ya, they disagree, but hey, its just a game, and hey, its just some guy.

     

    that's what allows this to continue. and for you to call them out requires that you be willing to be labeled: PC (such a damn 90s term), liberal, socialist, fag, gay lover, female genitalia, and whatever else the bigoted nutjobs have on their radar as the coming cause of the apocalypse and the destruction of patriotic values.

     

    it will take time, but if people don't start speaking up, then you should just learn to live with it.

    "There are at least two kinds of games.
    One could be called finite, the other infinite.
    A finite game is played for the purpose of winning,
    an infinite game for the purpose of continuing play."
    Finite and Infinite Games, James Carse

  • BeansnBreadBeansnBread Member EpicPosts: 7,254
    Originally posted by chelan
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

     

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

    this requires that we speak up. and as in life the loudest most bullying bigots get heard and everyone else laughs and plays along so as not to rock the boat. ya, they disagree, but hey, its just a game, and hey, its just some guy.

     

    that's what allows this to continue. and for you to call them out requires that you be willing to be labeled: PC (such a damn 90s term), liberal, socialist, fag, gay lover, female genitalia, and whatever else the bigoted nutjobs have on their radar as the coming cause of the apocalypse and the destruction of patriotic values.

     

    it will take time, but if people don't start speaking up, then you should just learn to live with it.

    People have been "speaking up" for as long as I've been alive. Are you talking about censoring people? Putting people in jail for calling peope names? What is the next step?

     

    Certainly "recognizing" it hasn't done anything. "Calling them out" hasn't done anything. How much time are you talking about? Because it feels like it's only gotten worse, not better over time.

  • CalerxesCalerxes Member UncommonPosts: 1,641
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

    It starts by us gamers not accepting it in the first place as if "It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there."

    So what happens after it starts? What happens after I believe people are not rude by nature on the internet?

     

    Its not about believing its about us gamers not accepting that type of behaviour. I've heard many a comment about why Everquest had such a great community it was because if you acted like an idiot, douchebag the community did not accept it you were basically ostracised. When I was a Guld leader I would never accept that behaviour and I let that person know that so I had a friendly, fun and inclusive guild. Its not hard we the gamers have the power to stop idiots ruining others gametime.

    This doom and gloom thread was brought to you by Chin Up™ the new ultra high caffeine soft drink for gamers who just need that boost of happiness after a long forum session.

  • AvatarBladeAvatarBlade Member UncommonPosts: 757
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

    It starts by us gamers not accepting it in the first place as if "It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there."

    So what happens after it starts? What happens after I believe people are not rude by nature on the internet?

     

    Its not about believing its about us gamers not accepting that type of behaviour. I've heard many a comment about why Everquest had such a great community it was because if you acted like an idiot, douchebag the community did not accept it you were basically ostracised. When I was a Guld leader I would never accept that behaviour and I let that person know that so I had a friendly, fun and inclusive guild. Its not hard we the gamers have the power to stop idiots ruining others gametime.

    First of all, there isn't enough group dependancy in games today for that to work. Secondly, there are a lot more people playing online games than in the time of EQ, so rude people can also find like minded folks to play with.

  • BeansnBreadBeansnBread Member EpicPosts: 7,254
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

    It starts by us gamers not accepting it in the first place as if "It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there."

    So what happens after it starts? What happens after I believe people are not rude by nature on the internet?

     

    Its not about believing its about us gamers not accepting that type of behaviour. I've heard many a comment about why Everquest had such a great community it was because if you acted like an idiot, douchebag the community did not accept it you were basically ostracised. When I was a Guld leader I would never accept that behaviour and I let that person know that so I had a friendly, fun and inclusive guild. Its not hard we the gamers have the power to stop idiots ruining others gametime.

    Yeeaaahhh...

     

    I've been a guild leader. I've been a guild follower. I've been in good guilds and bad guilds. Guilds tend to be more self regulated overall than random interations through FPS games (like the article is discusing specifically).

     

    Yes, you can leave the match and move on. Which is what most people do that are bothered by it.

  • skullquakerskullquaker Member UncommonPosts: 311

    with storys like this i have to wonder what she did to get that abuase  was she told to egg  the players  to get a good story  . all so she was playing on consol   pc games have a way to combat that with admins   on the dod  server i was admin on any kind of insulting  would get you a ban  on the TAW servers  we have a no swearing rule .  

    all so its trash talk ment to rattle you if there doing that you know your beating them 

  • WicoaWicoa Member UncommonPosts: 1,637

    If people can hide and get away with horrible things with 0 consequence they do it.  Its a fact of life gaming is just the newest form it used to be empires, monarchs and powerful men/women.

    Infact who has really been punished with the current economic crisis with the cuts and the increased taxes and fewer jobs. The general public is the answer.  Have many of the powerful banking men been held to account for running their businesses like a pig slop, nop they haven't.

    My point if people can get away with blue murder theres a high chance they will do it, that will vary depending on how they were raised by their parents and their mental state deducted by what they want.

    And yes I believe console gaming is far worse, pc gaming usually comes with enforcement.

  • CalerxesCalerxes Member UncommonPosts: 1,641
    Originally posted by AvatarBlade
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

    It starts by us gamers not accepting it in the first place as if "It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there."

    So what happens after it starts? What happens after I believe people are not rude by nature on the internet?

     

    Its not about believing its about us gamers not accepting that type of behaviour. I've heard many a comment about why Everquest had such a great community it was because if you acted like an idiot, douchebag the community did not accept it you were basically ostracised. When I was a Guld leader I would never accept that behaviour and I let that person know that so I had a friendly, fun and inclusive guild. Its not hard we the gamers have the power to stop idiots ruining others gametime.

    First of all, there isn't enough group dependancy in games today for that to work. Secondly, there are a lot more people playing online games than in the time of EQ, so rude people can also find like minded folks to play with.

     

    So we just give up a let the arsehats rule the online world then?

    This doom and gloom thread was brought to you by Chin Up™ the new ultra high caffeine soft drink for gamers who just need that boost of happiness after a long forum session.

  • ThaneThane Member EpicPosts: 3,534
    Originally posted by Calerxes

    So we just give up a let the arsehats rule the online world then?

    well, for starters:

     

    we don't feed the trolls :) correct.

    "I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!"

  • ArawulfArawulf Guest WriterMember UncommonPosts: 597

    Ignore the bullcrap and be cool to people.

    Problem solved.

  • CalerxesCalerxes Member UncommonPosts: 1,641
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by colddog04
    Originally posted by Calerxes
    Originally posted by Yamota

    Men and women alike have to take a lot of shit when playing online. I mean the thing I have been called when playing League of Legends...

    Women needs simply to grow thicker skin. It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there.

    How about we tackle the cause of this rather than "toughen up" and make it so we can all enjoy online games without be harrassed? We are supposed to be a civilised world and if someone is racist, sexist, homophobic to me in real life they have to take the consequences of the law but its OK to do in an online game?

    Good luck tackling it.

    It starts by us gamers not accepting it in the first place as if "It is the Internet, by nature people are rude there."

    So what happens after it starts? What happens after I believe people are not rude by nature on the internet?

     

    Its not about believing its about us gamers not accepting that type of behaviour. I've heard many a comment about why Everquest had such a great community it was because if you acted like an idiot, douchebag the community did not accept it you were basically ostracised. When I was a Guld leader I would never accept that behaviour and I let that person know that so I had a friendly, fun and inclusive guild. Its not hard we the gamers have the power to stop idiots ruining others gametime.

    Yeeaaahhh...

     

    I've been a guild leader. I've been a guild follower. I've been in good guilds and bad guilds. Guilds tend to be more self regulated overall than random interations through FPS games (like the article is discusing specifically).

     

    Yes, you can leave the match and move on. Which is what most people do that are bothered by it.

     

    I understand that of course and I had to use Guilds as a example as I've never played an online FPS I'm old skool FPS player and have never experienced the type of player that plays Online FPS'. Its a shame that we are having this debate though and shows we have some work to do to combat this type of behaviour. 

    This doom and gloom thread was brought to you by Chin Up™ the new ultra high caffeine soft drink for gamers who just need that boost of happiness after a long forum session.

This discussion has been closed.