Thoughts on Gamergate and Media Involvement

Small minority

Gamers are over

             
     Both my sources seem to take the position that anonymous, online bashers are unavoidable but they differ in how they should be treated. Gamesustra, a website used often by professional game developers, takes the stance that they and other gaming websites have fostered a culture of bigotry by writing articles that pit developers against each other and by shrugging off harassment in the comment section. While the writer understands that confronting this toxic gamer environment may result in them losing viewers or advertisers, which it has, the writer is also aware that gaming culture is changing as more diverse individuals and groups create and play video games. Nerdist, a website devoted to all things nerdy for consumer enjoyment, has a similar issue with retaining readers and also denounces these virtual bullies who send death threats. 

     However, I find the Gamesustra article much more compelling than the Nerdist video because the writer accounts for the shift in gaming culture. Nerdist seems to take a more pacifist viewpoint, as if saying “ignore the bullies because there are no other options”. The writer for Gamesustra understands that the online rage is the product of mostly white male gamers having their exclusive solace become something that no longer caters exclusively to them. In this way the outrage surrounding Gamergate and women is similar to any group feeling threatened by a minority, such as when women began to enter the workforce and vote. Thankfully Gamergate is not quite as serious as those other issues, but the death and rape threats that Gamesustra mentions prevents this controversy from being undermined (And it most certainly should not be overlooked).

     Currently I am very informed about Gamergate and am surprised to see how this call for justice has devolved. At first it was simply about journalist integrity in video games, but now it is something that has mixed misogyny and terrorism. While many may believe that I should be indifferent to this issue as a male, I find that excuse hard to swallow as I am also a human being capable of compassion and empathy. I find it very difficult to not have a strong opinion about the industry I dream to work in, which is only strengthened when I consider some of my female friends who plan to enter the same industry.  Hopefully this issue will resolve itself before we enter the gaming industry, although it does not seem likely.