I genuinely wish a pervasive equality 'agenda'
was shaping reader's thoughts for the better. The stream of bile-filled comments that follow any sort of equality-based article, either on a site itself or on other outlets shows that it's not the case. There seems to be a notion that "SJW journalists" are trying to brainwash their reader-base. Brainwashing can't really be said to be in effect if you think it's going on.
I never said their goal was realistic. That's why it's called "utopia." The word originates from Greek language, meaning "no-place."
What is real though is the bullying and hate they are promoting in the meantime.
I disagree with both of your guys...presentation on what is going on and here is why.
This is quite the assumption, to assume that the few websites actually linked to most of this shit, is sending an "equality agenda" message or for trying to obtain some form of utopia. All I'm seeing out of all of this is clicks and following the leader. The big sites, IGN/Gametrailers/Gamespot/Escapist(the co-founder actually coming out and saying some of the tweets and ect are irresponsible) and ect are not caught up in any of this, so I do agree this message isnt a conspiracy about the media. I do, however, think there is a lot of circling the wagon(among this small group), on anything that is a decent counter point, not by calling out the counter points, but by calling out random internet comments as proof that it is a systemic issue(when if you compare it to the internet at large is a tiny drop in the bucket).
Yes, gamers and the journalists take their hobby too seriously, but it would be ignorant to say there isn't money to be made from clickbait articles that are designed to stir the pot. The game press for a very small window in time was "professional" in the sense of during the EGM/Gamepro days it was pretty much like every other product review mag, it covered the material. Now we are in an industry where the game news isnt enough to generate proper revenue, so you are forced to go outside your purview. The problem is, the game industry doesn't have proper classifications of jobs. Because the journalists get paid shit, the reporters are the op-ed writers, are the activists, are the journalists, are the advertisers, are the consultants.
While calling it a conspiracy is disingenuous, it is not disingenuous that most of the infighting we are currently seeing is based on sentiment, based on twitter and blog events, and not on empirical evidence of a systemic problem with the consumer. If anything, all this highlights is problems within the industry and how the publishers are the ones in control of the message.
Because trust me, if normal products are trying to now advertise and make money off the current feminist moniker that is being used in sweeping generalizations, I can bet you the industry will be damn sure to try and profit off this. The idea that people could do this for a "utopia" is just ridiculous, however to imply that they are doing this for clicks, money, and trying to create more of a platform for themselves, which by extension is profitable in the current market, is FAR from slander, because we are continually seeing it in traditional and new media in the real world dealing with everything from products to politics.
When you see all this blowing up in more ways then just the fringe MRA hater or internet troll, it means the message of the day from a certain % of the game press isn't about specifically issues;(because honestly, I'm not seeing any real action to change current mechanics in the industry to improve diversity) it's about clicks, personal gain, and a lack of professional standards that keep things separated from one another.
But hey, if you think their message is them trying to come off for equality or to burn out all the people they disagree with, more power to you all. I, however, remain skeptical and that most of this is for profit(the thousands of articles, mirad of self promotions, and other high-school drama). So for me, I'll argue the points I disagree with, argue the points I do agree with and keep it at that; because trying to prove collusion or good intentions is a crapshoot left to people more motivated then I, to drive a specific narrative.
