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[Intheflorsh]

if you were following what i was saying from the beginning, you would understand that the wiki link serves the purpose of proving my "any publicity is good publicity". As soon as something controversial gains traction, it will be talked about more and more, regardless if it's death threats or endorsements. If she was in fact the most hated person on the internet it would mean that her controversy would reach a point where her true physical safety would not be able to bear the entire Hate of the entire internet.

Its funny, I'm trying to be objective as i can, and yet 3 people were already primed to think that I'm dismissing her as someone who should shut up or who is not a victim. lol. wow.

Do you not know what the Streisand effect its? Because it's kind of the opposite of the "any publicity is good publicity" idea. It's about trying to remove something from the public eye and having that result in only making things worse. It's not even applicable in this case because Zoe Quinn is actually trying to speak out against the controversy, not hide it.

And your big problem with the article is that she might not be the most hated person on the internet? I think the headline might just be hyperbole for effect.

 

[Camjo-Z]

I've tried multiple times to grasp it and I still don't get this Gamergate "scandal". You've got conspiracy theorists and 4chan trolls on one side who apparently want to fight "shady corruption in game journalism" by using the shadiest bullying tactics possible, and on the other you've got smug game journalists and social justice warriors who can't decide whether they want the whole thing to be forgotten or whether they just want to be right. Despite the obvious solution to both of their problems being "just fucking ignore the other group", all they do is keep hurling the same tired arguments and insults towards each other.

This article in particular especially confuses me. If Zoe is really so desperate to move forward with her life as she says at the end of the article, why is she baiting more trolls with a retrospective post about how she won?

 

[Azih]

First fully gay male in their video game. Not that i mind gay people at all.

That's bothering you?

 

[Jonnax]

Please don't put words in my mouth. Thanks. My whole family is christian and i'm not even religious at all. I do not mind gay people. As i said i don't really like politics in my games if you haven't read my post earlier.

What part of having guy people in a story is political? Is aknowledging they exist the political part? Or showing that they are as 'normal' as other characters?

 

[plagiarize]

I have no issues with people having social criticisms of gaming. I just wish someone besides Anita was the defacto face of it. From what I've watched of her videos, her criticisms seem flaky at best to me and in general Anita feels like a really shady individual to me.

'feels like a shady individual' reads like you have a prejudice. I am not calling you bigoted or misogynistic (we've had enough interactions that I know you aren't), but I think you need to look at why she 'feels shady' to you. If you can't find anything logical behind it and it is 'just a feeling' then you should ignore that feeling.

 

[Stet]

I have no issues with people having social criticisms of gaming. I just wish someone besides Anita was doing it. From what I've watched of her videos, her criticisms seem flaky at best to me and in general Anita feels like a really shady individual to me.

We don't choose our critics. If we did, it wouldn't be criticism, it would be an echo chamber. And you don't have to agree with the person's statements, but that doesn't have anything to do with them as a person. I completely disagree with Achebe's racial criticism of Heart of Darkness, but I still think he was a brilliant writer and critic. It can and should work the other way as well.

 

[unround]

It's pretty amazing that so many people seem to think that repeating their claims that they have loads of evidence about Zoe being an awful person but never actually presenting said evidence is going to somehow convince people.

First fully gay male in their video game. Not that i mind gay people at all.

lmao

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

If true, they are doing an extraordinarily poor job. I'd liken it to trying to put out a forest fire with a sledgehammer.

I laughed.

 

[Sephzilla]

'feels like a shady individual' reads like you have a prejudice. I am not calling you bigoted or misogynistic (we've had enough interactions that I know you aren't), but I think you need to look at why she 'feels shady' to you. If you can't find anything logical behind it and it is 'just a feeling' then you should ignore that feeling.

Oh, I have my reasons. I'd honestly just not get into them here and risk derailing the thread into an Anita discussion.

If Zoe is really so desperate to move forward with her life as she says at the end of the article, why is she baiting more trolls with a retrospective post about how she won?

I do kind of think this bears quoting.

 

[Brutalitops]

This is some of the dumbest shit I've ever seen. It sounds like a bunch of neck beard basement dwellers with a bone to pick against women in general.

Are we still using the "basement dweller" thing in 2014?

Do people still even play games in the basement? Living room or bust

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

What part of having guy people in a story is political? Is aknowledging they exist the political part? Or showing that they are as 'normal' as other characters?

It's neither of that really. I know that being gay is okay. It's just that i don't need it forced on me by a developer.

 

[Intheflorsh]

It's neither of that really. I know that being gay is okay and i just don't need it force on me by a developer.

What games have forced it on you?

Also, have you ever been forced to by a game?

 

[L Thammy]

I don't think it matters whether she is literally the most hated person on the Internet or not. If you were experiencing what she was, you'd probably feel that way.

For those saying this isn't worth talking about. You're totally right. The fact that it's a talking point at all says a lot.

 

[plagiarize]

Please don't put words in my mouth. Thanks. My whole family is christian and i'm not even religious at all. I do not mind gay people. As i said i don't really like politics in my games if you haven't read my post earlier.

That's right, act insulted but don't respond to anything.

Look, you were asked to describe what 'politics' Bioware had in their games, and you said 'first openly gay male character'. You said you didn't like the politics in their games.

I'm not putting words in your mouth, I'm showing you exactly how what you said makes you look to everyone reading this thread.

I don't hate gays I just don't want openly gay characters in my games BECAUSE POLITICS!

That paints a very clear picture whether you want it to or not.

 

[unround]

It's neither of that really. I know that being gay is okay and i just don't need it force on me by a developer.

Do you feel the same way about any straight romances that appear in games? If not, why not?

 

[Fehyd]

Are we still using the "basement dweller" thing in 2014?

Do people still even play games in the basement? Living room or bust

Neck beard too. Everytime someone uses the term neckbeard they lose all credibility.

 

[Kazerei]

This article in particular especially confuses me. If Zoe is really so desperate to move forward with her life as she says at the end of the article, why is she baiting more trolls with a retrospective post about how she won?

Cracked reached out to her and asked to write an article. And I'm not sure how she's baiting more trolls?

 

[Corto]

We need more objectivity on humor/entertainment internet magazines! The corruption is spreading! #comedygate

 

[Damerman]

That people even consider this the main takeaway of the article is seriously embarrassing.

wtf... are you serious? what high horse are you riding that tells you its embarrassing to call someone out on their narcissistic view?

granted its for comedy purposes, and granted she is a victim of internet harassment, but who the hell are you to judge people's point of views? what if i feel the title of the article undermines the real harassment that a lot of people face on the internet? what then? am i still an "embarrassment"?

geez, some of you have no chill in you.

 

[plagiarize]

Oh, I have my reasons. I'd honestly just not get into them here and risk derailing the thread into an Anita discussion.

fair enough.

I do kind of think this bears quoting.

she gets to complain about the shit she was put through even if she cheated on her boyfriend. the 'oh she shouldn't because she'll just cause herself more unjust pain' stuff sounds like the kind of 'kill the discussion' tactics we see time and time again in discussions of gender issues in gaming.

 

[big_erk]

Remember when Cracked was a comedy website?

Remember when Cracked wasn't yet another Tumblr-esque pile of partisan garbage?

Remember when Cracked did actual research?

Remember when Cracked was just a poor man's Mad magazine.

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

Do you feel the same way about any straight romances that appear in games? If not, why not?

I can't really say i do.

 

[Jonnax]

It's neither of that really. I know that being gay is okay and i just don't need it force on me by a developer.

How is it forced upon you? Because having a gay character in the game isn't forcing upon you. I'm sure they don't force you into a relationship.

Their existence in the game is what is bothering you. And you're hiding your prejudice behind the veneer of 'not wanting to be political'

The fact that you have a Metal Gear avatar shows that you don't care if a game is political since that series makes a ton political statements.

 

[SliceSabre]

Internet's Most Hated Person? She sure thinks highly of herself, though I read the whole thing I don't feel like I gained anything by doing so.

All in all, this 'incident' is barely worth note because only people super deep into gaming, the indie scene and games journalism even paid attention to it. I'm pretty sure the average gamer is totally unaware this was even going and it will soon be forgotten just like this article will be soon forgotten. I mean who remembers the last story they read on cracked anyway?

 

[Corto]

What games have forced it on you?

Also, have you ever been forced to by a game?

Show me on this doll where Master Chief touched you.

 

[plagiarize]

wtf... are you serious? what high horse are you riding that tells you its embarrassing to call someone out on their narcissistic view?

granted its for comedy purposes, and granted she is a victim of internet harassment, but who the hell are you to judge people's point of views? what if i feel the title of the article undermines the real harassment that a lot of people face on the internet? what then? am i still an "embarrassment"?

geez, some of you have no chill in you.

I've taken no issue with you. The title of the article is inflammatory. Presuming Zoe wrote it herself doesn't do anyone any favors.

Headlines are very often (though not always) written by an editor rather than the article writer. I see no reason to presume she wrote it herself. It's plausible she did, and the editor liked it, but generally editors write headlines in my experiences.

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

How is it forced upon you? Because having a gay character in the game isn't forcing upon you. I'm sure they don't force you into a relationship.

Their existence in the game is what is bothering you. And you're hiding your prejudice behind the veneer of 'not wanting to be political'

The fact that you have a Metal Gear avatar shows that you don't care if a game is political since that series makes a ton political statements.

Metal Gear Solid was a franchise i played before i had this political hatred.

 

[shacklesmcgee]

she lied about the wizardchan case,the rebel gamejam,the fine young capitalist affair,censoring gamenosh articles,dmc againts totalbiscuit, its not a isolated incident..and i dont give a fxxx about her sex life

sooooooo...no link, source or proof?

 

[Noaloha]

It's hard to ignore though. Why does Anita have to target video game when there are other mediums that use real life people out there? Why does Bioware always try to make some sort of political statement in their video games? I'm sick of this.

Ok. So you're in the "leave my games alone" faction of #GG, cool. That's good to know (arguably, it doesn't have the outright reprehensible qualities that a lot of the other #GG factions do). You're certainly not alone, but just understand that if you insist on considering this a 'battle', you are going to have to come to terms with losing that battle. I'm of the opinion that this is inevitable, because it's natural. You're railing against progressiveness, but - and the clue is in the name - it's going to continue to progress. What you're standing up for is stagnation. Again, its prospects are in the name. The video game medium won't be one that stagnates. I assume you are against this, but I promise you - it's for the best.

Here, look at this. But sit down before you do so - you're not gonna like it. Find a comfy chair, take a deep breath, click the link and read the page.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=130092296&postcount=3934

 

[Mael]

Metal Gear Solid was a franchise i played before i had this political hatred.

So you hate Metal Gear now or it's just games that aren't ridiculous in their depiction that infuriate you?

 

[Broder Salsa]

seriously, I see you post this guy around for a while, who is he? Always makes me think of a younger Tim Schafer :lol

It's Wilbur. We tell him he looks like Tim Schafer all the time but he disagrees.

 

[plagiarize]

Internet's Most Hated Person? She sure thinks highly of herself, though I read the whole thing I don't feel like I gained anything by doing so.

All in all, this 'incident' is barely worth note because only people super deep into gaming, the indie scene and games journalism even paid attention to it. I'm pretty sure the average gamer is totally unaware this was even going and it will soon be forgotten just like this article will be soon forgotten. I mean who remembers the last story they read on cracked anyway?

You read the whole article. So you know the story was covered in the national regular mainstream news.

Zoe will be forgotten, because before too long someone else will be the target of the gaming anti feminist internet hate machine.

 

[Baron von Loathsome]

It's neither of that really. I know that being gay is okay. It's just that i don't need it forced on me by a developer.

That's the thing about media, though. It very much informs what people find acceptable and unacceptable. Positive gay representation being left out of the media on a large scale creates the implication that being gay is taboo.

So you hate Metal Gear now or it's just games that aren't ridiculous in their depiction that infuriate you?

He has a grandfather clause for Metal Gear.

 

[Stet]

wtf... are you serious? what high horse are you riding that tells you its embarrassing to call someone out on their narcissistic view?

granted its for comedy purposes, and granted she is a victim of internet harassment, but who the hell are you to judge people's point of views? what if i feel the title of the article undermines the real harassment that a lot of people face on the internet? what then? am i still an "embarrassment"?

geez, some of you have no chill in you.

It's embarrassing because it successfully ignores the entire issue with an obvious deflection about the truth behind a headline written by Cracked. It's also embarrassing because you think it's narcissistic to feel hated. There's this weird and unsubstantiated criticism of Zoe and Anita as attention whores who only exist to piss people off, but that's in no way what they're doing.

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

So you hate Metal Gear now or it's just games that aren't ridiculous in their depiction that infuriate you?

I love Metal Gear solid. Just games that aren't ridiculous in their depiction.

 

[etrain911]

I dislike her, I dislike the journalists covering this, and I dislike the people spreading her personal information.

bunch of idiots all around.

Yeah, there's not a single person coming out of this smelling like a garden of roses.

 

[kcp12304]

It's neither of that really. I know that being gay is okay and i just don't need it force on me by a developer.

It's an RPG so it's always a choice. RPGs are about choice. I've played gay characters in their games so whats the harm in giving me a choice. Bioware has had gay romances since Jade Empire (2005). Kotor (2003) hinted that a companion was gay. If the developers want to include gay characters they should be allowed to. Gay people exists in real life so it only makes sense that they exists in video games.

Politics are OK in games only if it's politics you're comfortable with.

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

That's the thing about media, though. It very much informs what people find acceptable and unacceptable. Positive gay representation being left out of the media on a large scale creates the implication that being gay is taboo.

I don't mind gay people at all. Some people think i hate gay people and i apologize if i made it seem that way. I'm the kind of guy that doesn't give a shit about what they do as long as they're happy...My video games on the other hand.

 

[HoJu]

Please don't put words in my mouth. Thanks. My whole family is christian and i'm not even religious at all. I do not mind gay people. As i said i don't really like politics in my games if you haven't read my post earlier.

well isn't the fact that you don't like gay people in your videogames mean that you do, in fact, mind gay people? that it bothers you in some way?

 

[redder]

How did I miss this whole incident?

You were one of the lucky ones.

 

[plagiarize]

It's an RPG so it's always a choice. RPGs are about choice. I've played gay characters in their games so whats the harm in giving me a choice. Bioware has had gay romances since Jade Empire (2005). Kotor (2003) hinted that a companion was gay. If the developers want to include gay characters they should be allowed to. Gay people exists in real life so it only makes sense that they exists in video games.

Politics are OK in games only if it's politics you're comfortable with.

It's ludicrous to me that saying 'It's okay to be gay' is being labelled a political statement.

IT IS OKAY TO BE GAY. That's a goddamn fact.

 

[Intheflorsh]

I don't mind gay people at all. Some people think i hate gay people and i apologize if i made it seem that way. I'm the kind of guy that doesn't give a shit about what they do as long as they're happy...My video games on the other hand.

What if it makes some people happy to play video games with gay people in them?

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

well isn't the fact that you don't like gay people in your videogames mean that you do, in fact, mind gay people? that it bothers you in some way?

No. It's the fact that they have to put them in there to make it seem like its ok. I already know its okay.

 

[walnuts]

I don't know if all the sex scandal is real or not, and I just don't care. All I know is that this woman's life has been completely destroyed, and not only her own life, also her friends' and her relatives. And it's all a douchebag's fault, who made all this just revenge, jealousness, or whatever the reasons he had in his psychopathic brain.

Nobody deserves this. Just imagining myself on her situation makes me sick. I'm glad she's been really strong and could survive to this. I must admit I wouldn't be able to get over this.

I can't believe there's so many people there outside, ready to destroy the lives of people they never heard of, just to make another person they also don't even know happy. What a horrible world.

I wish all the best to her, her family and her friends.

 

[spirity]

If you read the link you'd have seen the editor's note at the beginning of the article, explaining that Cracked reached out for her "to see what it's like to be the Internet's Most Hated Person (well, for a couple of weeks, anyway)."

Of course, you didn't and instead are maybe even wrongfully making her responsible for the premise of the article she was contaced to write.

I'm done clicking on hyperbolic links that always pop up in times of a scandal. I've fell for that too many times in the past.

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

What if it makes some people happy to play video games with gay people in them?

Then i don't mind that at all . I'm not one to argue with what other people like.

 

[Corpekata]

the logs are real,not a fabrication from her bf,she admits this part



she lied about the wizardchan case,the rebel gamejam,the fine young capitalist affair,censoring gamenosh articles,dmc againts totalbiscuit, its not a isolated incident..and i dont give a fxxx about her sex life

You can't even keep your conspiracy theories straight. Nobody has accused her of DMCAing Totalbiscuit, not even Totalbiscuit himself. Well, until your post, I guess.

 

[Camjo-Z]

Cracked reached out to her and asked to write an article. And I'm not sure how she's baiting more trolls?

the 'oh she shouldn't because she'll just cause herself more unjust pain' stuff sounds like the kind of 'kill the discussion' tactics we see time and time again in discussions of gender issues in gaming.

She's the one who's saying she wants to move on past all this. If there's one thing I've learned from every scandal that's ever happened, it's that the best way to get people to stop talking about it is to either resolve it, or ignore it entirely. In this case, the actual "scandal" is mostly farcical in nature and thus cannot be resolved, so it sounds like the best possible option here is to ignore it entirely.

 

[ampere]

The editor's note sums up my feelings on all these recent 'scandals'.

"do you realize that if what they're saying is true, then this is still the most pointless fucking bullshit anyone has ever forced us to read?"

Harrisonfordwhogivesashit.gif I just can't fathom why people spent energy to harass this girl.

It's very interesting to hear about it from her PoV. Sounds like what I'd expect, getting harassed by tons of people online sucks like getting harassed/bullied by a few people, but on a much bigger scale.

At least she is trying to laugh about some of the ridiculousness with jokes like:

"She also destroyed Dreamcast, made Superman 64, and scrapped Half-Life 3."

 

[plagiarize]

I don't mind gay people at all. Some people think i hate gay people and i apologize if i made it seem that way. I'm the kind of guy that doesn't give a shit about what they do as long as they're happy...My video games on the other hand.

Gay people play games too. You don't have more right to control the content of games than a gay person.