Colin Moriarty is leaving Kinda Funny Games.
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Kaji AF16
Member
I am not much of a videogame media consumer, and both his political stances and Sony fanaticism are far away from my own choices, but I considered him arguably among the best in the business.
Some weeks ago I watched two videos of him and I agreed with almost everything he said: one was about Project Scorpio, the other about Trump and the hypothetical advent of fascism.
Some weeks ago I watched two videos of him and I agreed with almost everything he said: one was about Project Scorpio, the other about Trump and the hypothetical advent of fascism.
Correct; the Christian Right is roughly 20% of the US population and is a major voting block with incredible pull and power, that actually can and has restricted rights in this country. In comparison the "regressive left" is like who... some Twitter egg who could IRL be a bot or troll account?
Audioboxer
Member
They do? What are you wanting, some catalog of GAF posters? I'm not really into that.
It's the kinds of individuals who demand professors be fired, that every and any game or TV show with extreme violence/sexual content needs to reevaluate itself or actual comedians can never tell certain kinds of jokes because jokes can't be jokes. Everything is serious and humanity cannot try and make light of all the dark and horrible shit we need to deal with. As I said, the kind of stuff mums and dads in the Christian right would get up in arms about because GTA has prostitutes and violence in it! Education is teaching how intercourse works! The kids are all watching South Park!
Whoever it is, on whatever side, it's about being authoritarian and wanting to lust after control and power of people's minds, lives and what they do. Funnily enough, mentioning South Park, it is a bit regressive to start calling it alt-right. Why? It's seeking that power and control to try and push people away from it by associating it with a terrible movement for literally no reason other than... you don't like it, so how dare anyone else get to enjoy it?
And before this post gets everyone quoting saying "but criticism is fine!". Yes it is, being regressive isn't criticising, it's getting up in arms not everyone accepts your criticism and won't follow in line with you. That's power and control, it's you almost demanding people believe what you tell them. The Christian right, and right in general, has been doing this for decades. They want control of you, your mind, your ability to think and speak and for you not to be an individual, but part of the collective herd.
meanspartan
Member
He harshly critcized the first ban...
He's done far more for social issues than any of us, so surely he will!
ScientificPizza
Banned
Ok, maybe my question isn't reaching you. You're once again literally just describing a type of person you claim to exist. I am saying please name a human being *in the real world* who adequately reflects what you're talking about.
Audioboxer
Member
So if I say my next door neighbour two houses over, that's okay with you?
Or is this going to devolve into some silly back and forth that only people on the right behave in authoritarian ways and how dare I suggest people on the left can too? If that's the case, remove political labels. People, as in humans, behave like this. They always have, and they always will. Moral busy bodies and those demanding others better think like them will be here today, tomorrow, and well after we are dead.
Someone else correctly pointed out the bigger issue with it on the right is, the Christian fundamentalists and hard right-wing ideologues are getting into political power. That is more dangerous as policy can start to be touched at that point. For the most part those doing it on the left are just insufferable on social media, message boards and possibly in college/University. Thankfully none of them ever seem to get into political power, and most of those on the left that are in power are reasonable and well-rounded.
meanspartan
Member
Of course he will. Even if it means alienating his very cool fanbase because
Sigh.
https://mobile.twitter.com/notaxation/status/825407586136518657
Oh hey, this can be example 3 lol.
I was mostly making light of his superiority complex, haha.
ScientificPizza
Banned
It's just a joke dawg
I... are you playing a joke on me? Do you not see it's kind of bizarre that you literally cannot name a human being I might recognize that actually does what you're talking about?
The worst people are those who use the boogey man of the regressive left to jump in with right-winged people and extremism.
"Someone said that South Park was alt right or that being islamophobic is racist, now I have to abandon my ideals of social equality, civil rights, anti racism, pro-lgbtq, gender equality, etc, and join literal white supremacists and homophobes and rich white men who don't mind poor people dying"
These people are also the ones who always have a criticism for the resistance and who always has to lecture minorities on how to behave in their struggle for justice. Yet they never ever show up to support or provide allyship to those who are faces oppression and discrimination.
They don't ever support the actual bigots, but they always have tons of criticism for the victims of the bigots. Like Colin always does.
"Someone said that South Park was alt right or that being islamophobic is racist, now I have to abandon my ideals of social equality, civil rights, anti racism, pro-lgbtq, gender equality, etc, and join literal white supremacists and homophobes and rich white men who don't mind poor people dying"
These people are also the ones who always have a criticism for the resistance and who always has to lecture minorities on how to behave in their struggle for justice. Yet they never ever show up to support or provide allyship to those who are faces oppression and discrimination.
They don't ever support the actual bigots, but they always have tons of criticism for the victims of the bigots. Like Colin always does.
7DollarHagane
Banned
Yeah, I don't remember exactly but I thought he was against the travel/Muslim ban and said exactly that: the process is working as designed to overturn decisions not consistent with the will of the people or the goals of our country.
It's really sad when people hear he made what could be considered a sexist joke and assume he buys into every single talking point of the alt right and Trump.
OniBarubary
Banned
Lime, if you start a Patreon to fill you with enough coffee to stay awake 24/7 simply to keep posting in all these Gaming-side threads about this kind of bullshit, I'll gladly donate money.
The hope becomes that at some point people will actually respond to you with something resembling "Wow, you've certainly posted some incredibly succinct and well-reasoned wisdom that made me look at this in a issue in a new light and I may need to re-examine these things that I have thought to be true for so long" instead of what actually happens, which is either non-sequitor posts to nobody about SJWs and the regressive left or legitimately serious posts arguing all around you without responding to you about inane horseshit, non-existent comparisons and unimportant semantics.
The hope becomes that at some point people will actually respond to you with something resembling "Wow, you've certainly posted some incredibly succinct and well-reasoned wisdom that made me look at this in a issue in a new light and I may need to re-examine these things that I have thought to be true for so long" instead of what actually happens, which is either non-sequitor posts to nobody about SJWs and the regressive left or legitimately serious posts arguing all around you without responding to you about inane horseshit, non-existent comparisons and unimportant semantics.
I'm sure there's people who do that, but I do also think it's possible to think someone saying something ridiculous should be called out, while also holding the beliefs you mentioned. I think calling Colin alt-right is a ridiculous statement based on the evidence we have, but I also think he's reacting to the situation in an hyperbolic and fairly hypocritical way, as he tends to do sometimes. I also think he tends to be a fair and reasonable person who sometimes (too often) lets his passion cloud his judgment.
SerTapTap
Member
He was also anti trump. Then he started talking about how liberals should be "nice" when opposing trump. "rational discourse". Now look at his last tweet and tell me what he thinks of "rational discourse".
He's a flipflop and he'd never say anything to alienate his new alt right buddies. He clearly has no actual convictions.
SpideySenses
Member
I look at that tweet and see someone who is being clearly manipulative, yes he has some shitty ideas and he probably feels he can be more honest now but I don't buy that he's gone off the deep end so quickly. He's playing the long game here, step one was dividing the Kinda Funny audience before quitting and step two is inching further to the right so that he can divide everyone else. And it'll work unfortunately.
Audioboxer
Member
Well, I was being a bit flippant because it's human behavioural observations, it doesn't require a phonebook of names.
If we're at an impasse we're at an impasse. The only food for thought I can say to you is echoing what I said above, if you're happy to believe people who identify as right/conservative can be authoritarian, but come up with some roadblock that no one on the left can ever be, that's unfortunate if truth and honesty are important to you. It's really a hatchet way to look at human behaviour, wanting to ignore anything less than savoury if it might be from someone who is "on your side". Where you identify politically does not mean that you're immune to behaving in ways those over the side do. It's not a magic forcefield to say you're on the left, so wham bam done, the perfect human. Why do you think there is so much bickering on the left, it's a battle of ideas and challenging human behavioural traits that some use that others might not like.
The left has stereotypically favoured individualism and freedoms more than the right (ranging from being in control of your body, to what you like to do, who you want to sleep with, what games/movies/tv shows/comedians you like etc). Pretty much nearly the whole left caring little about what you do in your bedroom or watch on your TV. The right has long been all about collectivism and authoritarianism. Hence why if even just a little bit of that seeps over to this side, there is fierce debating about it. I'll say it again, it's not people criticising on the left, or seeking to say they think change would be good in certain industries, it's the follow through of wait, how dare you not agree with me and want what I want ~ That must mean you are right wing, or x, or y, or something else. Rather than just someone on the left with a different opinion.
My biggest wrong is probably saying "regressive left". I just see "regressive" to mean going backwards, and yes, quite often I think authoritarian approaches to just about anything are the height of going backwards. They're often what it means to try and use force to stop debate, kerb speech, censor and manipulate if not scare people into backing down and following in your footsteps. So, regressing, going backwards. As SolidSnake says below maybe I'm totally incorrect in my framing of that phrase.
SolidSnakex
Member
Well, the regressive left (the original definition of it) does exist. But the term has been perverted in a way that some have been doing with alt-right. It was a term originally coined to describe the section of liberals that can't bring themselves to be critical of Islam in the same way that they are with other religions, and even in some ways pander to it. But now people try to throw a bunch of other eggs in that basket. Like, you're a regressive leftist if you care about LGBT rights or race relations and so on. So, you've got a term that was originally coined to shine a bad light on people to now suddenly be redefined to be about anyone that's simply a decent human being. Which is odd.
TheWaxyPaxy
Neo Member
The vast majority of the time I appreciate his gaming commentary. Other than that, he's just an ignorant guy with a platform based on gaming and he's conflated his importance and contribution in that space to think it expands to all areas of his life.
People like him are a dime a dozen, the only difference is most people don't have the platform. Seriously, go to any frat house and you'll find 5 Colin Moriartys.
I mean, just look at California versus Kansas to compare legislative realities. Not perfect but a general sense of ideals in practice leading to real outcomes.
There's a place for people like him monetarily in our society. That's cool and all but an inflated sense of righteousness doesn't really surprise me. He's overcompensating here to a very real and logical confrontation of speech. He's a guy with a platform that lacks self awareness and the ability to reflect. He always says "keep an open mind" but curls into a defensive fetal position when confronted. This is playing out just as expected.
People like him are a dime a dozen, the only difference is most people don't have the platform. Seriously, go to any frat house and you'll find 5 Colin Moriartys.
I mean, just look at California versus Kansas to compare legislative realities. Not perfect but a general sense of ideals in practice leading to real outcomes.
There's a place for people like him monetarily in our society. That's cool and all but an inflated sense of righteousness doesn't really surprise me. He's overcompensating here to a very real and logical confrontation of speech. He's a guy with a platform that lacks self awareness and the ability to reflect. He always says "keep an open mind" but curls into a defensive fetal position when confronted. This is playing out just as expected.
This is the right sides entire tactic. Co-opting terms to twist their meaning
Regressive left.
Alt-left.
Fake news.
Ah I remember him mentioning he loved politics before.
birthbystars
Member
It's so striking to see the Colin from the early Beyond days to the Colin of now. Like someone said in a post earlier in this thread, he was so humble and talked about how meeting fans who liked to talk to him about Beyond and video games was the most mind-blowing, and incredible, experience he had ever had.
Now he's retweeting Rubin while shouting about the "regressive left"? This is just a fucking disaster.
Now he's retweeting Rubin while shouting about the "regressive left"? This is just a fucking disaster.
meanspartan
Member
I'm just looking for one. A single person who actually does what you're talking about. It shouldn't be hard, I just... if it's not a straw man, this person should actually exist, right? You're talking about a type of person you believe to actually be out there, so it has to have corporeally manifested in at least one solitary human body, right? Not like... just some random post on TumblrInAction which could just as likely be a troll as actually reflecting someone's real beliefs. Right? Doesn't it seem weird that you can eloquently articulate paragraph after paragraph about these people but not actually point to a real one?
Exactly; it's really bizarre to see how this pejorative changed from attacking something that I can at least identify as actually occurring, to this straw man that wraps-up a million different concepts and is ultimately even more meaningless than misidentifying alt-righters (at least the alt-right has identifiable publications, online habitats, and, ultimately, The Presidency--so at least you can say, "here is the alt-right"). However it's also been built into the biggest spectre and boogeyman of even so-called moderates, not to mention the actual Right in the US. It's bonkers.
birthbystars
Member
Loln but seriously, I agree.
When I first looked at that image, all I could see was the Lobster Jimmy writing and I had no idea what the hell was happening.
Thanks, I totally understand. The rise of the far-right and seeing (white) friends, colleagues, students, and good people moving into the embrace of fascism due to fear of the Other is also firing me up. The lack of support by 'moderates' and 'both sides' people in these precarious times where some of us are in fear of our lives as well.
It's absolutely dangerous times and people move into fascism and racism and sexism, because they aren't recognizing and understanding that it's actual literal fascism. Had a talk with a bunch of acquainted game developers and their conception of 'center' had moved so far right that they basically don't see literal white supremacist ideology as actual racism.
Maybe I'm just throwing water up against the wall and maybe I should stop being on GAF if it's of no use though. I just feel what is going on is not okay and it's disheartening (and horrifically pathetic) to see so many young white men be radicalized more and more. A line has to be drawn.
TheWaxyPaxy
Neo Member
It seems pretty standard to me. He's a guy who is overcompensating. He was never humble it was just self preservation at that point. Now, he has built up what he feels is credibility in the general awareness space. He's a young "hip" guy who can use this environment now to capitalize. It's quite Randian in a way. It benefitted him to be quiet and humble, now he feels he can strike in the current climate. The problem is he thinks he's an intellectual because he talks fast and matter of factly but he's just an average guy with hypocritical ideas who can't handle confrontation but preaches open mindedness. Again, a dime a dozen. He just has Twitter followers now so he has a megaphone.
I thought it was a weird ass black and white Gran Turismo cover until my eyes adjusted.
Audioboxer
Member
Instead of talking about any of the behaviours I mention you keep using the find me a celebrity, or some big journalists or a person I will judge as suitable or not to satisfy my needs of believing you. Nothing seems weird to me, as I know exactly what you're doing. Long posts from me are supposed to try and draw out some debate from you about the ways in which humans behave, by giving you the benefit of the doubt you'll engage more thoroughly with me than you have. We're at an impasse, though, as no, I'm not going on Twitter, or FB or YT to pull some random names for you so you can then tell me if they meet your abject criteria.
If you haven't seen people with your own eyes, either directly in your life, or on the internet behave in authoritarian ways, then fair enough. I don't know how you've managed to avoid it, in fact, I know you haven't, it's just your way of continuing to ignore 90% of my posts and keep repeating the same question. I guess we'll just both move on, and I did concede above maybe it's me who needs to think about the regressive term, but I feel I explained what it means to me above. Authoritarian might just be best to say, if it avoids people being unhappy with regressive.
ScientificPizza
Banned
"all of these people are trying to police what we can and cannot say"
"like who"
"i haven't seen people with your eyes!"
"like who"
"i haven't seen people with your eyes!"
There are billions of people on planet Earth, I personally have no doubt that there are people like what you've described. But they don't seem to have any prominent voices, you know? And I don't just mean among the mainstream, I mean pretty much anywhere. So I suspect that this is what APF is getting at--that painting a fearful, scary picture of a "regressive left" that is nearly non-existent doesn't feel fair.
Abdul Hafeez
Member
Colin M's political philosophy, summed up in one tweet:
Also, as a bonus, a Colin M tweet presented without comment:
Also, as a bonus, a Colin M tweet presented without comment:
FinaruDensetsu
Member
I don't think I've ever heard him say he was personally against it. He will however say it doesn't pass constitutional muster. Which any non-insane person was saying from minute 1 of that ban. I mean I guess if stating really simple facts is being "against" it then ok.
THIS SHOULDN'T BE A TRICK QUESTION. If you say something exists, shouldn't you be able to demonstrate it existing? The funny thing is, this is 100% the best way to troll me, for someone to keep on engaging my posts while refusing to engage the single solitary simple question I'm asking.
I know, but that's how cognitive dissonance works. You really believe that there's this movement, small but large enough to have its own terminology and large enough to be able to articulate literal paragraphs describing its members, but when repeatedly asked to give an example of a human being who fulfills what you're describing you can't--and instead see it as me trying to "trick" you into falling into some sort of "trap." No one's tricking you my dude. I just want you to get out of strawman 101.
I'll debate actual arguments, actual demonstrations of real phenomenon that warrant discussion. The alt-right? Of course. The religious right? Definitely. These are movements you can actually point to real-world examples of. Even the folks SolidSnakex was talking about, you can actually demonstrably prove they exist. There are some folks like that in this forum even. But the people you're talking about viv games etc, it's my genuine and strongly-held belief that they don't actually exist in any real way. Maybe some odd poster on Tumblr you might be able to find. But no one with a real visible presence or voice or power.
Good point
WrenchNinja
Member
Oh yes, of course a racist is more than qualifiedColin M's political philosophy, summed up in one tweet:
Also, as a bonus, a Colin M tweet presented without comment:
ScientificPizza
Banned
He's a racist with a good resume
JesseEwiak
Member
Yes, the Authoritarian Left, using such tactics as going on Twitter and saying, "hey, this shit is kind of racist or sexist. How about you change it?" Or, "hey, why are there like no non-white people or non-sexualized women in your games?" Truly, having to respond to criticism of your free speech in the form of art such as games, movies, or comedy is obviously equal to having no free speech at all.
Or the horror of a well compensated author not having the right to get paid thousands of dollars to speak at a college without being protested.
Truly it's nothing compared to the actual Authoritarian Right in power via elections around this nation, stripping union rights, stripping civil rights, cutting social services, and handing over services to for profit companies. That's nothing compared to a few professors saying mean things about white dudes and some students protesting in the wrong way in the eyes of people who hate protesters anyway.
Yeah, stuff like this is when the mask of "oh, Colin is just a libertarian slips." Nah, he's either incredibly misinformed about Session's actual record (which is weird, considering I'm just a guy who posts on the Internet and I'm not asking to be paid thousands of dollars for my political opinion and I know this stuff) or just a bog standard Republican who doesn't mind gay people or people smoking pot.
ScientificPizza
Banned
this a good post
Audioboxer
Member
I happily said they are not in politics a few posts ago and made it very clear why its far more dangerous for the right wing authoritarians to be in power as they change policies. On the left it tends to be the citizens arguing with each other because you don't need prominent voices for that. Voices these days are all over social media, message boards, on your courses, in your work and so forth. When you engage in debates like most of us do constantly in life, because it's how we learn and grow, that is where the bickering starts, and when it gets out of control, demands. We don't speak to the politicians, they ignore us. We're minnows to them. We do speak with our fellow citizens, friends, family and in today's connected world loads of people online.
Hence a lot of the bickering online is part and parcel with opinions and at times demands. You do even see it sometimes on GAF, where posters get so angry and demanding that another poster won't change their mind on something. That can just be passion, but ever more in general society its creeping towards authoritarian ideologues who will try and do anything possible to get you to conform to what they want you to believe.
I hope that's at least cleared up your probe about government. If you look back a few posts I did make it clear I'm under no illusions why right wing authoritarianism is light years ahead of any issues it can cause on the left.
That's not the authoritarians on the left for me. Going online to criticise or ask for diversity or something in regards to change is normal and how humanity debates and tries to move forward. It's when things don't quite go 100% someone's way asap and things turn into demands with consequences that can be unfair. As I said above though more so when it's when debating with other people. Trying to force other citizens to change and police their life because they didn't instantly agree with you or your position.
In education it's more about when people go around saying you shouldn't be teaching that, or those course all needs changed, or challenging ideas should be kept away. Universities are for learning, and open debate and ideas are needed. Especially in medical, science and biology fields.
Anyway, I think I'm diverging a bit too far from one Colin tweet. He quite clearly is happy using 140 characters to shit post rather than an open forum for hundreds of words going back and forward.
JesseEwiak
Member
What horrible consequences can the Authoritarian Left bring? A few professors on ultra left wing campuses deciding they're tired of the arguing and peacing out, likely with a healthy severance package? A few conservative commentators still being well paid, but not getting cash from some colleges Young Republican's to speak anymore? A few commencement speakers not getting paid five figures to bloviate in front of a crowd of graduating college students, who disagree with 95% of what they say?
Some older comics finding out that the same tired racist, sexist, and homophobic jokes they've been using the 90's to be edgy won't work in the modern college campus? Yes, making dumbass racist jokes used to be hilarious. Blackface used to be hilarious too people as well. Would it be "authoritarian" for people to protest that if it happened on a college campus?
Some content creators finding out that unlike ten years ago, their customers can actually band together and have a organized set of actions toward them?
Ah yes, the "we just need to have healthy debate with people who believe other races or genders or sexes are lesser people." Indeed, we just need to be open minded that maybe the Bell Curve was right, and black people are just intelligent than white people. Look, if you want to argue with some "race realists" about whether POC deserve equal rights, have fun. I'm not going to tell POC that they have too, or they're retreating to a "safe space."
Audioboxer
Member
Hopefully none, as long as society can be able to autocorrect any of its own mistakes through consistent debates of ideas and opinions. Check the NeoGAF mission statement. As long as that is a thing in society then we're doing okay.
Society wise we'll probably always have that as long as government doesn't get to infringe. On a micro level between family and friends, I think people do lose it with so many fall outs and relationships breaking down these days because people cannot get other people to think like they do on every little thing.
I'm not really talking about any of the most horrific things in life Lime. Being "regressive" isn't about letting atrocities slide. It's the arguing over far more inconsequential things in life, like hobbies, interests, what you watch, what you play, etc, and then going nuclear when someone will not change their minds over that. Nothing that I'm talking about has anything to do with human rights? Sorry if that wasn't clear. You can't exactly be regressive? when it comes to human rights. Unless you mean right wing authoritarians? Then sure, I said thats what is terrible about them being in power earlier.
What the what? That's atrocious? If you want me to elaborate just ask. What you've just listed is nothing I would think in one hundred years.
In Uni one area I'm involved in is Evolutionary Behaviour (Psychology) and people do not approve of it being taught as it can discuss biological sex differences in the male and female brain. It's maybe partly to do with humans not liking evolution and accepting we are primates, but it does get flak and people unhappy it's being taught because it's theories they deem problematic. For lack of a better word to use.
People demanding white people to change their minds regarding minorities about being represented, respected, heard, included, paid, employed, etc., and minorities asking people in power not to be murdered, not to be imprisoned, not to be harassed, not to be ridiculed, not to be called slurs, not to have jokes made about their oppression, etc. shouldn't be controversial and shouldn't be something that's up to debate. Of course people are going to have demands for their humanity!! The Civil Rights movement demanded to be respected and for white people to change their minds, Stonewall Riots did, the BLM are doing the same, minorities in video games are doing the same, etc. That's not passion, that's asking to be recognized as an equal human being.
Yet so many of those in power and at the top of the power hierarchy in society remain stubborn, reluctant, and doubtful. They would rather have those pesky subhuman minorities shut up so they can go back to the comfortable status quo, so they resort to silencing tactics and tone-policing and whatever out they can use against the minorities in order to escape any responsibility or to avoid taking any action against the injustices in society. Once they run out of outs, the only group left to support them are literal white supremacists who give them a comforting narrative that it's those minorities demanding rights and their humanity to be recognized who are the problem.
There is a point in which people has to choose a side, especially in these precarious times of far-right extremism. White people cannot continue to be fence-sitters or moderates or neutrals, and they certainly cannot keep lecturing and policing the oppressed and the resistance when people are out there getting murdered, harassed, deported, invaded, silenced, imprisoned, bombed, terrorized, oppressed, etc. It's time to show support, to come together, to help, to listen & learn, and to take action.
I think I'm following you.
I do suspect, however, that for some people (not necessarily yourself) the number of perceived regressive leftists is being inflated by misunderstandings. I was a part of a conversation with Cyclone about cultural appropriation a few pages back, and Cyclone eventually seemed to decide that such a critique was an attempt at literal censorship. And this was after paragraphs of carefully expressed ideas. But it wasn't enough to bring clarity.
If you have a group of people who take pointed criticism as an attempt at the literal suppression of speech, you're going to get people who feel not only under attack personally, but as if the very society they know is also under siege. And moreover, some of these confused individuals may be hearing pointed comments about their casual use of sexism and racism, something that may not have happened to them before. But because they know in their hearts that they are neither sexist nor racist, they don't learn from it. They don't learn the lesson of just being a slightly better person. They take it, again, as humorless attacks from fools who don't understand what real bigotry is.
And thus the misunderstandings grow, hearts darken, and things get worse.
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