Astor Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Story Microsoft has updated its Xbox Live Code of Conduct with terminology that now allows gamers to include their sexual orientation in their Gamertag. Gamers are now free to label themselves as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender or Straight, in a move GayGamer called “fantastic.” While I can agree with it being 'fantastic' that people can now choose to list their sexual preferences as part of their Gamertag, I'm struggling to understand why this addition was so important, and I can see this potentially leading to an increase in cyber-bullying/harassment. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Avery Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Ok, I posted something similar in our TOR forums when "gay" was censored on the Bioware forums: I take no offense to this at all. Xbox Live's policy was this: No gay or religious user names or information in your profile. Blizzard also does this, and does not allow LGBT guilds to form ontop of that. Alot of affirmative action people or whatever they want to call themselves always get up in arms about this sort of thing, but in these cases I agree with the companies. Straight, bi, lesbian, gay, etc are all rooted in sexuality. In their Terms of Service, is states that names/profiles/conduct/etc that relates to sexuality will not be tolerated because of its mature connotations in a community with varying ages. Blizzard does not allow it for the same reason, and guilds that form under the LGBT banner and so on are also closed, and members given warnings/bans. This is because it not only expresses sexual tones, but it promoted prejudice on who is allowed to join based on sexuality. I don't need to know how straight you are in your name or profile, nor do I like seeing religious/political user names. And, with that, I think a lot of people would prefer not to have me run around with a sign on my chest, nor anyone else. As Astor said, all this really does in the end is promote cyber bullying. People made a big deal out of these lesbians, bisexuals, and gays having their profiles changed or shut off but what most forgot to mention is that these profiles were also receiving death threats via private message. While I have almost no respect for the moderators since they banned the victims and not the ones sending death threats, I understand why they shut down the blatant target. You go in with a name like "IwubObama", "jesushatesyou", or "gaypride4ev" or, hell, even put "I'm lesbian and proud!" in your profile... don't be surprised at all at the amount of trolling, death threats, mark downs, etc you'll be getting on the worst internet gaming community ever maintained. It should of remained banned. Terrible decision on their part that will bite the users, and moderators, in the ***. I give it less than a month before being pulled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totenkopf Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Story While I can agree with it being 'fantastic' that people can now choose to list their sexual preferences as part of their Gamertag, I'm struggling to understand why this addition was so important, and I can see this potentially leading to an increase in cyber-bullying/harassment. Thoughts? Frankly, don't see much point in it either. TMI (just as your religion, politics or any fetish info would be also). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Why in the world do I need my gamertag to say "OMG I'm straight!!!!!11!!eleventy-one!!11!!" Who cares? Besides, it's none of anyone else's business whether I'm gay, straight, or in to purple-polka dot tribbles. I want my kids and me to play games, not think about someone's sexual orientation or political affiliation while they're in co-op play. We're gaming to escape reality, not have it shoved in our faces. Here's a novel idea--let's keep sex of all kind in the bedroom instead of in our gaming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Web Rider Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 I hate to sound like a conspiracy guy, but isn't Microsoft in the process of rolling out some software for Live that takes into account how healthy you are based on what games you're playing and how long you're playing them? Wouldn't it be curious if Microsoft suddenly started to release "studies" on gamers demonstrating that people of certain sexual orientations are less mentally stable than others based on the fact that they played GTA4 all weekend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spadille Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Why don't you just tattoo it in your forehead aswell, so absolutely everyone can see it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord of Hunger Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Oh when the trolls go marching in! Oh when the trolls go marching in! You will wish that Microsoft hadn't created this option, when the trolls go marching in! Yeah, what the **** is Microsoft thinking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Avlectus Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Yeah, just nice. Now instead of anonymity and privacy, people can now have a big target reticle painted on them. Watch, those wise to this aren't going to use the option. I don't give a crap what you are or what you do in the bedroom, while I'm trying to concentrate on my game. No I don't care to "see your special data" either. I don't need to know that--all I need to know is "are you game?" and that's all. Yeah, total expressionism at the cost of random people beating them down online via trolling as well as the static in real life. Oh yeah. That's just...such a smart idea. I hate to sound like a conspiracy guy, but isn't Microsoft in the process of rolling out some software for Live that takes into account how healthy you are based on what games you're playing and how long you're playing them? Wouldn't it be curious if Microsoft suddenly started to release "studies" on gamers demonstrating that people of certain sexual orientations are less mentally stable than others based on the fact that they played GTA4 all weekend? I believe I have heard the same thing being murmured about as well. It would only be a matter of time before all devices are "snitchers" of some kind or another. I wonder if those "system check" features in the software and hardware are going to include other things in the future. I mean checking for hax or tampering/modding, etc. is one thing but TBH it almost sounds like someone is getting a really nice check from the government when you consider "studies" that might be released. The FDA send a couple police to your door. "Sir, you have been fined $4000.00 for playing too much of this type of video game and for being overweight/underweight for one year." Wouldn't surprise me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 As a parent, I also don't want some pervs scanning my kids' gamertags to find out if they're gay/straight/into purple polka-dotted tribbles. It's none of their damned business. It's bad enough that there's too much info out there already that can be used against kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKA-001 Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 Do they let you put a list of fetishes you have into your profile also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimmerman Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 I agree with the group think, this was a bad idea. Nothing against LBGT's, but I honestly could care less about what someone's orientation is as I'm sniping them in Modern Warfare. I just don't see any positives, and looots of negatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Web Rider Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 I agree with the group think, this was a bad idea. Nothing against LBGT's, but I honestly could care less about what someone's orientation is as I'm sniping them in Modern Warfare. I just don't see any positives, and looots of negatives. Oh boy, that just brought a wonderful idea to mind, now Microsoft can track how often you kill people of different sexualities than yourself. Can anyone say "big brother"? Just wait till you get a message on your e-mail from a LGBT group that says they're suing you for killing too many homosexual players. also, I always thought LGBT sounded more like a burger than a rights group, like, Lettuce, Guacamole, Bacon and Tomato. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Avlectus Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 Or another example, they might profile you based upon the online "partners" you have. So they have "data" on what type of person you are. That might be ...interesting in a rather amusing way, were it not a floodgate to serious consideration how you might actually be criminally profiled in advance of any crime you may potentially commit. Come on, you know Homeland Spy-FascismSecurity would allow the government to use any leverage they could against you here in the U.S.A. because that's how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Avery Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Too bad it could never be usable data since anyone can put whatever they want on their tag, and trust me on this as someone who has studied in depth into sexuality they wont give nearly enough options to even theoretically make any competent data. Besides, I still think this system will be pulled pretty quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Web Rider Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Besides, I still think this system will be pulled pretty quick. Microsoft, pull something because users didn't like it? When has that ever happened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Avlectus Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Oh I agree it would be total BS, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't use if nobody was going to stop them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Avery Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Microsoft, pull something because users didn't like it? When has that ever happened? Point taken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverandbacon Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I just don't see how orientation is relevant at all to gaming. Putting that sort of thing in your gamertag seems to serve only one of two purposes: A: Waving your orientation in people's faces for no reason, in an attempt to make a game about your orientation, not the actual game. B: As an insult to people with any given orientation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totenkopf Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I'm going to say option A is the most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimartin Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Gamers are now free to label themselves as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender or Straight, in a move GayGamer called “fantastic.”[/Quote] What no Transformer option? Prime isn't going to like this. I can't believe this made it past the legal department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverandbacon Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 What no Transformer option? Prime isn't going to like this. I can't believe this made it past the legal department. Is that really a sexual orientation? How would that even wor... actually, don't answer that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 What no Transformer option? Prime isn't going to like this. I can't believe this made it past the legal department. Geez, I can't even label myself as a "Flaming straight purple polka-dotted tribble lover". I think I'll sue for discrimination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Avery Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Tribbles demand to be acknowledged! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimartin Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Tribbles demand to be acknowledged! Now that is just sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Web Rider Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Is that really a sexual orientation? How would that even wor... actually, don't answer that. It's called being robosexual! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.