EA To Support Gaymercon

Tuffcub 57 Comments
[drop2]EA has pledged to support Gaymercon, a gaming convention created to help raise the profile of the LGBT community.

“EA believes that to be truly innovative, you must be inclusive. We are proud to be a part of this event,” said a spokesperson.

Whilst I am obliged to go “Yay! Go EA and LGBT!” I think this kind of thing does more harm than good.

Why? Well it’s like putting a massive target on your head, “Gays are here, come and take shot”, it’s begging for Internet trolling and abuse.

It’s quite ridiculous when you think about it, is there any correlation between who you sleep with and gaming?

Much better just to let everyone play together without labels, then no one can be judgemental. That would be inclusive rather than shutting off the LGBT community in their own convention.

Source: GaymerCon

Related stories from TSA

Report: Xbox testing a disc-to-digital feature
Sony is closing the PlayStation Store for PS3 and Vita… again
PlayStation is going all-digital – physical disc production to end in 2028
Slitherine snaps up the Blood Bowl license from Nacon, with Cyanide S

57 Comments

  1. I didn’t know that gay elves had their own con. :p Any convention is a target for trolls. Plus, i suspect EA has probably made the con an even bigger target due to the trolls that despise EA and will stop at nothing to troll them.

    If EA supports innovation, then how come there is still no ME2 and that they are most likely not to greenlight anything if it’s a new ip that is not an FPS?

    • haha, Gay elves con.

  2. I agree about label-specific conventions like that. I’m all for celebrating humanity, in whatever shape or form, and I suppose something like Gaymercon raises the issue of homophobia that is undoubtedly a problem around the fringes of our hobby but I can’t help thinking that even this celebratory segregation accepts and feeds the notion that LGBT people who play games are “different” and need their own safe play area.

    I’d much rather see LGBT games enthusiasts encouraged to be at existing, all-inclusive events and the homophobes exiled to their own convention so we know where all those nobheads are and can avoid them :)

    • any convention is label specific.

      be it “gamers”, “trekkies” “star wars fans”

      why is the line drawn here?

      • Because conventions are supposed to be about one thing, in this case gaming. You don’t get a ‘gay Star Wars fans’ convention or, for that matter ‘Star Trek fans with beards’.

      • because the additional criteria is entirely unrelated to the primary one.

        I’d have reservations about girl-gamer conventions or black gamer conventions or disabled gamer conventions too.

        Segregating minorities doesn’t aid the underlying problem of sexists, racists, homophobes or whatever in gaming culture, I don’t think. It promotes those attitudes by proclaiming difference as a reason to separate rather than including it and encouraging everyone to celebrate our differences.

  3. Very well said, this is ridiculous. There’s nothing including about categorization and segregation.

  4. I couldn’t agree more with the last 2 paragraphs.

  5. Gaymercon? lol sorry but I agree with Tuffcub here, shouldn’t have to split gamers just because of their sexual orientation.

  6. Agree with the sentiment Tuffcub however the world-weary cynic in me has to point out the massive amount of flak EA/Bioware took over certain relationship decisions in ME3. Perhaps the profile of (sic) Gaymers (no, not the cider) does need raised although it’s a very sad & somewhat pathetic state of affairs that it does so.

    Still if it means no more comments of “fag” or “homo” when playing online games, this must be a good thing? That said, it means I won’t be trolling any more (typically) US teenies. “And what if I am? I’m going primeval on yo’ ass boy! Come to daddy!”

    Just wait for the next convention… “NWAcon”
    (Go on, take a shot if you think you’re hard enough!)

    • NWAcon sounds good but, how about a con’ for me?
      MABBcon (middle aged blonde bloke)

      TCs spot on here, as usual.

      • lol. Nice one. :)

        Or MGBcon for me.

        (Mouthy ginger bar-steward.)

    • Exactly what I do when someone shouts “You GAY!” down the headset, reply “Yes I am.. and you have such fine ass!” then chase them round they play area shouting “Come to daddy!” until they quit.

      • :)

      • i’d love to see a video of that.

        seriously though, if “you gay” is the worst you’ve heard, you can’t spend much time online.

        and another thing you’ve not really acknowledged, is that homophobia is often defended by the rest of the community.

        you call somebody a wog online and you’ll get most people calling you racist, call somebody a faggot though and many people will defend you, “it’s just smack talk”

      • Sounds like you got off lightly Tuffcub as people tend to use homophobic insults when they notice that they have a gay player in their game. usually the immature prats that tend to insult you if you beat them or do anything.

        I don’t care if the person i’m playing with is gay or not as i just want to have a decent time online. :) Or cause them to fall to their death on Dark Souls. >:) (disclaimer:i’ve not actually done it so don’t refuse to summon me)

        If only more gamers focused less on insults and more on having a decent time. Also, i don’t think that person will try to insult you again, Tuffcub. XD You may have caused them to go into therapy though. :p

      • Sexism too, Hazelam.
        “b!Tch” “p*ssy” etc

      • ha ha brilliant Tuff

      • zb100

        I don’t know how ‘Pussy’ is sexist.

      • @yiddo – in the same way tw@t and c*nt are. They refer to areas of the female anatomy in such a way to imply that they are inferior.

        Unless of course, you’re joking about felines.

      • Nope I’m not joking at all.

        Guess calling someone a nob or a dick is also sexist, going from that angle.

      • Exactly. Calling anybody anything is generally derogatory towards someone/thing. Even “lame” – you’re equating whatever you’re using as your insult as being rubbish.

        My mum taught me that when I used to call her a “big blouse” ;)

      • Although calling somebody a n0b or a d!ck whilst being of that sex is generally ok as you’re poking fun at yourself at the same time.

        See Tim Minchin’s G G N R I E sketch for further reference. :)

      • That’s awesome Tuffcub.

        @zb100 I don’t mean to offend you in anyway but if/when I use terms like pussy or dick or anything like that, my mind doesn’t go to what other meanings those terms mean, just like a pussy can mean a vagina or a cat, I see the the insult as being a completely different use of that word that has nothing to do with the other meanings, the same as calling some one a dick, I don’t imagine that they are actually a giant penis or that their name is Richard.

      • But that’s what makes me laugh. You said someone saying ‘pussy’ etc is sexist, but if a woman was to say ‘dick’ or ‘nob’ you wouldn’t batter an eyelid. If it’s not ok one side it shouldn’t be the other.

        Also I will admit, despite being 19 years old, when I’m with mates and that we call each other ‘nobs’, ‘pussies’ etc. In fact all the girls I know have called us all ‘dicks’ at least once and we’ve called them ‘pussies’. As we would do each other. Yeah it’s vulgar, but at the end of the day it is pretty harmless and I have never heard a girl or anyone for that matter say that being called a pussy is sexist.

      • No offence taken, don’t worry.

        The problem here though is that the language has been completely dumbed down over the years, mostly through m
        media.

        Nobody thinks words like sh!t or p!ss qualify as swearing these days either but I guarantee you twenty odd years ago you wouldn’t hear them on tv or radio pre 9pm.

        I guess I’m just shoeing my age

      • F*CKING auto correct. Pr! Ck.

      • ;)

        In fact this conversation is starting to sound like the whole Team America ‘Dicks, pussies’ speech xD.

      • An awesome film, dude! :)

      • Too true. One of my favourite films of all time that’s for sure.

  7. i don’t see how a like minded group of people getting together to share a common interest is doing more harm than good.

    you don’t need a special event for internet trolling and abuse, just look anytime a gay character appears in a game.

    it would be better to just let everybody play together without labels, but the sad fact of this world is that won’t happen.

    there are various subgroups within gaming, but few of them get the abuse and hate from other gamers that the gay community does.

    groups that are persecuted by the majority, or at least a very vocal minority, will band together for support and acceptance, and to share common interests, why is that a bad thing?

    was the million man march just an example of segregation?

    any con can be said to be separating one group from another, so that’s not really an argument.

    if you take the “what’s it got to do with gaming?” argument, then what have any interests outside gaming got to do with gaming?
    what does your favourite film matter, or sports team or band?
    why should we be able to put anything of our personality into our online presence?

    using the “what’s it got to do with gaming?” argument nintendo’s policy would be the right way to go, nondescript randomly generated friend codes that contain no information about the person they’re attached to.

    i can’t say i’d be a fan of that.

    maybe this is a gay con for people who like games rather than a games con for gay people.
    maybe there are gay websites where people are saying what does your hobby have to do with your lifestyle.

    • ” a like minded group of people getting together to share a common interest” is Eurogamer, not Gaymercon.

      • i’d say both qualify.

      • Yes but Eurogamer isn’t called “HetroCon”

      • I agree with Haz that both qualify. In my opinion, sexuality have naff all to do with a person’s enjoyment of a game as well as sharing a common hobby with other gamers, straight and gay. :) But i agree with you that Gaymer is just painting a massive bullseye for trolls and anti-gay groups. :-/ Why can’t people just get along with other people regardless of sexuality.

      • it might as well be TC, the games industry is predominantly built by and for straight white males.

        how many lead characters can you name that have been gay?
        and not just having the option to be gay like many Bioware rpgs, but written as a gay character.

        hell, if you can name more than two games where the lead character is a black woman, you’re doing better than me.
        and like before, predefined characters create a character options don’t count.

    • “maybe this is a gay con for people who like games rather than a games con for gay people.”

      I think this is exactly the case. I don’t really see how it’s doing more harm than good personally.

      • I’ll go and sit in my own corner of the TSA office shall I? Stick a nice big wall around me and not interact with any hetreosexual staff?

        Gay people need to stop being so fucking precious, being a homo doesnt make you special.

        Apart from me obv, Im fabulous.

  8. One of my gay friends was not happy with expressing pretty much this opinion once.

    I told him that the constant seperation of LGBTs to everyone else was only going to reinforce the notion of ‘different, strange, etc.’ to LGBTs from homophobes.

    The only place true equality exists is if there’s only one group, not two. Quit seperating LGBT people from straight people and equality might actually happen at a decent pace (it’s going to come eventually regardless, but it’s a bit slow at the moment, isn’t it?).

  9. I’m torn. I don’t think we should be segregating LGBT gamers from heterosexual gamers but that’s because I don’t think we should have to. In the real world, however, you do have to. We have gay bars because people want somewhere to go where they won’t be faced with the bullshit that sadly accompanies drunk homophobes.
    I suppose this is an extension of that and in that sense it is a good thing.

    That said, trying to be protected from the reality of homophobia won’t do anything to change it.

    So I’m torn

    • Very well put.

      Personally I prefer “gay bars” like The Regent in Edinburgh, because they’re not full of idiots full stop. Bl**dy expensive though.

    • This.

      It’s not as if straight people aren’t welcome to come along to the event. It’s more about creating a friendly environment for the LGBT community where homophobes aren’t welcome. This in turn sends out the message that homophobia is wrong.

      • Don’t they already get that environment from the normal conventions though like Eurogamer Expo? What could Gaymercon possibly offer that any other gaming convention couldn’t offer apart from asking for a lot of stereotyping and what certainly feels like segregation.

      • I’m sure they do, but there is nothing behind a regular con to say that homophobia is outdated and to try and get people to update with the times. It’s all about trying to get that message across, albeit the way they’ve gone about it doesn’t really work because is essence they’re ending up segregating the community that they’re trying to support.

        A much better way to go about it would have been to promote the LGBT community in a con such as Eurogamer with something similar to the anti-bullying campaigns we have seen in recent years.

      • I think you’re probably right there.

  10. Did I really just read that? “begging for Internet trolling and abuse”???

    Better all keep quiet in case we upset the straights. Also, ladies should wear long dresses and many undergarments. Best not appear to be asking for it.

    Or possibly this is exactly the best way to piss off some homophobes. (Apart from possibly a Big Gay Posse in Red Dead Redemption. Done that before)

    And if you think the whole thing is ridiculous, then it’s not for you. But obviously enough people like the idea for it to be happening. Good luck to them. (Although the motive for many of them may be “A bunch of men? With similar interests and well developed muscles in the hand and wrist areas??”)

    • Oh, I’d absolutely support them in their right and desire to do something pro-active to bring the issue to the fore and I think that the more gaming events in the world, the better. I’m just not sure that this is the most constructive way to address the widespread issue of homophobia in gaming culture.

      I don’t think it sends the right message to the homophobes, pushing LGBT community into their own separate convention. I’d rather put everyone in a convention center and say, “if any of you has got a problem with anyone else at this event then /you/ can leave.” That includes the LGBT community and excludes morons. And I’m all about excluding morons ;)

      • Is it really addressing the issue at all? Or is it just a matter of visibility?

        For some reason, gaming seems to be particularly popular with gay men. (You should see my PS3 friends list as evidence). And yet there’s this big homophobia problem (or possibly a moron problem). Anything that makes us more visible has to be a good thing. Might make some people think twice about any abuse if they’re worried an angry gay posse might hunt them down and shoot them repeatedly until someone gets bored (In-game shooting, obviously)

        And I don’t think it’s “pushing” anyone into their own convention either. If enough people want it, why can’t they do it? And let the straights in, as long as they behave. I’d have just as big a problem with not letting them in as anything else.

Comments are now closed for this post.