Even just a year or two ago, few people would have predicted that video gaming in 2017 would be loomed over by the ugly spectre of racism, and yet here we are. There have been prominent YouTubers who have expressed views that seem to demonise certain members of society because of their skin colour or culture. It kind of bubbled over over the last year with Oculus’ Palmer Luckey’s decision to fund advertising billboards that push so-called alt-right views. A few weeks ago, PewDiePie made what is at best an incredibly poorly judged anti-semitic joke, and just this week I saw another YouTuber, JonTron, backing views of white supremacy. He currently has three million subscribers and over a million Twitter followers.
As a guy with brown skin, this trend isn’t just worrying to me, but frightening. We’re living in a period where police forces in the UK are reporting a rise in hate crime against people from minorities, regardless of what colour their skin is, and the fires of such racism have been fueled by the likes of Brexit and Trump’s electoral victory, both playing on people’s fears and prejudices.
If you’ve played online, you will probably have heard people throwing out insults like the N-word or “raghead” at people, and most won’t blink an eye. “It’s a part of gaming culture, so what?” and “It’s just a joke,” are both excuses I’ve heard personally, but we can’t dismiss this so easily. It isn’t a joke and hearing such things alienates people, people who want to be involved and included. This is not how “gaming culture” should be.
It can be argued that the gaming community began as a niche, as a place where those who may have felt like outsiders came together. A community where people like this could share their enjoyment of games with each other. However, it’s no longer just a hobby for these outsiders, but one that’s shared by hundreds of millions of people. This should be celebrated and viewed as a success. Those who felt like outsiders all of those years ago are now the bedrock of something that has reached and influenced so many lives, and yet the loudest voices seem to promote division.
I’ve had my fair share of abuse directed at me. I remember a live stream we held on Twitch a couple of years ago, following our day at EGX, and there were a number of comments directed at me or about me which boiled down to jokes about not blowing myself up or being part of a terrorist group. While we were live, I ignored them to keep the show going, but while I was trying to sleep that night the comments were running through my head. There were people out there that weren’t interested in what I was saying about games I saw and played that day, but instead only saw me as a man with brown skin.
For some reason the throwaway racist comments have almost been normalised in some sections of the gaming community, to a point where I only feel truly comfortable playing online without a microphone or only with people I know, which are either community members from TSA or close friends and family.
Racism is wrong. Maybe I’m an idealist, but I want people from all backgrounds to be able talk to each other and learn about each other. Of course there will be times when you don’t agree with another person’s view, which is absolutely fine, but you don’t attack that person, least of all based off their racial background. Discuss their views and your views without being dismissive. Clear up misconceptions and talk, don’t just shout over them.
Some may dismiss this article as “virtue signalling”, but that’s a particularly unhelpful phrase I find is used to dismiss opposing arguments. Video games offer us such a unique place in which ideas from any corner of the world can be shared and experienced in a way that movies and books can’t manage. Embrace that, don’t shun it. A good game can come from anywhere and from anyone, and that game can help build bridges.
Do not let views that divide people become the norm in an industry that affects so many people around the world, be it in the development scene, the gaming media, or the community. This isn’t a call to arms, it’s a call to talk about issues or problems you may have, whatever they may be and from wherever they come from. Listen to one another, because that’s the only way we can help make the world a better place.
Header image derived from Love is… by Chris Jones/CC BY-NC 2.0
JR.
The internet provides a degree of anonymity and people feel that they can say whatever the hell they like. Is it right to hurl abuse at strangers? Not really. But do people really care what anonymous strangers think of them? Where does this victim mentally come from? Let them say whatever the hell they like from the safety of the internet. They won’t say it to my face more than once when their jaw is wired shut.
Global temporary sterilisation and licensed human reproduction is the only solution :D
MrYd
Of course, it’s only words on the internet. And still only words on the internet the next time. And the next. And again and again, slowly having an effect.
But if you’re a straight, white man, it’s obviously not going to affect you, and you can sit there and blame the victim, possibly using the word “snowflake”, or using some argument about “freedom of speech”.
Bonus points for the “it’s only words on the internet, but here’s a violent threat of what would happen if it wasn’t”. That’ll help win an argument. One day. I’ve seen it plenty of times, and it hasn’t so far, so it’s due for a win some day soon.
JR.
Why do you assume I am a straight, white, male?
It wasn’t my intention to steer this discussion toward the political but how do you feel about the constant barrage of abuse that Trump supporters receive? Do you consider that to be acceptable behaviour? Millions of extreme liberals on social media seem to believe so.
I realise a person is not born a Trump supporter but one is not born religious either. Is it therefore acceptable to speak so hideously of the Jews, or those of the Muslim persuasion because you do not agree with their scripture? Where do you draw the line?
Abusing people online and/or in the real-world, for ANY reason, is either considered acceptable or it isn’t. To think otherwise would be extremely hypocritical.
MrYd
Why do you assume I was talking about you specifically? Apart from the fact I replied to you, I guess.
You used the exact same arguments that come up time and time again, usually from straight, white men. It’s only words, stop being so sensitive, I’ll punch you in the face if you said them to me.
As for abusing Trump supporters (or in the UK, it’s UKIP and Brexit people in general), obviously that’s wrong. But not entirely surprising, in a very childish “they started it!” sort of way.
So no, I would never abuse anyone because of their political or religious views. I’d politely point out that they’re wrong, obviously. Because unlike being “not white” or “not straight”, they might actually be able to change. Unlikely, but worth a go.
Andrewww
You’re doing a good job, thanks for being so patient and taking the time to act on your conviction ‘it’s worth a go’. Fully agree with your position here (and below).
bunimomike
I’m not so sure about it being victim mentality when Aran gives the obvious example of him being on-camera and then people clattering in abuse based on Aran’s skin colour. It’s completely unnecessary and something I’m sure Aran doesn’t want to hear. Sure, Aran is a grown-up but things can still hurt when it’s so prevalent. Even the most robust personality can be worn away.
As much as I don’t want victim culture exacerbated, genuinely decent folk need to be more vocal and shut shit like this down.
The anonymity really does bring out the worst in some people, doesn’t it. However, there has to be a happy medium where things are pretty much okay most of the time and still have us avoid snowflakes going flippidy-shit over the tiniest slight.
We don’t need to be overly PC but I’d definitely like to sort the hate out as it’s so much more than racial. It’s vitriol in general that people think is okay.
MrYd
I don’t think “victim culture”, “snowflakes” or “overly PC” actually exist to any real degree though. Apart from in the minds of people wanting some excuse to act in a horrible manner. Or a very tiny handful of people getting offended over various things for whatever reason, who really aren’t helping.
All those things are (usually) a slightly subtle way to try and blame the victim and normalise all that racism, sexism, homophobia, whatever. Often followed by cries of “censorship!” and “what about free speech?” to really try and shift the blame back to the victim.
bunimomike
YouTube tells a different story. I’ve been researching stuff for a good couple of months and as much as I hate the terms themselves, it very much does exist – although thankfully more often in the US compared to the UK.
If you look inside the extremities of far-right, far-left and idiots just looking for an excuse to be offended and kick-off, most decent folk are willing to actually chat about things. Something, I fear, is slowly ebbing away from us as things become more binary with choices. I say “choices” but I mean “opinion”.
Less bigotry all ’round, I say! :-)
MrYd
I think you just agreed with me. It exists, but it’s not very common. A few people making a career out of it with presumably profitable youtube videos?
What _is_ a problem though is people then using that to justify all sorts of horrible behaviour. Because a tiny minority are just being overly sensitive victims, they all are.
So yes, less bigotry, but try and blame the victims and you deserve to be called out on it.
ron_mcphatty
It’s interesting you mentioned the US Mike, turns out their furious defense of their right to freedom of speech extends to hate speech, unlike in Europe where plenty of varieties of hate speech is a crime. In the US they seem to have a problem with people accepting the consequences of hate speech because it’s so hard to stop or punish, I’m glad that’s not the case over here. I think we should all use the ‘report’ button when we feel we need to.
bunimomike
MrYd – I guess we’re on the same page although its prevalence is a little more worrying to me. Thankfully, it happens around the student/education time of their lives and working in the real world tends to be a decent shock to the system. Anyone who’s been through it and come out the other side usually appreciates how blinkered and removed an educational environment can be from the rest of the world. However, as we’ve seen from history, a vocal minority can still be listened to and, sadly, often for the wrong reasons.
If common sense prevails, fringe nonsense can stay on the edges of discussion (or out of it completely).
Ron – agreed. Interesting to see what’s happening over in the US right now. Sad as hell but utterly absorbing to see the binary situation they’re in. I’m surprised they haven’t just all shot each other to be honest! :D
geofduke
Thick fu**ers play games.
I have a thick skin so if something is said to me I don’t get bothered. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s okay. There are ways to report people but they seem ineffectual. They seem like a placebo button placed there by the game makers.
Everyone views things as black or white, red or blue, left or right, yes or no, A or B – which frankly is politics for dullards.
The truth is that these issues are far more complex than our currently political way of thinking.
This simplistic mode of thought is promoted by all of our institutions. I don’t think its any sinister plan of those in power, it’s just the human condition, hard coded into how we think. But we need to be aware of it and make the effort to see beyond it.
People need to free themselves from this divisive, take one side or the other world view.
bunimomike
Your last paragraph is spot on. The sooner we get along with people of differing opinions the better. Don’t get me wrong, extremism to the point of violence is something to be dealt with but for every shade between those polar opposites… communicate, talk, listen, tolerate.
JR.
The current education system has been successfully brainwashing and indoctrinating our children with liberal ideologies for years. No room for debate, simply hate those who disagree with you. It’s a travesty.
MrYd
Exactly which “liberal ideologies” are children being brainwashed with? Just name 3 that aren’t just “just try and be nice to people when it’s none of your business and doesn’t have any effect on you”
JR.
Disney religion – Neglecting to inform students of the negative aspects of certain religious communities, in an attempt to inspire sympathy and paint a skewed version of reality.
Biased/Selective history – Manipulating historical events to influence opinion and instill White shame for past atrocities, among other things.
Political grooming – Teachers abusing positions of trust to influence and recruit young, impressionable minds, whilst mocking (and in some cases ostracising) those who share alternative viewpoints which clash with their own warped sense of reality.
Unrelated, but Should we ‘just accept’ the growing number Sharia communities appearing all across the UK? Or the fact that nearly 6,000 reports of FGM were documented in the UK last year alone. Should we just be nice (keep quiet) and condone the suffering of thousands of women and children because it’s none of our business?
We do not (and will never) live in a utopian wonderland where people of all colour and creed hold hands and dance naked with unicorns. And we certainly shouldn’t compromise our own values in order to appease those who do not respect our way of life, in an attempt to force a false sense of unity.
If only there was a ‘reset’ button.
MrYd
Ah, I see where you’re coming from now. By “certain religious communities” you mean “the wrong religions, those weird foreign ones”. The “skewed version of reality” would be that any religion is perfect. They’re not. They’ve all had terrible things done in their name by a tiny minority of people.
And their all based on what is presumably now known as “alternative facts”.
If you want to teach kids the negative aspects, I assume you’re happy with that applying to every religion? And throwing in a bit of science too. And stop trying to brainwash people with the “good” religions too?
As for history, we should ignore the fact that people in the past may have been a little bit racist, in case it upsets some white people now? No, that should definitely be taught. Especially now. And if anyone has a problem with that and feels a little bit guilty about what happened in the past, that suggests they’ve got a problem.
And political grooming? You mean teachers thinking it’s ok to teach kids not to be little shits?
Sharia communities? As long as it’s not forced on me o(which it isn’t, and won’t be), or anyone else, why would I have a problem with that?
And obviously FGM is wrong and anyone doing it should be punished. Same applies to doing similar things to boys without any valid medical reason.
Of course we don’t live in a utopian wonderland. It’s something you should be trying to aim for though. Apart from the dancing naked with unicorns bit. That sounds like an amazingly bad idea. Terrible accidents would be almost inevitable doing that! The youtube videos would at least provide some sort of mildly guilty amusement though, I guess. So it’s not all bad.
Starman
Oh my you’re a Trumper aren’t you?!
JR.
I am whatever I need to be, whenever I need to be it. It’s a gift. Unless you weren’t referring to me? In which case, I wasn’t here.
JR.
MrYd I really would like to counter those points and put forth my arguments but honestly, I just can’t be bothered. Plus, I’ll probably start to sound like a villain in some Marvel feature, giving his speech at the end of the movie, in a swirling vortex of dust and debris.
So MrYd… until we meet again!
*poof!*
Andrewww
‘No room for debate, simply hate those who disagree with you.’ Sounds like you must completely disagree with somebody like Trump, who mostly just spills hate via Twitter, and whose recorded statements are full of racism, discrimination of women, minorities, mocking people with disabilities, etc.
Starman
As I was reading your post I just got a message from xbox live telling me action has been taken against someone I reported. They’re actually really good at dealing with people who can’t have a conversation without effing and jeffing.
Lieutenant Fatman
I’m glad to see TSA is challenging discrimination now, very refreshing.
Sad to see the author had to put up with this sort of behaviour. If I see any sort of discrimination online, I will report it every time and will encourage others to report it as well.
TSBonyman
I’m certainly against the normalisation of racism/sexism etc in all aspects of life including gaming but i’m fortunate that i’m never on the receiving end of it personally.
Andrewww
I skipped over this one during my busy week, was directed back to it by the weekend roundup.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. Racism is something horrible, and it is completely unacceptable what many gamers say and write while they are anonymous on the web or hidden behind a nickname in a game.
You made us more aware of this serious problem, and that is a good thing, as we’re more likely to react accordingly, not letting those get away with it.