Demonization of Moviebob and other Escapist Staff

[Someone Depressing]

God, do I hate this culture so fucking much. Having an opinion that isn't the same of shit-flinging idiots gets you labeled idiotic titles and vilified like a group of self righteous twats decreeing everyone who they dislike a cartoonish, Nazi-like villiant.

I am really, really sick of this.

So far, I've been very intentionally standing by the sidelines with this thing. It's just bizarre, and it's went from Zoe Quinn into a food fight, except with hatred and the vicious use of social media instead of low quality council food. I have no idea what is going on, but when it gets to the point of someone losing their job over a hobby gone wrong, then I'll get angry. This is really, really ridiculous, and I've just lost track of the whole thing.

I don't think MovieBob should lose his job (even if I don't watch or read his work anymore; I used to, but I just kind of lost interest. I still find some of it entertaining, though) nor should anybody be losing their job, but I think Twitter shouldn't be used as a vehicle for, like, any serious human communication, ever. It seems like anybody who uses it loses 50 IQ points for a while.

 

[Nikolaz72]

In any event, this whole thing has just shown just immature the "gaming community" still is, and will probably be for a while. Kinda sad really.

Huh? the actions of a few hundred idiots speak for a "gaming community"? That's pretty damn insulting to hear.

Indeed it is! So why are we putting up with it? Why are we not actively denouncing it?

too busy playing videogames.

Spoiler

That being said, whilst I've been neutral in these debates I do have a slight tendency to lean towards 4chan, I mean.. They really aren't -bad- and a lot of the points presented in their defense are far more level headed and reasonable than the opposition. Nevertheless I don't think it's possible to have a sensible discussion here, so it's difficult to bother starting.

 

[firebobm173]

It is important to keep that fact in mind when other 'I am being Harassed' post come into play. Not only that, but you can pair it with the fake harassment from Wizardchan.

Its like the old story of the Boy who Cried Wolf.

For me the Boy who Cried Wolf is 4chan and gamergate. Honestly, every single time something that makes them look bad comes up they just yell FALSE FLAG!! FALSE FLAG!! [https://twitter.com/TheDreamingGoat/status/508245873932136449] over and over again.Honestly I think it's gotten to the point where someone could pull an actual false flag operation on them and no one would believe them.

 

[ByzantineEmperorInExile]

The case of MovieBoB is the same case of so many other people involved: behaving poorly on twitter. When a controversy shows up and when it causes what seems to be a schism between your readership and your colleagues, you don't take sides. You recluse yourself. As for Jim, if Jim had not touched the SJW thing on his video he would have gotten no flack at all instead of the little flack he got.

I don't think Bob should get the axe and voted against it on that thread, but he should requested to enroll in some Social Media for Corporation classes to avoid being in such a position in the future.

 

[thethird0611]

It is important to keep that fact in mind when other 'I am being Harassed' post come into play. Not only that, but you can pair it with the fake harassment from Wizardchan.

Its like the old story of the Boy who Cried Wolf.

For me the Boy who Cried Wolf is 4chan and gamergate. Honestly, every single time something that makes them look bad comes up they just yell FALSE FLAG!! FALSE FLAG!! [https://twitter.com/TheDreamingGoat/status/508245873932136449] over and over again.Honestly I think it's gotten to the point where someone could pull an actual false flag operation on them and no one would believe them.

You know False Flag was when Polytron got hacked right? Because they blamed /v/. That was the False Flag.

So want to try again? I think faking a dox, faking harassment, possibly faking an FBI report as well as a death threat is a boy who cried wolf.

 

[CaitSeith]

In any event, this whole thing has just shown just immature the "gaming community" still is, and will probably be for a while. Kinda sad really.

Huh? the actions of a few hundred idiots speak for a "gaming community"? That's pretty damn insulting to hear.

Well, it's hard to not to say that when a lot of rational gamers take as personal attack the articles that critic the immature gamers inside the gaming community (even if the critics weren't directed to them).

 

[ByzantineEmperorInExile]

Add to that Matt Lee, but given Tito's failure grasp reality and how to actually do his job (and before anyone says anything I'm going on Tito's reply detailing his failure to fact check anything and push an agenda if he thinks it's good, before okaying a story), which resulted in the Escapist being drawn into this debacle I'm not surprised either of them are still there. Frankly the way both Chipman and Lee acted, in any other industry they would have been fired for bringing the company's name into disrepute.

The fact that the Parent Company had to step in to sort this mess out speaks volumes, of what looks likes incompetence, has caused things to get out of control.

And while people say it brings in click, true, but you're not earning anything when they're ad-blocking you.

Like I said on my previous post, I hope MovieBob don't get the ax because I like his shows, which are mostly about stuff not related to the stuff he discussed on twitter.

But his job is to be a communicator (that's what he does, he talks to people online) and he handled it pretty badly by putting his personal views above what he's expected to do on his job. If a person does so much as to be recorded kicking a dog on the street and the newspapers report it as "Barclay's employee videotaped kicking a dog on the street", you're fired the next day, period.

Even if it's completely unrelated to what one does for a living, you're always going to be judged by your occupation. And when your occupation involves being part of a bigger community, you can expect to be punished for doing something that can potentially harm it. Especially when you do so by putting your needs and wants above the community's.

 

[CaitSeith]

I always thought gamers were more, shall we say, liberal?

But as this 'gamegate' thing explodes...
Well, I'm wondering of some Tea Party/Golden Dawn/etc, have just been some kind of sleeper cells just WAITING to explode onto the scene.

It's...very sad and pathetic.

I think MovieBob once said that the nationalist right-wing pro-war productions have been dimishing in numbers from movies and TV in general, but increasing in the gaming side (FPS with american heroes). And no, this doesn't mean that gamers are being influenced by it. However it can mean that there has been more people who already had that mentality joining the gaming community because of it. Of course, it's just a theory...

 

[carnex]

MovieBob produces a lot of good content. I feel his quality dropped quite a bit from time when he was full on enthusiast and his ability to persuade and quality of his arguments when he talks about sensitive subject fell but he still produces good content.

However, he should learn to keep away from social media when he can't control himself. This is not the first time he is obviously unstable. That's all. He managed to pick himself up fast enough to produce content without this mess that affects him personally influencing it. I respect that. But as a public figure, he should be much more careful when he's agitated.

As for Jim, all I need to say is to repeat myself. Jim, do not hop onto hate bandwagons. When someone as popular and as believed to be thoughtful as you are does that, you start internet equivalent of public executions. I know you didn't ask for that power, but that is the power you have and can not control. So keep it in your pants until you are certain that there is a real merit to your words.

 

[CaitSeith]

I've always liked MovieBob and to be honest, I'm rather baffled by the outright hatred that he has been attracting simply because he's pointing out how silly this whole thing is. All these people have done is proven him, and so many others out there, right about how the gaming community is a terrible place for anyone who might have a different opinion than the people screaming the loudest.

Ah, so you consider this [https://twitter.com/the_moviebob/status/502692856738619392] and this [https://twitter.com/the_moviebob/status/502038039968112640] "simply pointing out how silly this whole thing is". But of course actually trying to find out why people are angry about a person would be much less fun, than just accusing people of being demons of hatred risen up from hell itself to torment poor innocent folk, wouldn't it.

Wow! I think Bob needed some more sleep that day. Now seriously, knowing how Bob usually addresses towards his audience, I know to whom his insults were directed; but most people on Twitter don't. He wasn't talking about them, and they felt included.

It's too bad that Fofi didn't say who exactly isn't getting enough exposure in the industry (at least everybody would had knew who Bob was talking about). Damn it, Bob! You blew it off!

 

[maxben]

I always thought gamers were more, shall we say, liberal?

But as this 'gamegate' thing explodes...
Well, I'm wondering of some Tea Party/Golden Dawn/etc, have just been some kind of sleeper cells just WAITING to explode onto the scene.

It's...very sad and pathetic.

I think MovieBob once said that the nationalist right-wing pro-war productions have been dimishing in numbers from movies and TV in general, but increasing in the gaming side (FPS with american heroes). And no, this doesn't mean that gamers are being influenced by it. However it can mean that there has been more people who already had that mentality joining the gaming community because of it. Of course, it's just a theory...

its a theory that's bathed in American exceptionalism and mono culture view of the world.

i'm Scot and i'm "pro-gamergate". in US political terms i'd probably be considered a communist.
the leader of our "right wing" "conservative" party is a married lesbian...

gamers are predominately "liberal". those on the right tend to be "libertarians" who are "soft" on social issues.

As a Scot you know that as a consumer you are the exception not the rule, right? The largest single group consumers of America media are American. Regardless, reactionaries can be more reactionary (see: American) or less, but they have very similar impulses even if they have different points of views. Those impulses do bring them together constantly (see: The Islamist Thread) but they can also make them variable on issues. Hell, on immigration for example Europeans are far more reactionary than Americans are. As a Scot, your SNP is a nationalist reactionary party even though it is "left". And yet, their core issue would fit with Texan Nationalists. So being on the "left" of an arbitrary spectrum does not change one's basic positioning as reactionary.

Americans have a tendency to refer to all positions to the left of their spectrum as liberal, but their liberals also have reactionaries and supporters of the status quo. I think the real question is how many players are progressive, and I doubt that they are the majority.

 

[burnout02urza]

As the writer of the open letter to the Escapist, I find it interesting that they've found the need to censor it. Sure, you can still read it by clicking on the quote, but it's quite possible that most people wouldn't spare a second glance. From the poll, it's clear that there's support for drastic action - More, in fact, than to simply sustain the status quo.

I don't know what to say, gentlemen. Hiding the post is a very sly, very underhanded action, which I feel is honestly beneath the Escapist.

Seriously, what are they so afraid of?

I am also rather disappointed by how they made a single, unflattering quote the page-header. That's even-handed treatment, gentlemen. Truly, it is.

 

[V da Mighty Taco]

You know, this stuff makes me miss the simpler days. You know, when we all irrationally hated pony threads for no reason.

Keep calm and blame Kross I guess, I'mma make a sandwich.

That SJW list made me laugh, and then I laughed harder when people were declaring that those people are ruining games.

I'm surprised I hadn't broken my spleen, or at least a kidney. I mean, have you ever laughed so hard your whole body hurts?

Shit ain't fun, yo.

Don't you fucking DARE get yourself hospitalized over this. We need you for the Pokemon podcast! >:O

Funny enough, I got into ponies because of a mass "Mods are asleep, post ponies" derail in an Escapist thread I no longer remember the topic to. Even the OP got in on it, which gave me a lot of laughs and led to me looking the show up. To think that was over three years ago....

In other words - less SJW / MRA nonsense, moar ponies. I'm certainly down with that.

 

[firebobm173]

As the writer of the open letter to the Escapist, I find it interesting that they've found the need to censor it. Sure, you can still read it by clicking on the quote, but it's quite possible that most people wouldn't spare a second glance. From the poll, it's clear that there's support for drastic action - More, in fact, than to simply sustain the status quo.

I don't know what to say, gentlemen. Hiding the post is a very sly, very underhanded action, which I feel is honestly beneath the Escapist.

Seriously, what are they so afraid of?

Ok now, do you seriously not see how a thread about firing one of the staff was something they wouldn't want? It's obviously inflammatory and a direct attack on one of the staff. As for the poll, do you seriously think that the small number of people who responded to that poll were an accurate view of the entire escapist community? Even if it wasn't locked, threads like that are invariably jumped on by haters who skew the voting. Oh, and by the way the escapist community [https://twitter.com/GreyTheTick/status/508748945372098561] is far, far smaller than any of us would've guessed. And as for them taking down your post, this is their board. You have a right to put stuff up, but they have a right to take it back down.

 

[burnout02urza]

Ok now, do you seriously not see how a thread about firing one of the staff was something they wouldn't want? It's obviously inflammatory and a direct attack on one of the staff. As for the poll, do you seriously think that the small number of people who responded to that poll were an accurate view of the entire escapist community? Even if it wasn't locked, threads like that are invariably jumped on by haters who skew the voting. Oh, and by the way the escapist community [https://twitter.com/GreyTheTick/status/508748945372098561] is far, far smaller than any of us would've guessed. And as for them taking down your post, this is their board. You have a right to put stuff up, but they have a right to take it back down.

The post is, as a matter of fact, still there. You have to click on the quote to see it - Which strikes me as rather insidious, really. More, the letter wasn't meant to be inflammatory, or a direct attack. It was meant to be read, and to give voice to a very real proposal that more than a few of us are thinking about, that's for sure - The voting's made that much clear, so far.

In addition, my criticism is of MovieBob's writing, and the equally inflammatory and demeaning nature of his comments. It's not a personal attack, but simply a call for accountability. His failure to make a proper apology, or at least tone down the vitriol aimed at 'gamers' is - Well, let's be blunt - something that should subject to consequences.

It is my sincere hope that they'll take the appropriate action. Alas, after this response, I'm a little dubious as to the Escapist's actual commitment to journalistic integrity...Or whether they're just trying to cover themselves until this furor blows over.

 

[cthulhuspawn82]

We cant really complain about the bullshit the SJWs try to pull (e.g. censorship and firing people) then turn around and do the same thing ourselves. I don't want Moviebob to be censored or fired. His views don't offend me because I'm not oversensitive and thin-skinned. Calling for him to be censored or fired is exactly the kind of behavior that SJWs exhibit, and its why we hate them so much.

 

[Jack Action]

As the writer of the open letter to the Escapist, I find it interesting that they've found the need to censor it. Sure, you can still read it by clicking on the quote, but it's quite possible that most people wouldn't spare a second glance. From the poll, it's clear that there's support for drastic action - More, in fact, than to simply sustain the status quo.

I don't know what to say, gentlemen. Hiding the post is a very sly, very underhanded action, which I feel is honestly beneath the Escapist.

Seriously, what are they so afraid of?

I am also rather disappointed by how they made a single, unflattering quote the page-header. That's even-handed treatment, gentlemen. Truly, it is.

Judging by firebobm's post, I'm assuming you made the thread about Bob getting fired, right?

If so... well, you were asking for someone to be fired because you didn't like them, basically. You don't see a problem with that?

I mean a reasonable response would be to not watch him and ignore him on twitter, or hell, try to get others to join a boycott, not trying to get him fired for disagreeing with us. You could (and did, iirc) say that his insults were unprofessional, but you can't honestly tell me Jim, Bob or Yahtzee are corporate professionals.

 

[Billy the Squid]

Add to that Matt Lee, but given Tito's failure grasp reality and how to actually do his job (and before anyone says anything I'm going on Tito's reply detailing his failure to fact check anything and push an agenda if he thinks it's good, before okaying a story), which resulted in the Escapist being drawn into this debacle I'm not surprised either of them are still there. Frankly the way both Chipman and Lee acted, in any other industry they would have been fired for bringing the company's name into disrepute.

The fact that the Parent Company had to step in to sort this mess out speaks volumes, of what looks likes incompetence, has caused things to get out of control.

And while people say it brings in click, true, but you're not earning anything when they're ad-blocking you.

Like I said on my previous post, I hope MovieBob don't get the ax because I like his shows, which are mostly about stuff not related to the stuff he discussed on twitter.

But his job is to be a communicator (that's what he does, he talks to people online) and he handled it pretty badly by putting his personal views above what he's expected to do on his job. If a person does so much as to be recorded kicking a dog on the street and the newspapers report it as "Barclay's employee videotaped kicking a dog on the street", you're fired the next day, period.

Even if it's completely unrelated to what one does for a living, you're always going to be judged by your occupation. And when your occupation involves being part of a bigger community, you can expect to be punished for doing something that can potentially harm it. Especially when you do so by putting your needs and wants above the community's.

I agree that you can't behave in certain ways in the course of your employment or you're in the public eye. I always feel that people should be able to say what they want, when they want, how they want, but should also man up and take the consequences for their actions and what they say. Chipman has back peddled, apologised, yet continues to antagonise people, while whining that he wants to move on as people are now raking him over the coals.

The damage has been done, be jumped on the Band wagon with that utter, utter moron Devin Faraci, so saying sorry doesn't cut it.That doesn't sit well with me, he'd be better coming out and bluntly saying "I screwed up, sorry. I'll shut up now."The more he talks the more flak he's going to take.

It's not even that he expressed what he thought, look at Total Biscuit, he aired his views on the situation and didn't act like a dick (although he did end up on the receiving end of the SJW attack for what was actually a reasonable response.)

I think that's the difference, one can voice their opinion without being a dick about it, even if they get attacked by people, as TB did, the fact that one might get flak tends to be less of an issue if they didn't sling insults at people in the first place for crtitcising him or whatever he started pitching a fit over.

https://twitter.com/the_moviebob/status/502692856738619392

https://twitter.com/the_moviebob/status/502038039968112640

I don't see these as good examples of why he should keep his job. No where else would that happen, if the industry want to move on then they may have to learn a sanguine lesson and fire people to move past this and establish what is and what is not acceptable behavior. Especially when it looks staggeringly hypocritical (looking at Sterling's latest vid) to criticise harassment and insults thrown by the trolls and the minority, and how we, the gamers should do more to reign them in. Yet the media figures seem only too happy to let loose and with no restraint and say nothing when their own acolytes go for people.

Boogie is the only major figure I've seen really try and condemn the death threats and doxxing, I mean even the game dev petition against harassment was a thinly veiled move to get the community to cave, eschewing any responsibility on their part.