Foreigners' Insight Into GamerGate and Feminism

[Gregio]

First, let me start by giving a minimum insight into the OP, so I'm not immediately misjudged.

I'm a 23 year old, straight, white man. I'm Brazilian, living in São Paulo and I work as an English teacher, teaching graded groups of varying ages and levels.
My father was a douchebag, and I was raised, in all of my life I can remember by my single mother, with influences from one of my aunts and my cousins.

Debates about the nature of the U.S. to foreign countries, I'll leave for a different thread, but suffice to say, not all aspects are appreciated by many foreigners, specially relevant to this discussion, your media and outspoken individuals of all sorts, usually invoking "Freedom" so they can say anything, no matter how extreme or ridiculous and denouncing all attempts at debate as trying to silence their freedom of speech. (Please note I'm not saying Brazil is better, as I'm sure other Brazilians would immediately point out, just my personal point of view combined with some people I know and/or asked about the subject.)

I have not been particularly close to the shitstorms, though I'd like to say that I've read enough of the threads here, on 4chan, Kotaku, neogaf, FunnyJunk and Reddit (before they got curbstomped) as well as videos and interviews linked around, and very importantly, I think, the two "Developers talk about GamerGate" articles here on The Escapist, that I would like to say I have sufficient knowledge to discuss the issue.

Having been a core gamer since 1998, approximately, when I got a PS1, I suppose I am on the side of GamerGate, though I would like those that are not to not immediately label me under the "All GG are scum" label I've seen thrown around in guilt by association so much.

My first insight into the issue was hearing about Zoe Quinn and her affairs, and whether you think her cheating on her boyfriend is or isn't relevant to the ethics GamerGate wants to discuss, it struck me, personally, as a hugely negative insight into her character, as cheating is one of the most horrible things a person can do to those they are close to, save for murder, maiming. I first heard about it in some joke post about Quinn and Five Guys hamburgers, which, not being in the U.S. took me a little bit of reading to understand.

After that, and what led me to devote more attention to the matter were the letters stating "Gamers Are Dead", a revolting attack by the media on my identity and that of many others.
From there, I saw and read and watched lots of things and made my account here on The Escapist to comment on one of the threads about it, Public Apology to Zoe Quinn [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.861574.21456407], where you can read some of my thoughts on the subject.

I will not repeat all my thoughts here, (or, I probably will, but when replies are made and in my future comments), but I'd like to use this thread to hear from you, the other foreigners in The Escapist (not excluding U.S. citizens, of course, just please state where you are from when you post) and their points of view on the matter.

Here's a summary of my thoughts:
- Abusing, doxxing, insults are all bad, mmkay?
- I have seen the GamerGate crowd denouncing their bad apples, but not the Anti-GGs, as I said in the post I linked.
- Both groups have their bad members and both are too obssessed in ignoring the individual and grouping everyone together, or "painting them all in one brush", as I saw expressed.

Now a comparison I was discussing with a student, who is also a gamer.
We said, and I paraphrase: "Sarkeesian, Quinn and the extremists united under anti-GG are to actual equality between the sexes what Fox News is to accurate reporting of the facts."

 

[AndrewEB]

You certainly make a very interesting post; as I am mostly in the same boat, and also a bit of a foreigner. (Regina, SK, Canada)

Though one thing still bothers me; why have so many gamers been harshly critical of Quinn? After all she made a really good game (Yes I am referring to Depression Quest).

 

[Gregio]

For me, it would be for the reason I mentioned in the first post.
My first introduction to Quinn was hearing the jokes about her cheating, then reading the guy's post and everything in between since, from TFYC to supposedly organizing doxx attacks to being friends with Moot which caused the moderation outbreak on 4chan.

I had heard of the game DepressionQuest before and heard mixed reviews, mostly that the concept was good and not much else, but my harsh criticism of Quinn is mostly directed at her personal character and apparent hipocrisy.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I'm Greek though I've been living in the US for the past 9 years (and been a dual citizen for about 11 due to my mom being American). I consider myself a halfling by now. I'm more into Japanese culture than either of the cultures of the countries I'm a citizen of but by being here I've absorbed enough stuff to be able to form an informed opinion. I've been a "core" gamer since uhh, 1992 or something. Sonic was awesome. Anyhow. This issue seems to be one more thing where bad people wanting to make money end up creating problems for innocent people. Not all of the feminist movement or other such "SJWs" are assholes but their most outspoken people are selfish and profiteering off of this issue. GG people are just...well...people. Some of them are NEETs, like how some of other groups are. Some of them are horrible, some of them troll people online. Most of them though are like us. They're just normal people who don't like being used by people who wanna profit off of making them seem like evil basement-dwelling misogynists.

 

[Gregio]

You certainly make a very interesting post; as I am mostly in the same boat, and also a bit of a foreigner. (Regina, SK, Canada)

Though one thing still bothers me; why have so many gamers been harshly critical of Quinn? After all she made a really good game (Yes I am referring to Depression Quest).

I think it's just proxy of being the subject.

It's not so much about Quinn per say, but more about how Games Media was more than willing to post any click baiting article directly on their front page regardless of personal information or sexual subject, but the moment it involved people they personally knew, they immediately went silent and attempted to shut down and censor numerous threads.

After all, how is the alleged attempted rape by a board game developer somehow more relevant and worthy of posting on the front page of a gaming website than an indie developer allegedly sleeping with numerous Games Media staff and journalists?

It's one of those things where, in this case, people are upset over the censorship and hypocrisy, but because Zoe Quinn was the focal point for how that started, she unfortunately ends up being the go-to person to blame.

Quinn has both suffered and benefited from being the focal point.
There's a Brazilian song that says, "Talk well or talk ill, but talk about me."

Obviously, the downside are the death threats, the hate, but all the support she gathered means whatever she chooses to do next will influence her peers, and fame opens doors. So does infamy.