Gamers Against Bigotry

[Hazy992]

snip

You've already clarified this, why are you telling me again?

Just looks like a little quoting mistake, I think.

Your bio picture, by the way--horrifying, lol.

I think you've made a mistake, you seem to have misspelled 'sexy'

Rofl. I'll have to have my keyboard fixed.

Yes you should, can't be making such silly mistakes

 

[shrekfan246]

snip

You've already clarified this, why are you telling me again?

He probably got confused while quoting, seems like he messed it up anyway.

OT: I agree with both the OP and Clearing The Eye, here. I'm all for people being less close-minded and more willing to exercise decent insults instead of resorting to racist/sexist/homophobic slurs, but at the same time it can be partly dissuaded by, well, not being offended. I know it can be difficult, hell, I was overweight before I even went into high school and I've been mocked and excluded from things because of it.

It bothered me when I was even more of a social loner back in middle-school, but I got into high school and a few people worked pretty hard to drag me out of my shell (hey-o!), and while I still am overly self-conscious about myself because I've been having a hard time trying to drop the weight, I don't let fat insults offend me. Hell, over the internet it doesn't matter anyway because it's not like they actually know me or anything, it's just an angry person fishing for something to offend somebody with.

 

[Suijen]

Why not insult players using the swear words of foreign languages literally translated to English?

"Whole family executed!"
"Turtle Egg!"
"No Eating!"
"Dry your mother!"

 

[minimacker]

"Where did you learn how to play, IKEA?"

I don't get it.

 

[CosmicCommander]

I like to use whatever insults I want; because I like to exercise my freedom to be a spiteful little man. I'm an ass to help curb my rage and to show defiance towards civility and the rationalization of human action.

 

[chrason]

Hazy, sorry, it wasn't aimed at you, it was aimed at the few people who read as far as your comment and then stopped, without seeing my further explanation.

Right now, with no rhetoric or sensationalism, give me one reason why being gay is a bad thing. No tricks. No social commentaries. Just one reason why someone should feel bad for liking their own gender.

Seriously. That's not a joke. I genuinely want to see your reply. Because if you can't tell me why being homosexual is bad, you cannot argue that being called homosexual is bad. It's a logical fallacy and I want you to have a go at it.

It's not a logical fallacy, and being homosexual isn't bad. It's seen as abnormal, or inferior, or wrong, by some bigoted heterosexuals, however, and that's why it's used as an insult. Just because we don't believe it's bad, doesn't mean others don't pervert its meaning. ANY word can be offensive when spat with enough venom, which is why I chose to use deliberately silly examples in my first post.

The difference is that whilst calling someone a fucknugget can be offensive, that's where the story ends; on an individual scale. We can shrug it off. Calling someone a homosexual, with obvious connotations towards inferiority, perpetuates the institutionalised idea of homosexuality being abnormal or inferior, and it's no longer taken on an individual basis. That's why bigotry is a damaging social construct, where as mere foul language isn't.

 

[DEAD34345]

Sounds silly. The only people who will sign this pledge are people who weren't spewing racist/sexist/homophobic/whatever else crap to begin with, hence absolutely nothing is gained.

I do like your alternative insults, however. If nothing else, I think game communities would be much more amusing if all insults were taken straight from decades-past.

 

[Timberwolf0924]

"you're an empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."

 

[Clearing the Eye]

snip

You've already clarified this, why are you telling me again?

He probably got confused while quoting, seems like he messed it up anyway.

OT: I agree with both the OP and Clearing The Eye, here. I'm all for people being less close-minded and more willing to exercise decent insults instead of resorting to racist/sexist/homophobic slurs, but at the same time it can be partly dissuaded by, well, not being offended. I know it can be difficult, hell, I was overweight before I even went into high school and I've been mocked and excluded from things because of it.

It bothered me when I was even more of a social loner back in middle-school, but I got into high school and a few people worked pretty hard to drag me out of my shell (hey-o!), and while I still am overly self-conscious about myself because I've been having a hard time trying to drop the weight, I don't let fat insults offend me. Hell, over the internet it doesn't matter anyway because it's not like they actually know me or anything, it's just an angry person fishing for something to offend somebody with.

I was in a similar situation, but the opposite--being mocked for being underweight. It took a while and a lot of growing up, but yeah, eventually you just realize... who cares? "You're so skinny/fat!" Correct. Your point?

I used to despise the word ******. But, again, eventually you just stop caring. "What a ******." I do indeed like guys (and girls). Was I meant to be offended by my own sexuality? Lolwut.

Sadly, not everyone can see it like that and there are tons of people who get really, really down about it. The suicide rate among gay men and women shows as much. So I respect anyone seeking to put an end to this sort of thing--I mean, who doesn't actually want a world where everyone is happy to get along--but I feel this effort is misguided. Teaching people to be content with who they are to get us all to a place where we can happily smile off an insult and go back to enjoying like is what we need.

Rather than seek to change opinions. Let's try to be better than the assholes. Let them hate other races, other sexes and different creeds. They are no more wrong for their opinions than we are for our own. Being a homophobe isn't a bad thing. Hating Asian people isn't wrong. Thinking women are better than men isn't incorrect. It's all just a matter of opinion.

Go ahead, call someone a name. But at the end of the day, the words are as empty as the head they came from and what they think is meant to offend me, isn't offensive. I win ;D

 

[Clearing the Eye]

Hazy, sorry, it wasn't aimed at you, it was aimed at the few people who read as far as your comment and then stopped, without seeing my further explanation.

Right now, with no rhetoric or sensationalism, give me one reason why being gay is a bad thing. No tricks. No social commentaries. Just one reason why someone should feel bad for liking their own gender.

Seriously. That's not a joke. I genuinely want to see your reply. Because if you can't tell me why being homosexual is bad, you cannot argue that being called homosexual is bad. It's a logical fallacy and I want you to have a go at it.

It's not a logical fallacy, and being homosexual isn't bad. It's seen as abnormal, or inferior, or wrong, by some bigoted heterosexuals, however, and that's why it's used as an insult. Just because we don't believe it's bad, doesn't mean others don't pervert its meaning. ANY word can be offensive when spat with enough venom, which is why I chose to use deliberately silly examples in my first post.

The difference is that whilst calling someone a fucknugget can be offensive, that's where the story ends; on an individual scale. We can shrug it off. Calling someone a homosexual, with obvious connotations towards inferiority, perpetuates the institutionalised idea of homosexuality being abnormal or inferior, and it's no longer taken on an individual basis. That's why bigotry is a damaging social construct, where as mere foul language isn't.

Someone: "You're a ******."

Me: "I'm closer to bi or pansexual, actually."

Someone: "What a ******!"

Me: "I don't consider being gay a bad thing. Sorry ;D"

Thus, their words are no longer offensive. Why should I give two shits if *they* think being gay is an insult. I don't. I wouldn't take offense to someone calling me a skydiver if *they* think being a skydiver is a bad thing.

Yup, I like men. Men are great. Let them point it out all they like. I'll just be over there, enjoying life, lol.

 

[chrason]

Clearing the Eye: GG

 

[Arakasi]

I couldn't be bothered to read it, but if this is the kind of group that calls L4D racist for not having any black zombies, I am not with them.
If it is not that kind, then I am probably in agreement with them.

Captcha: vicious cycle

 

[Clearing the Eye]

Clearing the Eye: GG

You seem quite nice. I dig your attitude. This whole thread has made me want to be a better person, really. All this talk of being happy, content with yourself and helping others--it's very inspiring. I'ma try to hold my tongue next time I'm going to say something less than friendly. Not because it would be wrong, but because I don't need to be mean.

As cheesy as it is, I'll give it a shot. If it's not constructive, my energy is better spent elsewhere ^^

 

[Clearing the Eye]

I couldn't be bothered to read it, but if this is the kind of group that calls L4D racist for not having any black zombies, I am not with them.
If it is not that kind, then I am probably in agreement with them.

Captcha: vicious cycle

Someone said L4D was racist? Louis is the second best character in that whole game! Madness.

[small][small]Zoey is of course the best.[/small][/small]

 

[Zaik]

Uh...a petition?

Who is supposed to be affected by this petition exactly?

...everyone? lol.

Interesting idea, very very poor implementation.

 

[chrason]

All this talk of being happy, content with yourself and helping others--it's very inspiring.

I like to think so. Worst case scenario can only ever be that nobody listens, but I still feel good about it. I enjoyed the discussion!

Francis is definitely the best, though.

 

[dyre]

I was with you until I read "...for games to finally be taken seriously as an artistic medium..."

Then I stopped caring.

j/k, but the cause just seems so unimportant :/

I don't make bigoted remarks while playing online, but I honestly couldn't care less that some people insult black people instead of threatening to skull-fuck my mother.

 

[Realitycrash]

"Curse your locational advantage, I am bested!"

I will try to use this atleast once a day in everyday-conversation <3

 

[Lt._nefarious]

I'm all for this cause as long as it doesn't prohibit me from saying "God-FUCKING-Damnit! FUCK! I WILL KILL YOU IN YOUR SLEEP YOU FUCKING FUCK! SWEET MARY MOTHER OF FUCK I HATE YOU! STOP FUCKING CAMPING! JESUS FUCK! FUUUUUCK!" because that is not bigotry, right?