Halo 4 Sexism Earns You a Lifetime Ban

[Erttheking]

Let's go down the list for those just joining us. And I'll try to be inclusive, because this isn't just about women gamers sadly.

1. BUT BUT BUT FREE SPEECH.

Nope. Free speech exists in the public sector, not the private. You have the right to say whatever you want (so long as it does not endanger the lives of others), but you do not have the right to broadcast abuse and harassment using someone else's platform. The servers are privately owned and they have a code of conduct. You are not entitled to continue using those servers after breaking the code of conduct.

2. But sexist/homophobic/racist talk only offends thin-skinned people! Be less sensitive!

Nice victim blaming there.

We are not talking about isolated incidents. Let me say that again in bold tags. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ISOLATED INCIDENTS. We are talking about XBL, which is so virulently, ardently abusive and proud of it that it's a fucking no-fly zone for anyone who isn't white straight and male (SWM). We are talking about systemic, ingrained harassment. We are talking about people who are dogged out of games for having the audacity to not be SWM. This isn't about one badly timed "stay in the kitchen" joke.

3. I'm gay and I'm not offended by people calling me fag!

Oh my god, did I miss the last Queer Club meeting where we elected you our spokesperson? Darn, sorry about that.

But seriously, if you're not bothered by this shit, that's great and I genuinely envy you're ability to not internalize it. That doesn't mean that everyone is that lucky, and that doesn't make the people who are offended less important.

4. I'm gonna get banned by feminazis!

With every ban system, there are abusers. You can report someone for cheating using mods and get them banned when they're innocent. That happens on occasion. If that happens to you, I'm sorry, and that really sucks, but on the cost-benefit analysis, you kinda lose.

And since you have about another 500 multiplayer-focused FPS games that don't care about protecting their userbases from abuse, I'm sure you'll find safe harbor.

5. But trash talk is a part of gamer culture!

This is probably the worst.

If your culture is dependent on driving out anyone who isn't SWM, if it cannot exist without being able to drive anyone with a feminine username out of the game, if it will crumble without being able to hurl invectives, if it feeds on an environment that tells you it's okay to harass people to "let off steam"

then that culture deserves to go down. Any culture that fosters exclusiveness and hate isn't entitled to shit.

Gaming culture has gotten a free pass for a long time. In recent years, people have been deciding that's not okay. Just because you are suddenly under scrutiny now doesn't mean you shouldn't've been the whole time.

This is one step forward. If you don't like it, don't get the game. Me, personally, this will likely be the first Halo game I ever purchase, and if this system is in place, I'll buy it at full price. Things like this need to be encouraged.

Dem's the breaks.

As a heterosexual white American male, I agree with every point 100%. The crap that goes around on XBL really gets on my nerves, to the point where I haven't played that many multiplayer games on it in awhile. It needs a major makeover.

 

[ResonanceGames]

Nope. Free speech exists in the public sector, not the private. You have the right to say whatever you want (so long as it does not endanger the lives of others), but you do not have the right to broadcast abuse and harassment using someone else's platform. The servers are privately owned and they have a code of conduct. You are not entitled to continue using those servers after breaking the code of conduct.

In case my massively sarcastic post above doesn't land properly (and judging from some of the posts in here, it might not), I should say "totally agreed."

This is Microsoft's service and the slobs aren't entitled to but two things: Jack and Shit -- and Jack left town. You break the rules? Don't let the door hit your slobbering ass on the way out.

 

[repeating integers]

A permanent chat ban could be better, everyone's happy that way.

This'd be a cool idea, actually. I wonder if it's possible to permanently ban someone from XBL chat on a game?

 

[LadyZephyr]

A permanent chat ban could be better, everyone's happy that way.

This'd be a cool idea, actually. I wonder if it's possible to permanently ban someone from XBL chat on a game?

Even I think that's a great idea. A two strike system would maybe work better than a permaban system.

Strike One: Text and voice chat are disabled for a month. This would serve as a wake-up call to show players that the server bans are not a joke.

Strike Two: Permaban from all multiplayer.

 

[Zerstiren]

Ultimately, I side with the permaban cause; but I still am for anyone saying any word they want, in any place, at any time (nigga, butch, dyke, ****, etc.).

I'm trusting most people have the common sense to judge dialogue by its context and delivery, and not just the words. So if a group of friends are playing Halo 4, and are giving Jimmy the business for being such a "dyke" just because they chose to call him that, then that's that.

If, however, one is playing with strangers only during a bout, and some guy, out of the blue, decides to verbally attack another player, with sheer malice in his tone of voice, anyone could tell this guy's being a dick: permaban.

 

[Professor James]

Off topic but Kiki Wolfkill is now on my list of the coolest names I heard.

 

[LtFerret]

Soooo this won't affect anything. Like at all because nobody every talks on Xbox Live. Only 1 in 50 games do I ever hear anybody talk. I seriously want to know what game people play where all this supposed shit spewing is going on.

 

[Erttheking]

Soooo this won't affect anything. Like at all because nobody every talks on Xbox Live. Only 1 in 50 games do I ever hear anybody talk. I seriously want to know what game people play where all this supposed shit spewing is going on.

Weirdly enough the same thing happens to me, still this stuff exists, we can't just deny that.

 

[EGtodd09]

Man I don't get why people are arguing with this. Oh permabans are a bad idea. Waah people are too stupid to mute their mics. Bullshit guys, this policy is designed to ban assholes who offend woman and that's it. If you're not a sexist twat then there's nothing for you to worry about; and if you are a sexist twat - well I don't give a good god damn about your problems, jerk. And if you're worried you might accidentally say something sexist, just don't use chat. This whole debate is just silly, really. I think everyone is too caught up arguing to notice the real story here. Kiki's last name is Wolfkill.
Wolfkill.

That is super badass.

 

[Coffeejack]

Good move. Maybe, given time, they can expand these bans to encompass bigotry and xenophobia. This sort of behaviour should never be seen as acceptable anywhere.

 

[EvilRoy]

Man I don't get why people are arguing with this. Oh permabans are a bad idea. Waah people are too stupid to mute their mics. Bullshit guys, this policy is designed to ban assholes who offend woman and that's it. If you're not a sexist twat then there's nothing for you to worry about; and if you are a sexist twat - well I don't give a good god damn about your problems, jerk. And if you're worried you might accidentally say something sexist, just don't use chat. This whole debate is just silly, really. I think everyone is too caught up arguing to notice the real story here. Kiki's last name is Wolfkill.
Wolfkill.

That is super badass.

Ha, that's a funny thought.

So the mainstay counterargument against the addition of the permaban system is that people should just mute the offensive ones.

So with the permaban system instituted the counterargument to anyone who complains about it becomes 'just mute yourself'.

Sounds like a net-zero effect to me. Stupid people still end up muted after everything, the onus on doing it just shifts from the victim to the aggressor. Works for me.

 

[ShirowShirow]

Good move. Maybe, given time, they can expand these bans to encompass bigotry and xenophobia. This sort of behaviour should never be seen as acceptable anywhere.

It's a zero-tolerance policy on discriminatory remarks period, so it already does.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Anywho, how come I feel like SOMEONE out there will see this as a bad thing?

Because there is always someone who will do their very best to ***** about anything. This is a fantastic idea and it will hopefully weed out some of the idiots on xbox live.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

I'm forced to wonder how this will be enforced, as bullying and discriminatory language has been against the user policy on XBL for quite some time.

This is extremely interesting - Halo, the game series that started the whole "shit-talking 12-year old with a mic" epidemic will now be the first game to have a separate terms and agreement policy (as far as discriminatory remarks go). Unless Microsoft just turns around and makes permabans the new policy, which hey, I wouldn't be sad about.

But hey, if talking shit means that much to you, you could always get a PS3. I hear they have free online over there... I won't miss anyone that goes.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

EDIT: Double posted by mistake. =/

 

[excalipoor]

People are offended by 343i taking away the right of pricks to be dicks? I'm baffled.

Meh, not sure how well it'll work in practice, but I welcome the idea. Also, I'm going to name my firstborn Kiki Wolfkill. Boy or girl.

 

[Texas Joker 52]

Well, that may seem a little harsh, but you know what? I still say its a step in the right direction.

Personally, while we may have Freedom of Speech, that gives no excuse towards any discriminating remarks, be they sexist, racist, or religious. And of course, Freedom of Speech does not mean that you're free from consequences due to what you do say.

Still, sexism is a good start. Now lets get rid of racism. Its outdated, stupid, and has no place in modern society. There should be no discrimination due to something so damn superficial.

... Also, Wolfkill is a badass last name.

[CAPTCHA = ticked off]: Yes, captcha, when sexism or racism pop up, I am a little ticked off, because its really fucking stupid.

 

[Erttheking]

Well, that may seem a little harsh, but you know what? I still say its a step in the right direction.

Personally, while we may have Freedom of Speech, that gives no excuse towards any discriminating remarks, be they sexist, racist, or religious. And of course, Freedom of Speech does not mean that you're free from consequences due to what you do say.

Still, sexism is a good start. Now lets get rid of racism. Its outdated, stupid, and has no place in modern society. There should be no discrimination due to something so damn superficial.

... Also, Wolfkill is a badass last name.

[CAPTCHA = ticked off]: Yes, captcha, when sexism or racism pop up, I am a little ticked off, because its really fucking stupid.

Good news, they said in the article that they're going to ban people who male sexist AND discriminatory comments.

 

[Texas Joker 52]

Well, that may seem a little harsh, but you know what? I still say its a step in the right direction.

Personally, while we may have Freedom of Speech, that gives no excuse towards any discriminating remarks, be they sexist, racist, or religious. And of course, Freedom of Speech does not mean that you're free from consequences due to what you do say.

Still, sexism is a good start. Now lets get rid of racism. Its outdated, stupid, and has no place in modern society. There should be no discrimination due to something so damn superficial.

... Also, Wolfkill is a badass last name.

[CAPTCHA = ticked off]: Yes, captcha, when sexism or racism pop up, I am a little ticked off, because its really fucking stupid.

Good news, they said in the article that they're going to ban people who male sexist AND discriminatory comments.

Thank god for Kiki Wolfkill and Bonnie Ross, along with anyone else involved with this particular idea. Good people, right there.