Reigniting old flames: The controversy reminiscing thread

[bartholen_v1legacy]

I've been on The Escapist for over 6 years now, and no doubt anyone who's been here that long on at least some kind of basis has seen their fair share of flamewars, controversies and other forum blowouts over what are ultimately silly and trivial things. Whether it's a trophy name in God of War: Ascension, a gory special edition bonus for Dead Island: Riptide or "fake geek girls", some topics just hit some particular spark and the discussion lights up like gasoline in hell.

I thought we'd take time to look back on these various scandals and such we've seen over the years here, gaming-related or not, and share our fond memories. Which ones especially stayed in your mind? What pissed you off particularly? What did you stay out of? What were you ambivalent towards or just plain confused about? What do still bug you? Did you have something left to say?

Note: this thread is about controversies that have passed. So no mentions of GamerGate which to my understanding is still bubbling on, or Anita Sarkeesian for that matter, because the mere invocation of that name is like reading the book from Evil Dead aloud.

For my part I've mostly stayed out of these kind of topics. I just don't find them anything to get fired up about most of the time. However, the Dead Island statue back in 2013(?) was something that got a genuine emotional response out of me, because I felt that developers thinking a limbless, bloodied torso of a bikini-clad woman would make me want to buy their game was just unbelievably insulting. But now it's gone, hardly anyone seems to mention it anywhere anymore, and life goes on.

One last thing. When the "fake geek girl" wars went on in the same year (to the extent that one of Borderlands 2's DLC's had a whole sidequest about it) I mostly opted to stay out of it. However, retrospectively one question popped into my mind. During those times I saw some people speaking of the terms "geek" and "nerd" like they were some kind of badges or merits to be earned. I just have to ask, what kind of person would consider a word that's still used as an insult today something to be fought for and earned? Isn't it more of an embarrassing social stamp which is later turned into a part of your identity? I admit that I'm a nerd, but it's not something I build my identity around, but something I try to suppress and get rid of. The word is associated with so many negative connotations that I'd rather not be associated with the people who fit the stereotype to a tee. And by that I really mean the absolute stereotypes, like the fat guy in the WoW episode of South Park level of stereotype.

 

[Phasmal]

I remember all the friendzone threads, ah those were the days.
One thing about them that did bug me was when people defended the angry friendzoned dudes saying they didn't just want sex with a girl who just wanted to be friends- they wanted love and a relationship from the girl who just wanted to be friends. I never understood how that was inherently better.

I was fairly ambivalent about the brony stuff that happened here for a short while, but I think that blew over fairly quickly.

One last thing. When the "fake geek girl" wars went on in the same year (to the extent that one of Borderlands 2's DLC's had a whole sidequest about it) I mostly opted to stay out of it. However, retrospectively one question popped into my mind. During those times I saw some people speaking of the terms "geek" and "nerd" like they were some kind of badges or merits to be earned. I just have to ask, what kind of person would consider a word that's still used as an insult today something to be fought for and earned? Isn't it more of an embarrassing social stamp which is later turned into a part of your identity? I admit that I'm a nerd, but it's not something I build my identity around, but something I try to suppress and get rid of. The word is associated with so many negative connotations that I'd rather not be associated with the people who fit the stereotype to a tee. And by that I really mean the absolute stereotypes, like the fat guy in the WoW episode of South Park level of stereotype.

I feel like I might actually be able to answer this one. The FGG controversy was a particularly annoying one for me.
It's not that much of an insult anymore, seeing as nerd stuff has been mainstream for a little while now. And then you get people who were called a nerd or geek for most of their lives, and then growing up and adopting it as a part of their identity, only to be told they can't be that thing because of their gender.
And really, is nerd/geek still that much of a bad thing? Most of my friends identify as such, but then again we're a bit older than school-age which is when you normally get these things flung at you.

 

[TheVampwizimp_v1legacy]

I remember all the friendzone threads, ah those were the days.
One thing about them that did bug me was when people defended the angry friendzoned dudes saying they didn't just want sex with a girl who just wanted to be friends- they wanted love and a relationship from the girl who just wanted to be friends. I never understood how that was inherently better.

You know, that's a good point. If I just want to bang you, I'm disgusting, but as soon as my feels are for reals it's suddenly not creepy anymore? Unwanted attention is unwanted.

I remember that too, the Halcyon days before our minds were scoured by constant GG/SJW revenge wars. When the worst we had to worry about was a misplaced bit of minor misogyny or a bad video game ending. You might just call it rose-tinted hindsight goggles, but it seems like recent months have really shown us the depths people are willing to plumb for a meaningless cause. Now it's all connected, and every random event is blown up into a devilish conspiracy to destroy women/men/LGBT/family values/gamergate/Anita Sarkeesian/Tumblr.

Ah, but here you caught an old man reminiscing on bygone times in another life.

 

[DementedSheep]

I remember the Tomb Raider "rape" one. Seemed to be largely on misinformation. A lot of people didn't seem to realise that scene in the trailer was the whole scene and that it is more of a first time killing someone as character development thing not the (rather annoying) raped as character development thing.

I remember all the friendzone threads, ah those were the days.
One thing about them that did bug me was when people defended the angry friendzoned dudes saying they didn't just want sex with a girl who just wanted to be friends- they wanted love and a relationship from the girl who just wanted to be friends. I never understood how that was inherently better.

I'm not sure I agree with that. I think there is a difference between lashing out and blaming stupid things because you had strong feeling for someone and they didn't return them (It's not right, it's just how people seem to react when hurt) and lashing out because you think you're owed a fuck. Don't get me wrong though, it is at best "not as big of jerk as you could have been". It's wrong either way.

But then I've never fallen for anyone, let alone been in a situation like that so I'm not the best person to comment.

 

[DoPo]

One last thing. When the "fake geek girl" wars went on in the same year (to the extent that one of Borderlands 2's DLC's had a whole sidequest about it) I mostly opted to stay out of it. However, retrospectively one question popped into my mind. During those times I saw some people speaking of the terms "geek" and "nerd" like they were some kind of badges or merits to be earned.

I remember somebody then making a comment to the effect of "Well, I was a nerd in school and girls didn't like me then. Now girls want to be nerds, so I don't want them to". Seriously. It was...a dark time. Well, one of the dark times.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Ah, the March Mayhem Turbine episode.

That was hilarious, so much rage, so many bans. In fact, that March Mayhem and the one after (or before?) when people decided the best way to win was to use bots to auto vote and rig the whole thing, Breeliant.

Speaking of which, who won this year?

 

[Elfgore]

White Guy Defense Force was quite fantastic. I remember coming in after shit had already blown up... each page was just a masterpiece.

I also got a real kick out of the time that Russian Youtuber told a bunch of his fans to vote for Papers Please! over the Last of Us. The fallout to that was enjoyable as well... It's been a while, but I recall a bunch of people posting support in Russian.

 

[Random Argument Man]

I remember when we didn't have a religion or politics section to the forums. Every thread was a controversy of some sort.

 

[Inglorious891]

aye

Looking at your profile pic reminded me of one of the largest shitstorms I've seen on the internet.

Spoiler

Never saw a shitstorm on the internet quite so big up until that point. Until, of course, she who shall not be named came onto the scene. The amount of dirt that was kiced up by Bioware almost seems trivial compared to how much of a tussle she got the internet into.

Remember when we were all on the same side here? Us vs the big corporations that were the ones who were blamed for the gaming industry's current state, versus a bunch of internet boogymen? Shit sure changes quickly.

 

[Silence]

One last thing. When the "fake geek girl" wars went on in the same year (to the extent that one of Borderlands 2's DLC's had a whole sidequest about it) I mostly opted to stay out of it. However, retrospectively one question popped into my mind. During those times I saw some people speaking of the terms "geek" and "nerd" like they were some kind of badges or merits to be earned.

I remember somebody then making a comment to the effect of "Well, I was a nerd in school and girls didn't like me then. Now girls want to be nerds, so I don't want them to". Seriously. It was...a dark time. Well, one of the dark times.

I was not there when this "controversy" happened, but ... omg this is so dumb.

We also had only boys as nerds in school (well, on our level). But one of the best things I would imagine would be some girls playing with us. That never changed.
Well and after the levels didn't matter that much anymore I played a whole lot of WoW with some girls. Never even was an issue.
(And none of them ever were romantic interests)

What the fuck happened to people who state such things?

---

The ME3 ending didn't phase me either, because I was already boycotting the game. The weird theory some people came up with was kind of cool though.

---

And for the escapist specifically, I am too new .

 

[Darks63]

I remember the Two years of brony wars that tore though this site in the early years of my time here. The first one breaking out when season one hit big and the other, which wasn't as intense, breaking out the next year in the wake of season two.

I was neutral in the whole thing, but watching it was very surreal in retrospect. The funniest part of the whole debacle was watching the people who hated the show being drown out and overwhelmed by a tide of cute pony avatars and creative pony gifs.

Not that it was always cute and cuddly as a debate since people did get nasty and a few folks did get banned, but it was alot nicer than the conflicts to follow it.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

I'm starting to worry as I seem to remember internet controversies more easily than real world ones now, which propably says some worrying things about my priorties. Anyway my most nostalgic controversies would be:

The Mass Effect 3 ending. It just kept going. I remember when that was dying down thinking to myself "that was quite the storm surely we won't see the likes of this again. Nope just back to usual friendzone and fake geek threads popping from time to time. Apart from that normal service will resume... yes indeed." Oh boy was I wrong.

On plus the side if I remember rightly it did give rise to the whirlpool/drowning thread phase which was wonderfully bizarre period where a forum collectively threw it's hands up, shouted "sod it" and jump off the deep end of the silliness pool.

The White Guy Defence Force was somewhat fun because I think I nearly passed out laughing at it all.

 

[TheVampwizimp_v1legacy]

aye

Looking at your profile pic reminded me of one of the largest shitstorms I've seen on the internet.

Spoiler

Never saw a shitstorm on the internet quite so big up until that point. Until, of course, she who shall not be named came onto the scene. The amount of dirt that was kiced up by Bioware almost seems trivial compared to how much of a tussle she got the internet into.

Remember when we were all on the same side here? Us vs the big corporations that were the ones who were blamed for the gaming industry's current state, versus a bunch of internet boogymen? Shit sure changes quickly.

Yeah, that's pretty much my point. As big a deal as that was at the time, it was small potatoes in the end. Nobody got too out of hand, nobody got any rape threats (that I remember, anyway...), nobody had to cancel a public appearance because she was afraid for her freaking life. People mostly went with the peaceful protest thing, which is the furthest the internet should ever go, and we even got clever cupcakes out of it.

Now, apparently it doesn't count as a controversy if people aren't doxing each other for disagreeing with them. It's like, no one thinks they will be taken seriously unless they are a literal, physical threat. And this is all over differences of opinion. What has happened in the last calendar year is despicable.

 

[Mikeybb]

Looking at your profile pic reminded me of one of the largest shitstorms I've seen on the internet.

Spoiler

Never saw a shitstorm on the internet quite so big up until that point.

Same here really.

I looked at them all and shrugged, but this was the first I really paid attention to.
Probably because of the degree of investment and regard I had for the series.
Joined in a little on the forums.
Threw five dollars into the "red, green, blue" cupcakes fund, which I saw more as a cheeky thankyou than anything else.
Came away from it thinking the idea that someone posted regarding the indoctrination theory would have made a significantly more powerful ending to the story, albeit one that would have opened a bigger can of worms as for it to work, purchase of the dlc would have been essential to 'complete' the game and that would be a bad precedent to set.

 

[FPLOON]

Bronies and Derpy... In case you don't see it yet, I'm referring to two separate "controversies" here... Also, Princess Twilight Sparkle... *mic drop*

Other that that, why did Adam have to throw that trochievement under the bus like that? That wasn't cool, dawg... ("Bros before Tros", dude... "Bros before Tros"...)

 

[Phasmal]

Snip.

Snip.

Y'know what, I think you're both kinda right. Unwated attention still is unwanted at the end of the day, but I suppose there is a slight difference.

Back to OT: I forgot about the Mass Effect 3 ending! Though I mostly skipped that one because I didn't have the game back when the shitstorm happened. A friend of mine is playing through the ending right now and she doesn't know what happens, so, I'm gonna be here for emotional support when she's done. It's kinda like taking a long hike up a mountain only to get kicked in the face when you reach the top.

 

[Bizzaro Stormy]

I remember the Tomb Raider "rape" one. Seemed to be largely on misinformation. A lot of people didn't seem to realise that scene in the trailer was the whole scene and that it is more of a first time killing someone as character development thing not the (rather annoying) raped as character development thing.

I remember when that controversy was going on, Far Cry 3 came out and everyone loved it. I thought,"Isn't this guy in a similar situation? Isn't he also in danger of being raped?" As best I can tell no one cared. I can only imagine it was either because he was a guy so they didn't care or because his island had better weather so they didn't care.

 

[Erttheking]

One particular shitstorm that I remember and wish that I couldn't is the Fake Gamer Girl fiasco. It's been talked about here, but one argument that I seem to remember kicking it off was "girls are pretending to be geeky to make themselves more appealing to gamers."

Seriously, how narcissistic was the person who made that argument.

 

[silver wolf009]

Real brief one, but I remember the "Feminist Whore" powerup from Dead Island. Good times, really.

Extra Credits, as we all know, was another good one. New 52 didn't really blow up here, but it blew up all the same. There was the March Madness where Zynga almost won, and some mad bastard asked 4Chan for "Help."

While not a controversy, I remember there was about half an hour a few years ago where usernames and avatars weren't showing up. Porn and violence within 5 minutes people, it was a pretty good time in terms of 0-60.

OH! And the "I'm not gay I just suck off Pre-op Transvestites" was another Escapist only affair. Still puts a smile onto my face. Those wacky Transvestites, when will they learn?

 

[silver wolf009]

I remember the Tomb Raider "rape" one. Seemed to be largely on misinformation. A lot of people didn't seem to realise that scene in the trailer was the whole scene and that it is more of a first time killing someone as character development thing not the (rather annoying) raped as character development thing.

I remember when that controversy was going on, Far Cry 3 came out and everyone loved it. I thought,"Isn't this guy in a similar situation? Isn't he also in danger of being raped?" As best I can tell no one cared. I can only imagine it was either because he was a guy so they didn't care or because his island had better weather so they didn't care.

Reasonable answer: Brody was a much newer character and far less iconic than Lara.

Fun answer: Because everything our society once held dear has been warped and corrupted by Phyrexia Socially Justified Antics.