Jump to content

Gamergate (harassment campaign): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by ClueBot NG (talk) to last version by Medowin2
Tarc (talk | contribs)
24,217 edits
Undid revision 625671453 by Diego Moya (talk) - that was a huge pile of changes by a "new" account that the bot reverted. Such things should be discussed on the talk page first
Line 6: Line 6:
{{POV|date=September 2014}}
{{POV|date=September 2014}}
'''#GamerGate''' refers to a 2014 [[video game]] [[video game controversy|controversy]]<ref name=CinemaBlend /> that arose after a former boyfriend of indie game developer [[Zoe Quinn]], posted details on her personal relationships with persons involved in the [[video game industry]]<ref name=Forbes/><ref name=CinemaBlend />
'''#GamerGate''' refers to a 2014 [[video game]] [[video game controversy|controversy]]<ref name=CinemaBlend /> that arose after a former boyfriend of indie game developer [[Zoe Quinn]], posted details on her personal relationships with persons involved in the [[video game industry]]<ref name=Forbes/><ref name=CinemaBlend />
The controversy eventually led to discussions on journalistic ethics of [[video game journalism]],<ref name="telegraph"/> such as allegations of [[conflicts of interest]] between journalists and developers<ref name=Jazeera/>.
The controversy eventually led to discussions on journalistic ethics of [[video game journalism]],<ref name="telegraph"/> such as allegations of [[conflicts of interest]] between journalists and developers<ref name=Jazeera/>, as well as [[misogyny]] and [[harassment]] in the [[gamer]] community.<ref name=Forbes/><ref name=dot/>


==Background==
==Background==
In August 2014, independent video game developer [[Zoe Quinn]]'s former boyfriend Eron Gjoni wrote a blog post alleging she had cheated on him with Nathan Grayson, a journalist for the video game website [[Kotaku]]. This led to implications that she had traded sexual favors for positive reviews.<ref name=WaPo/><ref name=GuardianKS/><ref name="slate"/><ref name=KotakuRefuted/> Kotaku's editor-in-chief Stephen Totilo stated that Grayson had not written anything about Quinn after beginning the relationship and had never reviewed her video games.<ref name=KotakuRefuted/> The incident led to broader allegations on social media that games developers and gaming media are too often closely connected and that cultural criticism of video games has led to an increasing focus on social representation and cultural meaning in games by some video games writers.<ref name=WaPo/> Video game developer [[Phil Fish]] was "[[Doxing|doxxed]]" after speaking in support of Quinn, with many of his personal details<ref name=BI/> and documents relating to his company Polytron exposed in a hack, making him opt to sell off Polytron and leave the gaming industry.<ref name="gs fish"/>
In August 2014, independent video game developer [[Zoe Quinn]]'s former boyfriend Eron Gjoni wrote a blog post alleging she had cheated on him with Nathan Grayson, a journalist for the video game website [[Kotaku]]. This led to implications that she had traded sexual favors for positive reviews.<ref name=WaPo/><ref name=GuardianKS/><ref name="slate"/><ref name=KotakuRefuted/> Kotaku's editor-in-chief Stephen Totilo stated that Grayson had not written anything about Quinn after beginning the relationship and had never reviewed her video games.<ref name=KotakuRefuted/> The incident led to broader allegations on social media that games developers and gaming media are too often closely connected and that cultural criticism of video games has led to an increasing focus on social representation and cultural meaning in games by some video games writers.<ref name=WaPo/> A number of commentators within and outside the games industry denounced the attack on Quinn as [[misogynistic]] and unfounded.<ref name=Forbes/><ref name=dot/> Quinn and her family were subsequently targeted by a campaign of harassment,<ref name=dot/><ref name=beast/> as were people who had come to her defense, such as fellow video game developer [[Phil Fish]] who was "[[Doxing|doxxed]]" after speaking in support of Quinn, with many of his personal details<ref name=BI/> and documents relating to his company Polytron exposed in a hack, making him opt to sell off Polytron and leave the gaming industry.<ref name="gs fish"/>


Involvement from social media, sites such as [[4chan]] and [[Reddit]], and from figures such as [[Adam Baldwin]] (who was one of the first to use the [[hashtag]] #GamerGate on [[Twitter]])<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/09/new-chat-logs-show-how-4chan-users-pushed-gamergate-into-the-national-spotlight/ | title = Chat logs show how 4chan users created #GamerGate controversy | publisher = [[Ars Technica]] | date = September 9, 2014 | accessdate = September 14, 2014 | first = Casey | last = Johnson }}</ref> eventually expanded the issue over Quinn and Phil Fish into the ensuing debate.<ref name=Forbes/><ref>{{cite web|last1=VanDerWerff |first1=Todd|title=#GamerGate: Here's why everybody in the video game world is fighting|url=http://www.vox.com/2014/9/6/6111065/gamergate-explained-everybody-fighting|publisher=Vox|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref> Also during the events, a [[radical feminist]] group known as "The Fine Young Capitalists" reported that their charity [[game jam]] on [[Indiegogo]] had been hacked;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/25/indiegogo-campaign-hacked-this-weekend-but-wasnt-part-of-a-widespread-attack/|title=Indiegogo Campaign Hacked This Weekend, But Wasn’t Part Of A Widespread Attack - TechCrunch|date=25 August 2014|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref> Quinn had previously attempted to shut down TFYC's campaign and those critical of Quinn, allegedly members of 4chan's video games board "/v/", began to support it, according to ''Forbes'' Eric Kain, donating {{USD|60000}} to the campaign and even creating a mascot.<ref name=Forbes/>
The harassment expanded to include the [[feminism|feminist]] [[cultural criticism|media critic]] [[Anita Sarkeesian]] after the release of an episode in her ''[[Tropes vs. Women in Video Games]]'' series coincided with the initial allegations towards Quinn;<ref name="bbc sarkeesian"/> Sarkeesian reported receiving death threats that compelled her to temporarily leave her home.<ref name="bbc sarkeesian"/><ref name=BF/> At the same time, involvement from social media, sites such as [[4chan]] and [[Reddit]], and from figures such as [[Adam Baldwin]] (who was one of the first to use the [[hashtag]] #GamerGate on [[Twitter]])<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/09/new-chat-logs-show-how-4chan-users-pushed-gamergate-into-the-national-spotlight/ | title = Chat logs show how 4chan users created #GamerGate controversy | publisher = [[Ars Technica]] | date = September 9, 2014 | accessdate = September 14, 2014 | first = Casey | last = Johnson }}</ref> eventually expanded the issue over Quinn and Phil Fish into the ensuing debate.<ref name=Forbes/><ref>{{cite web|last1=VanDerWerff |first1=Todd|title=#GamerGate: Here's why everybody in the video game world is fighting|url=http://www.vox.com/2014/9/6/6111065/gamergate-explained-everybody-fighting|publisher=Vox|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref> Also during the events, a [[radical feminist]] group known as "The Fine Young Capitalists" reported that their charity [[game jam]] on [[Indiegogo]] had been hacked;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/25/indiegogo-campaign-hacked-this-weekend-but-wasnt-part-of-a-widespread-attack/|title=Indiegogo Campaign Hacked This Weekend, But Wasn’t Part Of A Widespread Attack - TechCrunch|date=25 August 2014|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref> Quinn had previously spoken out against TFYC's campaign and those critical of Quinn, allegedly members of 4chan's video games board "/v/", began to support it, according to ''Forbes'' Eric Kain, to spite her, donating {{USD|17000}} to the campaign and even creating a mascot.<ref name=Forbes/>


A portion of those that support the #GamerGate movement took issue with critics and the media claiming them all to be misogynists, and started a second Twitter hashtag "#NotYourShield", presenting themselves as women and members of other minorities seeking for changes in the ethics of the video game industry and denying that the core issues behind #GamerGate was driven by sexism.<ref name=WaPo/><ref name="telegraph"/>
A portion of those that support the #GamerGate movement took issue with critics and the media claiming them all to be misogynists, and started a second Twitter hashtag "#NotYourShield", presenting themselves as women and members of other minorities seeking for changes in the ethics of the video game industry and denying that the core issues behind #GamerGate was driven by sexism.<ref name=WaPo/><ref name="telegraph"/>


==Responses==
According to Erik Kain, writing in ''Forbes'', the #GamerGate movement is driven by a backlash against the increasing political biases of video game journalists. "What it boils down to is many people feeling upset that the video game space has been so heavily politicized with a left-leaning, feminist-driven slant," he said.<ref name=Forbes/>
According to Erik Kain, writing in ''Forbes'', the #GamerGate movement is driven by an anti-feminist backlash against the increasing diversity of voices involved in [[cultural criticism]] of video games. "What it boils down to is many people feeling upset that the video game space has been so heavily politicized with a left-leaning, feminist-driven slant," he said.<ref name=Forbes/>

Writing in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', Leigh Alexander described the campaign as "deeply sincere" but based on "bizarre conspiracy theories," stating that there is nothing unethical or improper about journalists being friends and acquaintances of those they cover. "Surely these campaigners understand that no meaningful reporting on anything takes place without the trust—and often friendship—of people on the inside," she said. She attributed the controversy to a growing gulf between some traditional video game fans and the increasingly diverse nature of the industry, noting that the maturing and ever-more-mainstream nature of video games opens the genre to longstanding cultural critiques and new perspectives.<ref name=Time/>


David Auerbach of [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] argued it was a case of a fair number of gamers hating the journalists who cover video games, and the journalists hating the video gamers.<ref name="slate"/> Like Alexander, Auerbach asserts gaming culture is changing but it is the ordinary video-game journalist that is being phased out in favor of amateur [[Let's Play (video gaming)|Let's Play]] commentators on [[YouTube]] and [[Twitch (website)|Twitch]].<ref name="slate"/>
David Auerbach of [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] argued it was a case of a fair number of gamers hating the journalists who cover video games, and the journalists hating the video gamers.<ref name="slate"/> Like Alexander, Auerbach asserts gaming culture is changing but it is the ordinary video-game journalist that is being phased out in favor of amateur [[Let's Play (video gaming)|Let's Play]] commentators on [[YouTube]] and [[Twitch (website)|Twitch]].<ref name="slate"/>


The [[online harassment]] of Quinn and the [[death threat]]s against Sarkeesian prompted an [[open letter]] to the gaming community by independent game developer [[Andreas Zecher]], who called upon the community to take a public stand against the attacks. The letter subsequently attracted the signatures of more than 2000 professionals within the gaming industry.<ref name=LATimes/><ref name=BBC/>
⚫
Liana Kerzner, writing for MetalEater.com, criticized some gaming journalists for making "unprofessional, anti-intellectual, and dehumanizing" generalizations about those who supported #GamerGate, and that it had been unfair to paint all of its supporters as motivated by ill will rather than true concern for the state of games journalism. "As a member of the video game media, I am sorry for that. It was wrong, and you guys didn't deserve it." She also urged the gaming community to challenge and reject the "small subgroups of gamers" whose actions have stigmatized the community. <ref name=MetalEater>{{cite web|url=http://metaleater.com/video-games/feature/gamers-live-an-in-depth-analysis-of-gamergate|title=Gamers Live: An In-Depth Analysis of GamerGate |first=Liana |last=Kerzner |work=MetalEater.com |date=September 12, 2014}}</ref>

Zoe Quinn has stated that #GamerGate was manufactured by members of [[4chan]] operating on a private [[IRC]] channel specifically to attack her and her followers for her [[feminism|feminist]] views, releasing numerous screencaps on Twitter.<ref name=DailyDot/> This has been denied by some members of the channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/137293-Exclusive-Zoe-Quinn-Posts-Chat-Logs-Debunking-GamerGate-4Chan-and-Quinn-Respond|title=Exclusive: 4Chan and Quinn Respond to Gamergate Chat Logs|last=Tito|first=Greg|publisher=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|date=2014-09-07|accessdate=2014-09-14}}</ref>

Anita Sarkeesian, speaking in public for the first time (at the [[XOXO Festival]] in Portland, Oregon) since she fled her home, remarked regarding the misinformation campaign against her "One of the most radical things you can do is to actually believe women when they talk about their experiences," and noted that "The perpetrators do not see themselves as perpetrators at all... They see themselves as noble warriors."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/13/6145169/anita-sarkeesian-shares-the-most-radical-thing-you-can-do-to-support|title=Anita Sarkeesian shares the most radical thing you can do to support women online - The Verge|date=14 September 2014|work=The Verge|accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref>

⚫
Liana Kerzner, writing for MetalEater.com, criticized some gaming journalists for making "unprofessional, anti-intellectual, and dehumanizing" generalizations about those who supported #GamerGate, and that it had been unfair to paint all of its supporters as motivated by ill will rather than true concern for the state of games journalism. "As a member of the video game media, I am sorry for that. It was wrong, and you guys didn't deserve it." She also urged the gaming community to challenge and reject the "small subgroups of gamers" whose actions have stigmatized the community. "The misogyny within our ranks is real. The racism is real. The homophobia and transgendered stigma is real. The stigma against mental illness is real. Our juvenile relationship with sexualized violence is real," she wrote.<ref name=MetalEater>{{cite web|url=http://metaleater.com/video-games/feature/gamers-live-an-in-depth-analysis-of-gamergate|title=Gamers Live: An In-Depth Analysis of GamerGate |first=Liana |last=Kerzner |work=MetalEater.com |date=September 12, 2014}}</ref>


Gaming press sites such as ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' and ''[[Kotaku]]'' changed their disclosure and conflict of interest policies, including prohibiting writers from supporting game developers through [[Patreon]].<ref name=Forbes/>
Gaming press sites such as ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' and ''[[Kotaku]]'' changed their disclosure and conflict of interest policies, including prohibiting writers from supporting game developers through [[Patreon]].<ref name=Forbes/>

Revision as of 15:00, 15 September 2014

For the type of ant, see Gamergate.

#GamerGate refers to a 2014 video game controversy[1] that arose after a former boyfriend of indie game developer Zoe Quinn, posted details on her personal relationships with persons involved in the video game industry[2][1] The controversy eventually led to discussions on journalistic ethics of video game journalism,[3] such as allegations of conflicts of interest between journalists and developers[4], as well as misogyny and harassment in the gamer community.[2][5]

Background

In August 2014, independent video game developer Zoe Quinn's former boyfriend Eron Gjoni wrote a blog post alleging she had cheated on him with Nathan Grayson, a journalist for the video game website Kotaku. This led to implications that she had traded sexual favors for positive reviews.[6][7][8][9] Kotaku's editor-in-chief Stephen Totilo stated that Grayson had not written anything about Quinn after beginning the relationship and had never reviewed her video games.[9] The incident led to broader allegations on social media that games developers and gaming media are too often closely connected and that cultural criticism of video games has led to an increasing focus on social representation and cultural meaning in games by some video games writers.[6] A number of commentators within and outside the games industry denounced the attack on Quinn as misogynistic and unfounded.[2][5] Quinn and her family were subsequently targeted by a campaign of harassment,[5][10] as were people who had come to her defense, such as fellow video game developer Phil Fish who was "doxxed" after speaking in support of Quinn, with many of his personal details[11] and documents relating to his company Polytron exposed in a hack, making him opt to sell off Polytron and leave the gaming industry.[12]

The harassment expanded to include the feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian after the release of an episode in her Tropes vs. Women in Video Games series coincided with the initial allegations towards Quinn;[13] Sarkeesian reported receiving death threats that compelled her to temporarily leave her home.[13][14] At the same time, involvement from social media, sites such as 4chan and Reddit, and from figures such as Adam Baldwin (who was one of the first to use the hashtag #GamerGate on Twitter)[15] eventually expanded the issue over Quinn and Phil Fish into the ensuing debate.[2][16] Also during the events, a radical feminist group known as "The Fine Young Capitalists" reported that their charity game jam on Indiegogo had been hacked;[17] Quinn had previously spoken out against TFYC's campaign and those critical of Quinn, allegedly members of 4chan's video games board "/v/", began to support it, according to Forbes Eric Kain, to spite her, donating US$17,000 to the campaign and even creating a mascot.[2]

A portion of those that support the #GamerGate movement took issue with critics and the media claiming them all to be misogynists, and started a second Twitter hashtag "#NotYourShield", presenting themselves as women and members of other minorities seeking for changes in the ethics of the video game industry and denying that the core issues behind #GamerGate was driven by sexism.[6][3]

Responses

According to Erik Kain, writing in Forbes, the #GamerGate movement is driven by an anti-feminist backlash against the increasing diversity of voices involved in cultural criticism of video games. "What it boils down to is many people feeling upset that the video game space has been so heavily politicized with a left-leaning, feminist-driven slant," he said.[2]

Writing in Time, Leigh Alexander described the campaign as "deeply sincere" but based on "bizarre conspiracy theories," stating that there is nothing unethical or improper about journalists being friends and acquaintances of those they cover. "Surely these campaigners understand that no meaningful reporting on anything takes place without the trust—and often friendship—of people on the inside," she said. She attributed the controversy to a growing gulf between some traditional video game fans and the increasingly diverse nature of the industry, noting that the maturing and ever-more-mainstream nature of video games opens the genre to longstanding cultural critiques and new perspectives.[18]

David Auerbach of Slate argued it was a case of a fair number of gamers hating the journalists who cover video games, and the journalists hating the video gamers.[8] Like Alexander, Auerbach asserts gaming culture is changing but it is the ordinary video-game journalist that is being phased out in favor of amateur Let's Play commentators on YouTube and Twitch.[8]

The online harassment of Quinn and the death threats against Sarkeesian prompted an open letter to the gaming community by independent game developer Andreas Zecher, who called upon the community to take a public stand against the attacks. The letter subsequently attracted the signatures of more than 2000 professionals within the gaming industry.[19][20]

Zoe Quinn has stated that #GamerGate was manufactured by members of 4chan operating on a private IRC channel specifically to attack her and her followers for her feminist views, releasing numerous screencaps on Twitter.[21] This has been denied by some members of the channel.[22]

Anita Sarkeesian, speaking in public for the first time (at the XOXO Festival in Portland, Oregon) since she fled her home, remarked regarding the misinformation campaign against her "One of the most radical things you can do is to actually believe women when they talk about their experiences," and noted that "The perpetrators do not see themselves as perpetrators at all... They see themselves as noble warriors."[23]

Liana Kerzner, writing for MetalEater.com, criticized some gaming journalists for making "unprofessional, anti-intellectual, and dehumanizing" generalizations about those who supported #GamerGate, and that it had been unfair to paint all of its supporters as motivated by ill will rather than true concern for the state of games journalism. "As a member of the video game media, I am sorry for that. It was wrong, and you guys didn't deserve it." She also urged the gaming community to challenge and reject the "small subgroups of gamers" whose actions have stigmatized the community. "The misogyny within our ranks is real. The racism is real. The homophobia and transgendered stigma is real. The stigma against mental illness is real. Our juvenile relationship with sexualized violence is real," she wrote.[24]

Gaming press sites such as Polygon and Kotaku changed their disclosure and conflict of interest policies, including prohibiting writers from supporting game developers through Patreon.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Peter Haas (2014-08-31). "GamerGate: Everyone Hates Each Other And I'm Really Tired". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Erik Kain (2014-09-04). "GamerGate: A Closer Look At The Controversy Sweeping Video Game". Forbes. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  3. ^ a b Sanghani, Radhika (September 10, 2014). "Misogyny, death threats and a mob of trolls: Inside the dark world of video games with Zoe Quinn - target of #GamerGate". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  4. ^ "#GamerGate: Misogyny or corruption in the gaming community?". Al Jazeera. September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Romano, Aja. "The sexist crusade to destroy game developer Zoe Quinn". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Kaplan, Sarah (September 12, 2014). "With #GamerGate, the video-game industry's growing pains go viral". Washington Post. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  7. ^ Stewart, Keith (September 3, 2014). "Gamergate: the community is eating itself but there should be room for all". The Guardian. Retrieved September 14, 2014. There's a sense that social justice warriors are going to "ruin games". But how? This is a tiny subset of writers and developers sharing a left-leaning ideology – they are big on Twitter, but they are not going to convince Activision, EA, Capcom or any other multinational games corporations to stop making games that conflict with their beliefs.
  8. ^ a b c Auerbach, David (2014-09-09). "Gaming Journalism Is Over". Slate. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  9. ^ a b Totilo, Stephen (August 20, 2014). "In recent days I've been asked several times". Kotaku.
  10. ^ Marcotte, Amanda. "Gaming Misogyny Gets Infinite Lives: Zoe Quinn, Virtual Rape, and Sexism". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  11. ^ Karyne Levy (2014-09-02). "Game Developers Are Finally Stepping Up To Change Their Hate-Filled Industry". Business Insider. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  12. ^ Maiberg, Emanuel (2014-08-23). "Phil Fish Selling Rights to Fez After Being Hacked". Gamespot. Retrieved 2014-09-06.
  13. ^ a b Rawlinson, Kevin (2014-09-02). "Gamers take a stand against misogyny after death threats". BBC. Retrieved 2014-09-06.
  14. ^ Joseph Bernstein (2014-08-28). "Gaming Is Leaving "Gamers" Behind". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  15. ^ Johnson, Casey (September 9, 2014). "Chat logs show how 4chan users created #GamerGate controversy". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  16. ^ VanDerWerff, Todd. "#GamerGate: Here's why everybody in the video game world is fighting". Vox. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Indiegogo Campaign Hacked This Weekend, But Wasn't Part Of A Widespread Attack - TechCrunch". TechCrunch. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  18. ^ Leigh Alexander (2014-09-05). "Sexism, Lies, and Video Games: The Culture War Nobody Is Winning". Time. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  19. ^ Todd Martens (2014-09-06). "Hero Complex: Gamergate-related controversy reveals ugly side of gaming community". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  20. ^ Kevin Rawlinson (2014-09-02). "Gamers take a stand against misogyny after death threats". BBC News. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  21. ^ Aja Romano (2014-09-06). "Zoe Quinn claims 4chan was behind GamerGate the whole time". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  22. ^ Tito, Greg (2014-09-07). "Exclusive: 4Chan and Quinn Respond to Gamergate Chat Logs". The Escapist. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  23. ^ "Anita Sarkeesian shares the most radical thing you can do to support women online - The Verge". The Verge. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  24. ^ Kerzner, Liana (September 12, 2014). "Gamers Live: An In-Depth Analysis of GamerGate". MetalEater.com.

Cite error: A list-defined reference named "Ars" is not used in the content (see the help page).

Cite error: A list-defined reference named "NewYorker" is not used in the content (see the help page).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gamergate_(harassment_campaign)&oldid=625671727"