For all the people who are tired of political discussions or who cant wait to just talk about the games or who is even happy that those SJWs and their political correctness will disappear or who've hated people's existence on GAF, I have to tell you how I and tons of other people feel about this topic and how difficult it is to simply exist in these spaces.
Although games are great entertainment, it is also really troubling to be in this culture and here online. It can be very painful, it can hurt, it causes stress to simply exist online. When people say I would like to see myself/others more in video games or "I just want to play without getting called a slur", they are not trying to be combative or making stuff up out of thin air. They are talking from their own experience of rarely being seen, of being harassed online, of not being able to play multiplayer because of their identity. Imagine how it must feel to constantly being told by the people who make the games you love that you dont exist. And if you do, you exist as the sexually pleasurable object for straight men to enjoy or as the exotic other to invade. And when you share your lived experiences and your feelings, you are met with hostility (slurs and personal attacks), with denial (I dont see racism, so it doesnt exist), with silencing (I just want to talk about games, stop bringing politics into this). Imagine how this must feel to be made to feel like you are less of a person than others, and when you simply ask to be recognized for your humanity, you are met with scorn and hate.
Stop bringing politics into this! you might say. Like you, we also just want to play video games, but it is impossible to use video games as escapism for some the same sexism and racism and transphobia and homophobia people encounter in everyday life, is the same we see in video games. We are still not the center, we are still not real characters, we are still not agents, we are just objects and side-characters who exist to help the one who already fills up so much of our everyday media. Imagine after a day where youve been underpaid compared to your male colleagues, where youve been sexually harassed by your male boss, where youve been called the n-word by some random person on the street, where youve been navigating all these white spaces in everyday life only to come home to another game with the exact same shit. Games are not an escape from reality for many, its the reflection and reproduction of the same oppression many face everyday.
So when we ask can we please have more diversity in the games industry and in the games themselves?, we are not trying to attack anyone. We are trying to share our own experiences and how it makes us feel. It is really, really hard to ignore, as its not like we would want to spend our limited time on earth to talk about these things.
So please. Please listen to us. It hurts us so much not to be listened to. Not to be believed. To be silenced. It hurts even more when we are attacked, harassed, threatened, and marginalized. You cannot just stand on the sideline, while we are getting terrorized for years on end. You cannot be buddies and hang out with people who spend their time stalking, harassing, and threatening us. We are actual human beings. We have lives, friends, families, feelings, thoughts. We just want to be happy. It hurts us a lot when we are met with such hostility and harassment and stalking. Why do you think we can be so angry sometimes? Its because we are met with so much terror on us that it is almost impossible to exist and live in peace.
Ive been harassed and threatened for being on Neogaf for almost 4 years now. Death threats, personal attacks, stalking, etc. Ive seen people call me slurs and make fun of me. And it hurts me. A lot. I dont want to cause pain on anyone or make anyone feel bad - if anyone ever had any problem with me, they could just contact me and tell me what they thought I should correct - I'm very open towards constructive criticism. When you say that games should just be games and we will harass and threaten you until you shut up about your experience and ignore all the testimonies and academic research on oppression in video games culture, you tell me that mine and other peoples pain is acceptable as long as you can remain comfortable. It hurts, because its like there is a disconnect between you and us where we are not seen as equally human and worthy of respect as yourself.
So please, next time you encounter a topic or subject where you think its too political and you wish these people would shut up please, please, please consider the feelings and the experiences that others have. Please just try to listen to us. Please don't attack or harm us. It hurts a lot to be treated like this. And it hurts to be harassed and threatened. We are human beings just like you and we just want to be happy. And if you do not want to listen, at least just leave us alone.
Although games are great entertainment, it is also really troubling to be in this culture and here online. It can be very painful, it can hurt, it causes stress to simply exist online. When people say I would like to see myself/others more in video games or "I just want to play without getting called a slur", they are not trying to be combative or making stuff up out of thin air. They are talking from their own experience of rarely being seen, of being harassed online, of not being able to play multiplayer because of their identity. Imagine how it must feel to constantly being told by the people who make the games you love that you dont exist. And if you do, you exist as the sexually pleasurable object for straight men to enjoy or as the exotic other to invade. And when you share your lived experiences and your feelings, you are met with hostility (slurs and personal attacks), with denial (I dont see racism, so it doesnt exist), with silencing (I just want to talk about games, stop bringing politics into this). Imagine how this must feel to be made to feel like you are less of a person than others, and when you simply ask to be recognized for your humanity, you are met with scorn and hate.
Stop bringing politics into this! you might say. Like you, we also just want to play video games, but it is impossible to use video games as escapism for some the same sexism and racism and transphobia and homophobia people encounter in everyday life, is the same we see in video games. We are still not the center, we are still not real characters, we are still not agents, we are just objects and side-characters who exist to help the one who already fills up so much of our everyday media. Imagine after a day where youve been underpaid compared to your male colleagues, where youve been sexually harassed by your male boss, where youve been called the n-word by some random person on the street, where youve been navigating all these white spaces in everyday life only to come home to another game with the exact same shit. Games are not an escape from reality for many, its the reflection and reproduction of the same oppression many face everyday.
So when we ask can we please have more diversity in the games industry and in the games themselves?, we are not trying to attack anyone. We are trying to share our own experiences and how it makes us feel. It is really, really hard to ignore, as its not like we would want to spend our limited time on earth to talk about these things.
So please. Please listen to us. It hurts us so much not to be listened to. Not to be believed. To be silenced. It hurts even more when we are attacked, harassed, threatened, and marginalized. You cannot just stand on the sideline, while we are getting terrorized for years on end. You cannot be buddies and hang out with people who spend their time stalking, harassing, and threatening us. We are actual human beings. We have lives, friends, families, feelings, thoughts. We just want to be happy. It hurts us a lot when we are met with such hostility and harassment and stalking. Why do you think we can be so angry sometimes? Its because we are met with so much terror on us that it is almost impossible to exist and live in peace.
Ive been harassed and threatened for being on Neogaf for almost 4 years now. Death threats, personal attacks, stalking, etc. Ive seen people call me slurs and make fun of me. And it hurts me. A lot. I dont want to cause pain on anyone or make anyone feel bad - if anyone ever had any problem with me, they could just contact me and tell me what they thought I should correct - I'm very open towards constructive criticism. When you say that games should just be games and we will harass and threaten you until you shut up about your experience and ignore all the testimonies and academic research on oppression in video games culture, you tell me that mine and other peoples pain is acceptable as long as you can remain comfortable. It hurts, because its like there is a disconnect between you and us where we are not seen as equally human and worthy of respect as yourself.
So please, next time you encounter a topic or subject where you think its too political and you wish these people would shut up please, please, please consider the feelings and the experiences that others have. Please just try to listen to us. Please don't attack or harm us. It hurts a lot to be treated like this. And it hurts to be harassed and threatened. We are human beings just like you and we just want to be happy. And if you do not want to listen, at least just leave us alone.
