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[Bronx-Man]

I know there's been a million things said about JonTron's Twitch stream and all the bullshit that followed, but what I want to focus on is this selective use gamers have on "Freedom of Speech". JonTron was scorned for spreading outright falsehoods and bullshit statistics like "Wealthy blacks commmit more crimes than poor whites" and the biggest defense that his rabid fanbase can come up with is "Legally, he has the right to say that." Likewise with PewDiePie. Disney cut off all ties with him because of what they saw as anti-semitic content on his show. "But freedom of speech!" is the rally cry as to why Disney shouldn't do what they please with property they own, for some reason.

Meanwhile, there's Phil Fish. Responded brashly to a question on his opinion of Japanese games by saying "Your games just suck." Did he get people rushing in to defend him with "freedom of speech"? Did he become a martyr in a certain section of the gaming community like JonTron and PDP? Nah. Instead, he was harassed for so long and so often that he straight-up quit making video games four years ago.

So why the selective use of this defense tactic? People seriously think slandering games is a more disgusting thing than outright racism and xenophobia? Where were these 1st Amendment defenders when Phil was getting doxxed for a statement a portion of gamers themselves would say? Is the Free Speech argument just only going to be used when Youtube "stars" decide to slander entire groups of people?

 

[georly]

Phil Fish didn't have millions of youtube subscribers

He's an indie dev, not a youtube star with young fans.

 

[sphagnum]

What Fish said has no way of influencing the youth to vote for the far right and thus isn't really worth defending by fascists.

 

[StarSketch]

People actually like Jontron

 

[Nosgotham]

Lol Phil fish.

 

[Living Proof]

Well, Phil actually worked (still works) in the business, instead of just commenting on it. I'm sure the influence of your words affects you differently depending on that relationship to the industry.

 

[Crossing Eden]

The same reason why covering up underage girls during localization "that's censorship!1!" brigade but not stuff like Overwatch comics being banned in Russia for depicting LBGTQ. It's because these people don't actually give a shit about free speech, or censorship, or artistic freedom, etc.

What Fish said has no way of influencing the youth to vote for the far right and thus isn't really worth defending by fascists/moderates.

Added a little something but that's also a really blunt way of putting it.

 

[Peroroncino]

Probably because not many people liked him due to his arrogance.

 

[massoluk]

1. JONTRON shouldn't get a free speech defense. He is not going to jail for that racist speech

2. Aside from that, Phil Fish never pretends to be some form of news media outlet.

 

[Spinifex]

What Fish said has no way of influencing the youth to vote for the far right and thus isn't really worth defending by fascists.

Rarely is a post so concisely correct, nice work.

 

[toastyToast]

gamergaters are otaku

 

[KZXcellent]

Cause people like Jontron and his content but not Phil Fish. It's stupid, but that's what it is.

Personally I think the things Jon said were disgusting but it doesn't mean I can't enjoy his content though.

 

[Dio Brando]

i'd think it's because of the whole political scenery we're living now. for people with prejudices, racism, etc, it's far more interesting to defend their ability to spew those type of things.

The same reason why covering up underage girls during localization gets a "censorship" brigade but not stuff like Overwatch comics being banned in Russia for depicting LBGTQ. It's because these people don't actually give a shit about free speech, or censorship.

and this. it's not really about free speech.

 

[Clauss]

Rarely is a post so concisely correct, nice work.

Yeah, basically this. Phil is widely known in the VG/Indie scene, but doesn't have a fraction of the influence that Jontron does.

 

[Madame M]

I think the problem is that Phil Fish is fundamentally unlikeable

 

[Guess Who]

Because to a certain very fucked segment of people, saying "minority oppression isn't real" is a hard truth all the cucks and libtards need to hear, and "Japanese games are shit" is a blasphemous statement against a country that puts out brave, non-PC games full of underage anime tiddy that only offend Puritans and feminazis.

 

[lvl99 Pixel]

Phish had issues and didn't say anything nearly as bad as Jon
I dont think theyre comparable people

 

[shawnbuddy]

This isn't about free speech. This is about normalizing right wing politics.

 

[Lime]

Freedom of speech has been polluted so much that it just is a smoke screen for being allowed to say bigot shit without repercussions. It's not about the actual concept of freedom of speech, but just being allowed to say whatever you want to hurt others without the victims being allowed to say anything back.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Fish didn't go on a 2 hour crash course through racismville , my fren

 

[DNAbro]

It's the same reason why some people defend controversial things in games, but the second you talk anything "social justicey" in games they go ballistic.


Though Phil Fish was kind of dick before actually creating something worthwhile also was a part of it.

 

[pizzaparty]

I think the problem is that Phil Fish is fundamentally unlikeable

So is Colin Moriarty, but he's got people going to bat for him.

 

[Primethius]

As others have said, it's not about free speech. And the defense is brought out by folks who don't really understand free speech anyways.

 

[Zubz]

... People are defending JonTron? Even his own Reddit turned on him, last I checked.

 

[ModBot]

Let's start with the fact that Phil Fish voluntarily left the gaming industry two years ago out of a desire for privacy , segue into the increasingly tenuous connection of the thread topic to gaming, stop by "sometimes people give the benefit of the doubt to people they like and not to those they don't", and finally end with "actually, plenty of people had no problem with Phil Fish speaking his mind, and plenty of people are against JonTron's racist garbage, so it's not even clear that either of the things in the thread title are true"