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[Ogbert]

What’s so amusing is that, in considering her behaviour, you couldn’t find a more pristine example of privilege, a term I’m sure she likes to chuck around.

She wants to be able to drape herself in status and hierarchy (I’m a writer darling, with ten years experience) and insult people without consequence.

The attempts, by the usual suspects, to turn this into some sort of conspiracy are genuinely embarrassing.

 

[bosnianpie]

I think it was justified to let her go. The discussion on Twitter was work related and her reaction to some constructive criticism from a fan was just childish. Even a teenager working at Walmart know that they have to treat costumers with respect, why would it be any different in this case?

I hope she moves on to another field, we have enough people like her in gaming development today.

 

[Zewp]

It's saddening to see that the "official" story is already that a female dev got bullied out of her job by horrible misogynists. Oh well.

On another note, Randy Pitchford chimed in over the weekend and his opinion seems to be that the firing was over the top, but she was definitely stepping over a line:

I agree. There’s space between “okay” and “you’re fired”. Since I posted that, some people have shared other things she has done before that, IMO, are a zillion times worse than her behavior on July 4. That said, generally you want to coach, lead and rally ‘round the family.

It's quite interesting to see him take that particular stance, considering her defenders' opinions seem to 100% be that Jessica is a victim who did nothing wrong and has not doing anything wrong in the past either. You would think they would be pretty upset at Randy for criticising her behaviour like that.

 

[Damigos]

I usually dont like it when people lose their jobs. I can always make exceptions though

 

[llien]

People have lost their jobs over much less ridiculous tweets. Here's an example, and it also applies on another level because it's probably what many people in that office are thinking today.

Was he really fired for this tweet???

 

[DryvBy]

What’s so amusing is that, in considering her behaviour, you couldn’t find a more pristine example of privilege, a term I’m sure she likes to chuck around.

She wants to be able to drape herself in status and hierarchy (I’m a writer darling, with ten years experience) and insult people without consequence.

The attempts, by the usual suspects, to turn this into some sort of conspiracy are genuinely embarrassing.

Truly this. She doesn't even get why she was fired and doubled up her stupidity by claiming being fired was "unprofessional".

The entire exchange has been archived, wrapped and processed. We saw what happened. A customer of the company you work for disagreed with you on Twitter, you got huffy, played the sexism card and lost big. Welcome to the workforce. You don't attack your company's customers when they're not doing a single thing but disagreeing with you.

Was he really fired for this tweet???

They "parted ways" over it. And that's why I'd never be a new wave feminist because I have a sense of humor.

 

[Thiagosc777]

I find it funny that some developers, like Randy Pitchford, act as if game development is a uniquely hard area of human endeavor and that excuses any kind of behavior. She would be reprimanded or fired in any business anywhere in the world for acting this way.

There are certain things that are pre-requisites for any job anywhere. Being respectful towards customers is one of those things.

 

[Damigos]

She should have known the power of social media. Personally i am glad this came out, as i do not want feminism and pseudo woman-empowerment stuff near my favorite hobby.
And before hammering me please search the term online to see what it means. Thank you in advance

 

[Damigos]

And that's why I'd never be a new wave feminist because I have a sense of humor.

I love you

 

[Hendrick's]

The attitude of these so-called gaming journalists is what is infuriating. No Austin, really, why shouldn't they lose their jobs for being rude to customers? I would, as would many, many others out there with real jobs. Sorry for not making this about some sort of social injustice instead of what it actually is, a rude and mean spirited person losing her job for being, well, publicly rude and mean-spirited to the consumers of her companies products.

 

[Scopa]

Austin Walker is as predictable as he is irrelevant.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Social media ISN’T private. Nothing on the internet is, even if you supposedly deem it to be. If you didn’t want people to hear/read what you have to say, you wouldn’t post it online.

Social media gives users one of the loudest microphones ever devised. Millions can hear you— and that exponentially raises the chances of pissing someone off if you have strong, potentially divisive opinions. Save those for a written journal or dinner conversations with family or trusted friends.

And I can’t stress enough that, unless it’s mandated for your job, you should NEVER associate your social media accounts with your employer. If you do, you’re begging for trouble. If you think that silly disclaimers about opinions being yours and not your employer’s are going to save you... think again.

It's actually very successful as I know plenty of folks that go about doing that and they're more than fine, and have been since FB has been open to the public really. But yes, if for some reason you say a lot that could potentially get you into trouble, it would certainly be wise to just not say anything at all. I agree about the never associating your social media accounts with your employer thing. It's a shame that there are some (at least were) companies out there that would ask for your social media information, or at least your Facebook. It's always come off as gross to me.

Crazy to see that she continues to say such bizarre and questionable things. She should just stop. It's really hard to not assume she's some kind of troll, the hardest part is knowing that she's not and that she's being completely legit. Ugh.

 

[Kacho]

The attitude of these so-called gaming journalists is what is infuriating. No Austin, really, why shouldn't they lose their jobs for being rude to customers? I would, as would many, many others out there with real jobs. Sorry for not making this about some sort of social injustice instead of what it actually is.

To be fair, that's kind of his bit. I mean, OF COURSE he feels that way. He writes for fucking Waypoint lol

 

[Jaccan]

Hmm, the guy´s tweet was a pretty civil and polite tweet and this writer responded with vengeance and like he just murdered her favourite cheese sandwich.
So i am sure there was other things that led to her firing but it was the only outcome when you respond like that

 

[Ogbert]

The attitude of these so-called gaming journalists is what is infuriating. No Austin, really, why shouldn't they lose their jobs for being rude to customers? I would, as would many, many others out there with real jobs. Sorry for not making this about some sort of social injustice instead of what it actually is, a rude and mean spirited person losing her job for being, well, publicly rude and mean-spirited to the consumers of her companies products.

Just read the Danny O'Dwyer hot take; another one who's at been at the Kool Aid.

What all this demonstrates is that the video game industry is full of manchildren and ladychildren. I can only assume, from their obvious sincerity, that they actually believe what they are saying rather than cynically attempting to deflect an argument. It's a case of arrested development.

Anyone who holds down a sensible job knows you can't behave like that. It's not even something you learn 'as a professional'; it's common decency that should be discovered as a young man or woman. She acted like an utter c1nt and got called out for it. If I behaved like that, I wouldn't even bother coming into the office next day.

 

[Dr. Claus]

Just read the Danny O'Dwyer hot take; another one who's at been at the Kool Aid.

What all this demonstrates is that the video game industry is full of manchildren and ladychildren. I can only assume, from their obvious sincerity, that they actually believe what they are saying rather than cynically attempting to deflect an argument. It's a case of arrested development.

Anyone who holds down a sensible job knows you can't behave like that. It's not even something you learn 'as a professional'; it's common decency that should be discovered as a young man or woman. She acted like an utter c1nt and got called out for it. If I behaved like that, I wouldn't even bother coming into the office next day.

Danny has been with that side for a while now. Hell, he even promoted one of the "forever victims", Zoe Quinn during the FMV video they did for No Clip (and then began to berate fans of the show for criticizing this move). Dude is a bit of a dick.

 

[DryvBy]

The attitude of these so-called gaming journalists is what is infuriating. No Austin, really, why shouldn't they lose their jobs for being rude to customers? I would, as would many, many others out there with real jobs. Sorry for not making this about some sort of social injustice instead of what it actually is, a rude and mean spirited person losing her job for being, well, publicly rude and mean-spirited to the consumers of her companies products.

Austin Walker is pathetic. He is too woke to see how lame it is to be non-stop angry. I'm sure him and his bunch are always depressed and have no idea why either.

 

[Grinchy]

Hmm, the guy´s tweet was a pretty civil and polite tweet and this writer responded with vengeance and like he just murdered her favourite cheese sandwich.
So i am sure there was other things that led to her firing but it was the only outcome when you respond like that

I bet she had a "history of similar infractions."

 

[Kacho]

I bet she had a "history of similar infractions."

I guess you could say that she's been "actioned"

 

[Enygger_Tzu]

I read the exchange, would it kill her to apologize post-fact and act in a more humble way? Some humility now would go a long way.

 

[Northeastmonk]

I hate when someone takes my comments the wrong way. I'm not trying to tell them how to live their life, but half my job is teaching someone else what I know and vice versa. I would be worried about giving her any type of feedback. That's the worst part.

I've taken worse criticism at my job, but I realize if I'm not told anything different then I believe the same thing without ever growing. It sucks, but its helped me become better at my job.

The gaming world has a very trendy work force it seems. Lots of people on the verge of making the headlines with social comments and the like.

 

[DeliciousDoc]

If people keep getting punished for being asses online and their victim cries go onheard, maybe (online) society can go back to normal.

Good on anet.

 

[Dunki]

Atother great video giving also the voice of the CEO which sounds the most sane



But honestly fuck polygon how they made this article about something it never was andhow they sensationalized the whole view of Price. Fucking ridiculous.

 

[Zewp]

I read the exchange, would it kill her to apologize post-fact and act in a more humble way? Some humility now would go a long way.

Sadly, yes, it probably would.

Folks like this are so used to living in an echo chamber where they're always right and they can always move the goalposts ever so slightly when necessary, that I think they'd have a total meltdown if they had to admit they're wrong once in a while. Her reputation is built on being an unapologetic, ruthless jerk in the name of social justice. Make her apologise and you take all of that away.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

I read the exchange, would it kill her to apologize post-fact and act in a more humble way? Some humility now would go a long way.

Humility is not necessary for those on the right side of history.

 

[autoduelist]

Sadly, yes, it probably would.

Folks like this are so used to living in an echo chamber where they're always right and they can always move the goalposts ever so slightly when necessary, that I think they'd have a total meltdown if they had to admit they're wrong once in a while. Her reputation is built on being an unapologetic, ruthless jerk in the name of social justice. Make her apologise and you take all of that away.

Why apologize when now you can get paid to speak at events?

 

[MayauMiao]

I thought these people have the intellect, as Peter Fries like to point out, equivalent of an 'astronomer' and yet somehow clueless about how social media like Twitter works.

 

[Terce]

I thought these people have the intellect, as Peter Fries like to point out, equivalent of an 'astronomer' and yet somehow clueless about how social media like Twitter works.

LOL what is this guy on, is he going to tell his future employers not to look up his social media accounts because they're "private". I don't get how some of these people get a job in the first place, it must be some extreme level of talent to make up for the complete lack of social awareness

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

"Private social media accounts"

Back in my day we called that "email".

 

[MayauMiao]

LOL what is this guy on, is he going to tell his future employers not to look up his social media accounts because they're "private". I don't get how some of these people get a job in the first place, it must be some extreme level of talent to make up for the complete lack of social awareness

He's really scraping at the bottom of the barrel trying to defend Jessica Price behavior.

 

[manfestival]

I feel this is a wonderful situation. It is kinda like fumigating a home full of rats.

 

[Petrae]

I thought these people have the intellect, as Peter Fries like to point out, equivalent of an 'astronomer' and yet somehow clueless about how social media like Twitter works.

Yeah, no. He’s 100% wrong, full stop. Social media is NOT private— hell, “social” is in the damned term. Neither account was locked down. That means his (and her) social media account was completely public. It’s the same as walking around with the world’s largest and loudest microphone.

You CHOOSE to share your thoughts and opinions on social media. Unless it’s your job— i.e. Social Media Manager, Community Manager— nobody forces you to post anything. You WANT people to read it. You may try to bullshit and say that it’s not your intent, but you’re fooling yourself if you say so. If you don’t want people to react, either don’t post it (best course of action) or lock down your account (not the best, but better than nothing).

Mr. Fries here shows an amazing amount of ignorance and generates zero sympathy. If you don’t know how social media works, don’t use it. Otherwise, all of the excuses in the world can’t save you from real-world consequences.

Also— in response to recent developments in the thread, the gaming media is looking awful here. Not only is the representation of the story completely biased, but the emotional connection to the terminated employees is just weird.

They’re not heroes. They didn’t sacrifice anything. They behaved poorly online and represented their employer in a negative fashion. People get fired for bad social media decisions all the time.

Like it or not, using social media in an aggressive or disrespectful fashion is a transgression. Your freedom of speech is fully intact— but if you insist on being a jerk online, you had better learn to accept any consequences that come with it. You don’t need a warning; warnings have been everywhere in the examples of the people fired before you for behaving badly on social media. Don’t even bother with an “I shouldn’t be stifled” defense, because all that says to me (and anyone who thinks about this logically) is that you want carte blanche to say whatever you want without consequence... and that’s not how things work.

 

[jufonuk]

Why I keep my twitter account to just talking about how bad the train service I’m the U.K. is on a particular franchise

 

[Helios]

I thought these people have the intellect, as Peter Fries like to point out, equivalent of an 'astronomer' and yet somehow clueless about how social media like Twitter works.

I don't know why he chose to defend her. I'm sure there is more behind the scene (maybe they were good friends)but it doesn't seem like the guy is that bad. He could've easily pulled the victim card but chose not to.
Either way, while I think there's definitely reasons for firing Jessica, I think this guy didn't deserve it.

 

[MayauMiao]

I don't know why he chose to defend her. I'm sure there is more behind the scene (maybe they were good friends)but it doesn't seem like the guy is that bad. He could've easily pulled the victim card but chose not to.
Either way, while I think there's definitely reasons for firing Jessica, I think this guy didn't deserve it.

Perhaps she's already toxic to ArenaNet, and her rude tweets to the fans was the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[Hendrick's]

I don't know why he chose to defend her. I'm sure there is more behind the scene (maybe they were good friends)but it doesn't seem like the guy is that bad. He could've easily pulled the victim card but chose not to.
Either way, while I think there's definitely reasons for firing Jessica, I think this guy didn't deserve it.

He was just sacrificed in the name of equality.

 

[MayauMiao]

He was just sacrificed in the name of equality.

Maybe ArenaNet saw him about to "get woke" by defending her awful tweet to the community, so they "go broke" on him.

 

[Helios]

Perhaps she's already toxic to ArenaNet, and her rude tweets to the fans was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I can see that, especially with the tweet about TB.

He was just sacrificed in the name of equality.

Yeah, I imagine the outrage would've been even bigger if she was the only one fired.

 

[Ogbert]

Why I keep my twitter account to just talking about how bad the train service I’m the U.K. is on a particular franchise

Southern Rail?

I’ve had a twitter account for about five years and only sent around ten tweets. On each occasion, it was to remind Southern that they are incompetent bellends.

 

[MiguelItUp]

But honestly fuck polygon how they made this article about something it never was andhow they sensationalized the whole view of Price. Fucking ridiculous.

Right? I expect nothing less from them. For years it's felt like Polygon and Kotaku LOVE hopping onto topics like this, but you know, clickbait, clicks, etc. Regardless it's absolutely surreal, and completely gross.

It makes me rage knowing that it DOES still exist (sexism). But nothing infuriates me more than "boy that cried wolf" scenarios revolving around such horrible topics. ESPECIALLY when a false accusation follows. Serious topics should never just get thrown around. It's just absolutely disgusting.

 

[Relativ9]

Yeah, I would have probably fired her as well. The other guy though? I mean yeah he was in the wrong but to such a comparatively minor degree that I feel like his firing was unnecessary. Not sure if there was other stuff behind the scenes, we'll probably never know cause companies typically publicly disclose reasons for firing people. Still though, without evidence to the contrary, he shouldn't have been fired.

Can we say shame on Kotaku and Polygon in this case though (like so many cases)? Like what the actual fuck are those articles?

 

[a multicultural team of v]

The attitude of these so-called gaming journalists is what is infuriating. No Austin, really, why shouldn't they lose their jobs for being rude to customers? I would, as would many, many others out there with real jobs. Sorry for not making this about some sort of social injustice instead of what it actually is, a rude and mean spirited person losing her job for being, well, publicly rude and mean-spirited to the consumers of her companies products.

yeah, much better to see lots of uncritical "she is a woman and therefore cannot be wrong"

 

[DryvBy]

edit: Gonna verify stuff first then repost.

 

[Sakura Doritos]

Atother great video giving also the voice of the CEO which sounds the most sane



But honestly fuck polygon how they made this article about something it never was andhow they sensationalized the whole view of Price. Fucking ridiculous.

Great video. Love his stuff. Price is delusional and dangerous. I love how she said her manager wasn't there and the president is like chop liver. You can't make this stuff up.

 

[Flying Toaster]

I stand by my statement months ago that using social media as a speaking platform can be used against you. Especially when you make statements that directly impact your employer. This situation being created as black and white with gender versus anything else is unfortunate and is disingenuous with what actually happened.

 

[RiccochetJ]

Maybe ArenaNet saw him about to "get woke" by defending her awful tweet to the community, so they "go broke" on him.

Naw, I saw him getting fired because he patted a significant contributor, voice of the community, and hardcore fanboy on the head and said, "Let the experts handle this"

I honestly think without that one tweet, he would have skated.

 

[MayauMiao]

I can't find a single youtube video with good response supporting Jessica Price.

Also, Laymen Gaming thoughts on the issue:

 

[Lionel Richie]

I usually dont like it when people lose their jobs. I can always make exceptions though

Yep. Losing your job over something you tweeted is especially ridiculous, but you shouldn't antagonize your fucking customer.

 

[jufonuk]

Southern Rail?

I’ve had a twitter account for about five years and only sent around ten tweets. On each occasion, it was to remind Southern that they are incompetent bellends.

Southeastern

 

[Ogbert]

Southeastern

Ah.

I've heard fabulous things about their work.