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[Dragona Akehi]

So yeah. If the story is exactly is portrayed it's time to dust off the rarely used "SUE THEIR PANTS OFF" dance and get at it.

GO GO GOOOOOOOO

 

[JonathanEx]

But do people put "I'm Straight" in their profiles?

Maybe some do, but I've never come across it.

Well, I do, GT: JonathanEx, and as it's totally offensive and breaks the TOS, you should obviously report me and see if I get banned.

 

[MikeE21286]

I have no witty comment to write.....that's just dumb

 

[Samara]

I was tired of being asked : Oh my God, you're a girl (outside of Rock Band, I don't think they meet much on LIVE) coupled with the gamertag= Harassment.

She should have put her profile on private like I did. Not that it says much anyway. Maybe she went in the Family section. OK maybe not

 

[N-Bomb]

How about putting 'member of al qaeda' or 'negroes are animals' or 'the holocaust is a lie' in your profile? Should you be banned for that?

xbl is a service they're trying to make as inoffensive as possible, and different people are offended by different things.

That said, who the hell gives a crap. Don't people have a tanking economy or something else important to deal with? What a non-story. Yeesh.

 

[CartridgeBlower]

But putting your sexual orientation, whether its straight or gay, only feeds into the worries that some people are playing online games as a way to 'hook up' with other games. Many of them children.

I'm not saying this woman was doing this. AT ALL.

But that's why it's different then saying "I'm from Canada!" or "I Like Horses!"

It plays into every parent's fear that some of these "gamers" are maybe looking for something more than just a friendly match of Uno.

 

[Quixzlizx]

At any rate, as far as I can tell using "gay" and "wood" in the same tag was considered to be hinting at a topic of a sexual nature, and thus wasn't allowed.

Thanks for informing us.

 

[cabel]

But putting your sexual orientation, whether its straight or gay, only feeds into the worries that people are playing online games as a way to get to children.

What does sexual orientation have to do with children or child molestation?

It plays into every parent's fear that some of these "gamers" are maybe looking for something more than just a friendly match of Uno.

Something tells me you haven't played Uno in a long time.

PENIS CAM ACTIVATED

 

[Shnookums]

I find it frustrating that this sort of thing typically boils down to talk of "sexual" content in ones profile.

Being gay I consider the sex itself the least relevant part of things. Being gay is about who I'm magnetically drawn towards. It's who I feel that hormonal pull to simply be around at every opportunity. Of course sex is a part of that just as sex is implicit in simply stating you are human, but it's a shame that when people think about gay it's so often just about the sex. I like to use gay identifiers in my profile to make friends with other gay people and it has nothing to do with wanting to flaunt my orientation for kicks and certainly has nothing to do with sex itself.

 

[Grecco]

I was tired of being asked : Oh my God, you're a girl (outside of Rock Band, I don't think they meet much on LIVE) coupled with the gamertag= Harassment.

She should have put her profile on private like I did. Not that it says much anyway. Maybe she went in the Family section. OK maybe not

That would defeat the purpose of putting Im a lesbian on the profile no?

 

[CartridgeBlower]

Putting anything to do with sex or your sexual orientation in one's profile is always a bad idea now that we live in the "To Catch A Predator" age.

 

[RSLAEV]

This is bullshit. I'm surprised Microsoft hasn't tried to retract her banning and apologize profusely. I hope they get raked over the coals for this.

 

[Slavik81]

And so she gets punished? BS.

Yes. The bannable offense is ANY discussion of sexual orientation, regardless of whether its positive or negative, or whether it's straight or gay. Why? Because people on both sides get worked up about it, and Microsoft doesn't want to have to deal with what would be a ridiculously difficult task of moderating that discussion.

That said, they should probably just delete it from her profile, give her a warning and unban her.

 

[Dragmire]

It is silly to put your sexual orientation into your profile, it's so irrelevant to playing games, and the XBL fanbase is rife with homophobic, racist idiots. Microsoft are no better though, it seems. Apple from the tree and all that.

I've been through phases where I would occasionally try to be open about it just so people would be somewhat considerate, but it's simply too much to ask for. I realize that the US is going to be in the dark ages in terms of tolerance for a while so what can you do?

 

[Tamanon]

But do people put "I'm Straight" in their profiles?

Maybe some do, but I've never come across it.

Either way, it's dumb on both sides. Dumb of this girl for putting this out there when everyone knows XBOX Live is full of homophobic idiots, and dumb of Microsoft for blowing it up by banning her.

To be fair, another reason to put "I'm a lesbian" on there would be to cut down on the guys hitting on her because she's a female on Xbox Live.

 

[Slavik81]

To be fair, another reason to put "I'm a lesbian" on there would be to cut down on the guys hitting on her because she's a female on Xbox Live.

:lol

That would not help.

 

[Quixzlizx]

How about putting 'member of al qaeda' or 'negroes are animals' or 'the holocaust is a lie' in your profile? Should you be banned for that?

xbl is a service they're trying to make as inoffensive as possible, and different people are offended by different things.

That said, who the hell gives a crap. Don't people have a tanking economy or something else important to deal with? What a non-story. Yeesh.

Equating hate speech with sexual orientation is moronic.

So is saying "You're not allowed to care about an issue as long as something that I deem more important is out there."

 

[Micromegas]

It plays into every parent's fear that some of these "gamers" are maybe looking for something more than just a friendly match of Uno.

That's the most shallow part of the argument, and plays right into what MS wants parents to think by banning gamertags and mottos, because that's what most parents will see?

They are never expecting parents to put on the headset and hear what's actually going on.

Be nice to see a "whattheyplay.com" expose on what really is said during your average Halo match. Would make the most offensive gamertag imaginable seem tame by comparison.

This:

"Remember everyone, if you want a kinder, friendler Xbox Live, make good use of the feedback and complaint systems."

Doesn't work. At all.

 

[Dragmire]

But putting your sexual orientation, whether its straight or gay, only feeds into the worries that some people are playing online games as a way to 'hook up' with other games. Many of them children.

I'm not saying this woman was doing this. AT ALL.

But that's why it's different then saying "I'm from Canada!" or "I Like Horses!"

It plays into every parent's fear that some of these "gamers" are maybe looking for something more than just a friendly match of Uno.

I realize what you're saying, but that is a very negative, old stereotype and people need to know that gay is not synonymous with sexual deviant.

 

[dfyb]

i was expecting some lesbian-related term being banned, but this is just ridiculous. has there been an apology dispatched yet?

 

[JonathanEx]

i was expecting some lesbian-related term being banned, but this is just ridiculous. has there been an apology dispatched yet?

No, the banhammer team went "yup, we don't allow that." Not exact quote.

 

[N-Bomb]

i was expecting some lesbian-related term being banned, but this is just ridiculous. has there been an apology dispatched yet?

If it's spelled out plainly in the terms, I hope not.

If it isn't, then I hope so.

 

[Blizzard]

Thanks for informing us.

You're welcome, despite your sarcasm. Someone else posted the more detailed legal-ish response from MS earlier, which explains the situation more clearly. It seems pretty obvious that someone could take it in a sexual way.

I'm trying to bail out of this thread since most people have gone back to the reaction stage instead of asking for proof or details.

 

[Flynn]

To be fair, another reason to put "I'm a lesbian" on there would be to cut down on the guys hitting on her because she's a female on Xbox Live.

My friend's says, "I'm a girl, idiots."

Probably bannable too. She's talking about sex.

 

[Digital-Hero]

http://consumerist.com/5160187/identifying-yourself-as-a-lesbian-gets-you-banned-on-xbox-live



I imagine this won't sit well with the gaymers on gaf, of which there are legion. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Why would she need to state her sexual orientation on her profile? That is a problem already. Xbox Live is for games, not to pick up dudes or women.

 

[godhandiscen]

Such a stupid move on part of whoever did this. I am pretty sure this doesn't represent Microsoft as a whole, it would be PR suicide.

 

[N-Bomb]

My friend's says, "I'm a girl, idiots."

Probably bannable too. She's talking about sex.

Are you serious? Like, really, do you mean that, or can I not read your sarcasm?

 

[sprocket]

i was expecting some lesbian-related term being banned, but this is just ridiculous. has there been an apology dispatched yet?

how do you know it wasnt something vulgar on her profile?

people instantly take sides without knowing anything.

 

[AniHawk]

how do you know it wasnt something vulgar on her profile?

people instantly take sides without knowing anything.

i just find it annoying because i dont going around screaming... im straight. hey hey look at me I am straight!!

She wanted attention and she got it.

They suuuuuuuuuuure do.

 

[JonathanEx]

how do you know it wasnt something vulgar on her profile?

people instantly take sides without knowing anything.

We don't know the details of this incident, but we do know Microsoft do not allow mentioning of sexual orientation in your profile, apparently either hetro or homosexual.

 

[Flynn]

Are you serious? Like, really, do you mean that, or can I not read your sarcasm?

I totally don't mean that. Just in case.

But the reality is that's what the Xbox Live community has come to. It's an asylum run by the inmates.

 

[dfyb]

how do you know it wasnt something vulgar on her profile?

people instantly take sides without knowing anything.

i was skimming and it seemed like it wasn't vulgar, but yeah, i'd like to see the exact quote before coming to a final conclusion.

 

[Liabe Brave]

It's only tangentially related, but I would really, really like it if all the platform holders had a zero-tolerance policy toward racist speech online. A single instance of racial epithets or jokes in the presence of moderators should result in a permanent ban of the user's account.

When I hear some of the idiots on PSN, I want to reach through the internet and strangle them to death.

 

[sprocket]

They suuuuuuuuuuure do.

most do. why would they even say it?

 

[Pachael]

Such a stupid move on part of whoever did this. I am pretty sure this doesn't represent Microsoft as a whole, it would be PR suicide.

Did I mention Xbox community managers would be able to help sort this mess out? And what happened - Microsoft just let go someone that I'm thinking of that might help alleviate this. So they've dug their own grave.

 

[Cowie]

how do you know it wasnt something vulgar on her profile?

people instantly take sides without knowing anything.

this entire thread is based on the assumption that the story is true, you've got a lot more than one post to quote and say that to.

But you're probably right. What is the morals of a gay person? You can't answer that because anything goes!

 

[Flynn]

It's only tangentially related, but I would really, really like it if all the platform holders had a zero-tolerance policy toward racist speech online. A single instance of racial epithets or jokes in the presence of moderators should result in a permanent ban of the user's account.

When I hear some of the idiots on PSN, I want to reach through the internet and strangle them to death.

It seems so simple and reasonable when you put it like this. Crazy how nobody has the rocks to stand behind something like this.

 

[AniHawk]

most do. why would they even say it?

There's so much hate spread around about being gay (all the time, everywhere) and they would like to express pride being who they are?

But my point was that when you were accusing others of jumping to conclusions for taking her side, you had already said "well she got what she deserved" much earlier. Really, the only point was to point out your hypocrisy.

 

[dfyb]

most do. why would they even say it?

same reason people fly american flags or wear shirts depicting their local soccer team. like anihawk mentioned, it's pride.

 

[BradleyUK]

What you expect from an American company?

Cuba has more gay rights than America, its really pathetic. :lol

 

[Flynn]

What is the morals of a gay person?

:lol

This is what we're up against.

 

[sprocket]

There's so much hate spread around about being gay (all the time, everywhere) and they would like to express pride being who they are?

not everyone is on a grand quest. some just want people to go.. oohh look a gay person.

 

[Slavik81]

It seems so simple and reasonable when you put it like this. Crazy how nobody has the rocks to stand behind something like this.

I think that's more a technological issue than an issue of not having 'rocks'.

 

[Cowie]

not everyone is on a grand quest. some just want people to go.. oohh look a gay person.

some people put it in their profile to bait you into flaming them and report you! The homosexual xbox live agenda wants to get all breeders banned from the service! Fight for your rights!

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Isn't content of a sexual nature not allowed on Live? Seems simple enough to me. What kind of attention whore advertises their sexual orientation anyway?

 

[dfyb]

some people put it in their profile to bait you into flaming them and report you! The homosexual xbox live agenda wants to get all breeders banned from the service! Fight for your rights!

you mad scared?

 

[Liabe Brave]

I think that's more a technological issue than an issue of not having 'rocks'.

Not at all. I'm not saying they should hire a thousand temps to listen in on every game. Just, anywhere that they have an online employee already--and those are obviously scattered around the place on all systems--they should be instructed to permaban for any racist statements. It wouldn't get nearly everybody who spouts that crap, but it would put in place a clear culture of no tolerance, which would reduce it even in unmoderated games (which of course are a huge majority).

 

[RevenantKioku]

same reason people fly american flags or wear shirts depicting their local soccer team. like anihawk mentioned, it's pride.

They should remember that pride is sin.

 

[Flynn]

I think that's more a technological issue than an issue of not having 'rocks'.

They need to build a button that bans 90% of Xbox Live in one go. I can see how that would be difficult.

 

[dfyb]

even if they don't have the manpower to police a majority of the games -- the mere chance of being banned for racist comments would help motivate people to cease making those comments.