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[sprocket]

im going to put. " i have a huge penis" in my profile and see how fast i get banned.

its a pride thing.

 

[dfyb]

im going to put. " i have a huge penis" in my profile and see how fast i get banned.

its a pride thing.

that's vulgar. but 'i'm a lesbian' is not. should 'i'm married' be bannable, too?

 

[gkryhewy]

bah nm

 

[TheGreatDave]

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?

I can imagine this is the line MS will follow. I don't think they're too out of line; if you're a parent with a kid on XBL (ignoring the fact you're an awful parent for letting your kid on XBL), there's a world of difference between your child reading "I'm straight" and "I'm gay". Obviously in an ideal world it wouldn't be an issue, but it's silly to pretend it isn't at all. You can't directly compare the two.

 

[SapientWolf]

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.

On one hand, I believe that your orientation is determined by the people you can fall in love with. Anyone can have sex with anyone. That's just body parts rubbing together. On the other hand, it's really abnormal for two people to be in love and not want to have sex with each other.

Either way, when a person posts their sexual orientation they are implicitly advertising the type of people they want to sleep with. MS would come down hard on that type of behavior for any sexual orientation. You don't see people fighting for the right to post on their profiles that they like big butts and they cannot lie.

Also, XBL is probably the worst place on earth to try to meet other gay people. Especially if you're female.

 

[HallucinatingElvis]

Doesn't work. At all.

really? how do you think she got to where she is

Feedback absolutlely works, but just because you submit feedback once for one issue doesnt mean that's all it takes to get that issue resolved

 

[Cowie]

you mad scared?

It's all part of a secret plot by Bash Back!, the radical anarchist homosexual group! They're going to convert our children into gays by taking over Halo!

 

[dfyb]

I can imagine this is the line MS will follow. I don't think they're too out of line; if you're a parent with a kid on XBL (ignoring the fact you're an awful parent for letting your kid on XBL), there's a world of difference between your child reading "I'm straight" and "I'm gay". Obviously in an ideal world it wouldn't be an issue, but it's silly to pretend it isn't at all. You can't directly compare the two.

we didn't improve racial divides by pretending a certain race doesn't exist or that a certain race is somehow offensive. we didn't improve racial divides by appealing to the angry mob.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Maybe in 1950 when being black wasn't socially looked highly upon by whites would this work. Now, no one says "you're black" as a derogatory term. However, people say, "you're gay" all the time as a derogatory term.

Joke?

I don't know about where you live, but in Virginia I most certainly hear people say "You're black" as a derogatory insult all the time.

South still has a long way to go.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

No comment.
Really there's nothing I could say that would be right. So I won't bother.

 

[Ten-Song]

that's vulgar. but 'i'm a lesbian' is not. should 'i'm married' be bannable, too?

Yes, that's offensive to unwed people.

 

[sprocket]

that's vulgar. but 'i'm a lesbian' is not. should 'i'm married' be bannable, too?

yeah that was a joke.. :/

but you know .. no where in my 360 profile does it ask my sexual orientation.

 

[Darkpen]

:/

Is there something in the TOS for XBL where it says that you can't reveal any personal information, or was this information placed in a place where you're supposed to put your personal information to begin with? I don't know anything about the XBL service or specifics when it comes to player profiles, but if they don't have something vague like that in place, this is really fucked up.

 

[xabre]

The idea that you pay for an online service in which abusive, offensive, racist and homophobic language is thrown at you incessantly and all they provide is a broken feedback system that doesn't work is simply atrocious. Try doing this in the chat channels of any online MMO and see how long you last. There's no difference between text and voice, offensive language is offensive language.

The most technically feasible solution I can think of off the top of my head would be to provide an option for the xbox to cache up to an hour voice as compressed audio on the hard drive which is linked to each player. Recording audio on a hard drive is hardly a demanding thing technically. Any offensive comments a player makes could then be sent to Microsoft for review and punishment.

 

[Cowie]

No comment.
Really there's nothing I could say that would be right. So I won't bother.

HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS
WHAT ARE YOU STUCK IN THE 19TH CENTURY
GOD

Spoiler

sorry! couldn't resist

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

that's vulgar. but 'i'm a lesbian' is not. should 'i'm married' be bannable, too?

"I'm married" doesn't imply anything sexual.

 

[Slavik81]

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).

I doubt that the number of online employees is large enough to have any significant effect. Unlike NeoGAF where a handful of moderators can see anything that was posted at any time, to ban people for voice chat, Live employees would have to be one of 4-8 people playing in that specific P2P game. If Microsoft paid 3 people to play games 8-hours per day, that approach might touch one in a few thousand people saying inappropriate things?

The only reasonable way to do it would be to build a function into the voice chat system that forwards all voice chat data to Microsoft's servers. The player could flag a time when a player says something inappropriate. Microsoft then could review it an ban that person if its true. That would require some pretty major software support, though. Which is why I said it was probably more of a technical issue.

The most technically feasible solution I can think of off the top of my head would be to provide an option for the xbox to cache up to an hour voice as compressed audio on the hard drive which is linked to each player. Recording audio on a hard drive is hardly a demanding thing technically. Any offensive comments a player makes could then be sent to Microsoft for review and punishment.

But that would mean people without a hard drive with significant free space couldn't report others.

 

[TheGreatDave]

we didn't improve racial divides by pretending a certain race doesn't exist or that a certain race is somehow offensive. we didn't improve racial divides by appealing to the angry mob.

I'm not saying it's a perfect world. But ultimately, some parents wouldn't want their children thinking about lesbians. I heard on the radio today a bunch of people threatening to pull their children out of school if they were taught about same-sex relationships. It's stupid, I agree. And it's not right. But ultimately nobody is having their rights taken away here; you don't need to say you're gay on your Gamercard.

 

[dfyb]

"I'm married" doesn't imply anything sexual.

what? :lol

is your post a joke about sexless marriages?

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

"I'm married" doesn't imply anything sexual.

It implies a lot more sexual than "I'm a lesbian".

"I'm a lesbian" = I'm a female who is attracted to other females

"I'm married" = I'm a person who is living with my partner, likely sharing the same bed, and in most cases enjoying an active sex life, or have had one in the past.

 

[TheMostGorgeous]

i don't like gays so i'm glad this happened.

 

[VeritasVierge]

i don't like gays so i'm glad this happened.

? Account suicide?

 

[markatisu]

So it offends the people usually found screaming words like 'n*****', f**' and 'jew' as insults? Becuase they sure as hell arent getting banned often enough.

Things like this are reasons why I dont use voicechat anymore.

This needs to be said again because its 100% truth

 

[Minsc]

Too bad this isn't big enough where like 100,000 people put they're a lesbian in their profile in response to this ridiculous nonsense. I'd like to see the fallout from MS staying true to their word and ban 100,000+ paying accounts, who are they kidding, they're just doing it for the money, they'd never ban that many accounts :lol

I still can't believe this is true, it's like we are moving back to the dark ages, and not in a good way!

 

[Dabanton]

In terms of punishing racist players report them i do. But most people can't be bothered.
i find if you challenge these morons they stop what they are doing.

Maybe MS should start dropping in on random matches and seeing what's up that person or persons would then be able to record and log the names of people being racist or sexist and either give them a warning or ban them.

Once people get wind that their may be a MS rep in their matches watching, they'll soon buck up their ideas.

 

[Cdaws]

Microsoft don't give a shit about yours or anyone else's sexuality, until you make it their problem. Not making it their problem shouldn't be a hard thing to do, try the TOS for some helpful tips.

Now lets split hairs all day arguing if sexual orientation is content of a sexual nature, it's not like it's some purposely broad/vague term put there so that Microsoft can swing the ban hammer at basically anything.

But yeah, kick up a big enough stink and Microsoft may decide the goodwill from reversing the decision will outweigh the potential risks associated with making it a protected right that users may declare their sexual orientation on their network. Golly, wouldn't that be a glorious victory?

 

[DevilWillcry]

Again stop blaming the entire community when it was probably a few vengeful morons.

I was just saying it for dramatic effect. I agree with you. only takes a few bad eggs to ruin a good thing.

 

[Proc]

well don't microsoft have egg on their face. It will be interesting if and how microsoft pr responds to this.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I love these threads for the banning and nothing else.

I'm skeptical MS would be that stupid. It's most likely a misunderstanding. Is the ban really based on bad rep reports? If so, it's a tricky situation. But saying stuff like "Being a lesbian is a bannable ofense on XBL" just fans the flames far too much.

 

[Nikorasu]

i don't like gays so i'm glad this happened.

:lol

 

[JonathanEx]

I love these threads for the banning and nothing else.

I'm skeptical MS would be that stupid. It's most likely a misunderstanding. Is the ban really based on bad rep reports? If so, it's a tricky situation. But saying stuff like "Being a lesbian is a bannable ofense on XBL" just fans the flames far too much.

Mentioning sexuality is a bannable offence on Xbox Live.

 

[sk3]

Microsoft is pretty strict about what they allow in gamertags and profiles, so this isn't surprising. In fact, I expect them to ban/suspend anyone that has anything sexual/sexual orientation related in their profiles; i.e. "I'm straight" should also be a bannable offense. Someone test it out!

 

[Mama Robotnik]

i don't like gays so i'm glad this happened.

 

[JonathanEx]

Microsoft is pretty strict about what they allow in gamertags and profiles, so this isn't surprising. In fact, I expect them to ban/suspend anyone that has anything sexual/sexual orientation related in their profiles; i.e. "I'm straight" should also be a bannable offense. Someone test it out!

I'm working on it, and risking my primary account on it. Why? Because claiming that mentioning your sexuality is "offensive" is absurd.

 

[Dabanton]

Microsoft is pretty strict about what they allow in gamertags and profiles, so this isn't surprising. In fact, I expect them to ban/suspend anyone that has anything sexual/sexual orientation related in their profiles; i.e. "I'm straight" should also be a bannable offense. Someone test it out!

Yeah one of my friends had "Bitches get stitches" in his profile and got banned.

 

[SapientWolf]

I wonder if the Kinsey scale would get you banned too.

 

[xabre]

But that would mean people without a hard drive with significant free space couldn't report others.

You wouldn't need more than 50 megs anyway.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Mentioning sexuality is a bannable offence on Xbox Live.

Is that listed in a Terms of Service?
If so, she loses. Game over.

 

[artist]

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.

You're smooth.

 

[JonathanEx]

Is that listed in a Terms of Service?
If so, she loses. Game over.

Unfair terms of service?

You may be banned if you

Create a Gamertag, avatar or use text in other profile fields that may offend other members. This includes comments that look, sound like, stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate or relate to any of the following: profane words/phrases, topics or content of a sexual nature, hate speech (including but not limited to racial, ethnic, or religious slurs), illegal drugs/controlled substances, or illegal activities.

Personally, I find the number 2 offensive. Users with that in their gamertag may offend me, and thus they should all be banned.

 

[Flynn]

Is that listed in a Terms of Service?
If so, she loses. Game over.

Not really. MS needs a better Terms of Service.

 

[pakkit]

"I'm married" doesn't imply anything sexual.

*

 

[Femmeworth]

Personally, I find the number 2 offensive. Users with that in their gamertag may offend me, and thus they should all be banned.

What did 2 ever do, seriously? 7 is another story, he fucking ate 9! The use of 7 clearly indicates support of cannibalism and murder.

 

[Minsc]

People should arrange some kinda protest with their MS avatars! Xbox Live account suicide be damned, we all know GAF loves themed avatars, if enough people get behind it, maybe the story will be put on mainstream press, "MS hates gays," what great PR!

I really hope there's a part two to this story, and MS apologizes (and more). Being gay should not be considered "offensive" by anyone's standards, well anyone who matters/counts.

 

[godhandiscen]

I am actually seeing people defending Microsoft for this. I don't know what is worse, this as a result of fanboyism, or this as a result of actual beliefs?

 

[GreekWolf]

Is that listed in a Terms of Service?
If so, she loses. Game over.

Regardless, the bad publicity will result in many gaymers selling their 360 and moving to another console. It's also unlikely they will ever purchase a Microsoft game system again.

So who really loses here?

 

[SapientWolf]

"I'm married" doesn't imply anything sexual.

You gotta consumate the marriage. With your penis.

 

[mikekennyb]

Seriously, there must be some kind of misunderstanding here or gross exaggeration. It's preposterous to say that simply being gay is a bannable offense on xbox live, there must be more to the story.

 

[TheGreatDave]

I'm working on it, and risking my primary account on it. Why? Because claiming that mentioning your sexuality is "offensive" is absurd.

You keep pretending it's that black and white. It's not a question of "it's wrong to say you're a lesbian", it's a question of what kind of audience can be presented with that information and whether or not society deems it appropriate for them. That's not a question with a simple answer, and it's a question Microsoft have to consider on a worldwide network.

 

[SapientWolf]

Seriously, there must be some kind of misunderstanding here or gross exaggeration. It's preposterous to say that simply being gay is a bannable offense on xbox live, there must be more to the story.

Liking big tits is also bannable. XBL is going to be a ghost town now.