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[M.J. Doja]

I always thought that the profile section of Xbox Live was to help you identify people you've played with before, because sometimes remembering someone from just their gamertag is too hard. So a little information about their line of work or hobbies outside of gaming can help jog my terrible memory.

"Oh yeah, you're that Lesbian I was playing with the other night" probably isn't how someone wants to be identified, so why identify themselves like that. Unless I'm trying to sleep with you, I don't need to know if you're gay/straight/whatever, just that you're a cool person to play games with and talk to while I play games. So age, line of work and a few hobbies outside of gaming is as much info as anyone would require, as far as I can tell. Basically a few conversation starters, or nothing at all.

Microsoft isn't stopping people from sending private messages to other users, or voice chat or video chat, there are plenty of ways to let others know what side your bread is buttered. Puting your sexuality in your profile seems like you're trying to use Xbox Live as a dating site, and that's not what Microsoft wants it to be. They're just trying to keep all their users on topic.

there are posts addressing that this is clearly not the intent of the person in the OP.

the bigger issue is that nobody reads the TOS, and that the girl probably didnt know that you couldn't list your sexual orientation in your profile. most likely, its to protect them from the racist/homophobic/teenage users of XBL!

 

[Jswanko]

We MUST preserve the dignity of Xbox Live for those 12 years old screaming racial slurs!

This is just inexcusable, yet somehow 60% of my fellow Californians would probably say good job Microsoft.

 

[JessicaPadkin]

I wonder how many of you would feel if you were part of a community where it was automatically assumed you were gay (or female, or Christian, etc...) when you weren't. I can fully understand the desire to want to label yourself as a minority, ESPECIALLY in an environment where bigotry is so rampant.

Now if you'll excuse me, I suppose I'd better go and change my avatar to a man. I don't like pretending to be male, but if I don't want to be a victim of misogyny I shouldn't be 'flaunting' my gender... right?

 

[neorej]

I was just thinking: people who are offended by words like "Lesbian", "gay" and "homosexual"... shouldn't they embrace gay people putting gay references in their gamertags for their children's sake? When your kid is on the Xbox and you see "LezzyMcGuire killed AllColorsOfTheRainbow54 with a glorious gutshot that sprayed his intestines 50 feet away", at least THEN you can intercept, pull the plug and protect them from the homo-propaganda they inject into your child's ears.

 

[Odrion]

I was just thinking: people who are offended by words like "Lesbian", "gay" and "homosexual"... shouldn't they embrace gay people putting gay references in their gamertags for their children's sake? When your kid is on the Xbox and you see "LezzyMcGuire killed AllColorsOfTheRainbow54 with a glorious gutshot that sprayed his intestines 50 feet away", at least THEN you can intercept, pull the plug and protect them from the homo-propaganda they inject into your child's ears.

you're acting like those people follow normal logic

 

[SimpleDesign]

I still want to know who these people are, I want gamertags.

 

[Dead Man Typing]

there are posts addressing that this is clearly not the intent of the person in the OP.

the bigger issue is that nobody reads the TOS, and that the girl probably didnt know that you couldn't list your sexual orientation in your profile. most likely, its to protect them from the racist/homophobic/teenage users of XBL!

I did say "seems like".

Microsoft can't know every person's intentions from just what is written in the profile, so there has to be rules about what can be written. It's not perfect, but the alternatives aren't pretty either.

 

[Llyranor]

"That's nothing! I got banned for saying my favorite color was green!"

 

[JonathanEx]

I wonder how many of you would feel if you were part of a community where it was automatically assumed you were gay (or female, or Christian, etc...) when you weren't. I can fully understand the desire to want to label yourself as a minority, ESPECIALLY in an environment where bigotry is so rampant.

Now if you'll excuse me, I suppose I'd better go and change my avatar to a man. I don't like pretending to be male, but if I don't want to be a victim of misogyny I shouldn't be 'flaunting' my gender... right?

Well yes, especially as your gender isn't relevant, quite frankly why you wanted to be identified as female is stupid in the first place.

Spoiler

[/sarcasm]

 

[Interfectum]

It's amazing. Lesbian is an offensive word.

But practically every Xbox game out there is about murder.

USA! USA! USA!

Change. :lol

What's with the anti-American bullshit in this thread? This is an MS policy, not an American policy.

 

[CitizenCope]

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.

This I'm afraid.

 

[JonathanEx]

"That's nothing! I got banned for saying my favorite color was green!"

Anyone want to set up a secondary silver account we can report to see if we can get it banned as it offends colourblind people?

 

[Torquill]

There's still an important distinction between labeling your race and labeling your sexual orientation. I don't know if I would care, cause I don't have kids, but some parents may not think it's an appropriate topic for younger kids one way or the other.

 

[nestea]

Imagine, people in a community want to create an identity for themselves.

This is why I prefer Nintendo's system. 1523-5693-4306, loud and proud!

 

[Torquill]

What's with the anti-American bullshit in this thread? This is an MS policy, not an American policy.

You don't think MS policy is affected by the trends of it's largest market?

 

[Grecco]

You don't think MS policy is affected by the trends of it's largest market?

No.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

All you straight people, go outside for a walk with your partner, and hold hands. Enjoy it, because apparently gay people shouldn't do that.

Is there a Terms of Service saying it is illegal for gays to go outside and hold hands? :lol

As far as it pertains to this situation, in your little analogy, straight people wouldn't be allowed to go outside and hold hands either.

 

[McBacon]

Imagine, people in a community want to create an identity for themselves.

This is why I prefer Nintendo's system. 1523-5693-4306, loud and proud!

You offend me deeply.

 

[Interfectum]

You don't think MS policy is affected by the trends of it's largest market?

I think lumping an entire country full of people into some gay hating populace is just bad as discriminating against someone because of their race or sexual preference. Any form of bigotry is ignorant.

And again, "America' didn't set this policy, MS did. Most people wouldn't give a flying fuck if some XBL gamer put 'im a lesbian' in their profile.

My guess is MS is doing this across the board to keep sexual talk to a minimum in fear of child predators. The same reason why Nintendo does friend codes.

But feel free to bash America... seems constructive. :lol

 

[Dead Man]

Is there a Terms of Service saying it is illegal for gays to go outside and hold hands? :lol

As far as it pertains to this situation, in your little analogy, straight people wouldn't be allowed to go outside and hold hands either.

Way to go, you're a thinker! I was not directing that at the TOS, I was obviously directing that at the people saying that gay people should not proclaim their orientation.

 

[Ranger X]

What we are really missing is some kind of "moral" laws on wich we could base a judgment on "what is a valid complain" and what's a reasonable one. I mean, i'm sure there are respect and honesty traits that ARE universal to everybody.

We are getting to a point where pure rationale is starting to play against us instead of helping us. There should be a line of thinking that would simply ditch your complain when it's obvious that it's dumb and unrespectful. The guy on Xbox live doesn't like your sexual orientation and make and complain to Microsoft? The guy automatically receive a warning that his complain isn't valid and doesn't respect other people. At the same time they should warn the person that if he keeps making such complain he will be banned from Xbox live.

.

 

[Cowie]

fake edit
instead of telling people elaborate ways to go kill themselves, i'm leaving this thread with my account intact.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Way to go, you're a thinker! I was not directing that at the TOS, I was obviously directing that at the people saying that gay people should not proclaim their orientation.

Well yeah because your Live account where your sexual orientation is 110% irrelevant is exactly the same as real life.

 

[VeritasVierge]

Wait... So the person who raised this entire big mess was probably just given a 1-day ban?
And here I'd been thinking that they'd overreacted, giving her a permanent ban rather than a warning.

You brought up the only detail in this case that I really want to know. Whether it was a permanent ban or not. If it is permanent than we have a real problem here based on Jonathanex's experiment. It would be blatant discrimination.

 

[Torquill]

No.

Adult movies make money. Why doesn't Xbox Live offer adult movies if it doesn't care about the trends (I really meant views/beliefs, not trends) of it's market?

 

[fortified_concept]

It's amazing. Lesbian is an offensive word.

But practically every Xbox game out there is about murder.

USA! USA! USA!

Change. :lol

Not just lesbian but everything involving sex.

The most fucking depressing thing about the internet is that it originated in USA thus its ethics are based on USA's retarded morals which are pretty much summed up in this:
Violence = Good or acceptable
Sex = BAD, OMG think of the children.

This forum is a good example, you can post melting faces or violent gifs but if you dare to post boobs or the areola of a boob you're getting banned.

 

[JonathanEx]

You brought up the only detail in this case that I really want to know. Whether it was a permanent ban or not. If it is permanent than we have a real problem here based on Jonathanex's experiment. It would be blatant discrimination.

I got a 1 day ban, and the ban length for the original case is not yet known.

I'd test 'lesbian', but uh, I can't now for obvious reasons. And yes, I'm repeating myself with things like this, but just to clarify. It's a long thread.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Only a one day ban for heterosexual? My friend's ban was 4 days IIRC for loving Jesus.

 

[Dead Man]

Well yeah because your Live account where your sexual orientation is 110% irrelevant is exactly the same as real life.

Are you trying to be obtuse, or do you really not see that ALL social interactions are a part of life, whether face to face, or mediated by technology?

 

[Interfectum]

Not just lesbian but everything involving sex.

The most fucking depressing thing about the internet is that it originated in USA thus its ethics are based on USA's retarded morals which are pretty much summed up in this:
Violence = Good or acceptable
Sex = BAD, OMG think of the children.

This forum is a good example, you can post melting faces or violent gifs but if you dare to post boobs or the areola of a boob you're getting banned.

Yes because it's impossible to find any porn or nudity on the internet. :lol

Get the fuck out of here. :lol

 

[Adam Prime]

Lesbians should not be allowed to put their sexual orientation on their XBL account, period.

Spoiler

Unless they're hot and they provide pics

 

[M.J. Doja]

Not just lesbian but everything involving sex.

The most fucking depressing thing about the internet is that it originated in USA thus its ethics are based on USA's retarded morals which are pretty much summed up in this:
Violence = Good or acceptable
Sex = BAD, OMG think of the children.

This forum is a good example, you can post melting faces or violent gifs but if you dare to post boobs or the areola of a boob you're getting banned.

give me one good example of where NeoGAF or the Internet could originate and exist besides the USA, every country has its flaws. if you think violence is a big deal then thats tough since the games we play deal with them a lot, but more people do not care for sexual content without a time and place.

plus, america founded by puritans yadda yadda 2nd amendment guns r wut made the revolution happen.. and stuff.

Only a one day ban for heterosexual? My friend's ban was 4 days IIRC for loving Jesus.

the bans were for the content in their user profile, not for being what they are.

please, just stop, in your head its funny, youre playing a weak form of antagonist.

 

[fortified_concept]

Yes because it's impossible to find any porn or nudity on the internet. :lol

Get the fuck out of here. :lol

Congrats, you completely missed the point. Of course there are adult sites on the internet, the point is what is considered morally acceptable in a serious site or service like Xbox Live. Killing, violence etc. = A-OK. Even the slight mention of sex = OMG the children!

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Are you trying to be obtuse, or do you really not see that ALL social interactions are a part of life, whether face to face, or mediated by technology?

Saying someone shouldn't be putting their sexual orientation out for all to see through a medium where it is not needed and not relevant (not to mention against the TOS) like Xbox Live in no way shape or form implies that person believes you shouldn't do so in any way whatsoever in any other facet of life. To even suggest that is just silly.

 

[VeritasVierge]

I got a 1 day ban, and the ban length for the original case is not yet known.

I'd test 'lesbian', but uh, I can't now for obvious reasons. And yes, I'm repeating myself with things like this, but just to clarify. It's a long thread.

I'm aware. I'm just saying I want to know if this girl got a 1 day ban as well. I'm just saying it may not be as severe as some are making it out to be if she only got a 1 day ban as opposed to a permanent ban for stating "I am a lesbian". The situation sucks either way because the XBL policy is just fundamentally broken since it's based on users' complaints.

 

[Interfectum]

Congrats, you completely missed the point. Of course there are adult sites on the internet, the point is what is considered morally acceptable in a serious site or service like Xbox Live. Killing, violence etc. = A-OK. Even the slight mention of sex = OMG the children!

There are plenty of US run forums that allow nudity to be posted (and aren't adult sites). Guess what, evilore's policies don't = all the internet.

Also, Nintendo's online is gimped with friend codes for the exact same reason why MS wants to keep sexual talk to a minimum on their service: child predators

One day video games won't be seen as mainly a hobby for children, but until that completely goes away, this corporations have to tread lightly. The last thing they want is for the news to talk about how some kid was molested by some guy they met off their online service.

 

[fortified_concept]

give me one good example of where NeoGAF or the Internet could originate and exist besides the USA, every country has its flaws. if you think violence is a big deal then thats tough since the games we play deal with them a lot, but more people do not care for sexual content without a time and place.

plus, america founded by puritans yadda yadda 2nd amendment guns r wut made the revolution happen.. and stuff.



the bans were for the content in their user profile, not for being what they are.

please, just stop, in your head its funny, youre playing a weak form of antagonist.

Humanity is infested with idiocy, of course there won't be a perfect country. I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy of the whole situation. And to tell you the truth I'd prefer countries who are more acceptable of sex than violence any day.

 

[Ranger X]

Congrats, you completely missed the point. Of course there are adult sites on the internet, the point is what is considered morally acceptable in a serious site or service like Xbox Live. Killing, violence etc. = A-OK. Even the slight mention of sex = OMG the children!

You should always expect an american comeback when making sense on a forum buddy.
It's like when you debate against guns, if you're on a forum with enough americans, you're fried.

.

 

[SnakeswithLasers]

Oh man, I take it back. You guys kept this thing going! Congrats. OT hangs its head in shame.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

The last thing they want is for the news to talk about how some kid was molested by some guy they met off their online service.

What does that have to do with mentioning sexual orientation?

 

[Dead Man Typing]

Virtual killing is fun,

Virtual Sex is just kinda... sad...?

 

[Jive Turkey]

The amount anti-American bullshit in this thread is rapidly catching up with the amount of bullshit contained in Microsoft's XBL policies.

 

[Interfectum]

What does that have to do with mentioning sexual orientation?

It doesn't. It's a blanket MS policy to keep sexual talk of any nature out of XBL profiles. It's a lazy way to solve the problem.

 

[Dead Man]

Saying someone shouldn't be putting their sexual orientation out for all to see through a medium where it is not needed and not relevant (not to mention against the TOS) like Xbox Live in no way shape or form implies that person believes you shouldn't do so in any way whatsoever in any other facet of life. To even suggest that is just silly.

So really, you think she should be able to say she is a lesbian anywhere BUT on a social gaming service? Also, please explain to me in what mediums it is needed and how they differ from a social gaming service. Could you also let me know what personal information is acceptable to you for gamers to place on their profiles.

Again, I'm not talking about the TOS, I do not know what she wrote, and in any case MS do have the right to censor their data. I am referring to the other posters in this thread and elsewhere who say it is not acceptable for her to do it.

Edit: You know what, never mind. I can't be fucked going in circles with you.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

The amount anti-American bullshit in this thread is rapidly catching up with the amount of bullshit contained in Microsoft's XBL policies.

That sounds suspiciously like something an AMERICAN would say. /:|

 

[fortified_concept]

There are plenty of US run forums that allow nudity to be posted (and aren't adult sites). Guess what, evilore's policies don't = all the internet.

Also, Nintendo's online is gimped with friend codes for the exact same reason why MS wants to keep sexual talk to a minimum on their service: child predators

One day video games won't be seen as mainly a hobby for children, but until that completely goes away, this corporations have to tread lightly. The last thing they want is for the news to talk about how some kid was molested by some guy they met off their online service.

Again, I'm talking about sites and online services that are considered serious or "official". It's completely hypocritical of services like Xbox Live or PSN where 90% of the games are about killing each other to lecture us on morals.

As for the urban myth of child predators lurking everywhere, here's what I think about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8APlx9btTn8

 

[Interfectum]

Humanity is infested with idiocy, of course there won't be a perfect country. I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy of the whole situation. And to tell you the truth I'd prefer countries who are more acceptable of sex than violence any day.

Yeah it is hypocrisy... kinda of like damning people for being close minded about homosexuality while also blaming an entire country for a policy created by Microsoft. Good stuff. :lol

 

[gutter_trash]

on a alternate note: why do people feel so compelled to be so chatty about personal life on Live anyways?

15 year old males are not the age demographic that is keen on being sociable with anonymous onliners, 15 year old are the nastiest there be.

for co-op games, I understand communication and all but for competitive games... do you really want to be yelled at on the headset? (MUTE button when it guys haywire)

 

[Ranger X]

Yeah it is hypocrisy... kinda of like damning people for being close minded about homosexuality while also blaming an entire country for a policy created by Microsoft. Good stuff. :lol

Dude, I don't know where you live but I personally live in America and that's how it GENERALLY is around here.
Our culture stinks the "violence is more acceptable than sex". Don't be on denial if you're an american. It's simply how our society is and this comes from our puritanist roots. Wake the fuck up.

.

 

[cedric69]

Virtual Sex is just kinda... sad...?

Are you taking masturbation out of the picture? Or are you claiming that masturbation is sad?