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Being a lesbian is a bannable offense on XBL
- Thread starter Flyguy
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On a related note, this reminds me of the Kiss duet mode in Lips where you and your co-op player are represented on the screen as a guy and a girl silhouettes. The goal is for the two of you to perform well enough so that your on-screen characters eventually kiss.JessicaPadkin said:
It would be nice if you could customize the avatars to allow for guy-guy or girl-girl possibilities, to better suit players in those situations. (It's been a LONG time since I fired up the game, so maybe there's been a patch to allow for that? Or is that wishful thinking?)
myDingling
Member
Mr. Durden said:
Because everyone assumes your straight. You don't think everyday about how your sexuality is affecting your relationship with your family, your work, your effing videogames. Because being straight isn't a stigma and thus you can just be at ease and not have to worry.
I'm not gay so I can't begin to imagine the difficulties involved in living as such in a world that doesn't want you. If you're able to do that successfuly, wouldn't you want to stand up and say "yeah I'm gay/lesbian/trans/queer and it's been a struggle but I'm still here and I'm proud of it" wherever you go. Yeah XBL has nothing to do with your sexuality, it's a place to play games after all. But it's also a social network and as such REAL people use it. And whether you like it or not, being homosexual as part of the real human population. She has every right to declare her sexuality anyway she wants, because if she doesn't someone on XBL will eventually through heteronormative and mysogynists slurs.
SimpleDesign said:
I think there is a difference in meeting while playing and talking on the microphone and that evolving, that someone saying I am a lesbian on their profile.
For those that missed it, jonathanX got banned last night while testing this if his profile said "I'm hetrosexual" (yes, misspelled and all)
Mr. Durden
Banned
McBacon said:
Yeah that's true, valid points. I agree nowmyDingling said:
Any information on sexuality, politics and religion is bound to provoke some XBL members, and thus to avoid unnecessary problems Microsoft restricts them completely. It shouldn't be seen as a dilution of your rights, but rather a method of limiting the trolling and abuse thrown around the community.fortified_concept said:
I personally have no problem with what people choose to put in their profiles, but sadly we live in such a hyper sensitive society that simple things like sexuality can result in a mob demanding retribution. If the XBL community was more mature then this wouldn't even be an issue, but since it isn't, Microsoft has had to take these measures.
PepsimanVsJoe
Member
Personally I'd rather have 10 year old british kids banned from Xboxlive.
Steve Youngblood
Member
Again, though, what about all that Election '08 stuff they put up for Gamerpics? Could someone have reported my Obama pic as offensive?Aurora said:
Weird, how also the Marketplace has a section to download Gay-themed documentaries/movies/series..
Yet, on that same Live service..is a bannable offense saying you're gay/straight/lesbian/bi on your profile..if they are doing this to "protect individuals, children", shouldn't they also ban those downloads, because "god" forbid my child could download one episode of Noah's Arc and end with a laptop and hitting on other guys in the café, and go at night with his male friends to discos and dance shirtless with other men?
Then again, I once lost my avatar here on GAF, for 3 months..because it was a shirtless guy (with pants and boots)..even though he was wearing a cap, glasses, gloves, and headphones; and got the "NSFW" one, because apparently shirtless guy = gay sex = not safe for work...so I don't know.. (now lost the avatar again -2 weeks as of right now- because while trying to resize the one I choose, I went to sleep and woke up, ready to upload the fixed size.. and found myself with no avatar..for the third time)
Yet, on that same Live service..is a bannable offense saying you're gay/straight/lesbian/bi on your profile..if they are doing this to "protect individuals, children", shouldn't they also ban those downloads, because "god" forbid my child could download one episode of Noah's Arc and end with a laptop and hitting on other guys in the café, and go at night with his male friends to discos and dance shirtless with other men?
Then again, I once lost my avatar here on GAF, for 3 months..because it was a shirtless guy (with pants and boots)..even though he was wearing a cap, glasses, gloves, and headphones; and got the "NSFW" one, because apparently shirtless guy = gay sex = not safe for work...so I don't know.. (now lost the avatar again -2 weeks as of right now- because while trying to resize the one I choose, I went to sleep and woke up, ready to upload the fixed size.. and found myself with no avatar..for the third time)
I find the Election '08 thing very bizarre. You would never see anything like that in Europe, so I guess this has to do with a difference in culture. But as for it being offensive, to my rational mind it is not, but it wouldn't surprise me if people did report the pictures to Microsoft. Let me ask you this though, if I had a picture of Le Pen or another extremist politician and got banned for it, would you say it was merited? Obama and McCain are rather benign and mainstream in their ideology so it doesn't open up much room for controversy, but something like homosexuality (while fully supported by myself) is open to a wealth of opposition from the religious right etc. and therefore much more prone to problems.Steve Youngblood said:
What I'm essentially trying to say is that any expression will come under scrutiny. The more controversial the expression the more problems Microsoft are faced with. In an effort to curtail the problems, Microsoft has decided to disallow these kinds of expression.
PseudoKirby
Banned
Rash said:
I can see it being taken as a a mocking thing...
so a gay person would get offended..
PepsimanVsJoe
Member
Kandrick said:
Do they have snotty accents that make me want to slap them across the face?
DangerStepp
Member
How Orwellian.
Furret said:
If hating 10 year old British kids is wrong, I don't want to be right. And I'm English born and raised.
Plus, hating 10 year old kids of any nation is like being an anti-pedophile. So rather than accuse us of prejudice, you should probably give us knighthoods for fighting child abuse.
Steve Youngblood
Member
But the debate is where you draw the line. With exceptions, apparently there are a few topics out there that Microsoft wants to disallow for fear of controversy. Furthermore, to cast a wide net just seems like overkill. Banning the ability to define oneself in their profile partially by their sexual orientation seems wholly unnecessary, and is pandering too much to a vocal minority who can find anything to complain about. I hate to invoke the slippery slope, but these dubious criteria seem to open themselves up to them. Why stop at religion, sexual orientation, and politics? Can I report someone for being a fan of a sports team I don't like? As a St. Louis Cardinals fan, I consider it a detriment to my enjoyment of the online experience when I get matched on the same team as a Cubs fan. Placate me, Microsoft!Aurora said:
myDingling
Member
Furret said:
I wouldn't say it's quite "racism" but it's certainly prejudiced, xenophobic, and misinformed. Leave the brits alone, my fellow amerikkkans.
Chernobyled
Banned
JonathanEx said:
I'm married, so its means there is no sex going on. Which is why "married" is a safe word.
PepsimanVsJoe
Member
I love Europeans.
If everyday I went on Xboxlive and everyone I met sounded like the cast of In Bruges and we called each other Inanimate fucking objects everyday would be the best day ever.
British children on Xboxlive are cunts though.
If everyday I went on Xboxlive and everyone I met sounded like the cast of In Bruges and we called each other Inanimate fucking objects everyday would be the best day ever.
British children on Xboxlive are cunts though.
myDingling said:
There's that 'ignorance' thing again. How is it 'misinformed' to dislike the sound of an accent? It's a matter of taste. I grew up in Newcastle. I dislike the Geordie/Tyneside accent ("FOK man...Way din' y' shewt 'm wi' y' FOKen snaypa' rayfle? Foken daft CONT") in the same way I dislike the taste of aubergine.
Plus I'm fairly certain he's not actually looking to have them genuinely banned. Unlike the anti-lesbian crowd, this is lighthearted japery. Just FYI.
MvmntInGrn
Member
While I don't quite understand why she felt the need to put it in her profile, "Gay" "Lesbian" "Homosexual" "Heterosexual" and "Straight" are not offensive words.
Seems like the thread has become America VS Europeans? How did that happen?
EDIT: I guess I will say it like this. I doubt someone with "Straight" in there profile would have gotten banned. Either way putting orientation is unnecessary but for some reason "Gay" and "Lesbian" carry MUCH more weight that "Straight" does...
Seems like the thread has become America VS Europeans? How did that happen?
EDIT: I guess I will say it like this. I doubt someone with "Straight" in there profile would have gotten banned. Either way putting orientation is unnecessary but for some reason "Gay" and "Lesbian" carry MUCH more weight that "Straight" does...
Mr. Durden said:
I don't see it. If a person reads someone's bio and is so offended by a statement as to stalk them from one game to the next and harass them then it should be they who get banned.
What's it matter if their bio says the person saying they're a lesbian, a muslim or a Liverpool supporter?
I do not understand Microsoft's indifference here at all. If I were them, I would be far more concerned about weeding out the assholes who make XBL such a shitscape of intolerance in the first place. Maybe they should set up a few honey trap accounts and then vigorously ban people who harass them either sexually, or for their sexuality, or their race or their religion. Weed out some of the worst offenders and the rest will moderate their behaviour somewhat.
myDingling
Member
Aske said:
Hurrah, it's the English police. Using the words "ignorant" and "misinformed" is an optimist's perspective. I HOPE that you don't know any better, because if you do and you're still a hateful person then that's just worse. I'd much rather you all be ignorants than conscious bigots because there's still hope for change in the former.
Yeah I know it's light hearted, give me a break.
Skellig Gra
Member
This is why we need Friend Codes!!!
Sexual preferences have nothing to do with gaming. Nobody has to put on their profile something like "I'm gay", "I'm lesbian". And let's not talk about religion either. What's the point in a gaming network ? You don't have to bring this up. It's personal, nothing to brag about on Xbox Live.
Is it bannable to say that you're this or that about your sexual preferences ? Of course not.
But is there any relevance to put this in your profile ? My answer is no.
Video games aren't about sexuality or religion or whatever : it's about playing the games and enjoying them.
Microsoft's reaction is the safest way for them to put the "problem" (the gamertag, not the fact that you're lesbian) away. It appears they do the same for gay gamertags and whatever questionnable gamertag comes up. So banning may be a bit harsch, but it's effective.
Let's be serious : it's not an anti-gay policy as claimed by the woman wo got banned. It's ridiculous. The thing is, people are dumb, and you can't change that.
Is it bannable to say that you're this or that about your sexual preferences ? Of course not.
But is there any relevance to put this in your profile ? My answer is no.
Video games aren't about sexuality or religion or whatever : it's about playing the games and enjoying them.
Microsoft's reaction is the safest way for them to put the "problem" (the gamertag, not the fact that you're lesbian) away. It appears they do the same for gay gamertags and whatever questionnable gamertag comes up. So banning may be a bit harsch, but it's effective.
Let's be serious : it's not an anti-gay policy as claimed by the woman wo got banned. It's ridiculous. The thing is, people are dumb, and you can't change that.
Steve Youngblood
Member
So what you're saying is that if it's not game related, it doesn't belong in your profile? Excellent point.NaviLink said:
Well, kinda..but is like I said earlier..NaviLink said:
If there's a ban for "gay things" in Live, they should enforce it..in everything, not just some things..fernoca said:
They proudly promoted that Logo joined the Xbox Live Marketplace, over a year ago...they have gay themed programming to download, just to everyone with an Xbox Live account...how's that any different to, let's say..me writing in my profile "Hi, I'm a 27 years old gay man from ..blah blah blah"..??..heck it's kinda easier to find and download an episode of Noah's Arc in the Marketplace, than finding a "gay gamertag/profile", which requires the person to join a random game, wait for people to join, then click each individual gamertag, then click right..to read his/her profile and find that he/her is gay...IF there are gay gamers in there that actually wrote "I'm gay" in their profiles.
McBacon said:
I don't know man.
Honestly were taking video games here. I sorta think that these people need to think things through abit more then. This isn't a singles club where you can have a drink while gloating your gay or straight. Youre playing video games online,one would think some of these jokers would know the difference. Keep your cock or vagina away from the game bio when its playtime,noone wants to know which way you fly when youre playing games. Because too many people have bold opinions on what sex is,its controversial. You know youre gonna catch shit when you write about your sexual preference in a video game bio. Be proud of whgat you are,just don't flaunt it around like some victory flag in people's faces is all. That just attracts the worst people sometimes.
Bumblebeetuna
Banned
Angelus said:
But rednecks and violence and avatars and coming out! This thread is just going around in circles. Imho it should have ended as soon as it was discovered you can be banned for having the opposite of gay in your bio.
HallucinatingElvis
Banned
she wasn't banned, she was suspended....big difference. If we go by what happened to jonathanex, it was only for a day.
and apparently they are looking to remedy this situation
http://kotaku.com/5160677/microsoft-looking-to-change-xbox-live-sexual-discrimination
sexual discrimination? that's rich
and apparently they are looking to remedy this situation
http://kotaku.com/5160677/microsoft-looking-to-change-xbox-live-sexual-discrimination
sexual discrimination? that's rich
Bumblebeetuna said:
Thats the way it is when you have a very popular gaming service,youre gonna get all sorts of weirdos and once in while...cool people you run into. I had a game of Uno screwed all to hell when a guy whipped out his cock,I didn't give him the satisfaction though of quitting the game. Instead I kept ragging on his size. 5 minutes later Superman decided to shut down his camera.
myDingling said:
I wouldn't say calling hateful people 'misinformed' is simply optimistic. To me, it sweeps the problem under the rug and fails to acknowledge the roots of true prejudice; as well as the extremes of innate human preference.
Certainly some people will dislike ethnic minorities, gay people or 10 year old British kids simply because they've been fed lies by their parents or peers and have never been disabused of their warped perspectives by actually meeting an Asian, a lesbian or Liverpudlian pre-teen. But plenty of prejudice comes from real negative experiences and a carelessness about sweeping generalisations. To not care about lumping every member of a group in with a few bad apples is callous, but it's not ignorant. Plenty of people know that not all people who are psychologically inclined to have sex with kids actually molest children. Plenty of people know that many of those who voted Republican in the last election aren't warmongering religious extremists, hell-bent on destroying all facets of liberal thought. But many dislike these groups in their totality because they're associated with facets of existence that they find abhorrent.
By the same token, to dislike gay people because one believes that his chosen god has dubbed homosexuality a sin may be several shades of retarded, but it's faith, not ignorance. To dislike a group of people because you find their voices grating and offensive is a shame, but it's not ignorance.
There are plenty of life philosophies out there which aren't necessarily hate-ridden evils, and aren't necessarily sad products of misinformation, but which still embody dislike or hatred for various collectives of humanity. The important thing is not to chalk them all up to simple extremes like 'evil' or 'ignorance' as a matter of course. To do so is to fall subject to the same kind of prejudices that have perturbed you in the first place.
plagiarize
Banned
sneaky, click the link Elvis posted back on the last page. expressions on sexual orientation ARE banned on Xbox Live currently.
i know Microsoft can make their own rules, but i think it's pretty backwards that sexual orientation is a taboo topic. as i always say, there is no 'Freedom from Being Offended' only 'Freedom of Speech'.
but yes, i get that Xbox Live isn't considered a public forum. i just hope Microsoft do go through with their plans to remove this ruling and allow people to express their sexual orientation.
i know Microsoft can make their own rules, but i think it's pretty backwards that sexual orientation is a taboo topic. as i always say, there is no 'Freedom from Being Offended' only 'Freedom of Speech'.
but yes, i get that Xbox Live isn't considered a public forum. i just hope Microsoft do go through with their plans to remove this ruling and allow people to express their sexual orientation.
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