Support NeoGAF

[Hoo-doo]

I've read through the screenshots maybe three times and I still have no idea what's going on. Is "thirsty" millennial slang for uncontrollably horny or something? Are people seriously trying to get a guy fired for this?

He's trying to get his dick wet among his 'fans' with cheap innuendo and bait.

Creepy as hell, but I figure it's all too common these days.

 

[Yearsoflurking]

I'm not going to lie i thought her dms would be worse. Looks like two immature people flirting with eachother. I assume he has done worst. And damn he has no game

 

[Real Hero]

She also says he was super adamant she never tell anyone. Doesn't sounds like the nicest fella

 

[Nanashrew]

I've read through the screenshots maybe three times and I still have no idea what's going on. Is "thirsty" millennial slang for uncontrollably horny or something? Are people seriously trying to get a guy fired for this?

Depending on context it can be eager for attention, desperate, horny, or all of the above.

The messages sound horny.

 

[kai3345]

I've read through the screenshots maybe three times and I still have no idea what's going on. Is "thirsty" millennial slang for uncontrollably horny or something? Are people seriously trying to get a guy fired for this?

he practically says flat out multiple times that he wants to fuck her and he persists after she's clearly not interested. also this isn't the only girl he did this to

 

[SilentRob]

I'm not going to lie i thought her dms would be worse. Looks like two immature people flirting with eachother. I assume he has done worst. And damn he has no game

She explicitly says she was never flirting with him:

literally all i would @ him was shit like "how was lunch today?" or "how do you take your coffee?" i'm so

He is 26. She is 18. He's internet famous. She's a fan. This is pretty fucking clear.

 

[TheMrPliskin]

I've read through the screenshots maybe three times and I still have no idea what's going on. Is "thirsty" millennial slang for uncontrollably horny or something? Are people seriously trying to get a guy fired for this?

At the very least he's using his position to creep on fans and try to get them to send him nudes/blow him. At that point maybe you should start to question if he deserves that position.

 

[RumbleHumble]

what, you mean the follow up tweet where she admits to sending him nude pictures of her own volition?

Yup, because sending nudes = all consent to whatever you want to do/say all the time.

What happened to the "BUT WAIT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE HE EVEN CONTACTED THESE PEOPLE!" defense?

 

[brianmcdoogle]

Also, for all the people popping in and going "that's it?", this is just one specific example from one person when others have made allegations.

 

[Madeupfred]

Well of course, let's bring her and Hester Prynne in and make them admit their sin!

SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME

Call me old fashioned but sending someone a picture of your nude body without being prompted is giving consent for that same someone to remark on your nude body.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

I've read through the screenshots maybe three times and I still have no idea what's going on. Is "thirsty" millennial slang for uncontrollably horny or something? Are people seriously trying to get a guy fired for this?

Yeah "thirsty" just means horny. Like you're "thirsting" for sex.

The context behind this is she would tweet him very mundane, milquetoast things, and his takeaway from that is that she was coming onto him, which wasn't her intention. Basically he was seeing sexual advancements when there weren't any and using that to escalate the situation despite her disinterest.

She makes a snide comment about his apparent eagerness to jump to "oh this means she wants to have sex" from anything (which seems equally "playfully making fun of your misinterpretation" as much as it is "passive-aggressively letting him know he's totally wrong", I'd guess moreso the latter masking as the former) and then he cheekily doubles down by alluding he still believes she is.

Not only is that creepy in itself but she's a random 18-year-old twitter follower of his and he was doing stuff like this with dozens upon dozens of people, sometimes even more explicitly than that. And he apparently already had a committed girlfriend too.

I hope the fan he was talking to here stays safe and okay. This whole situation makes my skin crawl so I can't imagine what she must be going through.

 

[BTA]

If it is the person that tumblr identified as his girlfriend, she hasn't said a word on twitter about the situation, tho she is continuing to tweet (about fun things like splatoon, etc.)

To be clear, my understanding is that they haven't been dating for a while (predating this). He was dating her at the time some of these things happened, though, including the one that's being talked about now.

EDIT: To be absolutely clear, do not bring her into this; she's certainly dealing with her own feelings on it right now. I'm just saying he did an especially shitty thing at the time.

 

[Alo0oy]

She seems to pretty chill about the whole situation. I'm glad she's doing well.

She's not.

https://twitter.com/souIspear/status/893905577549627395

She's already blaming herself for what happened, I hope someone is there to tell her that it's not her fault.

 

[SarusGray]

Maybe his texts aren't the worst, but using your stardom to flirt with young fans makes it really creepier for some reason. Glad people are speaking up.

 

[Confused Cheeseburger]

https://twitter.com/souIspear/status/893903072380014592

yeah she's the 'vaguely thirsty' one nick..

I thought thus exchange was bad before I knew anything about age. That consideration makes things worse 10x fold. How is it that an 18 year old is far more mature than him? Gross.

 

[daemissary]

Those messages are creepy and awkward as fuck but would a single person even be batting an eye if that were Bieber talking to an 18 year old fan instead of whoever this guy is?

Is there a line we can draw somewhere between 'what he did was fine' and 'I want him to never work again and die after living a sad and lonely life'?

Like counseling or therapy?

(Assuming other DMs were of a similar nature, if he was actually using his position of power in some sort of quid pro quo way, that is obviously not ok)

 

[Alucrid]

edit: it's feels kinda grimy talking about her like this to be honest

 

[Goofalo]

I've read through the screenshots maybe three times and I still have no idea what's going on. Is "thirsty" millennial slang for uncontrollably horny or something? Are people seriously trying to get a guy fired for this?

When you are an employee of a company which gives you a platform in which you have wide public exposure. And you develop a fanbase, that goes to that company's site to follow you or do your work, you aren't just being "Soft Nick and Thirsty Nickettes." You are "Soft Nick" brought to you by Polygon, a imprint of Vox Media. And I'm guessing Vox, like any other company, does not want to be a vehicle or platform for that.

Nick is an employee of a company. A Justin Bieber doesn't represent anyone but Bieber. He has endorsements, and if he did something similar, those companies would terminate their endorsement deals.

Why do people find this aspect of being an adult who works for a corporation so had to grasp? I work in the legal department of a company, so maybe its because I breathe this 5 days a week.

 

[RumbleHumble]

I've read through the screenshots maybe three times and I still have no idea what's going on. Is "thirsty" millennial slang for uncontrollably horny or something? Are people seriously trying to get a guy fired for this?



Lol this is what people are outraged about?

It isn't just this. If you'd of read the thread, you'd have caught on by now.

 

[Squire]

Cool to see we've gone from "I won't believe this is true until I see proof" to "A 26 year old creeping on a starstruck 18 year old isn't harassment"

Also worth mentioning Nick has a girlfriend and their relationship wasn't open as far as I know

He presented it that way though, to note.

 

[SilentRob]

Those messages are creepy and awkward as fuck but would a single person even be batting an eye if that were Bieber talking to an 18 year old fan instead of whoever this guy is?

Is there a line we can draw somewhere between 'what he did was fine' and 'I want him to never work again and die after living a sad and lonely life'?

Like counseling or therapy?

Or maybe more like "I never want to watch funny video game videos with him again and will not support a website that employs and supports/excuses this kind of behaviour"? Because that's what I'm reading here mostly.

 

[Heavy's Sandvich]

Those conversations seem devoid of all context.

This isn't to suggest for a moment that there have been people that have been harassed - the investigation by Vox will help answer those.

But that conversation doesn't appear to be that.

 

[potatohead]

Yeah "thirsty" just means horny. Like you're "thirsting" for sex.

The context behind this is she would tweet him very mundane, milquetoast things, and his takeaway from that is that she was coming onto him, which wasn't her intention. Basically he was seeing sexual advancements when there weren't any and using that to escalate the situation despite her disinterest.

She makes a snide comment about his apparent eagerness to jump to "oh this means she wants to have sex" from anything (which seems equally "playfully making fun of your misinterpretation" as much as it is "passive-aggressively letting him know he's totally wrong", I'd guess moreso the latter masking as the former) and then he cheekily doubles down by alluding he still believes she is.

Not only is that creepy in itself but she's a random 18-year-old twitter follower of his and he was doing stuff like this with dozens upon dozens of people, sometimes even more explicitly than that. And he apparently already had a committed girlfriend too.

A good thing for her to do then would be to just make a blatant no statement and stop the conversation. That would be responsible on her end.

Not to excuse anything the guy did. But the girl should respect her own self more too.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Those messages are creepy and awkward as fuck but would a single person even be batting an eye if that were Bieber talking to an 18 year old fan instead of whoever this guy is?

Is there a line we can draw somewhere between 'what he did was fine' and 'I want him to never work again and die after living a sad and lonely life'?

Like counseling or therapy?

(Assuming other DMs were of a similar nature, if he was actually using his position of power in some sort of quid pro quo way, that is obviously not ok)

I was thinking about the 'band/artist sleeping with groupies'-angle as well but I didn't feel it was appropriate. I have no clue on whether that actually happens or not.

 

[KnightHart]

Those messages are creepy and awkward as fuck but would a single person even be batting an eye if that were Bieber talking to an 18 year old fan instead of whoever this guy is?

Is there a line we can draw somewhere between 'what he did was fine' and 'I want him to never work again and die after living a sad and lonely life'?

Like counseling or therapy?

(Assuming other DMs were of a similar nature, if he was actually using his position of power in some sort of quid pro quo way, that is obviously not ok)

I think if you showed this to just any random person who doesn't follow the gaming industry at all, specifically someone in their 20s (like Nick), it just reads like some thirsty af nerd creepin on some girls by slidin into their dms and being really bad at it. Like, the term "slidin into their DM's" is a phrase that exists for a reason, and it applies towards all genders

 

[Yearsoflurking]

She explicitly says she was never flirting with him:



He is 26. She is 18. He's internet famous. She's a fan. This is pretty fucking clear.

Me: im just wearing a shirt
You : so you're going to be that open about wanting to fuck me?

Kkjkjk

Maybe it's an immature joke but idk that's flirting

 

[Serenitynow]

Idk... Not saying that worse shit didn't happen, but the screen caps I'vs seen just look like flirting. People are saying a 26 year old messaging an 18 year old like that is weird, but my parents are 8 years apart. She isn't underage. It may be weird to you, but it isn't illegal. And judging just from those screen caps, it doesn't look like harassment. Especially when you read that she sent him some nudes.

I'm not trying to defend Nick. I don't particularly like him. These are my unbiased observations of the very few screen caps I have seen.

 

[Mahonay]

that's not even the worst one

https://twitter.com/souIspear/status/893903072380014592

 

[Emerson]

I was thinking about the 'band/artist sleeping with groupies'-angle as well but I didn't feel it was appropriate. I have no clue on whether that actually happens or not.

Of course it does.

 

[drhankmccoyphd]

If it is the person that tumblr identified as his girlfriend, she hasn't said a word on twitter about the situation, tho she is continuing to tweet (about fun things like splatoon, etc.)

Wait, so we've moved past interpreting innocuous DMs into gossip about personal relationships and internet sleuthing? Holy shit this thread is the GOAT.

 

[BTA]

A good thing for her to do then would be to just make a blatant no statement and stop the conversation. That would be responsible on her end.

Not to excuse anything the guy did. But the girl should respect her own self more too.

Because as we all know, (starstruck) young women definitely always feel comfortable enough to say no to someone, because that always goes over well.

Fuck off with this.

 

[brianmcdoogle]

Cool to see we've gone from "I won't believe this is true until I see proof" to "A 26 year old creeping on a starstruck 18 year old isn't harassment"

It's sad but not surprising seeing the goalposts moved. Next people will be jumping into say they need more contexts for the messages or something and the goalposts will be moved again.

 

[RumbleHumble]

A good thing for her to do then would be to just make a blatant no statement and stop the conversation. That would be responsible on her end.

Not to excuse anything the guy did. But the girl should respect her own self more too.

You know what this conversation needs more of? Blaming women for things they should have done better.

 

[Seda]

Lol this is what people are outraged about?

@souIspear (the account tweeting these screencaps) is basically saying how Nick would constantly flip mundane messages about shirts or Subway or whatever into sexual topics.

 

[TheMrPliskin]

Wait, so we've moved past interpreting innocuous DMs into gossip about personal relationships and internet sleuthing? Holy shit this thread is the GOAT.

You actually bothered to read the whole op yet to catch up on the situation or no?

You know what this conversation needs more of? Blaming women for things they should have done better.

Gotta move those goalposts after somebody posts some of this evidence people have been screaming about.

 

[Dabanton]

The way I'm reading it is the Soft Boy is a "successful Nice Guy", in that the "Nice Guy" is really anything but and is generally seen through and generally fails to actually attract intimate company of women. The Soft Boy makes it work.

From my understanding successful 'soft boys' are usually good looking guys who aren't 'alpha' visually but are more sly about how they get into women panties.

Tbh they are a bit more creepy as they target deeply emotionally and use that understanding and belief as feelings to get what they want.

Haha this is a perfect description I know a lot of guys like this. Attractive but nerdy with the mind of an 'alpha' but not their outward temperament.

The Fuckboy, in his current form, aims for the night, aims for the break, goals to ghost. The Softboy strings you along under loftier auspices. He is Nice yet Complicated; this isn't just a hookup. It's a series of such.

The Softboy did not talk to you at the party, but he's adding you on Facebook while you're on the train home. Soon, he wants to know if you'd "like to get drinks."
"Or something."

He discusses his ex-girlfriend within the first thirty minutes of the date. He talks about her in a sad, wistful way rather than a snarky, resentful way. The older Softboy will say, "Oh well, it's in the past." The younger Softboy will say, "So it goes."

The Softboy may be named Tom. Or Phillip.

The Softboy wears a plain t-shirt or sweater and orders cheap beer backed with bottom-shelf whiskey. He is neither Bro nor Nerd. He is sensitive yet amusingly crass. He doesn't want you to know he has feelings. He wants you to know that he has feelings and he is completely okay with that.

The Fuckboy is perplexed that you were upset when he forgot to text you for three days then sent "what are you up to" at last call. The Softboy knows this behavior is selfish and cruel, though his desire to get laid can trump this. He feels shame. He does it again.
He wants to know if you're mad at him. He already knows.

The Softboy doesn't want to talk to you about The Wire. He concedes that it is "objectively good television" yet "ultimately problematic" and "undeserving of its lionization." Obviously, he is an Ally.

He has some art to show you.
The Softboy does not necessarily have a soft body. In fact he is often wiry and angular.
However: the heavier the Softboy, the thicker the beard.

He is emotionally intelligent but does nothing with this knowledge. He is artistic. He is aware. He is still a dick.

The Softboy sends you songs via Gchat while you're at work.
He hasn't texted you back for a reason; he was not blowing you off. He's had a Weird Day. Or maybe he's Trying To Figure Some Shit Out. Sometimes, he finds pride in declaring that he Just Needs A Night To Himself.

The Softboy is an Underdog. He has a hurricane sulk. He resurfaces seconds before the final ember extinguishes. The Softboy wields guilt like a floral knife.

https://byrslf.co/have-you-encountered-the-softboy-7e95e2c7f3e7

 

[benny_a]

It's sad but not surprising seeing the goalposts moved. Next people will be jumping into say they need more contexts for the messages or something and the goalposts will be moved again.

Yup, this was very predictable.

 

[Vire]

@souIspear (the account tweeting these screencaps) is basically saying how Nick would constantly flip mundane messages about shirts or Subway or whatever into sexual topics.

If I'm not mistaken the thing about the shirt, she flipped into the topic of fucking. Or am I reading this incorrectly with the blue messages being your own.

I can hardly understand these texts though because I don't speak millennial.

 

[EnlightenedMint]

And people are still defending him after seeing these dm's....

 

[SilentRob]

Me: im just wearing a shirt
You : so you're going to be that open about wanting to fuck me?

Kkjkjk

Maybe it's an immature joke but idk that's flirting

Holy fuck, are you serious? It's LITERALLY a 18-year old fan telling a 26-year old celebrity "I'm not giving you any signs that I want to sleep with you, all I have to do is wear a T-Shirt and you immediately interpret it as me wanting to fuck you", with a nice "IOJASDJHASD" freakout at the end to verbalize her frustration. IT'S LITERALLY THAT. HOW CAN YOU INTERPRET THIS AS FLIRTING AND INVITING HIM TO KEEP DOING THIS SHIT?! WAT.

No, seriously.

What?!

 

[brianmcdoogle]

A good thing for her to do then would be to just make a blatant no statement and stop the conversation. That would be responsible on her end.

Not to excuse anything the guy did. But the girl should respect her own self more too.

Please blame victims more.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

A good thing for her to do then would be to just make a blatant no statement and stop the conversation. That would be responsible on her end.

Not to excuse anything the guy did. But the girl should respect her own self more too.

Easier said than done. You can respect yourself to heaven and back but still feel the pressure of being a random, starstruck teenage fan who's suddenly thrust into this situation with an older person who has far more connections and general clout in his field. The possibility of anyone you try to turn down lashing out at you or guilt-tripping you or smack-talking you behind their back, is a fear that's very real to most women and girls, especially with an age and status gulf like that. There's no certainty that simply saying "no" would put an end to it so simply when being coy, persistent, and cheeky was seemingly his schtick when it came to making those advances. We all wish things could be more simple but to be that young and suddenly in that position, absolutely no decision can really be taken lightly.

 

[RumbleHumble]

Wait, so we've moved past interpreting innocuous DMs into gossip about personal relationships and internet sleuthing? Holy shit this thread is the GOAT.

Yup, using celebrity status to convince barely legal women to blow you is super innocuous. Good to see we're back to the whole "Why can't I keep my privilege to be a dick to women" defense.

 

[Yursaman]

I don't think those specific messages are enough to crucify the dude over. I think a better title for this thread would be "Videogame Funny Guy is Terrible with Women". I guess we'll see if it gets any worse.

 

[TheMrPliskin]

I don't think those specific messages are enough to crucify the dude over. I think a better title for this thread would be "Videogame Funny Guy is Terrible with Women". I guess we'll see if it gets any worse.

Good thing you didn't name the thread then!

 

[Zakalwe]

I mean, harassment doesn't need violence or something more pronounced attached for it to be harassment. Taken by themselves, each of his comments is fairly tame on the scale, but all together, repeated past the point it's obvious the person has no interest... well, at this point surely it's up to the person on the receiving end whether they feel harassed or not?

And, at that point, shouldn't the person perusing just fucking stop?

Some of replies he got clearly spell out the disinterest/discomfort, yet Nick carries on anyway.

Has anyone downplaying his behaviour been on the receiving end of repeated unwanted sexual advancements like this? It's really unpleasant.

 

[benicillin]

Did anyone ask her before adding her account to the OP of this post and exposing her to thousands of people reading this thread with a demographic known for harassing people online? Because if not that's a shitty thing to do.

Watching people dissect their conversation here is gross.

 

[Tapejara]

Idk... Not saying that worse shit didn't happen, but the screen caps I'vs seen just look like flirting. People are saying a 26 year old messaging an 18 year old like that is weird, but my parents are 8 years apart. She isn't underage. It may be weird to you, but it isn't illegal. And judging just from those screen caps, it doesn't look like harassment. Especially when you read that she sent him some nudes.

I'm not trying to defend Nick. I don't particularly like him. These are my unbiased observations of the very few screen caps I have seen.

The difference between your parents and this situation is that Nick's internet fame and position at Polygon gives him a position of power over these women, especially if they're young and don't want to piss off someone they idolize (and even more so if they want to get into the games industry).

Also, you can't cite your parents' relationship and then say you're providing an unbiased observation. Your opinion is clearly informed by the relationship of the people who raised you, there's nothing objective about it.

 

[EnlightenedMint]

I don't think those specific messages are enough to crucify the dude over. I think a better title for this thread would be "Videogame Funny Guy is Terrible with Women". I guess we'll see if it gets any worse.

Maybe "Videogame Funny Guy uses his power to prey on young women" would be more apt.

 

[RumbleHumble]

If I'm not mistaken the thing about the shirt, she flipped into the topic of fucking. Or am I reading this incorrectly with the blue messages being your own.

.