So I love NC, and decided to look into the people that make it. I've noticed an awful lot of hostility towards "GamerGaters" or whatever they're called. After a little research, I don't see what there's so much to hate about 'em. Just seems like people being people. Your thoughts?
Gamergate is a militarized movement that pretends to be about 'ethics in videogame journalism'. It has been part of a larger movement that has caused a lot of hate, hostility and harassment in the industry. Participants vary wildly, but tend to be radically opposed to feminism, diversity initiatives, academia, criticism of the artform or progressive game design, or a combination thereof.
Gamergate has engaged in dogpiling, threatening, harassing, doxxing and intimidating - and were such a large problem that most major companies in the games industry have spoken up against the movement and the damage it causes to the industry and the reputation of the industry. Individuals tend to speak up against it less frequently, because the damage of Gamergate targeting you can include attempts at getting you fired, personal information being spread, harassment and threats against yourself or your loved ones. Many targets have resorted to using tools to make their social media experience usable again, and two-factor authentication became ubiquitous for people in the industry after the rise of Gamergate.
You can look up coverage about it on most major news sites, including CNN, BBC and in the gaming press. I'm strongly opposed to the movement, having been a minor target (worst I got was a photo of my front door with a threatening message, and that still makes me a minor target!) and knowing several of their main targets.
An upside of the movement is that now it is clear that our industry has community issues. While a majority of the games industry is very supportive of diversity efforts, we still have rotten apples and a subsection of gamers is still very hostile towards 'others'. We have a long way too go.
Gamergate has engaged in dogpiling, threatening, harassing, doxxing and intimidating - and were such a large problem that most major companies in the games industry have spoken up against the movement and the damage it causes to the industry and the reputation of the industry. Individuals tend to speak up against it less frequently, because the damage of Gamergate targeting you can include attempts at getting you fired, personal information being spread, harassment and threats against yourself or your loved ones. Many targets have resorted to using tools to make their social media experience usable again, and two-factor authentication became ubiquitous for people in the industry after the rise of Gamergate.
You can look up coverage about it on most major news sites, including CNN, BBC and in the gaming press. I'm strongly opposed to the movement, having been a minor target (worst I got was a photo of my front door with a threatening message, and that still makes me a minor target!) and knowing several of their main targets.
An upside of the movement is that now it is clear that our industry has community issues. While a majority of the games industry is very supportive of diversity efforts, we still have rotten apples and a subsection of gamers is still very hostile towards 'others'. We have a long way too go.