On August 28, 2014 (and the days following), there were many articles published declaring the ‘Gamer’ identity as dead. For instance, we have this wonderful piece of writing over on Gamasutra. We also have this Pulitzer Prize bound article by Kotaku. In them we learn that ‘Gamers’ are just “obtuse shitslingers”, “wailing hyper-consumers”, and “reactionary holdouts”.

It’s been over 4 months since these revelations about ‘Gamers’, and looking back I would say that these authors weren’t totally wrong — there are some who identify as a ‘Gamer’ who fit those descriptions. They’re probably not the ones the authors thought they were attacking, though. The authors’ prediction about the death of an identity was bold, but incredibly wrong. What we’ve seen was not the death of an identity, but the birth.

There have always been those who stood up against the outrage-manufacturing slactivists that scream the loudest on the internet. There have always been those that speak out against the shady practices used by modern media. This, however, has historically been singular people.

What we’re seeing now is a (disorganized) group of people all standing up at once. A diverse group of people all standing up and saying that they reject this faux-outrage, that they reject this nepotism, and that they will no longer accept the corruption of the media. What we’re seeing is an identity for people to associate with, one in which these “Death” articles had an intricate role in creating.

This identity—Gaters, as we’re so affectionately called—is one to be embraced, not shunned. One of the most respectable aspects of a person is the ability to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of the adversity they might face.

You’ve been told that your beliefs are wrong. You’ve been called harassers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and pet murders not only by “noble justice seekers” on the internet but also by the outrage factories they bed in the media.

They’ve told your co-workers, your friends, and your family that you are the worst offender in the harassment of women, that you’re worse than ISIS, and that you’re literally Hitler. They’ve told you that you’re not actually a woman, or a minority, but instead just some “puppet” being controlled by a white manbaby still living mommy’s basement. They’ve declared you small, unimportant, and dead (again).

You’ve had rich, privileged white kids blame you for all that’s wrong with the gaming industry. They’ve blamed you for running people from their homes. You’ve had “journalists” accuse you of placing terrorist threats at a college based on the word of a single person. You’ve been called a victim blamer, numerous times, because you dared to ask questions and seek the truth.

And yet here you are, still standing at the line, refusing to budge. You seem to understand that this is bigger than video games. That, if left unchecked, this faux-outrage could lead to making a world hero cry because he wore a t-shirt someone didn’t like, or a highly successful actress to apologize for who she is, or stores to stop selling a video game that hurts someone’s feelings. You understand that manufacturing outrage as a means to push an ideology is not a productive way to bring real change.

You understand that bullying someone because of their life choices is to regress, not progress. You understand that shaming someone because of their gender, sexual preference, or skin color is just an -ism hidden within the fallacy that is their “progress”. You understand that to truly embrace diversity you must first accept those who think differently than you. You understand that standing up for what you believe in is the right thing to do.

You have the courage of your convictions, and that’s something to be proud of.

On August 28, 2014 you weren’t killed—you were born.