How #GamerGate Moves Forward: We are Gamers First

You need to get used to victory. That will be the hardest part. For weeks we weathered a mainstream media storm, battered by lies. But lies cannot hurt an informed consumer.



Through all of this it seems defending #GamerGate became the goal, and it was important to rebuff the lies. But their narrative in crumbling and as it does we need to be looking outward.



We are NOT #GamerGate, that is merely a tool. We are Gamers. We've seen how widely those passionate about gaming have rejected the actions of the press, this is not a movement but the existing voice of the gaming enthusiasts reasserting it's self, those women and minorities and people of all nations who were already passionate about gaming.



Forget about the harassment, forget about the lies and the slander, forget about the crazy ideologues for now. We need to speak clear goals with one voice: we demand the games media uphold basic standards and be accountable to gamers. That should be our loudest and clearest cry. Total Biscuit put up an excellent post and soundcloud reading today. It spelled out clearly what we want in a section towards the end. I'm sure almost every Gamer can agree with his words and that should be our message. Not "Gamergate has been unfairly attacked" but "This is our message, these are the facts and clear goals." This shouldn't be about personalities or righting wrongs for the sake of the "movement". This is about all gamers and all games media. Forget the LWs, the trolls, the bull-baiters and the crazies. They will wither in the light of a truly free and ethical gaming press. If we fix the press it can start once again fighting for the consumer. The Gamer.



It seems absurd but in this media storm many people still don't know the basic facts of what #GamerGate stands for. We have VERY clear goals and evidence of malpractice. I'm going to quote TB directly:



"Games media have an opportunity to end this. They have since the very start, by talking about their own ethical concerns. While Kotaku has taken strides to improve its ethical policies, I call on them to acknowledge the appearance of impropriety when Nathan Grayson wrote about someone who he had a friendly and then shortly after, romantic relationship with.



-I call on them to acknowledge that Patricia Hernandez writing positive articles about people she lived with is a conflict of interest and should be apologised for.



-I call on Polygon to acknowledge the very real appearance of impropriety when Danielle gave a perfect 10 to a game whose sound designer she has been friends with for several years.



- I call on Destructoid to apologise for its lack of proper disclosure when dealing with Borderlands 2 and their past relationship with ex-staffer Anthony Burch, which it retroactively disclaimed after it was found out.



- I call on games journalists to have a serious discussion about whether or not "funding the lives" of developers via Patreon would be grounds enough for recusal or whether indeed you should be doing it to begin with. Kotaku by the way, now believes they should not and good on them for that.



-I also call on Youtubers to fully accept their responsibility to their audience and abide by FTC regulations calling for clear, unavoidable disclosure on advertorial content.



- I call for a real investigation into the blacklisting of Allistair Pinsof.



- I call for games critics, when presented with the critiques of Anita Sarkeesian to instead of promoting them without comment, take a look and provide counter-arguments where applicable.



- I call on those that wrote articles regarding the "death of gamers" and used incendiary language while doing so to acknowledge the possibility that they harmed others by doing so, real, vulnerable individuals whose identities are closely tied to this medium.



-I call on games media to firmly reject pro-bullying stances, rather than excusing them as "just jokes".



- I call on games media and prominent personalities in this industry to use social media and their large followings more responsibly, rather than as means to dogpile people they believe to be "in the wrong"



- I call for games media to criticize other elements of games media, rather than hanging around in Google Groups. You are supposed to be in competition and competition breeds excellence. All I see is a group of people who are altogether too damn chummy



.-I call for an industry-wide investigation into the apparently disturbing number of games media personalities who are involved in romantic relationships with staff at games PR firms. This and so, so much more. " ~



THIS is our charter. Before you mention personalities or grievances simply show them this. It is the most powerful thing we have: the truth. The facts. Give them a dose of reality they can't deny. Spam this till the ends of the earth. Someone brings up Sarkeesian? Show them our charter. Someone baits you with slander and lies? Show them our goals until they get sick of you. Repeat these ideas until they are ingrained in people's minds. We have a clear mission and have had one for months.



Shown them what Gamers can do.

Reply · Report Post