#GamerGate - On Distractions

Hello Internet,



About four months ago when #GamerGate was still fresh out of the wrapper there was a certain King of Pol stream. On this stream there was a section specifically where KoP, Sargon, and a guy named Andrew were all in a heated "debate" over #GamerGate. Andrew was a self-admitted troll and one of the first sincerely inflammatory people that #GamerGate ran into (hardly the last to come). He spoken brazenly on Twitter and would openly berate pretty much anyone for whatever loose claim he could make since it always warranted a response. I believe he was one of the first "#GamerGate is worse than ISIS" people.



After the interview was winding down and everyone had essentially given up on dealing with him as there was nothing of value to glean, he left with one little parting jab that has stuck with me to this day.



"I'm not that worried about #GamerGate because you'll never get what you want. You're too easily distracted. You all just spent the last three hours arguing with me even though you know I'm a troll."



He was right. We'd all sat there talking to a wall who even called himself one willingly just because it was SOMEONE that would talk back. Back then, only the trolls would be willing to join any stream that was taking place.







Fast-forward now 4 months later and 1/4 of the posts I see pop up on my feed would be the equivalent of a twitter interview with Andrew.



Partially #GamerGate's fault and mostly by design of others, the majority of information being re-tweeted and spread now seems to be that of the "SJW" "Anti-Gamer" "Anti-GamerGate" or w/e the agreed upon term is for those that have constantly tried to subvert our efforts.



The methodology and logic behind this is simple of course. The people who seemingly do not want to block us are those constantly fishing for dirt to supply or just creating it themselves by stating nonsensical things. Out of context or no, that's their lot in #GamerGate.



Clip this here, screenshot that there and Voila! more "Proof" of just how evil and misogynistic / racist / ableist / whateverist they claim that we are. The other purpose behind their existence is to keep that constant engagement with #GamerGate. They know that we're watching, and are likely counting on it. They know that every piece of misinformation spewed only infuriates our efforts more and shifts the attention away from anything productive and towards those that are being fed said misinformation. They're the "megaphones" supplying ammo to the "anti-gamer" crowd, then used and disseminated to the general public as fact.



The benefit for "Anti-Gamer" to do this is two-fold.



First, our attentions diverted to them gives weight to the narrative of "#GamerGate is only about harassment!" I ask that here you apply THEIR understanding of the word harassment and understand thats why they use the term so liberally. The same reason they equate us to hitler,ISIS,etc. Its to drum up immediate emotional support in 160 characters or less. With the narrative as strong as it is and national coverage on the issue (regardless of our refutations) leans to their side, then people posting screengrabs of screengrabs constantly gives weight to that justification.



"Look, they're obsessing over me! Oh my god, when will the harassment stop!"



It gives them the ability to claim harassment unseen by others is much more severe by pointing to the publicly (and conveniently procured) "evidence" from those that provide it. Quite possibly purposefully at this point.



Secondly, our attentions are pulled from more productive efforts. Its the age-old human weakness. Gossip is entertainment, and the internet loves to gossip. If you need verification of this simply search for "lolcow" on google. Even more to the point, search for any of the literally who's and "lolcow" at the same time and I'm sure you'll see some results.





This would be the point where Andrew's comment struck a nerve and continues to now.



#GamerGate as a whole is quick to point out the idiocies of those we deem "Anti-Gamer" as of late. Re-tweeted and commented about to death daily when one of the literally whos says or does something infuriating or ignorant... as if its not understood already that they are both infuriating AND ignorant.



Its at this point that #GamerGate finally risks failing. When the conversation shifts so heavily onto people, rather than the issues at hand. That gives verification to anti-gamer that we're only a group of people bitching about another group of people on the internet.



If the focus continues to push towards those that seek attention and constant adversary in #GamerGate then we risk fading into obscurity.



I suggest that everyone seriously consider, for instance, why someone like Brianna Wu would use the suicide of a trans individual as fodder for controversy. Do you think that Wu actually holds the statements she makes to be true or do they reek of opportunistic bullshit? That was a rhetorical question.



She knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt (consciously or not), that if she continues to up the ante then #GamerGate will respond in kind. Infuriated and silenced due to the blockbot's efforts. Its in that storm of comments that the true desire is obtained. Attention.



She wants a villain to defeat, and she's created one in her mind with #GamerGate (for fucks sake she called herself Batman). So she, like ALL OTHER TROLLS ON THE INTERNET only ever go away once they're starved of attention. If you truly want what she and all the other literally whos say to have less of an impact, then stop giving them the impact.





These figureheads that have made themselves known in the "anti-gamer" circle could be equated to the never-ending daily quests of an MMORPG. Repetitive, dull, and little reward in doing it every day. There's no "win condition" when engaging with or even giving attention to these people, especially when that attention and controversy is what feeds their egos. They liken themselves to the heroes of their people, pointing to #GamerGate as their ultimate adversary. Let them receive their internet infamy somewhere else #GamerGate. Theres still work to do, but they're not it.

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