Jason England skewers some of the social taboos of online gaming
Let’s be honest here, people behave differently when they step into an online game. Identity is lost, along with responsibility.
People feel more confident to speak their mind, no matter how damaging it could be. It’s not disapproving the right to speak freely; rightful use of free speech in online communities is respected. However, when I hear nothing but racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia on multiple matches of Halo 3, it’s time to draw a line.
I know fully that the issue has been around for a while. Plus, the fact that each internet community has had (and is going to have) individuals who abuse their ability to speak without limits on opinion. But there are some issues that annoy me a lot.
Let one thing be known, I am not condemning online gaming. Coming home after a day out at work or University and playing on Xbox Live or PSN is a fun and relaxing time of my day. And I do also drop the occasional f-bomb… well regularly if I’m on a losing streak.
Using a headset to communicate with a team and socialise on the level of the people you’re playing with makes online gaming enjoyable. If they’re insulting each other out of fun and you understand the limits, then have a laugh! But get teamed up in matchmaking with a kid whose voice hasn’t broken, who probably doesn’t even know the meaning of the words “white supremacist” and I’m muting them.
And what’s to say this isn’t the right way to go? What’s to say that Major Nelson’s advice: “make sure you play with friends you know,” isn’t a viable option? Well, the fact that it goes against all that Xbox Live represents. This is a social gaming experience, you shouldn’t have to limit the options this platform offers for the sake of some people who spout deep-seeded hatred against everyone that’s different to him or her.
It’s this lacklustre attitude Microsoft upholds that really grinds my gears. I understand that they need to run a business, banning people would mean casting away a paying customer. This is why they have a community policing service where gamers can make complaints about others. But let’s question this a second. How many situations have there been where you have seen actual justice against racists, homophobes and prejudice individuals in the form of a ban?
Ultimately, the responsibility falls onto us. Because of de-individuation, we all sometimes end up acting like the fool online. Some of us get cocky, some of us get stroppy, the majority of us shout obscenities at the tops of our voices (or whisper if the family’s in). This was always going to be in an online social environment. But we can’t let the racists and homophobes out there tarnish the online gaming revolution that has occurred in the past decade. We’re all entitled to freedom of speech, but to use it in a damaging manner shouldn’t be ignored.
No more turning a blind eye.
Jason England
Tags: online, psn, voice chat, xbox live
