So, I’ve had enough people indirectly (or directly) ask me for my opinion on GamerGate and the idiocy contained within the entire controversy.

I’m going to post a few thoughts and see what people make of it.

#1) For all intents and purposes, the original argument of the GamerGate group has become null and void. The reasoning for this is simple: They’re no longer in control of their basic ideology or message. Once the idea of “real gamers” became synonymous with the Caucasian, male, middle-class demographic, and demonstrated itself as lacking tolerance for any but that group, they no longer had any ground to stand on. Just like an academic argument, when your supporting evidence has nothing to do with the original thesis, you’ve lost all credibility.

In the case of GamerGate, this is what has happened. Those people whose original intent was to keep a certain group elite have completely and utterly had their argument invalidated by allying with zealots.

2) Due to the actions/reactions based on #1, there is now a group of people who have nothing to do with this entire controversy – namely, people who enjoy video games – who have had a point of pride taken away from them. No longer can a man identify as a “gamer” on the internet without certain assumptions about him coming up – is he a misogynist? Does he enjoy playing video games to hit women because he’s repressed? And on the other side – if a woman identifies as a gamer – does she hate other women?

People play video games for many different reasons. Escapism. Enjoyment. Social. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that video games are just that – games – no matter how serious the industry may be, no matter the numbers involved. To characterize and demonize part of a popular past time because it doesn’t fit what a certain group of people have in mind as the “norm” is not criminal, but it borders (to me) on the idiotic and unfeeling. Not only have these zealots ruined gaming itself for some folks, but they’ve also forced stereotypical images onto people who enjoy the media, whether they even have been following the controversy or not.

#3) I am a woman. I identify this fact because quite honestly, I was a bit hesitant to post anything about GamerGate at large – and the reason is because of the fallout/threats other women have received – including those who have been attempting to create rational dialog. I would rather not have my ideas and thoughts create havoc/have my life be a set of hide-and-seek; I’ve already experienced dealing with assholes in my life prior to this, and I’d rather not have that happen again.

The fact that I had to question being able to speak my mind about something because of my safety is horrifying to me. Granted, I’ve had to stand up for things/against authority figures in the past in order to do the right thing, but at that point, I knew the only repercussions I’d receive would be from those I stood up to and their compatriots. With GamerGate, those rules have been thrown out the window. Any person who writes (specifically, the targets have largely been women) about the fiasco opens themselves up to ridicule, abuse, and harassment – from sources they’ve never even heard from, and couldn’t imagine.

#4) I wish people could sit down and behave rationally for a change. Yes, there are fewer women in video game creation, management – fewer in general professionally. Did most of them experience sexism/bias going into the industry? Yes. Are they actively sought after as victims in quite a few of those circles? Yes.

Can this trend be changed? YES FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

What needs to happen is a rational, logical dialogue between the haves and have-nots – corporate structure leaders, CEOS, etc., vs. the underutilized/appreciated demographics. However, this can also be pointed towards racial divides, trans/sexual identity divides… the list goes on.

Final thoughts:

The fact that all this hate and anger has been directed at women demonstrates the lack of respect that GamerGate zealots/usurpers have for both women and people who enjoy video games. Everyone has lost in what has been a considerably one-sided terrorist attack against video games and the people who make them.

So, instead of identifying as a #Gamer, I will use a page from a friend’s book: I am a #RationalHumanBeing who #EnjoysVideoGames.