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David Hollingworth

Microsoft and queer gamers

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By Liz Skuthorpe
Feb 27, 2009 | 33 Comments
There's a story been doing the rounds regarding an Xbox Live subscriber who recently had her account banned for identifying as a lesbian in her GamerTag. The Consumerist first followed the story, and Ars Technica recently went a step further and contacted Microsoft directly for comment.

In case you're unfamiliar with the story, this woman has been the victim of harrassment and baiting online, but she's been the one to have her account banned for inappropriate and offensive behaviour. And this is Xbox Live we're talking about here, the place that makes the smack-talk in your average game of CounterStrike sound tame by comparison.

Here's what Microsoft had to say to Ars on the subject:

"As stated in the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use, a member may not create a gamertag or use text in other profile fields that include comments that look, sound like, stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate content of a potentially sexual nature. Profiles that do are asked to change the language and suspended until changes are made. In regards to sexual orientation, for gamertags or profiles we do not allow expression of any type of orientation, be that hetero or other. Players can, however, self identify in voice communication where context is more easily explained to all players involved."

Oh... I get it. The letters L E S B I A and N are heinously misunderstood in raw text, but when spoken everything's fine.

Can I get a WTF?

I don't know where to start on this topic. To begin with, it just makes me plain angry. When Microsoft made a big hurrah about its new Xbox Experience, one of the big selling points was how it was going to turn the Xbox into a social hub. Take this from one Microsoft's blurb's about the new Avatar system:

"Your avatar is your game face throughout the New Xbox Experience and represents your personality, whether you are serving as an Xbox LIVE Party host, playing a game of Scene It? Box Office Smash, or chatting with a friend."

So, it's meant to be an extension of you, so you can talk to people and find friends? A social network of sorts... but not for gay gamers who might be interested in finding other gay gamers.

Then of course there's the fact that with the NXE you can happily access films via the Netflix service. All kinds of films, like Brokeback Mountain, or Go Fish, or Chasing Amy... but you still can't identify as gay even if you're watching films about gay people.

Finally, don't get me started on the fact that the chat in many games features some of the most offensive homophobic crap you'll ever find. Xbox Live is well known for its at times offensive nature; yet here's what Teresa, the banned woman, had to put up with:

"They followed me into the games and told all the other players to turn me in because they didn't want to see that crap or their kids to see that crap."

So, these people are happy to call me a camping fag and teabag my corpse, but if I actually call myself a fag, I'm the one in trouble.

Hell, I can even be playing a game that allows me a same-sex hook-up (hello Fable), but Microsoft says the actual identification of same is off-limits.

The hypocrisy is mind-blowing. Fuck you, Microsoft.

Gaming is an increasingly social space; look at games like World of Warcraft, where people recruiting for their openly queer-friendly guild is not at all out of place. If gaming is going to keep up with the rest of the world (bar California, which seems intent on living in the dark ages), restrictions like this need to change, and soon.
 
33 Comments
Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.
discoInferno
Feb 27, 2009 5:39 PM
 Here here DH. I really hope that she takes this further. A blind eye is turned to this sort of blatant discrimination all to often these days. She needs to use the profile that she's gained through this story being online, find herself a good lawyer, and sue the pants of MS.
Rage09
Feb 27, 2009 5:42 PM
 I've never used Xbox Live but what happened to the woman, the harassment, is what the ToU was implemented to stop. I see nothing wrong with them suspending her account until she changes her handle.
In the same breath we don't hear if any action was taken by her to report the people harassing her.

I think Microsofts stance on this stems more from a need to protect thier users from homophobic behavior than for anything else as, from all your examples, they don't really care who you screw.
Hawkeye
Feb 27, 2009 7:13 PM
 So, Rage, let me get this straight. She gets harassed, and then suspended for her own good?

- DH
Rage09
Feb 27, 2009 8:08 PM
 I see the two events, the harassment and the naming suspension, as separate and independent of each other.
I'd say the harassment is just what bought her name to the attention of the admins.
xtort
Feb 27, 2009 10:43 PM
 well said
moofactory
Feb 28, 2009 12:10 AM
 I was under the impression that it wasnt her gamertag but rather listed within her personal profile.
the_other_place
Feb 28, 2009 1:13 AM
 "In regards to sexual orientation, for gamertags or profiles we do not allow expression of any type of orientation, be that hetero or other."
...er why?

Also the whole "for your own good" argument doesn't fly with me. I don't see how letting people identify how they want hurts anyone.
Mordecai
Feb 28, 2009 11:53 AM
 "In the same breath we don't hear if any action was taken by her to report the people harassing her."

Thats what I would like to know as well. Did this lady report the abuse she was getting from her abusers? Or did she just wait to make a big thing of it once she got banned for violating the TOS.

"I don't see how letting people identify how they want hurts anyone."

Could be to stop the sort of BS this ladys been putting up with. In a perfect world everyone would be fine with anyone declaring that they are gay/straight/bi/asexual etc. But we have too many intolerant idiots in this world still unfortunately :(
Krispy89
Feb 28, 2009 12:07 PM
 There's only one way to solve this HawkEye. Don't reveal your sexual orientation in your gamer profile.

If she had done that, she wouldn't be in this mess right now would she?
Hawkeye
Feb 28, 2009 5:03 PM
 I have to seriously disagree with that, Krispy. If there is 'one way' to solve this, it's to educate people that this kind of homophobic and misunderstood response is wrong-headed.
Krispy89
Feb 28, 2009 7:54 PM
 Some people say that she deserved what she got, while other people say that this response was discriminatory and misunderstood. I happen to agree and yet, disagree with both sides at the same time.

I am not biased on this issue. I am not drawn to one side of the argument. I happen to see this from both sides, but cannot join one. My previous comment suggests that I have taken a side, but looking at it in hindsight, it was a spur of the moment thing.

But this is a fragile issue that we are talking about here.

This will continue on for some time, until Microsoft bows to public pressure, or people realise that you keep private things private and not in the public eye where unsavoury things will happen.

But hey, either way, who am I to judge?

-CG
JoniStarr
Mar 1, 2009 3:44 AM
 We all know that humans are mostly destructive and hateful creatures. Ask any mate who is non white what happens when they identify themselves on the net how much hate is spewed at them...I have witnessed this many times with my firends. Many simply choose names that will make thier gaming experience fun and play the game.
When I am killing people online, all i need to know is that you are human and not a bot. If you bring in a political side make sure you can take the heat.
I dont expect Microsoft to cure or provide a totally non sexist, raceist, or in his case choice of sexual orientation. Just make the games fun and leave rest alone.
Skulptur
Mar 1, 2009 10:14 AM
 Microsoft can't control what people say over voice chat, there is no offensive language technology available.
But what they can do is ban people who write content that is sexual. I see nothing wrong with what has happened.
ahsoka
Mar 1, 2009 12:39 PM
 I'm not really active here anymore, but I felt I just had to say something about this.
I'm with Hawkeye on this. Period. I'd also like to commend him for using the words "Fuck you, Microsoft.". Everyone has wanted to hear those words for a long time, and I imagine it would take a lot of balls for a journo to say it - especially when Micro$oft products are being advertised on this very site. I vow never to touch a Micro$oft product again, or at the very least for a long, long, long time.

ahsoka out.
the_other_place
Mar 1, 2009 1:02 PM
 "Could be to stop the sort of BS this ladys been putting up with. In a perfect world everyone would be fine with anyone declaring that they are gay/straight/bi/asexual etc. But we have too many intolerant idiots in this world still unfortunately :("

So she was banned for her own protection? I'm sorry, but punishing the victim makes no sense whatsoever.
Rage09
Mar 1, 2009 1:41 PM
 You guys do realize the rule has nothing to do with sexual orientation?
Here's a hypothetical:
Someone makes a character with the name "HitlertheJewBurner" (apologies but that's the most offensive name i can think of that doesn't have swearing). He goes around in game minding his own business but get harassed by people cause of the name. He reports the harassment but the admin also see his name and they suspend him until he changes it.
Would you guys think that is unfair? Would you call him a "Victim"?

The rule is there to stop harassment, because its not a perfect world there and the best they can do is put rules in place to minimize the number of triggers for these types of conflicts.
.:Cyb3rGlitch:.
Mar 1, 2009 2:10 PM
 I don't know, technically she was in the wrong. The Terms of Use clearly state that no sexual orientation is to be displayed. I believe MS made this rule to avoid incidents like this occurring, yet she decided to break the ToU regardless. Sure, it's sad that in this day and age people are still taunted for their sexual preference, but it's beyond MS to babysit the multitude of complete morons who use the service.

Really, she was suspended because she broke the ToU. I really don't blame MS, it's not their job to wipe homophobia from its users. It is their job to uphold the ToU, which is clearly designed to prevent as much petty conflict as feasibly possible.

Maybe they should have suspended the attackers too? Well I'd be inclined to agree, however I don't see it solving the greater issue. The world is encompassed by a multitude of differing views, most of which are unfair and unfounded. Unfortunately the gay community is under fire, much like the horrific apartheid not too long ago. The easy solution would be to nuke the Earth, or, to slowly ease the masses into acceptance. Banning accounts will just add fury to the affair - not to mention how hard it'd be to find and ban all offenders. It's much easier to suspend the one person who willingly broke the ToU.

Life sucks, eh?
ahsoka
Mar 1, 2009 2:15 PM
 It's a stupid rule - why obey it?
.:Cyb3rGlitch:.
Mar 1, 2009 2:27 PM
 Hmm, I don't know, to avoid being abused by morons online? Nah, that can't be it...
the_other_place
Mar 1, 2009 2:36 PM
 Rage09 do you really think someone identifying as a lesbian is as offensive as "HitlertheJewBurner'? It's fair enough to ban someone for having an offensive username, but it seems ridiculous to me to ban someone because they might be the victim of harassment.
ahsoka
Mar 1, 2009 4:18 PM
 the_other_place has the right idea.
Rage09
Mar 2, 2009 8:42 AM
 the_other_place: I was pointing out the fact that the rule make no differentiation between an offensive name and a name that goes against thier ToU.
What would you rather take care of from an Admin point of view, a name that goes against the ToU or a harassment case?
I'm not saying its fair, but a lot of things aren't. We still have to live with them though.

Also people seem to think she was banned, she wasn't. Her account was suspended until she changed her profile so it no longer broke the ToU. In naming cases I'd guess that the suspension only lasts a few days.
Hawkeye
Mar 2, 2009 9:35 AM
 We do have to live with things like, Rage, but we can also speak out against intolerance. I've no illusions that one whingy Op-ed is going to change the world, but by the same token I'm not going to quietly sit by and let shit like this slide by unremarked and uncriticised.

- DH
ahsoka
Mar 2, 2009 11:02 AM
 Good on you DH.
RaYdeX
Mar 2, 2009 2:14 PM
 I followed the story in an absent minded way while it was unfolding... and I have a few thoughts.

First off - I have to agree that it was very badly handled by Microsoft. Anybody touting any kind of anti-anything, anger, and abuse should face consequences. No-one should have to be vilified, and hurt for being simply who they are.

Secondly - There are 2 sides to every story, if not more, and so far we've only heard the Today-Tonight "MICROSOFT HATES GAYS" and "PEOPLE ABUSED ME BECAUSE I'M GAY". I'm not saying that the person whom was banned was at all in the wrong, I just don't know.

What I will do, is put forward the idea that some people can be very attention seeking, and make mountains out of mole-hills for well.. just for the sake of it. And that it's entirely possible that the person that got all the attention and got banned for trolling.

It's entirely possible they didn't do anything of the sort too.

It is my belief though, that a persons sexuality is a personal thing to share between yourself and you're sexual partners. It's not a badge to put on display to wave under peoples noses. Therefore I have no problem with sexuality being omitted from Xbox Live profiles.
Hawkeye
Mar 2, 2009 2:33 PM
 "It's not a badge to be put on display..."

I think the organisers of Mardi Gras might disagree :)
drago13666
Mar 6, 2009 5:07 PM
 um its also in their profile not their name, someone would have had to investigate their profile befor they could ever see it. So its not a badge at all.

Does the terms of service also ban naming what religious affiliation you have or what nationality you are?

how about suspending users that identify themselves as girls? that would stop sleazy sexual harrasment too!
hello0011
Mar 27, 2009 8:54 PM
 good one DH
milamber_of_the_assembly
Apr 15, 2009 3:49 PM
 drago13666: Hear hear! everyone knows there are no girls on the INTERNETS?!

I report people for tea bagging on XBL ffs, I hope to god she was reporting these people following her and harassing her.

Second, you can mark your bio, name, motto and location as one of three options. Everyone, Friends Only, or Blocked.

If she had ti set to blocked or friends only I don't see the problem, if her friends had a problem they can simply BLOCK HER and if it was marked Blocked then who gives a shit? no one can see it except her.

People have to learn two things,
1. To stop being such ignorant &^$%s
2. there exists a block button, USE IT.

M Out
milamber_of_the_assembly
Apr 15, 2009 3:50 PM
 In reguards to the comment above please ad :D :P to the second line after ?!

Cheers

M
somemadcaaant
Aug 13, 2009 4:21 PM
 My nickname gets the same excitement everywhere I go. it's what keeps me going. I like raising eyebrows. A word is only a word till it's used "against" someone. Otherwise it can't be harmful now can it ;)

Unfortunately ppl tend to have their own ideas and understanding about the meaning of something, which tends to differ to the minority.
tunksy
Aug 13, 2009 5:51 PM
 yes you can have a WTF!
tunksy
Aug 13, 2009 5:53 PM
 an old saying comes to mind, "sicks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" seems words do really hurt people now.
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