Major Nelson managed to get a new podcast up yesterday, wherein he devoted a good portion of time to Xbox LIVE policies regarding TOS, acceptable language, and the recent visit paid to the Xbox offices by GLAAD.
Gay Gamer reports that Stephen Toulouse, who polices the Xbox LIVE community, had this to say:
“I can’t talk about what we discussed specifically except to say that we provided them with a lot of information about what we do today, why we do what we do and how we do it. And then we asked them the question, ‘How can we do this better?’ And we have some ideas. Here are some ideas. That dialog was super, super helpful. I think it was a great engagement. Justin and Jeffrey who came out from GLAAD really appreciated the effort that we’re putting into it – and had great ideas, like they brought up some stuff we hadn’t thought of.
I would recommend to any business who’s tackling these issues, they’re a great group to work with. The GLAAD folk totally understand a variety of things, they’re really great to work with. They want to enable communities to be safer. They just want to enable communities to be safer – that’s what my team tries to do as well, so it was a great thing.
We’ll plan to say something about [GLAAD and Xbox LIVE policy] in the future.”
It really seems as though Toulouse and Major Nelson are all for making the community safer for everyone and discrimination free. With any luck, they’ll do a better job of controlling the community in the future.
Anyone else out there ready to have Xbox start cracking down on immature/rude/idiotic people on Xbox LIVE?
Man why are gays always whining about something. If you chose to draw attention to yourself by becoming gay, expect some people to not be OK with it. That goes for real life AND online – stop trying to hide behind stupid rules…
"chose to draw attention to yourself by becoming gay" — what the hell? Why not say people of color choose to draw attention to themselves by having a darker skin color than you? This just flies in the face of everything we know about sexuality in general. I applaud XBox for actually working on this in a positive way, rather than ignoring it. Bigotry is the wrong choice, not your sexuality.
His point is completely valid, ppl who make gamertags like "gaygamer" or "gayboy" are asking for it. MS doesn't allow sexual preference info period, hetero included.
ok dude about the gamertag thing, 90 percent of the time, those gamer tags are made by people who are doing it to discriminate homosexuals.
well said charger and roblef.
Sorry Matt, but it's you who is whining. I'm not gay, but they have the same rights as anyone else. Why do you care what happens between them and Microsoft. Anything like this when someone says something so ignorant I always wonder why they care. Anyways there are a lot of idiots online in gaming, but I just don't wear my headset anymore. They should be put together in one place, but then I guess they wouldn't be happy, they get off on annoying people.
That’s why there is mute, and block. If I chose to wear my underwear on the outside, I am going to expect some level of discrimination for it. Same thing goes for the gay community. If you chose to do / be a something that is socialy unaceptable then you’d better be prepared to get bashed for it. Weather or not you can handle the bashing is up to you.
Um, I dunno where you've been for the last decade, but homosexual isn't "socially unacceptable" anymore. Sure theres a few assholes who still discriminate gays, but there are still people out there who hate black people.
Btw your in titled to your opinion, but that doesn't mean you have to force it onto other people. Same thing at mark. I can see why rob just didn't bother to argue any longer than he did, the level of maturity that you guys have shown with the first couple of comments sound like your a couple of arrogant teenagers. And if I'm wrong and your older, than i think its time to grow up.
Mike, for the record, I am not one of those people online. I have played with some very obviously gay folks online before and never once uttered a single insult. Yes the overly flamboiant ones annoy me to death but I can also hit the mute button if I need to. I also believe they have the same rights as everyone, but this has nothing to do with rights. Why are they even letting people online know they’re gay anyways? Its either a) they put it in their profile, desperately craving attention and trying to stir the pot (absolutely no need to put your orientation in your profile, online gaming is not a dating service) or b) they alter their voice to speak with a heavy lisp which I will never understand for the life of me. There will always be people who will not tolerate things, they will voice their opinion, weather it be a real, sincere discomfort, or a childish slur filled spat, there are always ways to avoid it…
This cracks me up. This is just a publicity stunt. Xbox and microsoft could care less about homosexuals being offended and care more about the money they spend. I have heard more racist and anti-religious (mainly against Christianity) comments than anti-gay ones. I am a Christian and am fully aware that I may be persecuted because of my beliefs. This all goes with the territory. You don't see microsoft speaking with Rick Warren or Jessie Jackson. This is sad and I doubt they are going to change anything.
There will always be push back from a community full of emboldened anonymous users. What is TRULY sad is the state of society, with the shield of anonymity an individual shows their true colors. Those in society who continue to use hate speech though mediums such as XBL would surely do so in daily life if it was not for the social condemnation such activity has come under. Those of you who have posted upset or finding it "whinny" to desire not to come under persecution for a way of life that HURTS NO ONE (unlike Christianity Doug which has killed hundreds of thousands and continues to harm the social structure of our world) cast a dim outlook for this world. Reconsider the value of your fellow human being/gamer. XBL I applaud your moves towards making the online community a safer more enjoyable one.
first of all as gay gamer, matt your an idiot. its not a choice and second, all we ever hear is gay this gay that from you hetero immature racists online. . we are sick of it. bashing is never acceptable. all you guys talk about is your sexual bs online but if we speak, its unnacceptable. yeah enough is enough and fyi, 50 percent of you gamers are in the closet or bi and MS is losing alot of money because people are ditching them due to the unethical treatment of gays. we are a powerhouse of money and MS is in trouble. they just lost a case from one of the fable creators due to discrimination, banning lesbians, etc. your mind doesnt even comprehend how much trouble they caused.
Sadly I agree with you on the Microsoft really caring part. If they cared, they should have set up rules in the first place and kicked off the bullies, not lesbian woman.
glaad, what an utter joke.
Jdubya and Mike H you speak like you want tolerance and understanding yet in this thread your attacks on others who don't agree with you are overflowing with hate. Come on surely you see this when you call Matt an idiot and accuse Christians of killing hundreds of thousands. I don't see any facts to back up your unsubstantiated hatred. Those Christians that killed hundreds of thousands are they the old grandma's that drive a jalopy to church on Sunday? Your hate, self righteousness, and hypocrisy are blinding you to the facts. If a hetero marketed their sexuality the way gays do he/she would instantly be a sexual predator. The gay lifestyle never hurt anyone? Come on pull you head out of the sand and look around. I know a family where the older brother sexually molested his younger sibling until the sibling committed suicide thinking there was no way out and no one to help him. That is real damage to me or any other rational person. You want tolerance while you ridicule religion with as much hate as you can muster. You have the same thinking process as the Nazi's did with the Jews. Christians are what is wrong with society killing hundreds of thousands of people (who and when you don't tell us). Others who disagree with your Nazi thinking are vermin who deserve no more than extermination. You accuse anyone who disagrees with you just like the Nazi's did the Jews. You just don't have the power yet to start the gas chambers but you already have sufficient hate and have identified the sub class of humans you would exterminate. You don't want equality you want legitimacy to spread your bile and prey on the weak and ignorant. You whine, moan, and complain about your lot in life while trying to make as many converts as you can because you are a powerhouse of money. What hypocrites. You think we are too stupid to understand how predatory homosexuality is but we understand in spite of your message of hate.
Have you read what you wrote? Are you aware that you start of accusing myself and other posters as being hateful? Good lord who is the hypocrite here?. Let me me very clear with you, I am very angry. I have a strong hate for intolerance and ignorance. Those things have no place in the future of online gaming or hopefully in this world. Also Sami… I can't tell you how disgusting it is to compare homosexuality with sexual predators. The two are no more related than those little old ladies driving to church and the "deaths of thousands" comparison you drew in your post.
In admitting you have a strong hate against any group of sociaty and then use that hate against them proves my point. You can't use hate against other groups of sociaty to furthur your agenda. If you react with hate against groups or individuals who are intolerant and ignorate how will that furthure any groups goals? Why not use positive language and drop the hate? In relation to te sexual preditors the family of the sibling who committed suicide saw and understood it as preditory behavior. I know because I had to go to the funeral.
Jdubya and Mike H you speak like you want tolerance and understanding yet in this thread your attacks on others who don't agree with you are overflowing with hate. Come on surely you see this when you call Matt an idiot and accuse Christians of killing hundreds of thousands. I don't see any facts to back up your unsubstantiated hatred. Those Christians that killed hundreds of thousands are they the old grandma's that drive a jalopy to church on Sunday? Your hate, self righteousness, and hypocrisy are blinding you to the facts. If a hetero marketed their sexuality the way gays do he/she would instantly be a sexual predator. The gay lifestyle never hurt anyone? Come on pull you head out of the sand and look around. I know a family where the older brother sexually molested his younger sibling until the sibling committed suicide thinking there was no way out and no one to help him. That is real damage to me or any other rational person. You want tolerance while you ridicule religion with as much hate as you can muster. You have the same thinking process as the Nazi's did with the Jews. Christians are what is wrong with society killing hundreds of thousands of people (who and when you don't tell us). Others who disagree with your Nazi thinking are vermin who deserve no more than extermination. You accuse anyone who disagrees with you just like the Nazi's did the Jews. You just don't have the power yet to start the gas chambers but you already have sufficient hate and have identified the sub class of humans you would exterminate. You don't want equality you want legitimacy to spread your bile and prey on the weak and ignorant.
I'm really digging this conversation, but not the personal attacks. Let's use less "you" and more "I," or we'll have to close this really cool conversation down. Thanks!
Yes.. Please guys, we've got a great "discussion" going here. Let's not make it a bash on anyone.
That said, ALL opinions are welcome regardless of who agrees with them. Just keep it civil :)
No one likes a bully :D
They're not asking for anything but the same treatment you auto-magically get, in my opinion. The culture of privilege isn't usually aware of the perks involved in being one of the dominant culture.
Well wtf did they expect when they're blatantly flaunting their sexuality like that? Keep it too yourself.
You're missing my point. You get to be a sexual being just by NOT claiming hetero or homosexual, since everyone assumes hetero. A homosexual man or woman does not get that privilege or luxury. I'm not going to spend any more time on this, though.
No pal, you're the one missing the point. You don't talk about sexuality on XBL, period. You don't get any rights on the service anyway since you agreed to the TOS.
Do the TOS specifically say "if you're gay people can bash you and we will do nothing"? There is no way in hell.
People talk about sex ALL the time on XBL, it's just usually hetero men talking about how "they boned the shit out of this one bitch last weekend". If heteros can talk about sex, gays can also, they're equal people whether you like it or not.