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2014

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Polygon NEWS REVIEWS FEATURES VIDEOS FORUMS OPINION PLATFORMS MORE ALL FORUMS > META GamerGate: On Vengeance and Escalation By David Zhou on Oct 19, 2014 at 5:03p @dz First, GamerGate supporters absolutely, 100% engaged in systematic harassment and abuse of women in the games industry and press. This harassment didn't start with GamerGate, and will likely not end with GamerGate. Many of the same people who have been harassing Anita and other women as part of GamerGate have been doing it for years prior But, beyond harassment, I think there's something interesting to think about as it relates to GamerGate as a thing, and why they always seem to be so angry: the GamerGate approach to formulating responses that value vengeance, perceived justice, and escalation. Getting Even and Getting More Than Even ve arc of many popular games follow this pattern: a wrong is made against the The na protagonist, the protagonist is angered and wants revenge, in the act of vengeance the protagonist discovers more wrongs, the protagonist's acts escalate in scale and effect until the game finally culminates in an all-out "final boss" battle where everything is on the line It's an pattern that is attractive for pretty basic reasons. It puts the player on the side of justice. It serves up constant helpings of righteous satisfaction. It consistently escalates the stakes to impart the importance of player actions. But most importantly, there is a prevalent trend of not just stake escalation, but also one of weaponry. In games, you don't just want to match your enemy, you want to destroy your enemy. You want to overpower them, to bring the bigger weapon, to deal more damage in a trade of blows, to exploit structural weakness. A disproportionately excessive response is not only fun in games, but also many times explicitly encouraged When Leigh Alexander wrote her "Gamers' are over" piece, the response wasn't just an equivalent article expre goal was to n This was not seen as an unjustified o vengeance: Gamasutra published an article critical of 'gamers', therefore we must shutdown Gamastura so they they no longer have the power to ever publish a piece that is critical of ing disagreement, but rather n where the t disprove Alexander's article, but to forcibly shutdown Gamasutra as a who rwhelming ction, but rather as a proper, righteous act of Co a mome some of the goals that many GamerGat upp orters have unified o mailing spon advertisers because they felt a bunch of articles were unfairly criticizing gamerS Donating to TYFC because it appeared that Zoe Quinn didn't like thenm Emailing Dell and denouncing the statement of a Dell executive who is in no way related to the gaming press or the game development industry Donating to anti-bullying charities because two Gawker employees-who do not write for Kotaku or generally cover games -- made some admittedly ill-worded and ill-timed tweets. That last item is telling. GamerGate supporters have spent the past few da o Gawker. Not bec ng i ny explicit breach o ethics, but because two Gawker s unrelated to the gaming press made some sarcastic, mocking tweets in their dir They have been emailing Gawker adve they have moved to dir ers and asking if they 'support bullying'. M ng f the brands and compai nd associated with Gawk revenge in line with the other acts listed. A tive who nr ampaigns to, w e the Del a public apology? Not only would any per i any way, shape, rm affec game n think many GamerGate supporters have an endgame scenario in mind when engaging in email campaigns. Or, at least, not one that reflects on the core rhetoric of GamerGate: that of ethics in games journalism. I've said it elsewhere, but I'd like to say it here too GamerGate is not a movement based around ideals, but a movement based around revenge. Its actions are not acts in the service of a erarching goal, but acts in the service of vengeance. Its ndgame, as described by a scalated destruction, where targeted outlets are stripped of advertisers, of readers and ather than rhe ne ethical ne able to the moveme uppor

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Top Comments

TheLurknessMonster

Oct 19, 2014 at 07:15PM EDT

"Did you hear about those GGers? They donate to charities!"
"Those sick bastards!"

That's what I imagine a conversation between these journalists goes like.
But in all seriousness, if you have a problem with people donating to charity – even if the reasons aren't 100% pure – it's time to reevaluate your life choices.

+14

Our Guy

Oct 19, 2014 at 07:14PM EDT

This crap again. "Gamers act in the way they've been programmed to by games". We say that's bullshit, and are sick of being told we've been brainwashed by a bunch of assholes who want to control the narrative and, well, brainwash people.

Thanks for the fuel, though. It'll help keep those fires burning. It may be a long, cold winter at this rate and we need to keep warm.

+12

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