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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsGLAAD fights homophobia in online communities like WoW
by Mike Schramm 
Jul 21st 2009 at 11:00AM
We've talked here on the site before about this issue -- the anonymity in online communities like World of Warcraft often leads to people throwing out offensive statements that they usually wouldn't in normal company. Most people shrug these off as just what happens in online games ("kids will be kids, and idiots will be idiots"), but this type of undercurrent behavior still signifies and perpetuates prejudices and hatreds that affect society at large. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has recently started up a campaign to try and stamp out hatred and homophobia in communities like World of Warcraft, and they've published an op-ed on exactly why this is such a problem and what we can do to stop it. They don't mention WoW specifically, but we're one of the biggest online communities out there, and if nothing else, here's a chance to show just how tolerant we as a community can be.
The good news is that as the practice of online gaming grows, both players and policymakers are becoming more and more aware of the problem -- Microsoft met earlier this year with representatives from GLAAD to determine how better to combat offensive statements on Xbox Live, and the organization held a panel recently to discuss exactly this issue.
Thanks, Joshua!
Even Blizzard has gotten better at navigating the issues: three years ago, they threatened to ban a gay guild from the game, and nowadays, players of all creeds and backgrounds are able to enjoy the game.
As the op-ed says, it's going to be a long road. And it's more than just about homophobia, as there are also certainly lots of racist and sexist messages thrown around online communities, many times by people who should know better. But helping to fight one issue should help us fight them all. And fighting the undercurrent of these offensive messages in online communities like Azeroth should go a long way to raising awareness in the real world as well.
Editor's Note: Please keep your comments civil and on-topic. You can disagree, but do so without attacks or trolling. Comments are being actively moderated and anything out of line will be removed and the user will be banned.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, News items
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 22)
Fierna Jul 21st 2009 12:17PM
If you talk t your guildmates about anything other than raiding and gaming you are bringing your "RL persona into the game." Unless you are in a really strict RP guild people are going to talk about what they did that day.
And isn't i bringing your "RL issues" into the game to start saying homophobic stuff like "that's so gay"
MasterAsh Jul 21st 2009 12:36PM
What I don't get is why people (anyone) has to go into an MMORPG and bring their ignorance front and center. I mean why go into a game like WoW and project that you have no understanding of why a group of people may find using them as a pejorative would be offensive. My first question, how can you not understand something so simple? And 2nd, why must you spam the Trade channel with your inability to comprehend respect for others; I just wanna loot leet epics, not get read an inflammatory discussion you seem to think is funny. I mean it's not like I get on Trade personally insult your age, race, religion, etc. I prepare my manners and sensibilities at the login screen, and I think everyone should do the same.
Too long, didn't read: The poster I'm lampooning entirely misses the point.
Randy Jul 21st 2009 12:45PM
I'm not missing the point, this stuff ruins the gaming experience for many people who would rather just game and ya know, escape the world for a bit?
By bringing RL identities front and center I meant in a public way, what happens in a guild is private and I say fair game unless there are any guild rules prohibiting it.
And yes I am well aware that people get married after having met through venues of a digital nature like WoW....I met my own wife online so I do know something regarding that. And yes, I have met and hung out with several guild members and at said meetups we ditched the game and got to know each other.
Fnord Jul 21st 2009 12:46PM
In re Dan:
"Oh and FYI to all the people telling gays to lay off and keep their opinions to themselves, it ain't gonna happen. Discrimination and hatred will be fought wherever they exist. No more closets."
Fair enough, I suppose. Still, with "no closets" comes "no bubbles." If you don't want in-game discourse to avoid the issue, it's fair to understand that your opinions are a "fair ball" to some extent--you'll encounter certain ideas/comments about gay issues that won't suit you. And given the tenor of WoW chat channels, I expect they'll often be expressed in subliterate and disobliging ways.
Personal assaults and harassment that pass a certain threshold have always been out of line in WoW and have always drawn GM discipline; it's not wrong for gay players to expect action in such cases. Normally, though, people who import their pet social, religious, philosophical, and sexual issues into the realms can count on getting their sensibilities offended, if not steamrolled. To the degree that any gay fellow players think that's unacceptable ... yeah, such individuals are demanding "special treatment."
Terethall Jul 21st 2009 12:49PM
@Dan: You say "same-sex attraction is deserving of equality and similar acceptance."
But you don't say why. Please provide reasoning behind your statements. And please don't say anything along the lines of "everyone's personal expression should be held as equally valid to everyone else's personal expression." Because if that were the case, I could express my belief in the immorality of homosexuality without being labeled a "homophobe" by various groups - including this WoW.com article.
In other words, if my expressing to others that I consider homosexuality to be wrong is offensive to some, why can I not say that another's expression of homosexuality is offensive to me? I think what has been labeled as "homophobia" is deserving of equality and similar acceptance. (And I have provided my reasoning for that.)
Eric Jul 21st 2009 1:42PM
Randy, I think you should take your suggestion. Log out.
kabshiel Jul 21st 2009 2:56PM
I'd agree with you, except that I doubt you have any problems with people discussing their heterosexuality in-game. I'll keep my life to myself if I don't have to hear about anyone else's wife, girlfriend, how hot blood elf females are, or anything else about their disgusting heterosexual lifestyle. It needs to go both ways.
lonniejk Jul 21st 2009 4:26PM
Getting teased about in-game for sounding gay can only go so far before the secret's let out of the bag, you know.
Coldforge Jul 21st 2009 4:43PM
Agreed! AMEN! And for you people claiming that how females and "blacks" had to fight for thier fair treatment is the same as the right to justify your odd right to express your sexual preference engame or not, you need to stop! A Female born a female can not change the fact that she was born female. A "black person" can not change the fact they where born "black" but you can change or decide whether your gay or straight. Stop useing civil rights as a crunch please, as a "black man" it afends me.
Neena Jul 21st 2009 6:23PM
Randy, here's the problem with what you're saying: You're saying that gay people should be the ONLY ones to never talk about their real life in game. What you're saying might make sense if people didn't talk about their real life, jobs, relationships, etc. in game. But they do, all the time -- during raids, in guild chat and on vent. Why should gay people not be able to do the same? Straight people bring their sexuality into the game all the time. They get to talk about their date last night or how they have "girlfriend/wife aggro" (or boyfriend/husband aggro aggro if the player is female). People don't leave their real life at the login screen, and it's unreasonable to expect them to do so -- this is a social game.
rabbit Jul 24th 2009 10:39PM
i hate it when people talk about their kids, their work, school, sports games in wow too, stop bringing your real life stuff in game!
denis_krah Jul 21st 2009 11:10AM
Actually i don't think that sexuality of any kind should be played out in World of Warcraft. Straight or gay ... it doesn't matter. It has nothing to do with the game. Sorry, go to "Second Life" or something else.
BUT: Any harrassement of gay people should be punished by Blizzard. There is no other option.
M Jul 21st 2009 11:50AM
You had me until the "BUT" statement. Leave that off, and the first part of your statement rocks.
When I'm interacting with you, I don't care if you're male, female, child, adult, black, white, or anything else. I care about playing the game, not necessarily what you do outside of the game. If YOU bring external issues into the game, then YOU have the problem.
If you can play your class and aren't rude, or perhaps even friendly, I'll group with you. If you try to tell me how awesome it is to be gay, I won't care and will look for someone else who is bothering to play the game instead. Keep bothering me with it, and guess who is the one harassing then?
tanek Jul 21st 2009 12:14PM
@M:
You had me until you posted. ;) What is wrong with saying Blizzard should punish harassment of gay people? It is really no different than saying Blizzard should punish harassment, period.
As you point out, harassment does not have to be any one narrowly defined thing. Anyone can be on either side of it. Oh, and no one is asking to be able to sell you on being gay, so I'm not sure exactly where you came up with that.
TobiasX Jul 21st 2009 11:11AM
"just how tolerant we as a "
Nobody should 'tolerant', they should just accept, shouldn't they?
TobiasX Jul 21st 2009 11:12AM
Bah, should've been "Nobody should need to be 'tolerant'". Seriously, can we get an edit button?
Leather Jul 21st 2009 11:51AM
When that acceptance goes against one's belief system then no, we should not accept. Still, you need to be tolerant.
TobiasX Jul 22nd 2009 5:51AM
if someone believes something completely different to me I accept that this person is not me and they can believe whatever they want.
Riz Jul 21st 2009 11:12AM
If you're offended by "racist and sexist messages" in an online game, you're doing it wrong
TobiasX Jul 21st 2009 11:14AM
It's a blog. That means it IS their personal opportunity to present their views.