GameGirl.com

pretty interesting videos. I agree with Britni that parents need to man up and take the responsibility, and that most of this is by little kids. It shouldn't all fall on em though. I know i talk mad shit on live sometimes but lately ive just gotten in a habit of turning my mic off so no one hears it. I think we as the mature majority should just ignore the kids. They do it to try and fit in and get laughs, if no one laughs they'll feel like idiots. Even saying 'shut up' or being polite gives them plenty of fuel. However sadly i feel her video won't solve anything or cause a big movement, like she said, this shits been going on since CounterStrike(maybe thats why im so used to it). Very good blog though.

vongaurd Today at 4:48:16 AM filter this thread show all reply People today aren't willing to take responsibility for their actions or if they have children, they won't discipline them for fear of retribution from the government getting involved do to someone claiming child abuse. So what do parents do, because talking won't do the trick and parents can no longer spank their kids do to the aforementioned. The rights of parents are being slowly stripped away.

I think that it has to do with which xbox live zone you are in. I'm in recreation, and I hardly run into this type of stuff at all. Most of the really bad trash talkers are in pro and underground zones.

It's anonymity that is really to blame here, or rather anonymity coupled with a lack of real order built into the XBOX Live system. In other words, allowing people to hop online without fear of retaliation breeds flaming. This is why comment rating systems are now being implemented so successfully on many of the video game blogs out there, to give power to those that don't wish to be insulted. If you added weight behind the rating system in online gaming -- where, for instance, a person would be able to see how many black marks a person has on their account -- then you'd have some order in the XBOX chaos. It would be wonderful to log in and have those that have been reported/voted down be stuck playing in their own damn lobby, stuck abusing each other. That way those who are respectful can play without having to deal with the lower life forms.

i agree whole heartedly with vongaurd

Cool video. Plus I think her raspy voice is kinda sexy.

I have to admit, I agree, very sexy.

ummm... you mean the mute button?

I think its extremely unfortunate a lot of video games are ruined for people such as this. I'd like to think that our generation will be the one to change this, as we understand video games while our parents for the most part are uninformed about these issues.

When this generation has children of their own, I'm hoping that we, being the first generation where video games are so mainstream, will have a very active part in our children's entertainment. This doesn't mean shoving shit down their throat all the time and being controlling, but rather censoring certain things until they hit the appropriate age. Truth be told, some things should NOT be seen until a later age, because the significance may be over the head of the younger individual who partakes in watching or listening to said material, and can as a result be skewed in a way that makes it "ok" for the kid to replicate in every day life. This would include racism, sexism and general discrimination encountered on Xbox Live, PS Network or any other online community.

An example that comes to mind would be (and I'm sorry to offend anyone, this is of course a touchy issue with a lot of people and some people are more mature about it than others, merely trying to prove a point) sex at a young age. I know when I was younger (I'm 20 right now, I'm talking when i was in Junior High, as in grades 7-9) it was generally frowned upon to have sex at such a young age because you don't really know its significance yet, it doesn't mean as much. If however, parents informed their children about the significance, taking an active part in the child's life, then perhaps it wouldn't be the issue it has grown into. Same concept applies to video games.

There's a reason why there's a label on these "adult" materials, and video games are no exception. To end off this rant, I go back to my previous point, saying hopefully our generation will be the one to stop this abuse on the internet through being active in our children's lives, for those of us lucky enough to have them.

I really liked what Burnt Matches had to say about the only thing that can fix the Xbox Live Community. It has to be the community that fixes itself.

Reporting it is definitely the way to go. Let people know that that is unacceptible. Anyone acting so out of line should feel ostricized by the community.

In addition, if Xbox Live could come up with a way to allow gamers to only interact/game with people with a minimum rating (determined by each user) then the lowered ratings would really have an effect, a consequence. Assholes would quickly find themselves without an audience. For example, I could change my setting to include only players with a minimum 3 stars. any less, and it won't put me in the same game, also, if I'm in a game, they would not be allowed.

The only decent response to this topic was posted by mandifesto. Rather than reiterate what is being called a problem, he, at least, attempts to provide a solution.

That aside, I think this issue should be looked at with some historical prospective. In the past racism lead to unfair treatment and violence toward its victims, hence, it was a problem. What people fail to see is that the racism being described in gaming doesn't lead to this. Everyone has an equal right to play the game and no one is being physically hurt or treated unjustly.

What little problem this is can be fixed by simply keeping an open mind - and no, I am not some kind of Buddhist (they keep open minds right?). Bored gamers say offensive things to get a rise out of someone - things they would never say in person (anonymity). How can you let a someone so weak that they have to hide behind the internet in order to put you down, offend you. If someone says something racist or sexist to you, getting your feelings hurt will only fuel their fire. You know you aren't inadequate because of your gender or your race, do you not?

Fuck the parents, fuck the schools, think for yourself. Fuck anyone who tries to talk shit to you. You're better than them..think about it.

How are you going to let the efforts of comedians like Richard Pryor and Dave Chappelle go to waste. Slurs like Ni**er are laughable at this point. There are little white kids saying it that probably don't even know what it means - Ni**a this Ni**a that, it shouldn't be offensive anymore.

Bottom line, no one is getting hurt, there are more important things to complain about in the world today. Dare I say QQ more?

/add

For the majority of these people it has nothing to do with racism or sexism. They are entertained by offending other people. It just so happends that due to much descrimination against both races and sexes in the past, those put downs become the most popular; they are the most effective. *slogan* Don't let the offence do its job, and you always come out a winner *cheesy smile* *wink* *finger point*