In yet another example of gamers acting like misogynistic brats, the creator of a Kickstarter project titled “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games” has been the target of seemingly nonstop harassment. Anita Sarkeesian, the blogger behind the project, started the Kickstarter as a way to get funds (and interest) for a video series that would highlight gender tropes in video games. Apparently this idea was so offensive to gamers that they decided to launch a barrage of hatred at both Sarkeesian and her project.
The infuriated gamers started by attacking her YouTube account, eventually moving on to her Wikipedia page as well, defacing it so much that it was eventually locked by admins to prevent vandalism.
In all cases, the attacks were laced with not just misogynistic, racist, and anti-Semitic language, but also death and rape threats.
Not just content with harassing Sarkeesian, the gamers also decided to try and get her Kickstarter page shut down by reporting it constantly. Unfortunately for them, tech startups usually don’t take the side of petulant children. On the page itself, Sarkeesian has reported that the company has been more than helpful in their management of the situation.
Despite all the harassment, the Kickstarter project has long since reached its goal of $6,000 – soaring to over $46,000. With four days left in the project, not only will it be getting funded, but they’ll likely have plenty of money left over to produce even more videos targeting sexism in video games.
Still, the harassment itself isn’t something we should just brush aside or forget about. Sarkeesian says it best:
I am certainly not the first woman to suffer this kind of harassment and sadly, I won’t be the last. But I’d just like to reiterate that this is not a trivial issue. It can not and should not be brushed off by saying, “oh well that’s YouTube for you“, “trolls will be trolls” or “it’s to be expected on the internet”. These are serious threats of violence, harassment and slander across many online platforms meant to intimidate and silence. And its not okay.
If you’re interested in helping fund the project, feel free to check it out here.
She needs $40,000 to complain about video games on the internet?
No, but she also didn’t ask for $40 000-her stretch goals were reached tens of thousands of dollars ago. People are mostly donating now in reaction to the disgusting, and disproportionate reaction to the mere *proposition* of such a project. Funding well over the goal is not unusual for Kickstarter, but yea, this is an astonishing display of support by those sick of this type of gendered harassment and who desire this subject to be explored.
Stupid idea for a kickstarter which is vastly overblown, and no, it’s not because it’s a woman who is doing it. Get a fucking backbone. Unfortunately people who are giving legitimate critique of her frankly embarrassingly basic critique and understanding of video games are drowned out by idiots like the people who wrote this article and people who uttered death threats.
She knew this was going to happen, more importantly she needed it to generate actual money and interest for her project. She’s got less subscribers and views than your average kid recording Call of Duty no-scope footage.
How shameless.
It’s a great way to generate revenue. She was already doing the videos for free before, now she making a living of being a female.
She probably has enough money to hire people to insult her and make death threats to help get her more views and money.
Actually, she wasn’t really doing the vids for free before. Her previous Trope series was funded by Bitch Media, and since she doesn’t allow ads on her channel (unlike most popular vloggers who live off much of the proceeds), ppl had the option to donate via her site. To say that she must be hiring people to defame and harass her is laughable and naive, and a completely privileged thing to say from a man who would never have to face a similar onslaught (unless he made a similar project discussing race). If you don’t think this isn’t a serious problem in the gaming community, feel free to check out sites like ‘fatuglyorsluttyDOTcom’ or ‘notinthekitchenanymoreDOTcom’ to see some examples of what female gamers have unfortunately come to expect. These misogynistic and racist losers make up a minority in the gaming community, but are some of the most vocal. There are becoming the face of gamers everywhere through the controversy they create…we should all be concerned about them.
Why do you care if people wanted to give her money to criticize video games? She’s more than welcome to do it. Just reads like bitterness and misogyny to me.
If it was some guy wanting money to complain about how every male in a video is a bald buff space marine with a gruff voice, or very athletic, fit and tall despite not every male living up to that standard, I would still think his cause is stupid and he is scamming people.
She had hit her goal before the harassment started. Sorry to burst your rage bubble, bro.
I’m a girl, and I’ve been paying attention to this trainwreck from the get-go. Anita Sarkeesian is making money off of other people’s stupidity and, like any good scam artist, is seriously over-blowing her sense of outrage in order to garner more sympathy for her ’cause’ (which translates to $$$). Why did I mention I’m a girl? Because it’s relevant. Female gamers like me do NOT want and did NOT ask for this woman to be our champion. She bitches about such pointless things that it actually makes us look WORSE to the community at a time when males are just now starting to accept us into their world.
Shame on you for supporting this crap.
I don’t suppose you realize that your article itself is somewhat offensive. Don’t generalize gamers. A few bad eggs harassed her, not every gamer.
I understand where you’re coming from, and I’m sure you didn’t mean it like that, but it’d be wise to choose your words more carefully.
Misogyny is rampant in gaming communities — enough so that I feel my wording was apt.
This should be on your blog, not on a gaming news site. This isn’t news, this is an irresponsibly worded opinion piece that’s loaded with generalizations and nonsense. If you’re going to make claims about an entire community, then you’d better have some data to back it up. Especially if that community consists of millions of people across the world.
It’s absolutely news. There’s no nonsense here.
In the past few months there have been many examples of gamers acting like idiots, hence the lede. You’ll notice I don’t say all gamers. Just gamers.
It is relevant to the story. There’s not much more to it.
“In yet another example of gamers acting like misogynistic brats” this seems like a gross generalization and kills this articles credibility from the start. I knew nothing of this woman or the kick starter and I classify myself as a gamer. I am also sure it wasn’t just “gamers” attacking her rather anyone offended by what she was trying to do, feminism, sexism, misogyny are all societal problems not “gamer” problems.
Not a generalization if it’s an example. Conversely, there are gamers who aren’t you as well.
Being an exception to the rule does not disprove the rule.
And yet if you were to refer to say something along the line that the “Defense of Marriage Act” was just another example of Christians being ignorant bigots everyone would jump on you (correctly). Generalising a group because of a vocal (potential) minority is never right. The fact is you really have no idea wether or not its the majority or “rule” and to be fare no one really does. This means you’re making assumptions which is not helpful nor is it journalism. You’re behaving like pundits, and nothing a pundit says has value of reason because of the inherit bias. Do not assert the authority of knowledge when it is clearly not present.
I called them gamers because they are gamers. This is what they identify as. Her project is about video games, they don’t like the idea of feminism invading their gaming space. It’s totally relevant to point this out.
Likewise, the article does not say that all gamers are terrible people. It just points out that the individuals involved in the harassment were/are gamers.
Adding on to that, misogyny seems rampant throughout gaming. It’s mainstream. If it wasn’t, feminism likely wouldn’t be seen in such a harsh light by such a large part of the community.
“Gamers” in almost all contexts refers to a collective. You want “some gamers” if you don’t want this to sound like some self-righteously douche
What’s so funny about peace love and understanding?
And killing virtual people with huge guns?