RACISM in online gaming- how do you feel about it?

[ac3144]

I play alot of Left for Dead, I love it, it's one of the best games I have ever played. There is one drawback for me though; Racism.

Because one of the characters is black (for those who don't know the game) I frequently experience comments like 'haha why do you want to play as the N*****?!' and ' Let's get the N***** first, die N*****! lol' (note the lol on the end, like it's funny).

I started a thread on the Steam forums about this and have had a mixed response. Many people think it's ok to be racist online, because it's just 'humour' and only directed at a fictitious character, others say that this is the internet and you cannot police it, they are merely exercising their right to free speech. Those who oppose it appear to be in the minority.

To state my position, I am white British and abhor racism wherever it may occur. It is not the words used but the feeling behind them that I object to.

Can anything be done about it? Could Valve (and other developers, I'm sure it's not just on L4D) introduce censoring software?
Your thoughts and ideas are welcome, this is an important debate.

AC


I can't and won't ignore it before you suggest that, I always speak out online, I have to live with it, I of course know that. Oh and don't take offence, I just want to talk about it in a sensible manner without name calling etc etc 😀 .

 

[jimishtar]

there is no such thing as a race. all humans are humans, there is no genetic difference. Thing is, people like to form groups. It starts with family & neighborhood, it goes way far as to nations and races. I guess people feel safer and better when identifying with other like them.
like u said, its a free speech. so i believe we will see a lot of online n offline racism talks, between people and in games. games reflect society, so u can tell how far we have "evolved" since a lot of the games are with killing, fighting, and in this case, even racist.

 

[ac3144]

Yes they are scum and the only thing I can think of it to get their steam id and report them to the servers admin if that is possible.

Or you can post their ID with perhaps a screenshot of it and see if any action can be taken.

Just take a bit of pleasure knowing these are sad individuals who wouldn't say damn all to someone in person.

Check this thread out: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=951160

I tried to see if anything could be done and have ended up fighting my corner for saying it's wrong in the first place! I'm astonished at the apathy of the majority and the ignorance of a few.

Hope the link works.

AC 😀

 

[randomizer]

I must admit that I'm more sexist than racist in L4D. Why is Zoey always the problem? 😀

This has inspired me to start another thread.

 

[cappster]

Most people will say anything from the safety of sitting behind their computer. Many of them would never dream of saying such things in front of the group, especially black people, that they are talking about. Sometimes you cannot help it when people show their ignorance, but I am glad you are not sitting idly and speaking out against it. My son is Bi-Racial and I am glad for people like you who have moved into the 21st century instead of carrying on racism that has been passed down from generation to generation.

 

[ac3144]

Most people will say anything from the safety of sitting behind their computer. Many of them would never dream of saying such things in front of the group, especially black people, that they are talking about. Sometimes you cannot help it when people show their ignorance, but I am glad you are not sitting idly and speaking out against it. My son is Bi-Racial and I am glad for people like you who have moved into the 21st century instead of carrying on racism that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Thankyou for saying that Cappster. It really pi**es me off and I won't just ignore it. Even though people are entitled to free speech, I don't believe that extends to racist comments on servers that I have had to pay for the privilege to play on. Many of my opponents on the Steam forum say that I can just leave or attempt a votekick but it's not that easy and it's not the point.

Tacit acceptance of this behaviour allows it to fester and erode and for the younger generation might make it seem ok, which it wholeheartedly is not.

What I need to know is if there is a way that racist comments can be censored and/or players warned about their behaviour by Valve, even though the servers may be private? Surely they must abide by some kind of code of conduct, after all they are playing under the Valve banner.

What do you think guys? Possible? Feasible?
Your thoughts are welcome.

AC

 

[randomizer]

The suggestion to votekick is stupid. Nobody is going to vote yes just because of a racist comment. You'll probably end up being kicked yourself.

As for Valve, I'm pretty sure they couldn't care less. They'll go along with popular opinion.

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

I find just voicing your opinion on it and just leaving it at that is about all that works.
It works because it gives the ignorant another point of view, and lets them know it isnt right.
Other than that, theres not alot that can be done. People get their cookies off in strange ways, all of them not just safe nor harmful them to themselves alone, or, being racist is being harmful to themselves, and carries with it hurt towards others, but some are too ignorant to understand
To me, friendship comes in all colors races languages and citizenship, and if youre even luckier, love also

 

[cappster]

I know on some servers that I play on, Racism is a automatic kick. I don't play L4D and never have, but I would think it is up to server providers to not accept racism. JDJ is pretty much right. Call them out and let them know they are being low grade humans and move onto a new server or realize that they have a lower brain function then us that do not have prejudice.

 

[randomizer]

Unfortunately it affects every server. Now if there were Christian servers like there are for CoD you might not find many racist comments, the players would all be banned 😛

 

[ac3144]

What you guys have suggested is pretty much exactly what I do do. I make sure they know they are being ignorant morons by voicing my distaste but like Randomizer says, the votekick does not work very well for this problem, YOU are the one who ends up getting kicked (speaking from bitter experience lol)

On a side issue, the thread on the steam forum was closed by a moderator more than likely nobbled by a longstanding forum member who was arguing with me. It seems that intelligent debate cannot be found over there. If you haven't read it, it is worth a read, if only to see how ambivalent and accepting the gaming community is of racist behaviour...I was surprised.

Of course I will just continue to speak out but I am angry that there is very little 'will' to change it, kind of makes me feel ashamed to be a gamer.

Racist abuse coupled with the usual verbal abuse prevalent online is making online gaming less and less attractive for me, I think I might learn how to make my own server and just game with friends.

It's sad though isn't it, to have your hobby marred by complete idiots.

AC

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

You should be no more ashamed of being a gamer as for being a decent person.
If decency isnt existing in gaming, then we do have problems.
It just plays into the "there goes the neighborhood " thing. Dont be ashamed, just be thankful that youre not ignorant nor insensitive to these things, and being a gamer actually puts hopes to an end of this behaviour.
I like some answers to the problems we all face here, and to me, its only encouraging.

PS To clarify, the there goes comment was meant to say, dont move out, your neighbors need you

 

[DeeTee_uk]

I absolutely hate it. I do challenge it, and normally get something like "why, are you a *****" in response. Frankly, as others have said, I shouldn't have to explain why it's wrong.
If it's a server being run by me or my friends, they get kicked. No warning. If you don't know why saying things like that is wrong, you'll do something else stupid in a second. If it's not my server, I'm out of there.
And yes, people say things from the safety of their computers.
http://www.myconfinedspace.com/2006/01/03/punch-to-the-faceover-tcpip/

@ac3144 - Keep fighting the good fight buddy 😉

 

[ac3144]

Thanks for the support guys, after the attempted mauling I got on Steam forum, I needed some back up!

Happened again tonight, spoke out, nothing more was said so a result I guess. I think this is going to be a Loooong battle 😀

For me personally, one of the worst things was that around half of the dimwitted plonkers who make stupid comments are from MY country; the UK. We have to be one of THE most multicultural societies in the world and still some of us brew such hatred towards others it beggars belief.

I'm thinking of getting a mask and a cape made up and venturing out at night dispatching bad guys....what do you think? A step too far? 😉

AC

 

[stevensl2]

Haha, I am also one of those racist people, well... Not because I try to be.. It's just. that sometimes, words just slip out and most of my friends drop the N bomb quite a bit. So I have gotten used to hearing that word.

 

[randomizer]

In Australia the infected team are usually annoyed when someone other than Louis dies first.

 

[ulysses35]

I dont see too much of the black / white racism as being the problem. But there is a huge issue over gaming online (PC & Console) and hearing some group of Americans (sorry but im sure others do it too) talking non stop about crap or worse still playing some heavy rap music for all to hear.

All I ask is stop being so selfish and ruining it for the rest of us. If you must talk to each other (non game related) get a cell phone. And if you REALLY must play music get some headphones so the rest of us dont have to put up with it.

 

[randomizer]

They're probably using HLDJ, not playing it through their mic.

 

[DeeTee_uk]

@stevensl2 - That's a rubbish excuse. "I can't help it, my friends are racist". Doesn't mean it's ok.

 

[ac3144]

Haha, I am also one of those racist people, well... Not because I try to be.. It's just. that sometimes, words just slip out and most of my friends drop the N bomb quite a bit. So I have gotten used to hearing that word.

Sorry man, that's bullshit. If you engage in it, however peripheral, YOU are a racist thug and so are your friends. I'm sure many Germans had gotten used to hearing that Jews were animals, it never EVER makes it right.

AC

 

[Mystical_Chicken]

I play alot of Left for Dead, I love it, it's one of the best games I have ever played. There is one drawback for me though; Racism.

Because one of the characters is black (for those who don't know the game) I frequently experience comments like 'haha why do you want to play as the N*****?!' and ' Let's get the N***** first, die N*****! lol' (note the lol on the end, like it's funny).

Erm...I'm a pretty big Steam/Valve gamer and from the game like Tf2, CSS and L4D I don't really encounter much if any racism. If there is racism its not usually as bad as that. It's usually stereotyping, such as " y does the black guy always die first :{ " etc.

I try not to worry about it... Just play the game and continue on, gamers shouldn't let racist comments ruin the time they spend playing their online games.

 

[ac3144]

I play alot of Left for Dead, I love it, it's one of the best games I have ever played. There is one drawback for me though; Racism.

Because one of the characters is black (for those who don't know the game) I frequently experience comments like 'haha why do you want to play as the N*****?!' and ' Let's get the N***** first, die N*****! lol' (note the lol on the end, like it's funny).

Erm...I'm a pretty big Steam/Valve gamer and from the game like Tf2, CSS and L4D I don't really encounter much if any racism. If there is racism its not usually as bad as that. It's usually stereotyping, such as " y does the black guy always die first :{ " etc.

I try not to worry about it... Just play the game and continue on, gamers shouldn't let racist comments ruin the time they spend playing their online games.

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

AC

 

[Vampyrbyte]

I'm not a racist. But i must be honest here in saying i really dont give a crap about racism in games, any of them. I play World of Warcraft and we have a running joke in our guild about Gnomes (were not the only ones). Is this racism? Gnomes are a race so i guess it is. But you know what.. its funny because no one actually cares, even those guys who play Gnomes (I have a gnome alt myself). So if you get off your moral high horse and enjoy the game your playing, rather than looking to get a moral "1-up" all the time you might actually have more fun.

 

[Vampyrbyte]

Sorry, i thought this was about games. Ofcourse real life racism isnt a good thing and ofcourse it is something to speak out against. But when it comes to gaming, its ALL fantasy characters, wether they are coloured black, white, or blue for gods sake.
Enjoy your games. The guys saying ***** having great fun winding you up about it, so Lighten up and ignore it. Aint doing anyone any harm is it?

 

[DeeTee_uk]

I don't give a monkey's if it's a fictional character, using the N word is out of order. I don't think anyone should have to "lighten up and ignore it". I'd think it was wrong if someone was saying it down the pub, and I think it's wrong saying it online. And yes, casual racism does harm.

And it is in no way similar to talking about fantasy races.