XBox Live Bans Gamertag With 'Gayer' In It

Craig · #1 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 12:48 AM

This is sure to ignite some kind of online homophobia mob scene towards Microsoft's XBox Live community leaders. Have a look at what happened to a guy who's gamertag was 'theGAYERgamer'.

Quote:

Reader Grant says that his gamer tag "theGAYERgamer" was recently banned by Xbox Live. He hoped that a call to customer support would sort things out but all he received was a confusing explanation from an Xbox Live supervisor. According to the supervisor, it wasn't that she found the name offensive, but it was the "greater Xbox community" that found it offensive.

This is a tough one. One one hand, what if he's simply very gay and loves gaming? Yet on another, what if he's just playing off of the inter-speak of teh ghey in an attempt to be a jackhole?

The term gayer isn't exactly banned by the FCC or considered derogatory in most contexts. But what of those that consider their sexuality a private matter, not to be shared or exploited with and/or by others?

FrenchArbitor · #2 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 01:27 AM

That's crazy. So if I complain that, say for example, the name RetardRat is offensive because my brother has a mental disability they'll force that to be changed too? It's not offensive language and it it offends someone's personal morals then, ummmm, don't associate with them???

Ludicrous. No one uses gay to mean happy anymore. It's an immediate relation to homosexuals. Why should anyone care? That's a boneheaded call IMO.

bacon_x · #3 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 01:28 AM

tough spot

SonicSpeed · #4 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 01:41 AM

Its a tough decision, but I think that it is a good one. Its not used in its original context anymore, and is now a derogatory term that shouldn't be used (its probably the same logic for not allowing such terms as other racial slurs/swear words in Tags).

Pale.Rider · #5 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 08:51 AM

They blocked his username? Man that's gay.

FrenchArbitor · #6 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pale.Rider

They blocked his username? Man that's gay.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicSpeed

Its not used in its original context anymore, and is now a derogatory term that shouldn't be used...

Is the word really derogatory?
I've never thought so. Homosexual organizations that I've seen even go as far as making it gender specific (gay & lesbian) attributed to the male homosexual population.

wick3dsick23 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 02:48 PM

People are waaaaay too sensitive about shit these days.
I am sick of all the loopholes that you have to jump through just to make sure that everything is "PC".
Grow a thicker skin and gtf over it......that is what I have been doing for 22 years, and it has worked fine for me.

CoffeeShark · #8 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 03:16 PM

gay guys use "queer" a lot, too, I'm sure that one is banned.

I guess it's not a big deal to change your username, but what if this guy was gay, and had a blog called "the gayer gamer" or something?

Relly · #9 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 03:40 PM

why even put the word "gay" in your name even if you ARE gay? I thought you wanted to be treated equal.. why point out that you are gay? It's not like there are names out there called "Ilikegirlsonly!"

I agree with XBOX banning the name. I think it was used as an offensive term. Then again, I didn't read the story... so I don't know if the guy/girl was actually gay. Even if he was gay, I think the name is stupid.

One thing is to be gay and proud.. but don't be hypocrites by putting it in your gamer tag.. I'm pretty sure they should know how many gay bashers the gaming community has... so why put themselves out there like that?

CoffeeShark · #10 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relly

why even put the word "gay" in your name even if you ARE gay? I thought you wanted to be treated equal.. why point out that you are gay? It's not like there are names out there called "Ilikegirlsonly!"

I agree with XBOX banning the name. I think it was used as an offensive term. Then again, I didn't read the story... so I don't know if the guy/girl was actually gay. Even if he was gay, I think the name is stupid.

One thing is to be gay and proud.. but don't be hypocrites by putting it in your gamer tag.. I'm pretty sure they should know how many gay bashers the gaming community has... so why put themselves out there like that?

lol how many 'out' guys do you know? I know a few that wear it on their sleeve on purpose. Nothing to do with hypocrisy.

I also know a country boy that won't carry a pink take-out box from the restaurant because it made him look 'gay'.

so, it takes all kinds. The problem with censoring names is, where do you stop? what offends a hundred people? ten people? one person?

A lot of gamer names play on nationalities, origins ( you know a few from the forums, too ), but they might offend someone. Should Xbox ban those if they offend someone else of the same nationality that doesn't like it?