Xbox Live gayed up.

[derspiess]

The problem was that they totally banned the word "gay", which led to banning of people with nicknames like "GayBear" or "Happy&Gay", but people with names like "Proud2BStraight" were not banned.

IIRC, their rules were such that *any* expression of sexual identity (gay or straight) was subject to banning/other action.  The intent was not to suppress gay people, but to make the job easier for the "Xbox Police", who would have otherwise had to respond to a shit-ton of harassment claims.  It's not hard to see why Xbox had the old policy if you look at things from an enforcement perspective.

Now the gays will have their gay tags & whatnot, and will be taunted & harassed by a multitude of immature and/or impolite gamers, and ultimately the number of Xbox bannings will go up.  I hope Xbox has the staff to handle the increased workload.

I'd be okay with keeping gay and straight terms banned, but no, we have to allow the gays to be all in your face about it.

[Alexandru H.]

For a future Hitler-like dictator, the X-Box list of gay users might be the "List"..

[grumbler]

For a future Hitler-like dictator, the X-Box list of gay users might be the "List"..

:hope:

[Martinus]

The problem was that they totally banned the word "gay", which led to banning of people with nicknames like "GayBear" or "Happy&Gay", but people with names like "Proud2BStraight" were not banned.

IIRC, their rules were such that *any* expression of sexual identity (gay or straight) was subject to banning/other action.  The intent was not to suppress gay people, but to make the job easier for the "Xbox Police", who would have otherwise had to respond to a shit-ton of harassment claims.  It's not hard to see why Xbox had the old policy if you look at things from an enforcement perspective.

Now the gays will have their gay tags & whatnot, and will be taunted & harassed by a multitude of immature and/or impolite gamers, and ultimately the number of Xbox bannings will go up.  I hope Xbox has the staff to handle the increased workload.

I'd be okay with keeping gay and straight terms banned, but no, we have to allow the gays to be all in your face about it.

That's not true. The furore was exactly over the fact that straight terms were not being banned and gay were. Love the use of the "in your face" expression. Another of the "key words" to spot a bigot, btw.

[derspiess]

That's not true. The furore was exactly over the fact that straight terms were not being banned and gay were.

I was talking about the policy.  I don't know if they were applying it unevenly or not; wonder if there is an unbiased source that can confirm?

Love the use of the "in your face" expression. Another of the "key words" to spot a bigot, btw.

It was a vague Family Guy reference.  I watched "Something Something Something Dark Side" last night & it popped into my head. 

But I'm okay with you calling me a bigot

[garbon]

But I'm okay with you calling me a bigot

One should call a spade, a spade.

Incidentally it is amusing when people complain about gays flaunting their sexuality. As if we could ever drown out the overly oppressive heterosexual message.

[derspiess]

No clue where Ed pulled his article, but here is a Cnet article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10464728-52.html

It mentions the old policy:

Up until now, Microsoft's policy has been to bar any discussion of sexuality in profiles or gamertags, which prevented those who wanted to publicly identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender from doing so. Toulouse said at the time that 98 percent of Xbox Live members using the term "gay" did so in a derogatory manner, rather than as a way of self-identification.

And here's a lovely nugget from Xbox chief Marc Whitten after he had a hole drilled in his skull & a Diversity chip installed in his brain:

"I truly believe that our diversity is what makes us strong," said Whitten of the 23-million member Xbox Live service, "diversity in gaming and entertainment options, and diversity in the people that make up this amazing community.

[Martinus]

But I'm okay with you calling me a bigot

One should call a spade, a spade.

Incidentally it is amusing when people complain about gays flaunting their sexuality. As if we could ever drown out the overly oppressive heterosexual message.

Uhum. It's funny how almost every heterosexual man wants to show you not only that he has a woman he engages in a sexual activity with (a wedding ring) but also that he actually puts his penis into her vagina (kids' photos). It is truly disgusting.

[Admiral Yi]

One should call a spade, a spade.

Incidentally it is amusing when people complain about gays flaunting their sexuality. As if we could ever drown out the overly oppressive heterosexual message.

What the fuck are you talking about?

[derspiess]

One should call a spade, a spade.

Must you bring race into this discussion?   

Incidentally it is amusing when people complain about gays flaunting their sexuality. As if we could ever drown out the overly oppressive heterosexual message.

I'm really sorry you're being oppressed 

But are straight people constantly in your face saying 'I'M STRAIGHT I'M STRAIGHT LOOK AT ME I'M STRAIGHT'?

I mean, it's one thing to be who you are.  Quite another to attention-whore about it.

[garbon]

Must you bring race into this discussion?  

Why not?

I'm really sorry you're being oppressed 

But are straight people constantly in your face saying 'I'M STRAIGHT I'M STRAIGHT LOOK AT ME I'M STRAIGHT'?

I mean, it's one thing to be who you are.  Quite another to attention-whore about it.

Actually they are. Not with those exact words, but I'm not sure I've ever had a day where I didn't see heterosexuality brazenly flaunted about.  Of course, straight people will tell you that they are just living their lives.

[garbon]

What the fuck are you talking about?

Was I not using English?

[Admiral Yi]

Was I not using English?

You were using the special kind of English taught in gay pride seminars that sounds like weasely bullshit to the rest of us.

[derspiess]

Actually they are. Not with those exact words, but I'm not sure I've ever had a day where I didn't see heterosexuality brazenly flaunted about.  Of course, straight people will tell you that they are just living their lives.

Are you insinuating what your pal Marty more blatantly spouted? 

[Martinus]

Was I not using English?

You were using the special kind of English taught in gay pride seminars that sounds like weasely bullshit to the rest of us.

The "rest of us" being you and the other bigots? Straight people "flaunt" their sexuality all the time. It is pretty common for straight people to discuss (or let others know, at the very least) that they are married (or have a boyfriend/girlfriend, or that they are single but looking etc.), that they have kids or plan to have, or that they find a given person of the opposite sex attractive.