Dire Stories and Dissertations, Idle Thoughts and Illuminations

But I don't want to be a gamer anymore. I'm looking for another term, even a separate but equal term for a person who likes to play all sorts of games. Why? Gamers as a community police each other only when they wish to. They may be rabid about the best this or the worst that, but as a whole they manage to flow together. Say just three words, three simple words and gamers will rise in solidarity. Be he ne’er so vile this phrase shall gentle his condition: video game violence. The bile and froth rise even now to defend, declaim, and defuse this mode of operation of the game industry. Never has so great a battle charge been made as those who ride across the plain to defend the fair Princess Video Game's honor.

Now let us take another phrase: sexism in games. Voices die down. Examples are offered, but shouts of "make me a sandwich" drown those out. The gamer battle charge begins to break a part. Some make cases, others stay silent. Breasts will be admonished and admired. Those who agree privately don't dare to say anything publicly. Those who agree privately don't care to say anything publicly. Those who agree believe that suddenly it is not their issue. Those who agree don't give a shit.

Another phrase is added: racism in games. All voices except two die down. Examples are made, slurs are thrown. The phrase "Politically Correct" is waved about like an anti-matter shield, destroying all who come in its path. The battle charge breaks up completely. Those who agree don't dare to say anything. Those who agree don't care to say anything. Those who agree believe that it is not their issue. Those who agree don't give a shit.

One more phrase: homophobia in games. Gamers form ranks but mill around on the battle field. The word gay is a perfectly acceptable way of expressing displeasure don’t you know. GLBT people have no place in gaming. It is okay to discriminate against them, because they should hide their orientation for their own good. Those who agree with GLBT don't dare to say anything. Those who agree don't care to say anything. Those who agree believe it is not their issue. Those who agree don't give a shit.

If I said "ablism in games" how many gamers would look at each other blankly?

Gamers can be rabid and can scream bloody murder if the media or a game company crosses them. Yet gamers become deathly silent on issues that affect their game mates. Even on issues they agree with they stay mum. While their brethren flood feminist blogs and call white women n*ggers. While their brethren flood anti-racist blogs and call Asians n*ggers. While their brethren flood GLBT blogs calling them f*gs. I'm not just commenting on the obvious straight white male gaming horde. This also concerns feminist gamers who turn a blind eye to racism. PoC gamers who turn a blind eye to sexism. And GLBT gamers who ignore anti-racism and feminism issues.

What does this have to do with me? Why should I have to do anything? Isn't that just your problem? It's understandable that those who are dead set against the above will be loud and vitriolic. However, what is the excuse for those who do agree with the above issues? Those “agreeable gamers” who will agree with their game mates privately, yet not say a word publicly. Do their gamer peers really have that much more clout than their game mates who just want to enjoy their hobbies and diversions also? Is this something to be proud of in being a gamer? Saying “yes I agree” but doing little to show or uphold that only-when-convenient solidarity.

The gamer community can and will join together on issues that don't rock the boat. Such as those things that are deemed safe like game mechanics and talking political heads on TV. But speak on your right to game without racism, sexism, or homophobia and your game mates will desert you. Talk of the evil of censoring games and they will cheer as Rome did for Marc Antony. Discuss how to make the game less problematic for your enjoyment and find yourself uttering et tu, Brute. Truly wondering where those gaping stab wounds came from.

To be fair, many of the "agreeable gamers" just wish to have a good time and wish to divorce politics from entertainment. Would it be that easy for all of us to do. One cannot turn off being a woman, being a PoC, being GLBT for the sake of someone else's peace of mind. And so it comes down to a sort of "my entertainment is more important than your entertainment" mentality. Not explicit, not malicious, but not every wrong in the world ever depended on a moustache twirling villain.

And so we have a false peace in the gaming community. For "agreeable gamers" if the boat is not rocking, if the community is not heaving, if things that _need_ to be discussed aren't being discussed everything is good. Gaming is wonderful; we are one big gaming family. Except keeping half the community silenced is not peace. Shrugging away concerns is not wonderful. Downplaying issues in the industry and with gamers themselves is not conducive to a big gaming family. This is the price of "everything is good."

Making the rest of the gaming community pay for their peace of mind and "politics-free" entertainment is a dick move if there ever was one. This cost is keeping the game community from coming together as they like to pretend it does. As they declare it does to magazines, newspapers, and TV. Look at this convention! Look at how we come together! Except where are the women? Where are the PoC?

Many "agreeable gamers" are willing to pay (or rather make others pay) this price to keep the status quo of the gaming community on track. Only half realizing that the ability to craft change is theirs. Be they white, black, Asian, Latino, female, male, transgender, or all of the above the power is theirs. To speak up would end the bullshit so many face when trying to enjoy their chosen hobby. I am one lone voice, they think, I don't want to stir up trouble. Better then to let bigotry continue. If they agree with an issue privately that should be enough. It is not.

There is Burke’s qoute which says that bad things prevail when good people do nothing. That is what is happening all over the gamer community. I have heard of too many people dropping out of their chosen hobbies not only because of dickish behavior, but because of those who knew something was wrong but kept quiet. Until video game violence popped up, until their favored game mechanic was changed, until politicians talk censorship. The flaming ball of righteousness burns most furiously when its own ass is not on the line and can fade into a sea of voices all exclaiming the same thing.

In that vein, think of how many gamers admit they agree with certain issues privately. Now think of the discourse smack down that would happen if even a mediocre fraction of these "agreeable gamers" actually spoke up. With the very same passion and sense of purpose reserved for an unsympathetic game company or unfavorable news broadcast. A blog does not need to be started, nor a website, nor a dissertation. Two sentences and then return to the four part blog post about melee mechanics. Think about how inclusive and dynamic the gaming community could be if such was done.

It's a pipe dream, yes.

And so I'm looking for a new term, a new idea, a new track of thought in being a gamer. Just something simple that expresses my love of gaming and commitment to consideration of and for others. "Gamer" doesn't cut it. Gamer invokes a frothing vitriolic horde and those who silently let them have their way. Laughably enough, when they do speak up it is to say they don't want to be lumped in with them. A gamer may not be his brother's keeper, but a gamer is most certainly his brother's enabler.