Hey everyone. I'm kind of new here but, I'm just looking for some advice. It's a bit complicated and it might cause a dramasplosion but... I was hoping for some advice.

So I'm a gamer who really enjoys public competition, fighting game tournaments and whatnot. I've been going to competitions ever since I was in high school. It feels like forever. I always felt like the gaming world accepted me. I was kind of bullied a lot as a kid and gaming was a place I felt like I belonged.

But, in recent days with all this #GamerGate stuff, things have taken a really horrible turn for the worse. I'm not really the most political person but, IDK, I guess I wouldn't mind seeing more powerful female characters and less sexualized women. It's not like its something I want to hold a flag and go to a march about. It's just a thing I think would be nice.

But now when I mention that, people start to get really aggressive toward me. People who, admittedly I just thought were acquaintances before, are now telling me I don't belong anymore. I've been threatened multiple times with people saying they are going to come to my house and beat me.

I don't even know what I did! I just kinda talked about how I wanna see more girls in gaming like... was that so wrong. But now I feel like I'm being told to go home. I feel like I'm being bullied all over again, and it's just like it was back in school.

It's really hitting me hard. I kind of feel like I lost a family. I know that sounds stupid, looking at gamers like my family but I kind of do. Now I don't feel like I belong and I feel like everyone hates me. I kinda feel like I get these dirty looks when i go to competitions now, and any time someone new enters a competition I get scared that they will go off on me if anything gamer gate related even comes up.

I don't think gamers are bad or misogynist or anything like that. I think anyone who claims that is off their rocker. But I am afraid... and I don't know what to do. It feels like things have gotten so violent and angry in just the past year. It feels like gaming has quickly turned from this welcoming place to a place that is ready to pounce on me if I have an opinion that doesn't mesh up with everyone elses.

I'm putting this in personal instead of gaming because I need advice. A local gaming con is coming up and I received another threat on Twitter. It's stupid and it probably won't happen, but I did have some guys push me around outside of an arcade once and I just don't want that to happen again. I tried to report it to the con staff but, understandably, they can't do anything without knowing who the person who made the threat was.

So... I don't know what to do. I want to just go and say "I'll be fine" but I'm actually scared. I just don't want to get hurt is all. I'm not an activist or anything. I'm just a gamer who wants to feel comfortable again :( and I don't know what to do.

They're pushing you around because you make it known that you're afraid. People will hurt others, especially if they can get away with it, others will do it even if there are consequences. In your case its because that you're not doing anything significant enough is why they're still gonna bully you. My advice is to not be swayed by what they're saying, if they have a problem then they can go deal with their own problems. You're never going to be friends with everyone and really a lot of gamers are actual scumbags. Stop being afraid, you have no idea how many words are said by people that mean absolutely nothing, and these guys who are threatening you probably wont do anything

I'm so sorry that this is happening to you. At the heart of it, those people are just afraid that the thing they love is going to change and become something awful, and they're acting on that fear. (Rather than talking about it rationally, like you seem to be.)

If you really feel threatened, then you need to go to the police. If you don't want to do that, then maybe try changing accounts and then not talking about the issue on the new one. If you still want to put your opinion out there, you can try doing it anonymously. And if you don't want to do hide who you are or what you think, then acknowledge the risks, stand tall, and be proud of the person you are. <3

Although I disagree with you, over sexualization and misogyny in gaming is not a problem like certain corrupt media outlets continue to make it seem, stay firm in your beliefs. Find evidence to back up your views, but unless you have nothing to lose, avoid being vocal on this issue. People hate being told what to do and how to think, especially on a topic such as gaming.

Hey there,

Gamer gate has been rough on everybody. I too have been threatened and any time I complain about the threats I get, I'm told that either A) the people threatening me aren't part of gamer gate (even though they have attached the hashtag to their threats B) I'm a part of a SJW conspiracy to ruin games (which is knowledge to me) or C) I've been mislead by corrupt gaming sites (even though I'm fairly certain the threats I received were not sent by IGN).

I'd like to impart some wisdom, and it comes from Penny Arcade. When asked a question about #GamerGate they said something simple. They said "when we come out to these conventions, we don't see the bad. We see what good the gaming community can do. So we just figure we should do it right." That was after a comment about how if you keep silent about things "the terrorists win."

Gamers on the whole are like people on the whole. Most people at a convention just want to enjoy their gaming like you do. Heck, most will even talk to you about whether or not there is enough female representation in gaming without getting violent. If you feel threatened, you should call the police. If not, then you should go to the con with your head held up high, secure in your points of view.

Here's the sad reality of this situation. The most vocal people in this whole debate, are kids. The people making threats and really trying to ruin people's lives, are just kids who don't really know the consequences of their actions yet. Did you see the guy who got arrested for swatting? He was 19 years old. His defense was "it was just a prank."

Unfortunately, the internet and its connection to anonymity does have a dehumanizing effect. To the people who are doxxing or making threats, we aren't people. We are just icons "SJWs" as they say, a class or race or faction to be hated, rather than actual people with wants and hopes and dreams.

Personally, I think discussion is the key to conflict resolution in all forms. But I understand that bringing up this topic can make you feel unsafe. A lot of my friends feel that their once welcoming gamer community is now trying to run them out of town because they want to see more female characters, or black characters, or whatever.

But see, that's the thing about being people. We are going to have different opinions. The great thing about people is that they can talk about things and care about each other even if their opinions differ. i want to believe that's what the real gaming community is. I want to believe that we all are good people at heart, and the people who are threatening you are just misguided youth at most.

I can't tell you to feel safe. But I can say "don't let people take something you love for you." Gaming doesn't belong to anyone. Gaming belongs to everyone. White black straight gay male female and everything in between. Gaming is for us all, and IMHO, asking for more female characters isn't any different than say, asking for a type of gun or perk in the new COD, or a new character in the next Street Fighter. It's just a preference, and we shouldn't be hurt because of our preferences.

We should make a GamerGate thread.

Why not. If there is any place that can have an actual civil discussion about it, it might be the here.

Dude... As I've already said before in other threads: Where do you live in? Don't answer me, i'm just making the question wondering what kind of country has all this stupid way of thinking (obviously, not generalizing everyone).

I just think that, if you do protect this ideal, there HAS to be more of you somewhere near you. Try to get along with them, just ignore ignorant people.

You said, you've been gaming since HS, so I suppose you're now on collge, right? If the bullies go too far, you have to report them. Don't be afraid. (But, once again, think about it on the place where you live, I really don't know how dangerous are the bullies over your place).

Go leave your game live peacefully don't waste your youth or you will regret it youngster

>>9 Pssshhhhht Gaming is sometimes a part of us or a way of living.

However on a serious note, creating threats towards you should be handled accordingly, depending on your age, if you go to high school (Or College- UK) then you'll have to seek someone higher up, that is at least got sense in his head and doesn't create more arguments. Their in the wrong, just because you made an opinion that you would like more women featured in games, it DOES NOT mean you are wrong. In fact acting on what you thought does NOT give them a dime to say anything to you.
For instance, what if Gaming was a religion, they can't do anything for your beliefs, because it's YOUR beliefs. NOT theirs. If you believe that gaming should feature more female characters GO AHEAD. Some may differ, but that's life. Stand Strong.

Oh and P.S
On a personal note, i've been trying and trying my best to understand what gamer gate IS, and why so many people are so BUTTHURT about it, all I understand is that a bunch of feminists or just random people in particular who are making threats to female developers or something like that.

[Gamer Gate Thread NEEDS to be made in NEWS PLEASE MAGNOLIA~SENPAI]

>>10 Made a thread (news section). I hope that I read the unofficial rules of the news section closely enough, don't want policewoman Magnolia to jump on my back.

>>11 Wee Woo Wee Woo Wee Woo

>>12 <3