What critics of GamerGate get wrong | FACTUAL FEMINIST

If you have been following recent news reports, you may have heard about an army of angry, thuggish male gamers marching under a banner called GamerGate. According to some reporters, this “lynch mob” will stop at nothing to defend its sexist turf. Is video game culture toxic?
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Partial transcript:
If you have been following recent news reports, you may have heard about an army of angry, thuggish male gamers marching under a banner called GamerGate. According to some reporters, this “lynch mob” will stop at nothing to defend its sexist turf. Is video game culture toxic? I’ll consider the evidence next on the Factual Feminist.
#Gamergate is a Twitter hashtag. It attracts gamers from all over the world, male and female, republican and democrat, black and white, atheists and believers. Some gamers identify with GamerGate because they believe there is too much corruption and cronyism in gaming journalism. Others are weary of cultural critics who evaluate video games through prism of social justice.
A few weeks ago, I wandered into the war zone of GamerGate when I released a video about video games. I cited data that show that men are the dominant demographic in gaming. I pointed out that evidence does not support the claim that video games cause sexism and misogyny. I also deplored the treatment of women like Anita Sarkeesian and Zoe Quinn but noted that these threats should not be taken to represent gaming culture as a whole.
Gamergaters were amazed and grateful for my defense of their hobby. I was deluged with affectionate messages, declarations of support, and was even given a nickname-based Mom (based means cool). But game industry journalists were not happy with my video. Writers at popular game websites like Kotaku and Polygon once valiantly defended games from the erroneous charge that they lead to violence. But now, they eagerly joined gender activists who claimed that games engender misogyny. Colin Campbell, senior reporter at Polygon called me a “reactionary” and said that my apparent indifference to sexism in videos is an “irresponsible abrogation of our shared humanity.”
I don’t doubt Campbell’s sincerity. Many games do depict horrific violence and the mistreatment of women. There are scenes in Grand Theft Auto that horrify me, and I’d rather play a game based on the theme and characters of Downtown Abbey. But my game preferences cannot be generalized are certainly no basis for condemning others. Here’s where critics like Colin Campbell go wrong: they fail to connect games or things that occur in someone’s imagination to real life consequences. They need to show, not dogmatically assume, that video games make people sexist. The burden of proof rests with them. And intuitions that games, books, films, comic books, or songs are psychologically demanding and socially corrosive are rarely borne out in reality.
Critics might respond that we should be unforgiving of sexist tropes even if video games can’t be proven to cause misogyny. But what counts as sexism is unsettled-even among feminists.
Consider Bayonetta. Bayonetta is a powerful, charismatic lead female character created by a Japanese female game developer. She is a wildly popular video heroine, and one feminist critic even wrote that she “exudes feminism.” But leading pop critic Anita Sarkeesian disagrees. She says that “Everything about Bayonetta’s design is created specifically for the sexual pleasure of straight male gamers.” She cites a decades old feminist theory about the “male gaze” and how it objectifies and demeans women. But “gaze theory” has evolved since 1975. It turns out that spectators might be able to gaze at a woman’s beauty and also identify with her on a human level.
What critics of GamerGate get wrong
#aei #news #politics #government #education #feminism #feminist

[@ravenblack70]

"The death of gamers"... They forgot we respawn.

[@harleymitchelly5542]

Raven Black If I remember correctly, someone left the cheat for infinite lives on as well.

[@ravenblack70]

Harley Mitchelly :D

[@peterpan4962]

Raven Black "Declare war on gamers online ? You do realize these people having been doing nothing else but play simulated wars online for years and number in the millions ? YOU CANNOT WIN YOU IDIOT!", I forgot who said, but it's funny as hell xD

[@ravenblack70]

Peter Pan "Im going to start a fight with online gamers" said no sane person ever. XD

[@jimbob1862]

Raven Black They forgot the Konami code, we are innumerable, we are legion, we are one.

[@cynicalbrit]

What I would like to see is a real discussion, supported by solid evidence on the subject of whether games "make" the player misogynistic and also what the definition of sexist media really is? As this video so aptly pointed out, what is and is not sexist is hardly a black and white issue, there are many opinions on whether or not Bayonetta is a powerful, sex-positive character with agency and supreme confidence or "designed purely for the male gaze" (incidently Anitas tweet doesnt seem to understand what game mechanics are if she believes they Bayonettas are in any way designed to evoke sexual pleasure in a male player). These are all discussions worth having. Nobodies voice should be silenced, but right now it seems no discussion is possible while so many media outlets add fuel to the fire by repeating the harassment line instead of focusing on the real issues underneath the controversy that set it off in the first place.

[@pepper_rex]

sorry to bother you tb just want to point this out. twitter.com/davidpakmanshow/status/526863836004253696 he had wu on and now wants to have a pro person on irc

[@gilless429]

I'm all for making my own ideas and opinions instead of following others', but pretty much everytime you say something on this topic, I find myself agreeing. (Top) Hats off to you Mr. Bain.

[@marcterrell163]

"Nobodies voice should be silenced, but right now it seems no discussion is possible while so many media outlets add fuel to the fire by repeating the harassment line instead of focusing on the real issues underneath the controversy that set it off in the first place." I think that is primarily because of the negative impact it would have on the 'image' of these websites in regards to journalistic ethics. Many of the sites that are hard-line anti-gg are ones that are part of the controversy in general. By allowing discussion, it would show their brand in a negative light. That is why so much of the focus is on feminism when you go to these websites for news on GG because it a) pushes the focus of attention onto feminist critics in games and b) it creates a divide that states "if you are with Gamergate, you support mysoginy."

[@joseaca]

not just misogyny, violence too, lets settle this once and for all, lets prove whenever these claims hold any water, and if they do and only if they do THEN we will take a look at how we design games

[@gilless429]

joseaca I find it rather confusing when people say we have to prove that games do NOT provoke more violence, misogyny, etc., as though the burden of proof works that way around. At that point I'll be asking for proof Nutella does not further the cause of bad PC ports. Prove me wrong ! Just doesn't work that way people.

[@latulapyrope2058]

Wow, Anita, leaving out us lesbians. Fuckin' rude. Did you ever consider that female developer might want to also appeal to lesbians and not just straight people?

[@Dot_Executables]

Yeah! What about lesbian gamers who wanna look at some hot T&A? MUH SOGGY KNEES

[@latulapyrope2058]

***** My wife and I just want guns, vidya, and freedom. Can't we have some hot T&A too?

[@latulapyrope2058]

colpul2 dat early bird homie

[@colpul2103]

Lol, you make me wish i was a woman just so i could be a lesbian too. (Ironicly) why are all the good women taken or gay?

[@SeqZZ]

Or bi women

[@unknown70000]

She did a good job of relating to gamers even though she doesn't enjoy violent video games herself.

[@tostupidforname]

yes im actually really impressed by how good she can talk

[@alec5978]

+to stupid for a Name *well

[@csgoskininsanity9183]

she would be the bet mom

[@101stGamerArmy]

Christina Sommers for President 2020

[@realhxq]

too soon?

[@mjarbo]

The "slay the dragon" line was pure win. Thanks based Mom!

[@miguelortiz9230]

#BasedMomForPrez

[@Jaeger_Bishop]

Indeed plus she's right, when we go into a battle we play to win.

[@ahanson140]

You cannot win a war against gamers who are used to spending countless hours getting an achievement or beating a supposed "unbeatable" boss. See EverQuest, WoW, or pretty much any game with no real endgame.

[@Strettger]

It's like Dragon Ball Z, always coming back more powerful than the last time, needing training, hard work and many episodes before the victory over the big bad!

[@miguelortiz9230]

Ramblin' Wreck It's the same with fighting games. We fight and fight trying to defeat the final boss of said game. Examples include God Rugal from CVS2 or Cyber Akuma from Marvel Super Heroes VS Street Fighter. We won't give up until we win! ...or until we run out of quarters.

[@JChaos1120]

Can I just say Anita Sarkeesian has done more to damage women in gaming than Jessica Nigiri has done in cosplay? Between those two and Zoe Quinn and now Felicia Day, I'm getting really frustrated with my gender. Can we stop looking for ways to be offended and ways to be victimized? Grow up.

[@ShredST]

What the hell did Felicia Day do?

[@mmysama]

We all can certainly agree that Anita Sarkeesian has done, at least some small modicum of harm to women in gaming, therefore it is greater than the harm Jessica Nigiri has done to cosplay. No disagreement there.

[@BigBrother1993]

Felcia day didn't do anything. She voiced that a general hostility was around gamers currently and a small minority of those who support gamergate are for the wrong reasons and she isnt sure how to know who is who because I feels like the community is at war with each other male and female. She never sided anywhere and she never claimed gaming was sexist and is a massive icon for females in gaming. Read the blog entry that resulted in her doxxing. Especially as you assume she deserved it

[@Anbutou]

BigBrother1993 Can we stop calling pulling up extremely public information doxxing? I mean really now. I honestly think we need two different words for this, a five minute google search does not a doxxing make.

[@JChaos1120]

I don't support any death threat, public publishing of private information, or other negative and grossly inappropriate thing any of the women I named experienced. If you hate someone, you can tell them they suck and why without dissolving into death and rape threats. If you can't, stop talking to people on the internet and learn how to be a decent human. Felicia Day posted this ridiculous, victimized, whining open letter about how hard this has all been, how she can't identify as a gamer anymore, how she crosses the street when she sees guys recognize her. This, coming from the silly bitch who wrote The Guild, easily the most gamer-insulting (and specifically "gamer-girl" insulting) piece of publication ever. No, cracking jokes and writing satire about the worthless mother and the chick who heals and gets all the love from her male guildies/raid members wasn't funny, it was fucking awful. Thanks for justifying that stereotype, cuntbag. And that's how you insult someone WITHOUT MAKING DEATH OR RAPE THREATS YOU ASSHOLES.

[@jgambler1188]

New age feminists need to get acquainted with this lady

[@MrHewlettcraphard]

+Jason Gamblore I think they probably blocked her for daring to disagree with them. lol

[@LubaLowery]

+Hewlett Craphard Not all of us. Some of us have been looking for a voice like hers.

[@MrHewlettcraphard]

What, you mean a second-wave feminist? "New age feminism" refers to third-wave. If you agree with Christina, then you are not a "New Age Feminist".

[@jgambler1188]

+Hewlett Craphard third wave then..

[@MrHewlettcraphard]

Jason Gamblore Apologies. I was talking to L.A. Lowery.

[@DogMechanic]

Makes a pretty awesome series of videos. Doesn't use 160,000$ of your money to do it.

[@OfficialREVENGEMusic]

+DogMechanic 100th Like

[@DogMechanic]

Uh, oh wow. I'm a little embarrassed. Do I.... do I bow?

[@OfficialREVENGEMusic]

nah

[@YusefYandron]

+DogMechanic I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER ADDRESS THAT HAHAHAHAHAHHAA

[@DogMechanic]

I'm starting to feel like I should correct myself here, because "doesn't use" implies that Anita actually finished the videos she took the money for, before cancelling the project and asking for another 200k.

[@firstatheist]

"Everything about Bayonette's design, mechanics, and characterization is created specifically for the sexual pleasure of straight male gamers." - Anita Sarkeesian 1) there is nothing wrong with that even if it were true, just as there would be nothing wrong with a game made for lesbian's sexual pleasure or gay men, etc. 2) Anita, we have a little thing called the internet(s) which contains many websites featuring real women doing explicit things to sexually pleasure said male viewers- And it's FREE! Very few of us shell out $60 to watch a fake women do suggestive things.

[@mildbill9529]

***** Someone shopped jizz on Anita's face, just pointing that out there.

[@PERSONAfan01]

They want to act like they care about women rights but they would be the first ones to do slut shaming and have hetero-sexist views.

[@Tounushi]

***** She ought to search for some rule 63 of herself. Oh, wait, that's Jack Thompson...

[@jeremycollins9985]

***** what up with the jizz artist? it seems like everyone has a guy photo shoping semen on someones face. like i saw one of patton oswald the other day. do not ask me to look for it i will not, your on your own.

[@mildbill9529]

Jeremy Collins YOLO

[@chaz__]

I don't think this is actually fair. We have such a reasonable, calm and intelligent person (who is highly educated in relevant subjects, not ONLY "gender studies") on our side and they have nothing of the sort in comparison. This is starting to become such a walk-over that it's beginning to look quite embarrassing/awkward for anti-GG. Thank you Based Mom.

[@pablol5162]

So GG is OverPower then :D

[@pablol5162]

tamenga88 exactly on point my friend

[@chrimony]

They have the liberal mainstream media parroting the harassment narrative with tremendous bias. Will reasoned argument win over the propaganda machine? I hope so.

[@chaz__]

chrimony Even if this lasts a year or even two, the truth will rear it's ugly head and people will be pissed off with the lies.

[@D3adtrap]

To be fair Anita is nobody in actual academic circles.

[@iamzflo]

Based Mom - 365,487 Ignorant People - 0

[@Sesshomaru474]

Ignorant People - 603 at the time of this comment.

[@ieatpilli]

Dear God, I always thought Feminists were out of their minds. I now realize it's just 3rd wave feminists. I really wish I saw this woman's videos earlier in my life.

[@FixYourGameplay]

with me it is the other way around. realized these kind of dumb fucks actually excist. glad i live in europe!

[@sirbruno95]

Isn't Europe worse than USA, with the migration and guilty until proven Innocent?

[@alyssinclair8598]

+Paralyzed Horse France and Germany are the worst places, Britain is slightly better and I don't know much about the rest.

[@Plainsburner]

It could be a new wave, or more likely the feminists from the 80s and 90s are now teaching gender studies courses or working in the media, while actively brainwashing the new generations.

[@imperialdebauchery5988]

3rd wave was developed by the crackpot female supremacists of the 2nd wave... The likes of Andrea Dworkin and Gloria Steinem are where the hatred of men and masculinity began.

[@Disgruntledgamer]

Hear that I think Anita just had an aneurism over this video.

[@PlanetJohnny]

The feminist frequency is about 1.5 gigarekts.

[@skillcosby3095]

I'm sure she'll blame the "toxic masculinity" in culture for that too.

[@UncleFexxer]

Tease.

[@TheDarkAngel969]

Nappa: didn't think she was that stupid Vegeta.

[@jello4479]

***** ayyooooooooooooooo

[@remotecontrol202]

"But my game and film preferences can't be generalized and certainly shouldn't be the basis for beliefs." Dear god I thought I forgot what common sense sounded like

[@auntclechris]

This woman should be what people think about when they hear feminism. She is intelligent, does her research and looks at all sides and perspectives. But sadly people give the angry hardliners more attention than the rational individuals who actually contribute more. Christina Hoff Sommers and Susan Haack are the two women I look up most to.

[@doomed89]

+Carsten N The problem with feminism is a cornerstone of their dogma is the patriarchy, which doesn't exist and didn't even technically exist when 1st wave feminism came to be, so their ideology is flawed from the start, it's not surprising that it has become what it is now, nothing current feminist do is really inconsistent with how they acted back then either, the only difference is they were actually somewhat oppressed back then.

[@rgiri77]

+Carsten N Susan Haak gets an average of a hundred or so views, Christina has been labelled an anti-feminist by prominent spokeswomen of the movement. Unfortunately you can't point to outliers to define a group in the same way you can't point to mass-murderers to characterise gamers.

[@Moose745]

+Carsten N The thing is that, She is a REAL feminist

[@rgiri77]

Dynomitez Actually I would say Christina is closer to being a Gender Equalist. Gender Equality is defined as: "the state in which access to rights or opportunities is unaffected by gender." And elsewhere defined as: "Gender ​equality does not imply that women and men are the same, but that they have ​equal ​value and should be accorded ​equal ​treatment". Sommers does not suggest that men and women are biologically the same but they should be afforded the same rights and opportunities. Feminism is defined in the Merriam Webster Dictionary 1: the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes 2: organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests Feminists dishonestly focus on the first part and ignore the second which is more relevant to how mainstream Feminism is practised. That women's rights are focussed on to the almost exclusion and sometime derision of men's rights.

[@_snekerz1913]

j

[@milleypup12345]

I wont lie, I'd play a Downton Abbey game

[@lamia197]

+Ocearno seems like a fun idea!

[@LuLu6214]

+Ocearno It actually does sound kinda fun.

[@algirdassalomskas9050]

+Ocearno sounds like a very cool teltale game, or something, but i would prefer an open world that you can enjoy and various activities... sadly sutch a game would be too expensive to make.

[@supersaiyangoddess4293]

+Ocearno Bethesda needs to get on that lol

[@algirdassalomskas9050]

Super Saiyan Videl it would add base building and gun mods, maybe there is a better dev for that....

[@perydwyn]

Among my gaming friends the word 'kotaku' is now used disparagingly. Like 'Oh my god that last match was so kotaku, what were they doing?, ', or 'I am feeling a bit kotaku since I ate that kebab'. :)

[@NotMyPizza]

Oh, thanks, I'll start using it! ;)

[@Bobba_raekus]

'I am feeling a bit kotaku since I ate that kebab' Did you have to go take a major kotaku afterwards?

[@perydwyn]

Waffenbaum I had a frigging massive gawker that took 4 flushes to get rid of.

[@AzurMiku]

I think shit might get offended that you are comparing it to kotaku.

[@NotMyPizza]

MSNBC is such a Kotaku...

[@Repzion]

Please make a patreon, you'll have my support.

[@HexorMastah]

Love you Dan!♡

[@YautjaWarrior3]

A wild Daniel appears. Kinda late.

[@scottsmith9813]

Will you do a video on your thoughs on gamergate?

[@afriedli]

Taking time off from your own personal witch hunt in defence of damsels in distress? "Please make a patreon" She's an establish writer and academic and doesn't need Patreon. Give your financial support to people who are struggling because they're just starting out but are still doing valuable work. I know you are well-intentioned, but your judgement can be really lousy. Rather than offer your support, do us all a favour and try to follow Hoff Sommers example in clear thinking.

[@Ultrox007]

I don't get why everyone is so keen to jump onto crowd funding as the answer to everything...

[@snootsnooterton2089]

You could mop the floor with anita sarkeesian.

[@roydm143]

No tx, I want my floor clean.

[@Taurenwarrior321]

+Francisco Roy De Mare lmao

[@loganswanson7246]

*air horns*

[@raptorguy3493]

Francisco Roy De Mare OH MY GOD

[@thezquad]

I don't know why a man has to apologize for wanting, desiring, thinking about women. Its in our DNA to do so.

[@scrappydaddy6898]

789blablajaja *ok*

[@KnucklesForSkull]

They shouldn't. Third wave feminists or femmies as I'd like to call them need to be blocked out as just meaningless noise in this already chaotic world

[@ImAnderZEL]

My take is that Anita just want publicist and money, to pay any attention to here is bad. Its like playing a cheater only way to win is to not play. She is obviously playing the victim card to drum up support and money from white knights and hard core feminists, fighting her just give here more bull shit to shovel. People like Zoe and the people she boned or did not bone need to be looked in to so we can make sure gaming media is honest or as honest we can make them be!

[@dan665_]

Hi Anders! or should i say, ANDREW!?!?!??!?

[@AkrekzDragoon]

have you heard about the sarkeesian construct/concept there are reasons not to ignore her or who backs her etc. she has a person however should be entirely ignored or further seen as WHO she really is by now its clearly come down to the fact shes not much more then jonathan mcintosh´s puppet

[@rendarsmith]

We've ignored feminists for too long and look at how out of control they've become. No. Time to fight back.

[@AkrekzDragoon]

rendarsmith feminism goes from those wishing for entirely equal treatment downhill till the crazies of tumblr you will have problems fighting a whole spectrum of people especially if you pull innocent into this fight but the hardliner crazies and fakes and misandrists need to be met with utmost hostility yes dont let them advance ever and if burn everything down first treat them like cancer cells completely disconnect them from the system and let them rot away

[@Bobba_raekus]

If ever there was a definition of "sensationalist nonsense with no other objective than milking the uninformed of their money", it would be the poisonous babble Anita constantly spews out from atop her piles of undeserved cash.

[@Butterworthy]

Here's what I don't get about "privilege": It seems to be defined (loosely) as "Something you take for granted or don't think about". And in that case, everyone regardless of race or gender has their own things they take for granted that are a concern to others. In that case, aren't we all privileged? If so, wouldn't that make "privilege" a completely empty and meaningless concept?

[@Butterworthy]

***** I've seen it. I'm subbed to him. The entire concept just seems meaningless.

[@DongusMcGrongus]

They try to use this privilege system to enforce equality, with full knowledge that they are telling people what they are and aren't allowed to do. Sort of reminds me of how blacks weren't allowed to go to pools or sit in the front of the bus. Funny how history repeats itself

[@NestlaysChaulkolateChips]

Dongus McGrongus Exactly, as black fellow I can only see history repeating itself. Now we are systematicaly targeting white people as blacks were in the past. This is wrong, we shouldn't attack, we should inform and help others understand.

[@Jenkkimie]

I have the privilege of breathing. Misogyny! Sexism! Racism! Stop breathing! But wait, now that I think about this, I am no longer privileged. Is that how this works? Then I think I do not have any privileges. Therefor I am the one being oppressed as I need to somehow surrender the privileges I never even had before. So I am the oppressed and SJW are the oppressers. Oh my god, my whole worldviews are turned around completely. Not that the narrative SJW and alike spun before made any sense at all.

[@Butterworthy]

Jenkkimie Don't think too hard about it. They certainly don't.

[@Mick0Mania]

You have succesfully changed my opinion on the word "feminism" and washed the bad taste it had left in my mouth.

[@MrHewlettcraphard]

+Mickey the Maniac I think it's maybe time to start using "egalitarian" in western society, since it implies a more neutral view regarding gender equality. But yes, I would say that "3rd wave feminist" or just "radical feminist" are definitely more accurate to describe a lot of what modern feminism seems to have become.

[@LubaLowery]

+Mickey the Maniac This is the kind of feminist I have always been. I cringe when the crazy feminists get loud.

[@DamienBlade]

I always assumed GamerGate was a reaction to corruption in video game journalism.

[@MechaJutaro]

You'll enjoy this article, if you haven't yet read: gawker.com/what-is-gamergate-and-why-an-explainer-for-non-geeks-1642909080 Particularly the section which details the origin of this "controversy" in regards to Zoe Quinn.

[@1685Violin]

I thought Gawker is dead.

[@MechaJutaro]

I thought Gawker is dead. Not quite, if wiki is to believed: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gawker

[@MechaJutaro]

Louis XIV (aka 1685Violin) More precisely: www.npr.org/2016/08/18/490524041/gawker-com-shutting-down-as-univision-buys-associated-sites Gawker Media will survive(Jezebel, DeadSpin) shall continue; similar stories and atmosphere, without the name Gawker attached. As everything survives on The Wayback Machine, one has to wonder what Thiel believes he's accomplished beyond temporary satisfaction for a nearly decade old slight

[@macrosis1674]

Baron Of Hair nah dude it’s ded

[@PrinceRevolver]

Since the beginning the gaming industry has always been inclusive. There was never any fuss about games not having characters of a certain race or sex because it was nothing new, on top of the fact that no one gave a damn. It boiled down to whether the games were good or not. The whole harassment bs, racism, sexism never came into play until SJW manufactured something to bitch about. 

[@Dresdenstl]

Exactly. One of my favorite older game series is Gabriel Knight, and that was written by a woman in in 1993. And no one cared if it was or not. No one even gave it a second thought. SJWs are poisoning everything.

[@UncleFexxer]

But the one tragic, unforgivable flaw about the gaming industry from the very beginning is that it didn't revolve around Anita Sarkeesian. Games were being made without Anita Sarkeesian's approval, and people were -- I'm not kidding -- actually thinking about things like "graphics" and "playability," and not thinking about Anita Sarkeesian. Needless to say, this is the very embodiment of violent patriarchal hegemony and MUST be eradicated.

[@BobExcalibur]

Dresdenstl Hell, arguably the mother of all adventure games was Roberta Williams. Her games were absolutely devious, downright abusive affairs, but they were so damned rewarding. The average millenial getting stuck on Dark Souls has no idea... I've never even thought about Roberta's gender before. Or that of plenty of other game designers I love, like Amy Hennig... That's what I hate about these particular people who claim to care about social equality. They desperately try to boil everyone down to their gender, not the merit of their work. It's repulsive.

[@UncleFexxer]

***** It doesn't even boil down to their gender, at the heart of it. Zoe Quinn and her white knights attacked the Fine Young Capitalists, and they were a feminist group actually trying to champion women into the industry. ZQ and her posse screwed WOMEN over. Of course, the FYC's believed reward should be merit based (i.e. is your game worth a shit and would anyone actually want to play it), and poor Zoe (lacking any discernible talent, the poor poor dear) wouldn't have any of that, nosirree. It boils down to whatever attention-seeking damsel bleats out her plaintive distress call at the right moment to rouse the SJW's and White Knights to her side... with gender as their battle cry. But it's all just self-indulgence that is motivating them.

[@BobExcalibur]

I don't even care or mind about Depression Quest. It along with Gone Home, Hunt for The Gay Planet and all the rest of the minimum interaction, minimum content BIG MESSAGE games have every right to exist wherever they damned well please, and I heartily hope that the players who drop their precious time on them have a gay old time. What I mind about is nepotism among the critics, the preferential coverage and the backscratching that ends up prioritising indie devs who are willing to give journalists reduced rent, free drinks or oral sex for more coverage compared to those whose work has actual merit. Have you seen Actual Sunlight? That's a free game about depression that actually took longer than a weekend to make. You might like it.

[@savagepinksock]

if all feminists were like you, i'd be one

[@gilless429]

Right ? The only reason I don't identify as a feminist is to not be behind people like Sarkeesian or Laci Green. If feminists were more like her, and the driving forces of feminism were people like her, I would have no problem whatsoever calling myself one.

[@savagepinksock]

gilless429 Sarkeesian is just trying to swindle money, but laci... she believes the bullshit she says... and the worst part is she's poisoned the minds of thousands of young girls iinto thinking the reason they fail at something is societies fault not their own shortcomings she is making the world a worse place for both men and women

[@gilless429]

***** Yes, I agree. I'm not convinced of Sarkeesian's sincerity on all things she broaches. Green seems to really believe the things she say. Her video about consent in sex had me cringing and eyerolling the whole way through. She has built this warped and twisted notion of what men and women are, what their interactions mean, and the way they should do things, that so many young people tend to follow... It's sad really.

[@savagepinksock]

gilless429 and whats worse is how whenever laci tries to make a point she makes a male friend say it too, like your gender has anything to do with the validity of your opinions she is not a scientist, she needs to stop

[@gilless429]

***** That'd be like some homophobic person making a gay person say they're an abomination as though that makes it right... For people like me who live through life rarely ever concerned about the gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc., of the people around them unless it pertains to the matter specifically at hand, people like her who so naturally make these absolute dichotomies between people based on just the one thing about them, really seem... strange.

[@slobiden.2593]

I hate when people do what Anita did with Bayonetta. You show women being side lined not taking centre stage (mario) you scream "women are objects and need to be main characters" you bring out a strong female character who is Bayonetta "she's made for men to gawk at" you just can't win against that logic until you call it out for what it is BULLSHIT. Anita just needs to be ignored.

[@NealCamerlengo]

Not only is Anita a con artist but so is Zoe Quinn, Randi Harper, and Brianna Wu to name a few. but throw in Lena Dunham and Gloria Steinem as well.

[@isrbillmeyer]

I'm 47. Played games and still play games. From Pacman, Lock 'n Chase, Qix, Tetris, MGS, etc etc etc. When I want to buy a game, I tend to read the reviews. Who wants to pay good money for junk? And this is how the GamerGate started. Some journalist getting laid for good reviews of bad games. Journalists getting paid by companies to hype a crap game. And then they got called out on it and exposed. What (did they think) saved their asses? The whole Social Justice Warrior / Feminazis inserting them into the debate and the MSM cheering them on. Nope - all the diversion tactics did not save their asses. How do I know that? Because I am not (like most paying gamers) going to hand over good money for a crap game based on PC surreal nonsense simply because it was developed by a 100% female company and given high fives by Social Justice Warrior wannabe journalists. Fact is - I will most likely avoid buying any games that the cabal recommends - and this is true of most gamers. So when all is said and done - I will buy the games I want to play. I will by default avoid any games that has a good Social Justice Warrior approval rating - which will mean - bad news for them - I will overlook even the possible good titles from the PC crowd - because their behaviour in the whole #Gamergate saga may have made (non-gamer) Anita rich - but it has completely lost my trust by those who side with her. No the whole false narrative that gamers hate woman is just believed by those in the echo-chamber safe space hugging a copy of a game I would not play in a thousand years. The journalists by aligning with the Social Justice Warriors and Feminists may have gotten great interviews and appearances on MSM news shows - but they have lost the trust of those who ultimately pay their salaries. A really bad place to be - because the SJW and Feminazis are just going to move on to another area that they have not attacked yet - but those journalists who tried to muscle gamers with this nonsense will bear the mark of Cain in the gaming industry for the rest of their lives.

[@MrRolnicek]

+Bill Meyer We dont need gaming journalism anymore and now we dont want it because it can't be trusted. Just follow some Steam narrators whom you trust and let the "journalists" lose their jobs.

[@MetalmanMr]

+MrRolnicek I do that, too.

[@damon22441]

+Bill Meyer This exact mentality is what so many of my gaming friends and I share. I think you're absolutely spot-on with this. Any game that is popular among Tumblr users I stay away from, viewing safely from a distance the mediocrity. Thankfully, I just narrowly didn't miss Undertale this month, which is insanely popular among Tumblr, but actually is a fantastic game; probably the best, at least it is for me now over MGS. And I don't like having to feel so knee-jerky with games in fear of missing out on gems like this one. Maybe I should argue anti-gamergaters gave me purchaser's PTSD. y'know? Then I remember Gone Home, and all seems right again.

[@swanbrown]

+Fuck Jim Sterling seems pretty close to center, or at least, when he breaks right, or left, he seems to have his own reasons that aren't just reverberating some movement philosophy.

[@siegvash]

Thank you based Bill

[@QueenyMartha]

Based Mom kickin ass as always! Thank you!! and YES, Gamergate continues to be highly misrepresented in the media regardless of how much we want to approach them and tell them what's going on from our side. They keep pulling the feminist card cuz they want to evade the topic of corruption. Journalists are scare to admit their mistakes and make a reform.

[@PetersaberHD]

About "sexy eye candy" - something Bayonetta has been accused of. What exactly is bad about that? Games are worlds of fantasy. Is it wrong to have a fantasy of a sexy/very beautiful woman? And why is that wrong only in games? And what about the other side of that argument. In almost every game ever with a male protagonist, he's usually very handsome/sculpted/gorgerous etc. I've never seen anyone complain about that, and yet we constantly hear complaints about how women are sexualized, even if they're visually realistic (Trishka from Bulletstorm, for example)

[@alessandrobruschi2445]

There is a difference between idealization and sexualization. Typical male main characters are usually idealized. They are handsome, muscular etc. But they are not SEXualized. You do not seem them in suggestive poses or situations all the time that make it clear they are sexual objects or lack agency. That is the main difference. Bayonetta, however, is a case on its own as her poses are clearly sexualized, but she definitely does not lack agency nor is she weak or helpless, so basically she does those poses because she wants to... which is perfectly fine in my book.

[@PetersaberHD]

Alessandro Bruschi Bayonetta is an extreme example. Most female characters aren't sexualized in the way you're describing, but complaints are there. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure there were a few examples of such sexualization of men (in the 450+ games I've beaten), but I can't tell you exacly where - I'm a straight male, I just never took note, it went right over my head. There are also plenty of complaints simply about the "impossible perfectness" of game heroines' bodies. What about heroes' bodies? Never heard a word. IMHO there simply are people who get stuck in a thought and go as far as to create/make up problems that fit into that thought.

[@mildbill9529]

Alessandro Bruschi You mean a muscular guy with tight clothes isn't sexualized? Give me a break, it's the same thing.

[@PetersaberHD]

***** but then that's misogyny! And we're back to square one. Something to complain about.

[@namelessv125]

Bayonetta actually avoids the male gaze thing and she has agency. She's actually becoming a symbol for gay communities and she's actually well liked by pro-sex feminists.

[@AlexS-oj8qf]

Telltale should make Downtown Abbey games for Christina XD

[@SirArgoros]

Rip that dream

[@AnoAno94]

@@SirArgoros Somebody bought Telltale and might do something with it. Let's hope they make something good. I'm gonna send in a suggestion to them if possible.

[@NeoSoldner]

This woman is in her 60s, and yet wildly more attractive than young Anita Sarkeesian. I'm not talking a physical looks either, I'm talking about a beauty from within. Sommers woman is full of kindness, love, and understanding, and it flows out to everyone who comes in contact with her. Sarkeesian is full of hate, spite, and greed, and it slugs you in the face. I have so much respect for you Christian. Thank you for being a beacon of what feminism should be!

[@Darksky1001able]

Her age worries me however. Because... she is a rare human being. And we only have one her. And a thousand Anitas...

[@BackdoorBox]

i love you based mom

[@tonyharrison2112]

Why does he wear the mask!?

[@jimjam1863]

Actually, the lead developer of Bayonetta is a man. The head of character design, though, is a woman. It should also be noted that her only criteria for the character was... 1)Female lead 2)Modern day witch 3)Uses guns.

[@K1LLW1N]

But it should also be noted that in Japan, sexy means powerful. There's a whole set of different values over there.

[@Baneraze]

thats one of the issues i had with the tropes vs women video anita was approaching many japanese made games with an americanized feminist culture critique, like japans culture had no influence whatsoever on a cultural export.

[@VocaloidHDSub]

WrathzRevenge is right. It's just cultural differences. The fact that Anita can't understand or even considering that is just..terrifying.

[@kr1spness]

WrathzRevenge Yeah, as interesting as it can be to critique cultural value sin various ways, it's wrong to discredit different cultural values if the society isn't hurt by them. Japan has a negative birth to death ratio because both men and women are spending their time working, so they're obviously not oppressed in the North American sense, is someone really going to advocate to take away their entertainment? We already have a problem where most cool Japanese games don't get released here because they don't think the West will like or understand them. We almost didn't get smash bros. or pokemon.

[@Ocean_Man]

Thank god for this woman, the whole "gta is a game where youre a thieving mass murderer but the fact that theres strip clubs is unacetable" argument had me dumbstruck

[@duesalbladesinger7900]

Wait, so female video game characters aren't allowed to be attractive because that's appealing to male sexuality? Why does Anita think that MALE video game characters are attractive? It certainly isn't for the preferences of heterosexual males.

[@TroyLeavitt]

As a professional game developer myself with over 2 decades of experience I'd like to say thank you for your video, Dr. Sommers! (My most recent project is Disney Infinity 2: Marvel Super Heroes. You can see me in this video about the making of Disney Infinity at the 1:25 mark: Creating DISNEY INFINITY: Play Sets). I've been following the #gamergate issue for the past couple months. Because of this video and others like it, I am publicly coming out to lend my support to the cause.

[@DKPaladinX]

Troy Leavitt Welcome Troy. I wish you, and your teammates, a lot of success on what you are currently working. Let's game :)

[@TroyLeavitt]

DKPaladinX Thanks! And yes, let's game - just as soon as I beat XCom on Classic Ironman difficulty. I keep getting rekt!

[@KDol0]

Troy Leavitt you, sir, are a masochistic

[@MyKeyMoonShine]

Troy Leavitt You don't have to do that you know, it helps us a bunch if you do but we don't expect anyone to risk their job for our sake. Well I don't anyway. If you are unsure about how it will affect your work situation I wouldn't blame you for staying quiet about it.

[@nielsdejong]

Thank you sir :) We could use all the help we can get. This video sums the whole situation up perfectly!

[@Martialarts222]

This is a war which has been fought since the 1800s. The technology is new, and the tactics have transformed throughout the ages. This war has no ending, it is the endless struggle for what some call "Equality". I support #Gamergate not only because I am a gamer. But also because I am a seeker of knowledge and truth, i change my mind given new information. It's as my college professor called "Having a critical mind". It's important to know the issues of today, the ammo we and they use, but also the past of the feminist movement. 214 years of fighting for "Equality", what is next?

[@kr1spness]

It's funny, because most of the arguments use methods of critical theory based on social critique, but it outright uses them wrong and uses fallacies to cover that up. I can't tell you how many times I've seen ad hoc and generalization from them.

[@Raz0rking]

sarkisian's logic: women needs help. game is sexist. Women is strong and good looking; ie does not need help. game is sexist...duh one cannot do right no matter how.

[@kokofan50]

Raz0rking I think Sarkisian wants every women to do be ugly and magically able to everything better than men.

[@Raz0rking]

kokofan50 less atractive that she is* really important. Only fat, ugly and strong women in games are right.

[@bluestate69]

+Raz0rking Sarkeesian is a troll.

[@youcanthandlemyname7393]

omg reasonable people do exist. humanity has hope after all!

[@sa1lor_jarry139]

The next time a feminists feels oppressed, they should go talk a black person that lived through segregation, or a 40 yr old gay man from Texas, or Japanese-Americans that lived during World War II or etc., etc.

[@jamesbong5135]

This is why people that are actually in those groups that did have it difficult started #notyourshield against all those 16 year old white middle class girls telling everybody else to check their privilege.

[@mmysama]

I still find it funny, that I go to work at a shitty blue collar factory job, desperately try to pay pills and buy groceries with my shitty excuse for a paycheck, I gave up on finishing college years ago, but there are kids from rich families who are coasting through life on their parents money, graduating from liberal arts schools, and telling ME to check my privilege.

[@sa1lor_jarry139]

Everyone who's not on top is getting bent over the barrel. People are shouting "privilege" whenever they THINK someone else is getting screwed more gently. It's all a big distraction for those in power to maintain control.

[@Purifycaly]

Sa1loR_JaRRy So right thou are sir.

[@jl2200]

mmysama One can get a first class liberal arts education simply by reading. Read, read, read and read some more.

[@DoubleO88]

If the majority of feminists and mainstream feminist were like this woman. There'd be no issue with feminism.

[@DrBitchcraft.]

I don't understand who wouldn't like images of any sexy beautiful people in games? I kinda wish more sexy men rather than covering up women.. Does that make me a non-feminist?

[@Igor_054]

+NemoRosa700I don't know, but if it really does, than non-feminist is not a bad thing.

[@alexdhamp]

+NemoRosa700 Like Dante? Or do you prefer something different? Leon?

[@ybother4921]

of course you're a nonfeminist you hold an opinion that's different from the matriarchal overlord.

[@pntpictures]

This is the first video of yours that I have seen. Just wanted to say thank you! You reminded me of the respectful and original feminists that began the movement so long ago. Sadly, some of the newer ones kind of both scare and worry me for the future. Thank you for bringing logic and sense back to your side of the argument! So long as there are feminists like you, your cause is worthy...but please, continue to keep the extremists in check if you can. Great video! Subscribed!

[@GentlemanRigby]

I don't think you can win when it comes to making women appear sexy in games. Why? In real life, women can choose to use sexuality as a tool of empowerment, a weapon even. They can be as sexy, as slutty, and as depraved as they want, and have the right to not be judge for it, because it is their choice. Video game characters are created. They obviously do not have the ability to choose to be who they want to be, or what they want to do. They are 100% at the whim of their creator. A creator who can make them do anything, be anything, and essentially be a soulless pawn for their imagination. This is the real problem people who dislike sexualized women in gaming have: The lack of control and choice. Even presenting a character who has a personality of a woman who is doing just as I said above: using sexuality as a tool or weapon, doesn't work because again, you have simply made the character that way, it wasn't the characters choice. But then you start to realize how ridiculous that is. "We can't give video game characters a choice, they don't have an actual ability to choose, they aren't real. Should we stop making characters all together, because these figments of our imagination can't choose if they want to be figments of our imagination?" No, obviously. However you would most certainly have certain people say that certain types of characters shouldn't be made, and that their stories shouldn't be told. And then you would have arguments about what is and is not an "appropriate" character/story. You see because it isn't enough to simply create a more varying amount of stories and characters, to appeal to all groups, to give everyone something they like. Because it isn't about a lack of things they do like, its about to much of what they don't like, and trying too compromise with them will not be enough. So you keep making games about big breasted women playing volleyball, or killing giant monsters with their hair, or exploring forgotten tombs, or defeating evil space pirates. Because those who complain, and degrade, and seek to destroy; will only be happy when they have done so. And all they deserve is to be ignored. And correct me if I'm wrong but isn't one of the things feminists fight for is the ability to be sexual if they so desire and not be judged for it? Which I agree women should be allowed that they are no different than men. But if we objectify or sexualize women because they happen to be attractive because of a simple design choice isn't that the antithesis of feminism? It's kind of self defeating really. Also on Bayonetta Mari Shimizaki designed and created her if anyone wanted to know the name.

[@Ertwin123]

The problem isn't just women being sexualized in games. The problem is "sexualized woman" being the full extent of the character. Feminists would like female characters to have personality traits beyond "woman" Characters need dimension, and "has boobs" is not enough.

[@GentlemanRigby]

Ertwin123 Which I understand but when you have characters like bayonetta, samus, laura croft who have personalities, character, and depth and people complain because all they see is face value is where the problem arises.

[@DreddPirateRoberts]

Ertwin123 Are men not _also_ sexualized?

[@KabukeeJo]

***** Yes, Men are over sexualized in video games, TV & everywhere else. You don't see any fat men with neck beards wearing loin cloth's being the heroes of any game or movie. But that that's fine in their SJW rule book.

[@Ertwin123]

***** Are you implying that because men are sexualized too that makes it ok? For men the sexualization is not the entire basis of their character.

[@gekkanshounen5112]

This lady is downright one of the coolest people I've seen on the internet. So well spoken with this pleasant timbre in her voice, reminding me of my old piano teacher. I keep expecting her to suddenly pause in her rational, well-crafted segment on the issue of gamergate and gender politics and tell me to go through my drills again and then offer me a batch of cookies for good performance. Based Mom, indeed. Also, for anyone reading this comment, did Sarkeesian really dislike Bayonetta 2 on the grounds revealed in the vid? I mean, what does it take to actually meet that woman's so-called criteria for a non-sexist game? Yeah, Bayonetta was nice to look at, but you know what compelled me about the game besides the fantastic gameplay? Her character. She was bold, strong, sassy, resourceful, but still able to be kind, gentle and protective of her friends and family. That was the actual selling point for me and many others. I didn't so much cared for seeing her in provocative poses rather than wanting to see if this awesome character would be able to save her friend's soul and save the world and do it with pure platinum style. At this point, people like Sarkeesian are just manufacturing gender politics in games in order to create sensationalism. I can't exactly say it's not expected as revenue has to come from somewhere, but it's certainly a prime example of intellectual dishonesty.

[@inthefade]

What is really funny is that, as I understand it, Vivian James was created by 4chan /v/ members to be the exact representation of women that people like Anita claim to want to see. And yet they keep saying that the character embodies misogyny! They are so full of double-think that it boggles the mind! To think I used to be a part of that dogmatic and outdated mode of thought!

[@mmysama]

inthefade Vivian James does NOT represent the woman SJWs want to see. What they want is, games that don't tell a compelling narrative but that are used as a sopabox for their personal agenda. Vivian James represents a reaction against the liberla agenda. She would only be what they want if she was racist and sexist like they are.

[@guyonacomputer1261]

You want a Downton Abbey Game? Victoria II. Victoria II is that game.

[@AngryForeigner]

I LOVE YOU

[@Exmorted]

I don't believe that the media's reports on #GamerGate is just wrong or misleading. It's demeaning, it's discriminatory and it's bad journalism. GamerGate is a consumer revolt due to the poor journalism put on by various sites that gamers used to trust. When I see a gamergate hashtag or someone talking about it, I see a person who wants professionalism back in journalism and I think we all can agree that there's nothing more important in journalism than being unbiased and objective. Gamergate isn't a "let's get women out of gaming, hurr durr" but apparently media succeeds in spinning a narrative that gamers and gamergate is somehow sexist.

[@LeBronKK]

I'm usually apathetic about social injustice, but this woman is so informative and calm, that I can't help but listen and get interested in the matter. She isn't yelling with fiery eyes and a wagging finger. Other activists should take notes.

[@TheHorrorHistorian]

almost a decade later and this video still rings out true in a murky conversation on gaming. Thank you for making and keeping this video up

[@AliagaAyin]

you said something i always felt and never knew how to say it, they kept calling us killer when i never killed anyone, antisocial when i have thousands of friends, and now misogynist when i actually love women.

[@harveymalice]

As much as I appreciate this video, it is in some way a saddening reminder that truth and logic mean nothing to some people, ultimately leaving me to question my own perception of truth. What is truth and what is an educated opinion? I agree with this video entirely, yet I wonder, will it affect someone who sees their own view as true?

[@0blalb0]

if people have extremely uneducated opinions and claims so outrageous that you don't even know what to say, its best to just ignore said claims and people who make them. They are either too stupid to deal with or just crave the attention. Sarkesian is no different. By calling her out on all her bullshit, she wins, because it draws more media attention to her and then she can suddenly make even more outrageous claims like she is the victim and what not. If Gamergate truly is about ethics, we should just completely stop acknowledging her.

[@Sniper2Pony]

No. It won't. Which is why we need ANOTHER movement to get politics out of gaming. Gaming is where we go to get away from all that crap...

[@mmysama]

Whenever you hear anybody say anything you have to think about how it makes you FEEL deep inside. For example, if scientists say that global warming will melt the ice caps and fuck everything up, that probably makes you feel bad right? It's so depressing to think that we're all going to have to invest so much money into renewable that is slows down economics growth and raises the cost of various consumer goods. Since it makes you feel bad, is must be wrong.

[@buca117]

mmysama What you've just described is intuitive reasoning. You've also demonstrated it. Someone might just as easily FEEL bad about the idea that the world is going to die off and act first without regard to specifics or consequences. To expand on your analogy, the reason most commonly cited regarding disbelief in Human-Caused Climate Change is that the science doesn't bear out, not the economics. There's a thing called the Appeal to Authority Fallacy. Everyone's familiar with people trying to use another person's degree in Engineering or whathaveyou as proof of their qualifications and how that's fundamentally nonsensical. However there's another aspect to that fallacy that isn't as rarely used. It's where you appeal to someone who IS an "Authority" and you use their status as an authority to prove a thing, rather than the work they've done. Most people against Global Warming really don't give a damn that these scientists say what they do. Between the analysis of methodology, deconstruction of political agendas, and revelation of organizational corruption, their opinions and their findings aren't considered valid. An engineer with a Master's Degree may not be qualified to conduct climate research, but any 2nd year college student can find flaws in methodology. It's one of the first things you learn in any science class. Don't contaminate the sample, ensure a clean environment, run tests multiple times and eliminate outliers, double check previous findings, and above all, eliminate all variables. If you've left a variable in that may have some bearing on the results, no matter what those results are, they are invalid.

[@apathy5218]

Me being a MGTOW, I disagree with a lot of what based mom says on other topics but she has knocked it out of the park in regarding #gamergate . This video is excellent, also, love the little jab thrown at Sarkeesian.

[@EnglishUpstart]

Same way I feel man.

[@Jaeger_Bishop]

It's beautiful man just beautiful :')

[@apofis231]

Damn you Havel (Jk I agree with you)

[@biomerl]

MGTOW?

[@HorkSupreme]

biomerl Men going their own way.

[@johnnysolami]

I'm so glad I discovered you, Christina. I'm male and when these 3rd wave feminists criticize me for being part of some patriarchy (despite me coming from a poor background and working desperately for 10 years to get out), I feel like "the other". I've never oppressed anyone, or disrespected any woman for being female. I just want to get along, but these vitriolic people on blogs and college campuses are making that very hard. Peace and harmony for evryone.

[@lorryyrrol2039]

i'm SO happy i found this,i was nodding near the end and then the "once we go to battle we like to win" bit I raised my hands in triumph at the end and said finally someone understands i am feeling good and now i'm a sub :)

[@Gr00mp]

I don't think you really understand how touching this stuff is. The fact that we have someone like you on our side, someone with some common sense and the ability to do good research into the topics they want to talk about. It's so refreshing to have someone like that at all in this day and age, but more than that is the fact that you took the time out of your day to talk about something you aren't even a part of. When you talk about us (gamers as a whole) as you do it just evokes some strange emotion in me and I can't help but feel a deep appreciation and love for you and the work that you do. Please, keep up the good work.

[@PrimeSonic]

It's like she is the mom we all wished we had. I definitely relate to what you're saying. It's been especially powerful in these last videos on this particular subject. I felt a reassuring calmness all throughout the video. I just want to thank and hug this magnificent and brilliant woman.

[@BenKuyt64]

"The male gaze". I'm sure there's a female gaze as well. Why do games and movies featuring sexually liberated women so hated, yet movies like Magic Mike, and every game featuring men have them as strong, well toned, handsome, etc. aren't looked at in a negative light? I'm sure it has to do with hypocrisy. Keep it up, Based Mom.

[@javkhlanenkhbaatar3843]

This has logic because she left comment section open.

[@trimetrious9]

You have made a great video and a great series. You are intelligent, well read, and it is a joy to hear an actual professional talk about gamers and the industry at large. Its amazing! Please keep making them.

[@CruxisFire]

I'm a life-long fan of gaming, and was a fan of yours way before Gamergate even came up. Gamergate to me is pointing out critical flaws in the gaming community and fighting back against accusations of being a 'horrible person' based on what games I like. It's also about allowing developers, big and small to be free to create whatever they want without being scared into submission and censored. Excellent follow up, Ms Sommers. You are indeed worthy of the title 'Based Mom'.

[@theunbearablejuan]

Christina, it's nice to see the other side of feminism. I think we all deserve equality but unfortunately some people despise that idea. It makes no sense. At all. You can't imagine some of the things the media and people say about gamers now and the worst part is that they feel offended because we are pointing out some clear problems. Part of being human beings is making mistakes but you don't attack anyone that's pointing that out because you feel offended. It's not about being offended and claiming victimhood, it's about learning from mistakes and correcting them. Thank you for being so rational in an environment of pure chaos. #gamergate #equality #wedontneedsocialjustice

[@DeVstatrOmga]

Wow. Sensible. Presented FACTS. Used rational thought and kept a level-headed discussion. Complete opposite of Anita Sarkeesian and her followers. If anything, Anita and her supporters are hurting the true feminist cause. What still boggles my mind is the fact that she has been on film stating she has no gaming experience yet she used the platform to catapult herself into the lime-light by false pretensions that she was qualified to speak on behalf of women and the gaming community. If anything, Anita Sarkeesian is a scam artist at best.

[@KrawmKruach]

Thank you so much for doing these videos Mrs. Sommers.

[@KeyboardShark]

I usually never leave comments on youtube videos. I actually directly avoid doing so. But I want to just say that as someone who has little to no impact on any social media site and no influence over a large mass of people. This video made me tears up, I've watched both sides of this debate and this video has shown what equality is. Not a nonsensical idiotic response filled with slander and name calling. But a genuine response from someone who defends something I have been a part of, if not the most important things in my life. I'm more than proud to be called a "gamer". Thank you, thank you for not only defending the community I enjoy, but for defending the hobby that has had a major impact in my life; with professionalism and dignity. Thank you based mom.

[@smugbuster4021]

factual feminist vs tropes e3 2015. make it happen

[@DaveGamesVT]

As much as I would LOVE to see that, there's no way in hell Anita Sarkeesian would agree to it. We both know why, she'd be annihilated. Humiliated.

[@smugbuster4021]

it just shows her cowardice

[@DeathAlchemist]

Yes.

[@DaveGamesVT]

Dapper Dangus Indeed. I'd be a sniveling coward too if I were Anita going up against someone like this. I'd probably see the invite for the debate and leave the country.

[@videogamenostalgia]

Based mom is a fucking professor and Sarkeesian has a bachelors. As arrogant as Sarkeesian is, I highly doubt she'd take up the offer to join the debate.

[@ArtistLunatalia]

Well said. It's good to hear research done behind a video like this.

[@DanielRand]

I do enjoy this series of videos- a well spoken, and well researched opinion that looks at both sides and the evidence for each case. I have subscribed, and will be checking through your videos soon! Don't ever change.

[@BlackTridentTV]

One of the best arguments I've seen. Based Mom has provided evidence. Anti-GG has provided deflections and refused to enter into debate. I can see where this is going now.

[@Shinisoup]

Words can't describe how much I love you, Based Mom

[@Genjimaru9000]

You are amazing! I wish all Feminist were like you! Your the complete opposite of the girls that yelled at me for playing Shantee on the bus.

[@Jack-sy6di]

the fuck is Shantee?

[@Jack-sy6di]

oh ShantAe. What, because she's got that little 4x4 pixel bare tummy?

[@Genjimaru9000]

Yep. And something about belly dancer oppression...

[@Genjimaru9000]

Hannes Wurst Yes! Not so much on the east coast like here in Georgia... BUT BEWARE THE WEST COAST! As you go west SJWs and Feminazis cluster more! California is cancer!

[@Genjimaru9000]

Hannes Wurst Where do you live? If feminazis get there way I'll get my passports ready....

[@kenabbott8585]

One thing that the lovely Ms. Sommers didn't note is that on many occasions Gamergate's "victims" were caught faking threats against themselves to gin up their victim status.

[@Shippoyasha]

The idea that gamers even need to 'defend' anything seems to imply there are things TO defend, like there is a reason why all the vitriol is necessary to begin with. That's where the slander comes in, because pushing the idea that gamers are in 'defense' pushes a certain mindset from an outsider. It's a purposeful spinning of the narrative.

[@Jaeger_Bishop]

Well we do need to defend ourselves from persacution and being called everything but the son of god.

[@Shippoyasha]

Coarjester I agree with you. The sad fact is that it's come to this point.

[@MrCattlehunter]

it just says that they're under attack, not that the attacks are justified. not especially exciting. people are under attack all of the time for all sorts of things.

[@Shippoyasha]

Simulacrum Yeah. I was just being a tad meta about the whole discussion that's all.

[@Baneraze]

well imagine if silverstring media set itself up as the organization that polices all approved gaming content, theres a LOT of money to be made being in such a position, and money makes people do some crazy and/or hurtful things to other people, just sayin.

[@MISTAWULFY]

I addressed the double standard the tumblr feminist movement has in regards to video games in my latest video about tropes. I'll summarize for those not interested in checking it out. There are tropes heavily geared toward attracting female and homosexual gamers as well as cishet white males (the latter is discussed in the first video and much of Anita's baseless rhetoric is debunked). The pretty boy protagonist, or Bishonen in anime/manga, is a VERY common aspect of video games from the last decade or so. It is a utilization of androgynous or feminine male characters that encourages FEMALE GAZE. And of course, there are always girls who like the manly man characters as well, so pretty much all bases are covered. Except for fat people. There are verrrrry few overweight characters in video games. Also, you can't adequately judge the sexuality of an ambiguous character, and characters that seem cishet could in fact be anything BUT and you just aren't aware of it. Then I rant for like 10 minutes about how things could be improved and made better for everyone since the whineybaby tumblr kids can't just find something they like ever for any reason.

[@MISTAWULFY]

Mateus Prado Sousa porn is fine with me, I like hot chicks myself.

[@mildbill9529]

MISTA WULFY FEMINAZI SQUAD ASSEMBLE, WE HAVE A MISOGYNIST PIG THAT NEEDS TO BE CASTRATED

[@aubadeknight5649]

The most famous video game character is overweight.

[@TheMEKO666]

You said that there are very few overweight characters in games. I'm fat, and I don't feel need to play as a fat character. This idea that every group needs to be represented is totally stupid and unreasonable. I just wish that artists would start making characters the way they want.

[@MISTAWULFY]

M .Stybel that was also one of my points in the first video.

[@Marvininini]

oh this is finally a resonable take on this whole debate! so pleasant to listen to it. thanks for this input! :)

[@TomaszWota]

It's... refreshing, to say the least, to see a video of someone calling herself a feminist and actually talking with some sense. Didn't see your videos before, but I sure will check them out. Thanks for your voice.

[@zarkoff45]

Anita Sarkeesian's feminism is the feminism of Catharine MacKinnon, Andrea Dworkin and Gail Dines. This battle goes back to the 90s when Ms Sommers wrote "Who Stole Feminism." It's the same battle in a new arena.

[@roykliffen9674]

You forgot Gloria Steinem, who actually was in the lead and turned the feminist movement into the misandric hate group it is now.

[@CountryOfClocks]

I liked very much that you told gaming journalists to do the research to prove a correlation between the sexism and violence in fantasy and real life before stating it as if it were a fact. They too often use such baseless accusations. If it were proven true I wouldn't find it offensive, but as there is yet to be any connection made it is terribly offensive.

[@KainYusanagi]

And, more specifically, evidence suggesting the opposite is true (look into youth violence rates and the popularity of video games; it's not causation amongst the populace, but it's an interesting correlation and one that I can agree with in regards to my life. Would have been much more likely to be violent if I couldn't have blown off steam in gaming)

[@TheDalston2]

I love the way you ended the video. :) Also your calm logic, after these accusations, is very refreshing.

[@henrymarcello6495]

I found this blog while following the GamerGate controversy, but I'm very excited to go through the rest of these videos. I don't know if this is a problem everyone has, but I've found it very hard to find a calm, reasonable voice to answer the many questions I've had about feminism since I was little. Thank you for making these.

[@Rafael-rn6hn]

It blows my mind how you can be so on point on everything.

[@skillcosby3095]

#Basedmom dishing out the facts.

[@AngeliseSage]

and the fact is that shyhorse is the only good horse

[@natertotOO7]

This is so refreshing in the midst of the shouting match that is/was gamergate. Thank you for being levelheaded and using logic and reason. Makes me want to hear more of what you have to say. Funny how that works, huh?

[@Xplantycus]

You make so much sense! Thanks for the video

[@Guccibear100]

As someone who basically had given up on "Gamer Media" years ago, the recent out-lash at straight males is basically just another group of high horse riders parading around and wiggling their fingers in the face of those they see beneath them, or gain something for doing so. Gaming in-general has become fairly stale over recent years, and you can only fluff up an article with hip phrases so many times. They need traffic. What better way to shift the focus and make something controversial more prominent than, you know, game-play? We have an enormous influx of people playing games now. The Nintendo Wii, Facebook games, and Smart Phone users, who typically just want a neat distraction, over fleshed out, challenging, or competitive game-play, are flicking their fingers and bouncing around various click-bait online. They want those clicks. What better flag to get under than misogyny? Anyone interested in the subject will likely be a part of the demographic I just mentioned.

[@wetbreasts]

If all feminists were like her, womens rights would have advanced 20 years by now. This is the kind of evenhanded, rational thought that is a lost art in todays politics. I don't think I could possibly have more respect for a person than I do her.

[@WankersCramp69]

The thing about shows like Breaking Bad and gameslike GTA is that it's based on the criminal world. Of course it's very violent.

[@sethfarmer590]

Thank you for being so calm and rational. Two traits lacking in most contemporary discourse. Also, the casual reference to Kant was amazing! I truly feel that philosophical and ethical concepts need to become a part of the vernacular, and you're working wonders with your thoughtful, straightforward, unpretentious videos.

[@giraffidae]

Have my children...

[@TheLifeErratic]

I think if Bayonetta was shamed out of existence, I might just have a massive emotional breakdown. Bayonetta has given me so much more confidence in myself as a woman, and I don't think I could handle it if she couldn't be around anymore because of these authoritarian communists under the guise of feminism.

[@DarthMorius]

Your videos just make me happy to be alive, and want to strive to be an even better person. I love to see that not everyone on the internet are closed minded and hateful people. It's amazing how you can just concisely present what I have been feeling in words, you really understand this gaming community better then anyone else I have seen talk about it. If we really were some coordinated movement, instead of just individuals with similar interests, I would advocate that you should be our representative :D.

[@jamesbastone3381]

so nice to see someone taking a step back and analysing the situation properly. Thank you!

[@LotionSoronarr]

Not enough likes in the world for this video. My faith in feminists has been restored.

[@afriedli]

lol - except she's been pretty-much disowned by feminists. When your values and beliefs are rejected as heresy by feminists and praised by non-feminists it's probably time to recognise you are not a feminist.

[@LotionSoronarr]

aporiac So those feminists are the REAL feminist? Please, tell me who gets to define that. Becasue I denounce them (as many other feminists do too).

[@afriedli]

LotionSoronarr The "REAL" feminists are the ones who get the work done in government, the CDC, the UN, academia, politics, the courts, etc. They are the ones with the power to get the POTUS to tell lies about the gender pay gap, have ensured that women who kill men get acquitted, have eroded due process and the assumption of innocence until proven guilty, and that all hardship and suffering is ignored unless it is the hardship and suffering of women. All you do is provide cover for them. The apologists for feminism remind me of the apologists for Nazism. They praise the neat uniform and shiny boots, while ignoring the blood on those boots. Sorry, but I don't accept that Nazism was about freedom, justice and security for the German people. In a way it was, but not in a way I'm prepared to accept. I admit this is a judgement call on my behalf. You can keep your faith if you wish.

[@LotionSoronarr]

You're generalizing. You have your radical feminists who see mysgony and sexism everywhere, you have nutjobs who hate men and you also have moderate and rational ones. They all see themselves as feminists because they are "fighting for women" and yet their beliefs and methods are nothing alike. Labels are problematic. They mean different things to different people. The "good" feminsits can be easily called equalists.

[@afriedli]

LotionSoronarr There are only two kinds of feminists :- You have your radical feminists who see mysgony and sexism everywhere, you have nutjobs who hate men And then you have the other kind who provide cover for them.

[@theleithalweapon]

Thank you for existing. You are such an awesome person and seeing videos like this make me proud to support not only my interests, but also the interests of other gamers like me. Thank you!!!

[@nomiau]

Great upload with a very well reasoned and articulate argument!

[@Ed-hh5dp]

Brilliant video, so interesting and well delivered. Looking forward to watching the rest of the series

[@spinosauruskin]

That pretty much sums up our views on the Sarkeesian thing, which is relevant to this conversation, however this isn't what gamergate is about. Gamergate is about the corruption in games journalism, involving things like the issue with Zoe Quinn, and for at least TEN journalist sites putting out articles on THE SAME DAY about the death of gamers. Also would have liked a mention of the whole #notyourshield as it is extremely relevant to the conversation as well.

[@Ireallylikepie22]

This isn't about that it's about debunking the misconceptions that the mainstream media has about #Gamergate maybe save that for a later video?

[@deejay3971]

stop complaining she did great. i doubt she lurks 8chan as much as you do

[@videogamenostalgia]

Her book 'who stole feminism' is almost entirely devoted to showing how the mindset behind the 'not your shield' feminists is based on bad academics. It's definitely worth a read if you're interested in how the feminists and SJWs got the mindset they did to pull shit like the Quinnspiracy.

[@spinosauruskin]

Not complaining, just giving some points. And I've never been on 8chan

[@BuFFoTheArtClown]

She addressed exactly what GamerGate is about. She explained where the corruption in journalism comes from, form listening to people like Anita, then allowing her to push her anti-male agenda into video games. If editors at the largest gaming news websites didn't kowtow to people like Quinn and Anita in the first place, there would be no problem. Look, there will always be corruption within media, that dragon is here to roost, but the dragons we can slay are the ones who are forcing their agenda into video games through forced inclusiveness, and they do this by coercing people within the video game industry, bloggers/journalists included, into using their narrative instead of what the game's creators originally envisioned. By getting rid if people like Quinn, Anita and any SJWs influencing game development and journalism, we help keep games the way they were meant to be played, as their creators intended. And that, is the kind of corruption we are getting rid of. Influence from the outside of gaming. Getting rid of those who influence and those who are easily influenced.

[@QuantumOverlord]

Wow 1,106 likes (6 dislikes) and we are still in 301+ land. I don't think I have ever seen a more well liked video so quickly on KZbin in the 4 years I have been a member.

[@nolle]

same lmao. And I have seen a LOT of hot videos but this one tops it.

[@QuantumOverlord]

Bitplague To put this in perspective its now 1889! This is insane! We are looking at 100k views already, and its only been up a bit over an hour!

[@Amsterdamned33]

***** up to 2.5k now! WIth only 15 dislikes. As you can see, if you are reasonable, you don't have to turn of ratings and comments on your videos.

[@QuantumOverlord]

Amsterdamned33 The counter is on 418 views, so we have passed 301+ land but the counter has been broken in the process, lol!

[@zzzgiantawake6195]

***** Well the trend has continued the same. This is the best received KZbin video on feminism or gamergate that I have ever seen.

[@HadesFist]

Thank you for the in-depth research and concise analysis. Best wishes to you and your family. You're a legend.

[@twistedsymphony]

This is one of the most lucid and level headed videos I've seen on the topic; thank you for this.