Trigger warning for Language, Homophobia and Racism and violence in general.
This is by no means a scientific finding. This isn’t even a good sample, but lets background that for bit and look at what is going on in the video. How many times do you hear the word “Bitch” or “Fag” or even more inappropriate terms? These are examples of people at their worst, but what I find of sociological value is the idea that when we are at our most angry the blinders of everyday “polite” behaviour quickly fall to the wayside. What is left is the unvarnished raw core of feeling and emotion that can give some insight into the some of the uglier systemic features of our society.
The idea that being a “fag” or homosexual apparently is one of the worst insults you can direct at another male – why? Because being homosexual equates to un-masculine thus powerless, helpless; a second class citizen in our society (where men are the ideal) you know, like being a woman (the horror). The prevalence of the word “bitch” completes the circle because being a bitch is to be female and subservient; inferior in every way. (There is more to be said, but consider this a start.)
There are tonnes of vulgarity in the video, but unsurprisingly, most of it is gender or race based. One could hypothesize that video-games bring out the worst in us, but I’d rather look at the idea that video games, as a cultural artifact of our patriarchal culture, show exactly how far we still need to go to make our society a safe egalitarian place for everyone, and not just the menz.





9 comments
November 8, 2012 at 11:39 am
syrbal
I think the insults based on a lack of masculinity are the legacy of monotheistic patriarchal religion. Video games merely ensconce in highly visible fashion what damned near everyone is taught from birth….that men rule and if they don’t they aren’t ‘real’ men, and that women are trophies and servants.
I think we won’t see anything approaching equality until we unwire the idea that all that is divine is male.
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November 8, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Reneta Scian
I agree with Syrbal, fully on this matter.
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November 8, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Bedelia Bloodyknuckle
Don’t forget rape threats, fatphobia and lesbophobia.
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November 8, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Bedelia Bloodyknuckle
*after watching video* And they say women are irrational?
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November 8, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Reneta Scian
Anyone who is cultured into believing they are rational without the ability to reflect and make accurate self assessment will be inherently irrational. Rationality is a perpetual, introspective process in which one requires both the competency to make accurate self assessments, and the ability to see where their flaws lie. Anytime a culture acts to convince someone of a falsehood, by perpetuating the “faulty logic” that men are rational, leaders, and the head of all things it serves to undermine their development as people. Male privilege actually makes men incompetent because they can not make reasonable and accurate assessments of their own skills, talents, abilities and shortfalls outside of sexist conditioning. Competent people understand just how irrational they are and reflect on and test themselves, and are actually competent and rational as a result.
Competency and rationality is something that must be honed, and is not granted on the basis of any one passive trait, especially not one’s gender or race. The sooner society realizes this, as well as the men who have male privilege the better. Gender constructs, in this case, play a huge role in the behavior of men, especially in an instance like this of their bad behavior. When someone is made to believe that they are right or that they have innate talents where no such talent exists, or are institutionally privileged via a passive trait, then that belief sabotages their ability to learn and reflect, and therefore become competent. Male privilege is a profound handicap for the potential of all men, and the bane of all women. As long as we uphold gender constructs this sort said phenomenon will flourish.
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November 8, 2012 at 10:59 pm
The Arbourist
@Bedelia
The best part is, that people tend to take their word for it. *sigh*
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November 9, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Bedelia Bloodyknuckle
Yeah…………I mean, when that one dude was basically screeching at the fact he lost I was like “Dude, calm down. It’s just a game.”
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November 10, 2012 at 4:56 am
bleatmop
Anon is Anon and Anon will do as Anon does.
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November 10, 2012 at 9:40 am
The Arbourist
@Reneta
Absolutely Reneta, Patriarchy hurts men too.
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