As a frequent gamer, I've heard some things come out of peoples mouths that just plain shouldn't be said. There are lots of people out there that are flat out rude, racist, sexist, ect. and are not afraid to share their views with any and every other gamer out there.
Is internet game bullying something that should be taken into consideration for regulation?
Why are people inclined to say such harsh things to one another?
These are some of the questions I will be answering tomorrow during my presentation on Gamer Bullying.
Here is a little clip of xbox bullying I found on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUE8yDbDbsI&feature=related
This excerpt and the clip on bullying through video games reminds me of the Breakup with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn when Vaughn talks endless trash to a little kid over the internet about how bad the kid is at the game. It makes me laugh in the movies, but it is a serious problem that could cause some harm potentially.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I think it is easier to be mean over the internet. Without face to face interaction, people are more "daring" with regard to communication because the are separated from the conversation. We hide behind IM, Facebook, Email, etc. to have crucial conversations because we have forgotten how to have in person. It's a bit ridiculous when you think of how timid and fake we can become when we are with people, but as soon as we are behind a computer screen we have all the courage in the world to speak our minds. Don't forget, we all do it.
ReplyDeleteOn the net, I would say that there's a general low level nastiness, many people who consider it "not real" and thus take delight in spewing out some of the most offensive stuff known to humans. Intentionally, no less. (The internet is for atheists, for it holds nothing sacred) But the odd thing is, few of those people actually mean exactly what they are saying. Trolling , trying to start a flamewar ....all of this is, while not generally encouraged nor acceptable, is common and a generally accepted occurrence on the net. It's not something shocking, as equivalent words or actions in real life would be.
ReplyDeleteGaming bullying, however, goes beyond that. Hacking someone's account, intentionally damaging their character, actions taken in game to target a specific end-user persistently and maliciously hinder their progress and standing within the game.
In most games, it is dangerous to be a new user, or "noob", because this makes you a target. Without the knowledge to separate fact from fiction and lacking in the power and social network to protect themselves, they wander around like bright white sheep dotting an open green field, easy prey for the bored dragons flying about overhead.
This targeting of noobs is the equivalent of hazing, and is almost entirely accepted, just as hazing was in times past.