"Gamer Identity Is Dead" And Stuff ~ August of Terror
Sept 2, 2014 13:19:03 GMT -5
eaglescout, sevach, and 6 more like this
Post by baronfang on Sept 2, 2014 13:19:03 GMT -5
Setting aside the condemnation of threats and harassment which any sane person would agree is inappropriate, I'm getting a bit tired of the calls for "everyone to just get along" coming from the likes of the Erik Kains and others that are trying to walk safely down the middle of this issue.
Because some posters/commenters/gamers/morons are being anti-social and vile, doesn't make it any less disgusting to see the state of gaming media and their overly chummy relationship with the industry they are supposed to be covering. The existence of the former does not invalidate the unacceptability of the latter. These pleas for calm are coming a bit too close to "please everyone just quiet down about this issue so it goes away" for my comfort. I'm all for the journalists, PR flaks and editors involved having their feet held to the fire for a bit longer, thank you.
Whether the original issue that set off this firestorm deserved to be talked about or not is now in the rear-view mirror. People ARE talking about gaming journalists now and its a subject worth being discussed. Do I believe there is some shadowy conspiracy going on like the smart-asses in the gaming press with their "nobody told me" comments seem to think their critics are implying? NO. I think a better description of the state of affairs is an atmosphere: an atmosphere in which individual or connected cases of malfeasance are able to thrive without checks and balances to prevent them. That there is no sinister, Chernabog-like hand of evil guiding the proceedings matters not one bit. "Conspiracy" is just a clever tag to try and make the accusations sound more crazy and easier to dismiss.
We're not complete idiots. We understand that there is an element of promotion and access to information and a symbiotic (barf) relationship between the industry and the press - its never going to reach the paradigm of perfect impartiality or objectivity that detractors seem to think we are looking for. But howsabout some steps in the right direction? Stop blurring the lines between commentary and reporting. Stop failing to disclose relationships that are clear conflicts of interest. Stop explaining away inappropriate relationships as "only natural because we share the same interests" and acting like journalistic integrity is something that can't apply in gaming. And stop talking down to your audience for fuck's sake! The ability to string a sentence together does not make you superior, or beyond reproach.
Because some posters/commenters/gamers/morons are being anti-social and vile, doesn't make it any less disgusting to see the state of gaming media and their overly chummy relationship with the industry they are supposed to be covering. The existence of the former does not invalidate the unacceptability of the latter. These pleas for calm are coming a bit too close to "please everyone just quiet down about this issue so it goes away" for my comfort. I'm all for the journalists, PR flaks and editors involved having their feet held to the fire for a bit longer, thank you.
Whether the original issue that set off this firestorm deserved to be talked about or not is now in the rear-view mirror. People ARE talking about gaming journalists now and its a subject worth being discussed. Do I believe there is some shadowy conspiracy going on like the smart-asses in the gaming press with their "nobody told me" comments seem to think their critics are implying? NO. I think a better description of the state of affairs is an atmosphere: an atmosphere in which individual or connected cases of malfeasance are able to thrive without checks and balances to prevent them. That there is no sinister, Chernabog-like hand of evil guiding the proceedings matters not one bit. "Conspiracy" is just a clever tag to try and make the accusations sound more crazy and easier to dismiss.
We're not complete idiots. We understand that there is an element of promotion and access to information and a symbiotic (barf) relationship between the industry and the press - its never going to reach the paradigm of perfect impartiality or objectivity that detractors seem to think we are looking for. But howsabout some steps in the right direction? Stop blurring the lines between commentary and reporting. Stop failing to disclose relationships that are clear conflicts of interest. Stop explaining away inappropriate relationships as "only natural because we share the same interests" and acting like journalistic integrity is something that can't apply in gaming. And stop talking down to your audience for fuck's sake! The ability to string a sentence together does not make you superior, or beyond reproach.