Microsoft has made a small but vitally important step forward in improving the overall tone of the online chat and gaming banter within its Xbox Live community
If you have ever played against strangers on Xbox Live then you have most likely been exposed to a whole array of homophobic insults, regularly blasted out by frustrated teens on the gaming service.
And while it is difficult for Microsoft – and its millions of gaming customers on Live – to effectively police the service to weed out this widespread homophobia, the fact that the company has now announced a change to its Code of Conduct for the service, whereby you can describe your sexual orientation as gay, straight, bi, lesbian or transgender - is a major step in the right direction towards trying to inform and educate the many ignorant gamers out there.
Improve the tone
"Under our previous policy, some of these expressions of self-identification were not allowed in Gamertags or profiles to prevent the use of these terms as insults or slurs," Xbox Live General Manager Marc Whitten wrote on the Xbox press blog.
"However we have since heard feedback from our customers that while the spirit of this approach was genuine, it inadvertently excluded a part of our Xbox LIVE community. This update also comes hand-in-hand with increased stringency and enforcement to prevent the misuse of these terms."
"Other terms regarding relationship orientation are not allowed. In addition you may not use these terms or any other terms regarding relationship orientation to insult, harass, or any other pejorative use against other users," the document adds.
"I truly believe that our diversity is what makes us strong: diversity in gaming and entertainment options, and diversity in the people that make up this amazing community. I look forward to seeing you on LIVE soon," Whitten said.
So the next time some 14-year old Texan kid abuses you with a torrent of homophobic nonsense, remember to take a note of his gamertag and let Microsoft know about the incident.
Via Ars Technica
Your comments (40) Click to add a new comment
northcircular
March 21st 2010
40. @quantumfluxx - that's very funny! :)
I'm straight, and also a clinical psychologist, and I'd say that most studies would show that it's those people who were most "bothered" about sexuality (whatever it is) are those with the most issues about their own sexuality. One thing that always dismays me is the fact that identifying with a particular sexuality now seems to be associated not with being attracted to a particular person, but to hating the sexual practices of another. It's good to hear that some people don't think like this, and that (most) people agree that being straight or g ay doesn't have to include hate at all!
love you g uys...
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quantumfluxx
March 14th 2010
39. It's about damned time, I'm so sick of hearing/seeing "the other 'F' word" everywhere I look. It's tossed around like a bloody pronoun.
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bubbahotepuk
March 9th 2010
38. I just want to know why simplesimon spends so much time thinking about g ay men having sex.
Under a polygraph I may go 'eeugh' watching man on man, but I pretty much thought the same thing about the heterosexual act until I started doing it myself.
I also go 'eeugh' thinking about how animals are slaughtered for meat, but it doesn't mean I'm vegetarian, and doesn't mean carnivores should be banned from Xbox Live.
All I'm saying these responses are learned, and can be unlearned or just ignored if required. They are nothing to do with the rights of individuals to be free from abuse by bigots.
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nicolasmerritt
March 9th 2010
37. @ lgbloguk
Not intentional connotations. Just one of those swear filter defaults we weren't aware of. We're working out how to fix it (and reviewing the list to see what other gems might be in there).
Nick,
Editor in chief
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lgbloguk
March 8th 2010
36. I think the simple fact that the word *** cannot be used on the forum here is proof of the negative connotations that come with calling someone ***. Good work Microsoft for taking a step to educating the masses of uneducated bigots out there. As a straight male the thought of 2 men having sex does not repulse me, simply it does not appeal to me in the same way women do.
Now all that's needed is for microsoft to find a way to stop every 12 year old who i beat at pro evo soccer sending me hateful messages if i win, as winning at pro-evo is obviously the most important thing in their life.
Also i want to say how disappointed i am by the response of some members on this particular thread. Stop worrying about other people, worry about your own hate filled lives!
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sanderton
March 8th 2010
35. Our default swear filter catching "***" is a trifle embarrassing; we'll fix.
This can be a topic where feelings run high. Please don't get personal with the comments.
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tetrarch
March 8th 2010
34. "If there was a way of testing this, I would bet the ranch that you could not. You are just fooling yourself, because you have been conditioned to think that "homophobia" is "bigoted"."
Nice I'm getting a ranch. Again back up your bigotry with some facts and you might get some support on your stance but as it stands you're basing your entire argument on how you feel personally and when someone, like myself, tells you that they are 100% comfortable with two men engaging in sexual activity and have no aversion to it what so ever you can't wrap your hate filled mind around it. I have not been conditioned to think that homophobia is bigoted, I know that it is. There is no rational reason to feel the way that you clearly do about an entire group of people. You may want what you say to be true so that you can take comfort in the idea that you aren't the only one who feels that way and sadly you aren't, but to say that every straight man is as closed minded as you is just ridiculous.
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jdjake
March 8th 2010
33. Alright you guys. You're both wrong. I bet most men do fell uncomfortable talking about *** people, but just because that happens, it doesn't mean that we should discriminate against them. Just ignore that they're *** and just talk to them If they were heterosexual.
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beary
March 8th 2010
32. @ipod_sock and MS will ban you and you wont be missed. Bye
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ipod_sock
March 7th 2010
31. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY, I'll call whomever I want, what I want... ffs!
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beary
March 7th 2010
30. @simplesimon Again terribly sorry that your condition hasn't improved any. The hate really burns inside you and it must be incredibly hard for you to enjoy a normal life when all you can think of is men having sex with men.
I just wanted to point out a "simplesimon" truth, no one has joined this discussion to agree with your opinions and those who disagree with you have been discribed as "delusional" by your goodself. Does this not strike you as unusual? Or just a statistical anomaly?
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windymiller
March 7th 2010
29. @ simplystupid
Wow, the hate just streams from you, doesnt it? Normal men? Thats not what you are is it? You just keep digging that hole, it suits you.
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simplesimon
March 7th 2010
28. @lovlid
Your post #9 does not say explicitly whether you are straight. I only ask because if you're not, you can't really know what normal men think, and if you are, I was challenging you to deny my point, that being that straight men are disgusted by male - male sex.
Others have challenged this point, and shotgunben links to a study showing that "homophobia is a sign of internal homosexual feelings".
I just don't believe it. It's part of the same ploy. If straight men are told by dudes wearing white labcoats that aversion to f ags is a sign of being homosexual, they may suppress their aversion, due to the intensity of their aversion.
It is just a lie to close down debate.
You don't need a bogus science study. Just ask your grandpa.
@tetrarch
"I could succesfully pass a polygraph saying that 2 men having sex does not bother me in the slighteset."
If there was a way of testing this, I would bet the ranch that you could not. You are just fooling yourself, because you have been conditioned to think that "homophobia" is "bigoted".
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windymiller
March 7th 2010
27. Has simple become splinta?????
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splinta
March 7th 2010
26. @shotgunben
I read your little PDF. And the paper did not conclude that homophobia is linked to latent homosexual behavior or as the paper put it
that individuals who score
in the homophobic range and admit negative affect toward **-
mosexuality demonstrate significant sexual arousal to male **
mosexual erotic stimuli.
It left it open to further research. saying that:
It is possible that viewing homosex-
ual stimuli causes negative emotions such as anxiety in ****-
phobic men...Because anxiety
has been shown to enhance arousal and erection, this theory
would predict increases in erection in homophobic men.
So in all its not final! homophobes are not secretly ***..comon...
/end
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xgear
March 7th 2010
25. This may be more directed to TechRadar (and other popular thread sites) but I do not understand why lesbian, transgender, bi-sexual do not get blocked out but the word *** does. It is not a swear word and should not be clumped in with the are.
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shotgunben
March 7th 2010
24. @simplesimon
Actually, hate to break it to you but there have been studies done that show the exact opposite of what you claim. Several studies have shown that homophobia is a sign of internal homosexual feelings and that when shown *** porn, only homophobic men exhibit arousal.
Need proof? http://tinyurl.com/yet26xf
(PDF btw)
Sorry buddy! But maybe next time you should back up yer argument with facts.
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philbond
March 7th 2010
23. Unfailingly, the jerk who tries to personalize a debate is the phobic bigot. It's called McCarthyism, and it's back in fashion.
Address the topic, simplesimon. Don't try to invalidate your opponent over their identity, or what you accuse their identity to be.
Now, if someone volunteers their personal details, that's different. For instance, I'm straight, but I think *** dudes are awesome. Let them **** all the butts they want. It's no grosser than the idea that your parents have sex. Are you gonna take away your parents' right to hump?
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tetrarch
March 7th 2010
22. @simplesimon
Where are your facts backing up your claims. Do you have studies showing that 100% of a diverse sampling of straight men are sickened by all male sex? Stop speaking for all straight men until you do. I for one am "straight", I am in a long term relationship and I could succesfully pass a polygraph saying that 2 men having sex does not bother me in the slighteset. Your comments are biggoted and out dated with no facts to back them up.
Oh and to put the icing on the cake I'm also from Texas- not all of us are ignorant rednecks.
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