Comments on: Microsoft: 'It's hard to police Xbox homophobia'

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:53:19 +0000

Firstly, and i think it's important – Teresa was not banned because she had anything in her gamertag that would be seen as offensive or like mentioned by Mr Toulouse homophobic.

Teresa who had mentioned in her profile that she was a lesbian, a profile is something to say about yourself and saying that your a lesbian is no different from saying that you are married with two kids.

Next, Teresa was not banned because she had this written in her profile, she was banned because a large number reported her profile because they themselves did not like the fact she was a lesbian and was comfortable with herself.

The xbox team then investigated the reported profile as it had a good number of inappropriate flags from users – of which the majority probably are 13 yr old boys who could not stand getting "pwned" by a lesbian and got all their friends to report the profile also.

So it was investigated by the xbox team and they banned her because they said other people (the network of homophobic gamers who reported her) found her profile offensive.

The story is that her profile was not offensive at all and has nothing to do with writing Gay in any gamertag, it was about writing a little bit about herself that shows people a bit about herself.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Andrew Q

Andrew Q — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:11:21 +0000

I don't have an xbox, are you guys saying other games can get away with it even if they are reported?

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Galeex

Galeex — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:59:13 +0000

i agree that you don't have to put your sexuality on your gamer tag. What i was saying was that xbox live and the gaming community in general is rife with homophobia.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Charlene

Charlene — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:41:09 +0000

Sexuality shouldn't come into gamertags definately. But the use of the N-Word is not tolerated & I believe you can be 'thrown off' xbox live as a result. Homophobia on the other hand – is allowed.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Har Davids

Har Davids — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:03:12 +0000

I guess it's just like the N-word; some people seem to be allowed to use it, others not. You can't expect a company to police a system on homophobia!! It's a reality and if you don't know people, maybe it's better not to mention it. I know it sucks, but there seems to be no other way.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Niki

Niki — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:52:58 +0000

Why should MicroSoft have to police anything? They have a product that is neutral. Why shoudl people intoduce sexuality into it?

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Andrew Q

Andrew Q — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:49:52 +0000

Do we really need to say we are gay in a game? Do people say i'm Jewish or black? Is it important?

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Galeex

Galeex — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:49:49 +0000

hard to police it! its absoulutley everywhere on xbox live how can you miss it.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Charlene

Charlene — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:14:51 +0000

How disapointing – I am a keen xbox gamer & have stayed offline for this very reason. Xbox is too lazy to police homophobia thus sending the wrong message to millions of teenagers.

(Report comment to the moderator)