Game Journalism - Unfit for purpose?

[HellKnightX88]

Wow... I'm sorry but Chloe should have been up front about that. Lying to people about something like this isn't acceptable. Allistar did the right thing, as a journalist sometimes you have to report on stuff that might make you uncomfortable, but it's your job to do it. Destructoid trying to cover that shit up is just wrong.


Here's an article in support of Gamergate: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2014/10/17/Supporting-GamerGate-Does-Not-Make-You-a-Bully

 

[Unkindled]

Wow that really sucks. Can't say I'd give money for someone's sex change operation, but I know there'd be tons of people who would. He had no reason to lie unless he just didn't want people to know he was transsexual and wasn't really a woman. Which still is not an excuse. I agree, what Cloe did was screwed. I'd want my money back, personally.

 

[grregg]

I'm not sure whether I would disagree with Destructoid here. It was a scam, but outing a person is a tough call to make. Especially so for a gaming website, people who want to cover life-and-death stuff probably write for New York Times not Destructoid.

 

[sidspyker]

I still haven't read the article(call me lazy) but Dtoid has had it's own fair share of terrible stuff they've done, I can't recall how many years ago but they fired multiple prominent employees over some coverage, come to think of it I can't recall any of the details other than that it made me ignore them completely from then.

 

[Veleda.980]

Apparently this is big, I haven't read it myself as of yet
http://blogjob.com/oneangrygamer/2014/10/gamergate-destructoid-corruption-and-ruined-careers/

Ugh, these are terrible people with egos out of all proportion to their actual value to humanity. The only good outcome of all this is if some of them are humbled.

 

[Unkindled]

I'm not sure whether I would disagree with Destructoid here. It was a scam, but outing a person is a tough call to make. Especially so for a gaming website, people who want to cover life-and-death stuff probably write for New York Times not Destructoid.

I think when people are being scammed, you should absolutely expose a person. I bet he felt betrayed himself, because he supported her and befriended her, and then she dropped that burden and bombshell on him. I'd be very very pissed if I gave my personal support, putting my reputation on the line for you, only to find out I'd become a part of something so dishonest and morally bankrupt without even knowing it.

And then, I wouldn't have even known that I was putting my rep on the line, because I thought it was a good cause. Those LGBT people giving him crap for coming out are being rather ironic, since in a way they're victim blaming. He was made a part of something without his even knowing, given a burden, and then when he comes out to tell the world the truth, they don't jump on the person that scammed everyone, they jump on the guy that told the truth? Just because Cloe felt bad? I mean, I get that she attempted suicide over this and wanted it really badly, but dishonesty and scamming is dishonesty and scamming.

 

[Garrison72]

Yeah, this isn't something we should encourage (violence). Pen is mightier than the sword and all that...

In other news GG managed to raise almost 10k for an association that fights bullying: https://www.crowdrise.com/gamergatestompsoutbullying/

What did anti-GG folk do? Bitch about us.

That's amazing. I'd like to see the raging anti GG people try to be so generous. I might drop $20 for this.

 

[Unkindled]

That's amazing. I'd like to see the raging anti GG people try to be so generous. I might drop $20 for this.

They can't. They're still broke from giving Anita everything but their left testicle.

 

[grregg]

@Unkindled

As far as I could tell it's not like he was blindsided with the whole thing. He found out the scam, he told Destructoid about it, Destructoid decided not to publish. It's a call that one might disagree with, but disagreeing with your company's decision publicly on Twitter will have fairly obvious and predictable consequences. Even if said disagreement does not happen to out a transgender person.

 

[Unkindled]

@Unkindled

As far as I could tell it's not like he was blindsided with the whole thing. He found out the scam, he told Destructoid about it, Destructoid decided not to publish. It's a call that one might disagree with, but disagreeing with your company's decision publicly on Twitter will have fairly obvious and predictable consequences. Even if said disagreement does not happen to out a transgender person.

Yea I'm starting to see that as I read it from different sources. The narrative is different. As usual, lol, so I don't know if he found out after he already told people they should donate, or if he knew before then. I'd say he himself still made the right call regardless, but he should also be prepared to deal with the consequences of those actions.

I personally am glad that he did it. I suppose the people he works for could have wanted to handle it in a way that didn't make them look as bad, but I don't know if I'd have trusted them to handle it well. Especially with them not being straightforward with his firing, saying he was just "suspended" even though the email showed he was indeed fired.

Only thing I know for certain is I'm glad the truth indeed came out.

 

[soldiergeralt]

the fact that they didn't want to publish something because it might "hurt feelings" is what's wrong with the game journalism. a scam should be exposed, period. to hell with anyone's "feelings".

from destructoid internal dialog, it's clear their fear of the social justice warriors was the primary motivation. the morality issue is fake, as usual. to the people with journalism degrees on that website, there was no "tough call".

people seeing this as "life and death" might be ascribing more importance to the feelings of some mentally ill hypocrite than it's worth.

 

[Unkindled]

the fact that they didn't want to publish something because it might "hurt feelings" is what's wrong with the game journalism. a scam should be exposed, period. to hell with anyone's "feelings".

from destructoid internal dialog, it's clear their fear of the social justice warriors was the primary motivation. the morality issue is fake, as usual. to the people with journalism degrees on that website, there was no "tough call".

people seeing this as "life and death" might be ascribing more importance to the feelings of some mentally ill hypocrite than it's worth.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Garrison72]

So the Utah police kinda got shafted by this. Also, Allistair's take on his circumstances.

http://pastebin.com/nnR5gqdX

 

[Veleda.980]

@Unkindled

As far as I could tell it's not like he was blindsided with the whole thing. He found out the scam, he told Destructoid about it, Destructoid decided not to publish. It's a call that one might disagree with, but disagreeing with your company's decision publicly on Twitter will have fairly obvious and predictable consequences. Even if said disagreement does not happen to out a transgender person.

Chloe had already outed herself in a different forum, and the Destructoid editors went beyond suspending and then firing him, they tried to blacklist him through GameJournoPros. I'm sorry, the sleaze is all on one side here. People deserved to know why the IndieGoGo campaign was taken down, lest Chloe try again to defraud people in a different venue.

It all goes to the larger point that journalists can't be trusted to present the truth when it involves either their cronies or certain sacred cows.

A Rolling Stone article today on Anita Sarkeesian predictably lathers her with softball questions. Will no one ever ask her about the video where she's saying she doesn't like video games and doesn't know anything about them? Wouldn't expect it from RS, of course. They've been full on SJW for a long time, and Sean Collins especially.

 

[grregg]

the fact that they didn't want to publish something because it might "hurt feelings" is what's wrong with the game journalism. a scam should be exposed, period. to hell with anyone's "feelings".

from destructoid internal dialog, it's clear their fear of the social justice warriors was the primary motivation. the morality issue is fake, as usual. to the people with journalism degrees on that website, there was no "tough call".

people seeing this as "life and death" might be ascribing more importance to the feelings of some mentally ill hypocrite than it's worth.

Transgendered person = mentally ill? Honestly, not sure what I can say here. If I misunderstood, please rephrase.

As for the rest, disclosure of private information should always be considered carefully since it's likely to do harm. As I said, one can reasonably disagree with Destructoid's decision and believe that the public good gained outweighed the harm. But even if the matter was referred to the police and courts (was it?), the scammer's identity would probably be (somewhat) protected. Blasting it out on Twitter does not sounds to me like a reasonable course of action.

If a journalist disagrees with the publication's decision whether to pursue/suppress a story, the journalist should walk and take the story to someone who's interested. I'm sure that some form of partial disclosure that would afford some protection could be worked out. Running to Twitter? What the hell was he thinking?

On the other hand, Destructoid's handling of the matter was far from professional either. Even if the matter was public and I think everybody expected some consequences to happen, discussing an internal HR matter with outsiders is a major no-no. I'm sure a company lawyer explained it to them afterwards.

 

[Unkindled]

So the Utah police kinda got shafted by this.

I remember this guy saying he was done covering Anita sarkeesian, lol. Glad that wasn't the case. That was funny. All the irony, I love it.

 

[Unkindled]

Transgendered person = mentally ill? Honestly, not sure what I can say here. If I misunderstood, please rephrase.

Well, by the very definition of what a transgender person is, it's not that far of a stretch is it? They have problems with dealing with their sex, and it is rooted in a mental issue. Of course that alone isnt enough to call them ill.

BUT, this woman (man) scammed so many people out of their money, then almost killed himself when the whole thing fell apart. Yeah, I'd say that this particular person is mentally ill.

I see no reason for them to rephrase it. To be really honest.

As for The rest, whether it was Twitter or another source, what does it really matter? As long as the story gets out.

 

[Veleda.980]

Transgendered person = mentally ill? Honestly, not sure what I can say here. If I misunderstood, please rephrase.

As for the rest, disclosure of private information should always be considered carefully since it's likely to do harm. As I said, one can reasonably disagree with Destructoid's decision and believe that the public good gained outweighed the harm. But even if the matter was referred to the police and courts (was it?), the scammer's identity would probably be (somewhat) protected. Blasting it out on Twitter does not sounds to me like a reasonable course of action.

The day she tried to use a public crowdfunding campaign to fund her re-assignment surgery on false pretenses, the matter ceased to become private.

I remember this when it was happening, because the Eurogamer article on her Indiegogo kept updating with "why is it taken down?" "what's going on here?" but besides them, no one was talking about it. The silence now looks very suspicious. This was collusion of game journalists not to cover a story because it involved a trans person caught doing something wrong. Compare that to how they treated Brad Wardell.

 

[Aes Sídhe]

Fact: All Professions close ranks to scandal that could cast mud on the integrity of the wider profession, this should be self evident.
Fact: People tend to sympathise easiest with those whom they share association.
Fact: People are Lazy.

Whistles have to be blown sometimes, I imagine even conscientious people have difficulty whistleblowing, and doing it right, even knowing what is right in the grander scheme. Tough choice to make, against your livelihood. As we speak I suspect the mainstream media outlets who are regurgitating the misogynist myth are doing so because they don't really have a clue, are just transmitting twitter, because its easy, theres ambiguous scandal, and everyone else is doing the same, safety in numbers.

The headline for the BBC article on this actually made me hopeful when I saw it: "Twitter and the poisoning of online debate", unfortunately the article swiftly puked up the usual, but i can't shake the idea twitter is core to all of this, and as a non-twitterererer it's really kind of surreal.

 

[Unkindled]

@Aes Sídhe
I honestly can't stand twitter, don't get twitter, and wouldn't miss it if twitter died, lol. My life's not interesting enough to post updates about, and I doubt the majority of individuals' lives are either. It's just sending messages into a void, for what purpose, I don't know.

Only reason I visit it is it's a fast way to get news, and that goes for gamergate news as well. I've met some cool individuals there though and they're rather talkative. Before GG, I've barely ever gotten direct messages there. Besides that, the 140 characters thing is asinine, and the very nature of it encourages people to spout talking points, true or not. Usually not.

Twitter is indeed a toxic environment. You can't have any sort of decent debate there. But one can't deny how effective it is for spreading news like this controversy and all this gamergate stuff. But a better example of a double edged sword, I have not seen.