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Microsoft apologizes for banning gay XBL user
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 3 March, 2009
Microsoft has apologized for the banning of an Xbox Live user who self-identified herself as lesbian, even going as far as to call their policies "inelegant."
After the woman revealed her homosexuality in her Xbox Live profile, she was continuously harassed, and Microsoft banned her account, saying many gamers found "her lesbianism offensive."
Microsoft did note that their XBL policy ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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iamgq
Junior Member
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3. March 2009 @ 16:53 |
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$$CHACHING$$
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voltRis
Newbie
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3. March 2009 @ 17:07 |
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The argument is whether or not any lifestyle, preference or anything of that personal nature should be shared in a video game network. Gay, straight, bi, curious, black, white, asian...whatever. Don't profess any sexuality - just game and get on with your life. Reaching out for attention doesn't belong in this venue. And they should apply to everyone.
Absolutely! So let's actively stop talking about wives, husbands, kids, girlfriends, boyfriends.. Anything that identifies your orientation. Practice self-censorship! Avoid conversations that steer into that which other people don't want to hear. Really, do it for a day and see if you like it. LGBT are sure as hell tired of doing it.
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Senior Member
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3. March 2009 @ 17:46 |
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Wow, if we all wish hard enough then everyone in the world will become considerate people who respect others for who or what they are, all wars will be stopped, sickness a thing of the past and everyone will be hunkey-dorey.
It doesn't matter if one should respect anothers lifestyle, the fact is that identifying on a gamer site as a homosexual will be disruptive. You can wish that it wasn't disruptive all you want and that's not going to change it.
MS was trying to stop this kind of thing from happening so they asked their players to not post a sexual preference. It doesn't have anything at all to do with whether homosexuality is acceptable or not, it is about how disruptive it is.
XBL is a private network and if they wanted they could say "No HOMOSEXUALS ALLOWED." but they don't, they have a don't ask, don't tell policy, it was explained in the rules and TOS and this girl chose to ignore it.
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IPRFenix
Junior Member
1 product review
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3. March 2009 @ 18:03 |
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Maybe xbl should start age-verifying new subscriptions with credit card/bank details - that way they could set profiles to adult only...
Well, actually, when XBL first came out, it WAS like that. I've "had" it since day one of it's launch. Originally you bought a "starter pack" (subscription+headset+game) and you entered the info on the card, then you were immediately prompted to enter credit card information. You couldn't bypass it. I ended up not being able to use the service for the entire first week because I didn't yet have a credit card! It was really nice playing launch titles back then. The ONLY voices I EVER encountered while playing were the voices of GROWN MEN. Everyone was MATURE in regards to speech and play habit.
I don't know when they changed it (I only know it was a long ass time ago). But I really miss those days. Nothing but GOOD CLEAN FUN with a group of like minded grown men. It's basically a substitute daycare center for 8-16yr olds now. The high pitch squeaky voices, the constant cheating, team killing, screaming, whining, threats, and insults. So sad.. ='(
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Senior Member
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3. March 2009 @ 18:27 |
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Amazingly there are twenty some odd posts here in this thread and not one person felt the desire to profess a sexual preference and yet, the world continued to revolve.
I keep wondering when it will be safe for us chronic masterbaters to come out of the closet!
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AfterDawn Addict
1 product review
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3. March 2009 @ 18:49 |
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Originally posted by ThePastor:
Amazingly there are twenty some odd posts here in this thread and not one person felt the desire to profess a sexual preference and yet, the world continued to revolve.
I keep wondering when it will be safe for us chronic masterbaters to come out of the closet!
Come out of the closet? What are you talking about? There's no secret, it's a lifestyle...90% of the people do it, and the rest of 10% lie about it.
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EvilDeeds
Junior Member
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3. March 2009 @ 18:58 |
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Well, actually, when XBL first came out, it WAS like that. I've "had" it since day one of it's launch. Originally you bought a "starter pack" (subscription+headset+game) and you entered the info on the card, then you were immediately prompted to enter credit card information. You couldn't bypass it. I ended up not being able to use the service for the entire first week because I didn't yet have a credit card! It was really nice playing launch titles back then. The ONLY voices I EVER encountered while playing were the voices of GROWN MEN. Everyone was MATURE in regards to speech and play habit.
I don't know when they changed it (I only know it was a long ass time ago). But I really miss those days. Nothing but GOOD CLEAN FUN with a group of like minded grown men. It's basically a substitute daycare center for 8-16yr olds now. The high pitch squeaky voices, the constant cheating, team killing, screaming, whining, threats, and insults. So sad.. ='(
Yeah, I remember it being alot nicer early on in the 360 lifecycle, couldn't really do live on my original xbox as I chipped it to put xbmc on there... I've a theory it was alright early on in 360 lifecycle too though because the console was too expensive for kids then... but now it's cheap as chips and any kid has one, Cod2 was last game I played online that had a nice feel to it.. since then gow1/2, cod3/4, halo3, etc, have either people cheating, team killing, screeching down line for fun, and insults... I've actually all but stopped playing ranked matches in anything now, just me and a close circle of friends play private matches.. like left 4 dead and sf4... i couldn't even join sf4 public games because people kick me for not being the person they wanted to fight... guessing that is their way of cheating too.. sigh... at least it was good for a while...
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cousinkix
Inactive
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3. March 2009 @ 21:13 |
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Originally posted by ThePastor:
I keep wondering when it will be safe for us chronic masterbaters to come out of the closet!
Come out of the closet? What are you talking about? There's no secret, it's a lifestyle...90% of the people do it, and the rest of 10% lie about it.
How ironic thay you would mention this. I was listening to the police radio a few hours ago. They caught somebody whacking off in his car down by the beach. A few people drove by and reported this exhibitionist...
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 3. March 2009 @ 21:15
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Senior Member
4 product reviews
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3. March 2009 @ 22:08 |
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Id ban the lesbian to, after all what we don't know wont kill us.
Its in the XBL CoC 7th paragraph.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/legal/codeofconduct.htm
i have a few gay friends, doesn't mean they run around saying hey i'm gay are you.
whatever floats there boat, is there problem.
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newmanae
Newbie
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3. March 2009 @ 22:09 |
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"I don't know when they changed it (I only know it was a long ass time ago). But I really miss those days. Nothing but GOOD CLEAN FUN with a group of like minded grown men. It's basically a substitute daycare center for 8-16yr olds now. The high pitch squeaky voices, the constant cheating, team killing, screaming, whining, threats, and insults. So sad.. ='("
Are you talking about XBox in particular or the internet as a whole?
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DoomLight
Junior Member
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3. March 2009 @ 23:09 |
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people should really keep their status or orientation to themselves. unless u sound like a flaming blank blank blank.... than just keep ur info quiet.
people play on xbox for fun. not to learn that ur a proud homosexual.
gawd.
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Senior Member
3 product reviews
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4. March 2009 @ 00:00 |
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Originally posted by chubbyInc:
Keep the policy.
Xbox needs to draw the line somewhere and with the amount of young gamers I think it's good you can't post sexual preference keep the console for gaming, there are enough dating sites/places already.
Agreed. There have been users I had randomly met over the years who wanted all sorts of "clubs"...bestiality, sadism, even child pron. If there ever was a "proper" place for any of those things..WoW and/or XboxLive was NOT it. That is what Usenet is for. Anyway, Live and WoW are both flooded with 13 year olds. They don't need any "lifestyles" shoved in their face at such a young age.
In my experience it's usually the 13-16 group that trash talk, scream racial/homophobic abuse and just generally need a slapping in most games... some of the stuff they come out with would make a sailor blush!! I blame the parents really... I have to put up with parents calling for banning of violent games, because some 13 year old on an 18+ game online who's parent's seem incapable of realising that the latest copy of NaziDoomKillerRapeVictimSquad4:TakingHitlerUpTheBumPineappleStyle was not suitable for little Freddie... Maybe xbl should start age-verifying new subscriptions with credit card/bank details - that way they could set profiles to adult only...
I agree, but in the end they're only going to do what makes them the most money, and telling people that they cant buy certain games or cant use an xbl account for games is going to hurt them financially and that's all they care about regardless of the gaming community as a whole.
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xnonsuchx
Senior Member
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4. March 2009 @ 03:10 |
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Originally posted by DoomLight:
people should really keep their status or orientation to themselves. unless u sound like a flaming blank blank blank.... than just keep ur info quiet.
people play on xbox for fun. not to learn that ur a proud homosexual.
gawd.
So you agree anyone who even says something like, "Well, I gotta go have dinner with my girlfriend!" should be banned from XBL?
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Senior Member
4 product reviews
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4. March 2009 @ 10:19 |
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Originally posted by DoomLight:
people should really keep their status or orientation to themselves. unless u sound like a flaming blank blank blank.... than just keep ur info quiet.
people play on xbox for fun. not to learn that ur a proud homosexual.
gawd.
So you agree anyone who even says something like, "Well, I gotta go have dinner with my girlfriend!" should be banned from XBL?
WTF,man no. you should be banned if you say well i got to go bang my girlfriend.
where not getting the full story here anyway.people just don't file a complaint because your a lesbo so she must have used it in a sexual form.
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pieman
Senior Member
2 product reviews
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4. March 2009 @ 12:55 |
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What is it with people who are gay needing to announce to the world of thier sexual preferance?I dont give a monkeys who/what/where they copulate, and it does nothing for society's tolerance.They should shut the f^%k up and get a life.I dont announce myself as straight at every available opportunity.She should get a caning for bieng such a tw%t.
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avoidz
Junior Member
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5. March 2009 @ 06:50 |
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Her gamer tag should be 'cunnilingus'.
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Wild9
Junior Member
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5. March 2009 @ 10:25 |
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Bottom line is that this is what gay people have to deal with every day.
This is what anyone would have to put up with, should they wish to express views of a sexual nature.
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Strangers flipping out over what she does with her life is of no concern to her, and should be of no consequence as well.
What she does in her own space is her business. When she broadcasts it on a public gaming site it automatically becomes other people's business. It should be her concern considering the age groups in question.
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Keep telling minorities that they have no place being themselves in the places you frequent. Maybe someday it'll actually work.
Hold your horses. That's not the view expressed to her, or anyone. If a user name or the views of that user are of an overtly sexual nature then the same rules apply regardless of their minority status.
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Wild9
Junior Member
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5. March 2009 @ 10:32 |
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glazenuts
Junior Member
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5. March 2009 @ 10:57 |
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Sexual anything has no place on a gaming site period!
Stupid Bitch...
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mazaar
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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5. March 2009 @ 11:17 |
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Originally posted by xnonsuchx:
Would "Halo3TeabagKing" be an acceptable gamertag? ;-)
The problem with some of these policies is that they often have double-standards. I believe XBL and PSN's policies also say users of the service should be at least 18yo, so there should be no need to 'protect children' (which I believe IS a good thing in other circumstances).
This 'policy' would supposedly also not allow anyone to even make ANY reference to their "girlfriend/boyfriend" or even "wife/husband" -- I seriously doubt THAT hasn't been commonplace and goes by w/o a mention or warning from administrators of the service. The policy should be more about punishing users for general rudeness or maliciously attacking other users. If someone online is gay, doesn't have a rude nickname, but casually mentions having a girlfriend/boyfriend (apparently of the same sex), it should be no big deal to anyone (with a decent head on their shoulders). If someone's THROWING intimate details of their personal life 'unwelcomedly' at people, however, that is rude behavior and deserves at least a warning to quit that behavior.
I still think users getting away w/ malicious attacks on others is a FAR bigger problem. If you can't be respectful of others in a (virtual) society, perhaps you should not be in it.
i take it you are gay ?
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Magine
Newbie
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5. March 2009 @ 13:21 |
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Originally posted by ThePastor:
It doesn't matter if one should respect anothers lifestyle, the fact is that identifying on a gamer site as a homosexual will be disruptive. You can wish that it wasn't disruptive all you want and that's not going to change it. ... XBL is a private network and if they wanted they could say "No HOMOSEXUALS ALLOWED." but they don't, they have a don't ask, don't tell policy, it was explained in the rules and TOS and this girl chose to ignore it.
Yeah, just like in the old South, a business could post WHITES ONLY if they wanted. :P Those were the rules, and people had to respect them. Gag.
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Senior Member
13 product reviews
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5. March 2009 @ 14:13 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by ThePastor:
It doesn't matter if one should respect anothers lifestyle, the fact is that identifying on a gamer site as a homosexual will be disruptive. You can wish that it wasn't disruptive all you want and that's not going to change it. ... XBL is a private network and if they wanted they could say "No HOMOSEXUALS ALLOWED." but they don't, they have a don't ask, don't tell policy, it was explained in the rules and TOS and this girl chose to ignore it.
Yeah, just like in the old South, a business could post WHITES ONLY if they wanted. :P Those were the rules, and people had to respect them. Gag.
Wow, did you really just go there? That level of racism is nowhere near how homophobes in society affect gay people. And, secondly, they aren't banning people because they are gay, they don't run a Google search on the name listed on the credit card you pay for the Live subscription with and go "Oh, it's another God-damned queer! Boot 'em!" They ban people for ADVERTISING their sexual preference in their gamercard bio.
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varnull
Suspended permanently
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5. March 2009 @ 14:40 |
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I honestly don't see what this problem is about in the first place. Why should expressing your sexual preference be against any rules in the first place?.. don't give me the "protect children" rubbish.. because children are supposed to recieve education in these matters from the age of about 11 anyway. Anybody with kids of school age.. I dare you.. go ask them what a lesbian is.. and I'm sure they will happily educate you with what they have learned in school. The "protect our children" angle is BS.. and we all know it.. hiding the world and reality from children is a crime against those very same children.. It's easy enough to explain to an interested child what a lesbian is..
Mow as to the M$ angle.. they apologised.. obviously somebody in their HR department pointed out the employment laws they operate under where it is illegal to discriminate against any person on grounds of race gender or sexual preference. It still happens and is still rife, but that doesn't make it any less illegal to do. As a business and an employer they are not allowed to discriminate.. at most all they should have done was ask the user politely to remove the part in their profile.. and if the user failed to comply to remove it for them and leave them a message stating why it had been edited.
Sadly for some of the posters across the internet.. they seem to be unaware that being open about your sexual preferences is completely allowed and legal. It's a matter of personal choice how much you decide to tell anybody. No laws are being broken by providing information to others... but banning that choice is very likely breaking some laws somewhere... you say black lesbian.. or gay./. or bi.. banned.. where white middle class straight hetero.. would most likely be ignored.. so there is discrimination on grounds of sexual preference.
The fact it is in the rules shows that the discrimination exists, at least in the minds of the rule authors.. otherwise they would not have even thought of applying them in this matter.. case proven.
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ericg8
Suspended permanently
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5. March 2009 @ 14:56 |
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I am a lesbian trapped in a man's body.
Microsoft is offensive....and their stuff is generally crap.
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Senior Member
4 product reviews
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5. March 2009 @ 15:38 |
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Originally posted by ericg8:
I am a lesbian trapped in a man's body.
Microsoft is offensive....and their stuff is generally crap.
LOL.
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