Xbox 360

[Dr.Strangefate]

I think she was responding to the little bit on how you said you saw why Microsoft would do something like this. And also how its somehow as reasonable to kick off a user for being openly gay or lesbian as kicking off the people harassing them.

That's certainly how I read it.

 

[Zombipanda]

I think she was responding to the little bit on how you said you saw why Microsoft would do something like this. And also how its somehow as reasonable to kick off a user for being openly gay or lesbian as kicking off the people harassing them.

That's certainly how I read it.

I think on Microsoft's part it's more negligence than malice. Easier to cut out anyone who's name might possibly be considered offensive, rather than worry about the ****-storm of complaints from family action groups. Of course, in the process you alienate countless people who are just trying to fairly express themselves. And these "concerned parents" or whatever can't seem to separate the lifestyle of homosexuality from the (gasp) act of sodomy. It's your responsibility as a parent to provide context for the things your kids experience in the big, scary world. If you aren't up for that, start wearing a ******* condom. Save us all a little heartache. Besides which, all their little ****-head kids are just running around calling people niggers and ***s on LIVE all day long anyway.

I just think it's funny that MS is trying to hold such a tight grip on people's profiles when headsets just make any attempt at censorship negligible. You just give more ammo to the haters.

Edit: Speaking of censorship, **** is censored, but nigger isn't? really?

 

[Random]

Is anybody surprised by this? I me Gates released mosquitoes at a malaria conference.


I get why they wouldn't allow somethings like "Gay" in the name because then it could be used in a very heinous manner. But they definitely should not ban people for saying that's who they are and do nothing about the intolerant harassment of some of their users

 

[J. Agamemnon]

I think she was responding to the little bit on how you said you saw why Microsoft would do something like this. And also how its somehow as reasonable to kick off a user for being openly gay or lesbian as kicking off the people harassing them.

That's certainly how I read it.

well I just figure that their reasoning for doing this is to avoid these exact situations. I can see why they would have those kinds of rules. Plus, it's not my fault if you don't read the terms of use policy. It's to cover their asses so that Joe Nobody doesn't end up sueing Microsoft for letting this kind of thing happen. I'm saying I understand it, I didn't say I agree with it so that's why I'm a little confused for being mildly attacked.

But I'm also saying that it's crap to ban someone because they say they're gay/lesbian. I mean would you ban someone if they said they were straight? Has that been tested yet? I think it's crap that if you're paying a service subscription, you should be able to put what you want on your profile. You should also be able to make it private or only accesible to your friends. I think the only thing players should really be allowed to do is send messages and compare points, mainly for those your not friends with.

That's what I was saying. Reprint for the ****ing win *****es.

EDIT: what part made you think i thought it was reasonable to kick a person off because they were gay/lesbian?

 

[E]

Yeah, my account got banned too.

Unbelievable.

For what it's worth, I'm sorry.

 

[Planet-man]

They said that they'd ban anyone who listed their sexual orientation at all. Does this mean they're also doing this to people who put "I'm straight" in their profile?

If they are.... then I can't say they're being all that unfair, because realistically, they're saving a ton of money not having to deal with tons of angry parents calling in who could be just as mad that some 50-year-old guy has "girls are sexy" as their name while playing against their 13 year old daughter.

And why and the world do you want to list your sexual orientation, gay or straight, in the two-line blurb in your profile anyway?

Again, if they're only banning people who say they're gay, it's a problem(although I could see the merits of having a filter for that in screen names anyway, as the first thing it does is prevent people from using the terms offensively["UrGay111", "die***s", etc], which would probably happen a disgusting amount on a war-centric anonymus action game network made up mostly of millions of teenage boys). If they're saying NOBODY is allowed to put their sexual orientation in their name or profile, then I don't see the problem. They're saving millions of dollars in Customer Service calls, and it has absolutely nothing to do with gaming.

 

[Random]

They said that they'd ban anyone who listed their sexual orientation at all. Does this mean they're also doing this to people who put "I'm straight" in their profile?

Somebody should try that out and if they don't sue the **** out of them

 

[J. Agamemnon]

They said that they'd ban anyone who listed their sexual orientation at all. Does this mean they're also doing this to people who put "I'm straight" in their profile?

If they are.... then I can't say they're being all that unfair, because realistically, they're saving a ton of money not having to deal with tons of angry parents calling in who could be just as mad that some 50-year-old guy has "girls are sexy" as their name while playing against their 13 year old daughter.

And why and the world do you want to list your sexual orientation, gay or straight, in the two-line blurb in your profile anyway?

Again, if they're only banning people who say they're gay, it's a problem(although I could see the merits of having a filter for that in screen names anyway, as the first thing it does is prevent people from using the terms offensively["UrGay111", "die***s", etc], which would probably happen a disgusting amount on a war-centric anonymus action game network made up mostly of millions of teenage boys). If they're saying NOBODY is allowed to put their sexual orientation in their name or profile, then I don't see the problem. They're saving millions of dollars in Customer Service calls, and it has absolutely nothing to do with gaming.

whole heartedly agree.

Somebody should try that out and if they don't sue the **** out of them

And that's what I said too.

 

[Jaggyd]

They said that they'd ban anyone who listed their sexual orientation at all. Does this mean they're also doing this to people who put "I'm straight" in their profile?

If they are.... then I can't say they're being all that unfair, because realistically, they're saving a ton of money not having to deal with tons of angry parents calling in who could be just as mad that some 50-year-old guy has "girls are sexy" as their name while playing against their 13 year old daughter.

And why and the world do you want to list your sexual orientation, gay or straight, in the two-line blurb in your profile anyway?

Again, if they're only banning people who say they're gay, it's a problem(although I could see the merits of having a filter for that in screen names anyway, as the first thing it does is prevent people from using the terms offensively["UrGay111", "die***s", etc], which would probably happen a disgusting amount on a war-centric anonymus action game network made up mostly of millions of teenage boys). If they're saying NOBODY is allowed to put their sexual orientation in their name or profile, then I don't see the problem. They're saving millions of dollars in Customer Service calls, and it has absolutely nothing to do with gaming.

Totally agree with you, but I reread the ToS, at no point did it say I'd be banned for being who I am, the only thing I can find is something about sexually explicit comments and materials. I'd like to see people going on about their kids and spouse to get equal treatment.

Or even better, how about actually enforcing the stalking and harassment rules. I've had to deal with more than my share of "wanna ****?" messages. *Shrugs* Screw it, I'm going to just sell my 360 and get some new PS3 games.

 

[J. Agamemnon]

Totally agree with you, but I reread the ToS, at no point did it say I'd be banned for being who I am, the only thing I can find is something about sexually explicit comments and materials. I'd like to see people going on about their kids and spouse to get equal treatment.

Or even better, how about actually enforcing the stalking and harassment rules. I've had to deal with more than my share of "wanna ****?" messages. *Shrugs* Screw it, I'm going to just sell my 360 and get some new PS3 games.

I think you should raise some hell on some Microsoft turf.

 

[thee great one]

Totally agree with you, but I reread the ToS, at no point did it say I'd be banned for being who I am, the only thing I can find is something about sexually explicit comments and materials. I'd like to see people going on about their kids and spouse to get equal treatment.

Or even better, how about actually enforcing the stalking and harassment rules. I've had to deal with more than my share of "wanna ****?" messages. *Shrugs* Screw it, I'm going to just sell my 360 and get some new PS3 games.

PS3's the best thing ever.

It's a shame people go for the cheaper model.

 

[Planet-man]

Totally agree with you, but I reread the ToS, at no point did it say I'd be banned for being who I am, the only thing I can find is something about sexually explicit comments and materials.

Create a Gamertag , avatar or use text in other profile fields that may offend other members. This includes comments that look, sound like, stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate or relate to any of the following: profane words/phrases, topics or content of a sexual nature, hate speech (including but not limited to racial, ethnic, or religious slurs), illegal drugs/controlled substances, or illegal activities;

You're not being banned for "being who you are", skotti. You're being banned for insisting on communicating your sexual orientation in your profile after signing an agreement saying you wouldn't mention content of a sexual nature in your profile.

Microsoft has also officially and clearly stated that this includes heterosexuality too.

It's that simple, and it's not discriminatory.

 

[moonmaster]

Should someone's orientation be considered under "topics or content of a sexual nature", though?

 

[Jaggyd]

You're not being banned for "being who you are", skotti. You're being banned for insisting on communicating your sexual orientation in your profile after signing an agreement saying you wouldn't mention content of a sexual nature in your profile.

Microsoft has also officially and clearly stated that this includes heterosexuality too.

It's that simple, and it's not discriminatory.

no offense but bull****. being gay is part of what makes me an individual, just as being scottish and a Buddhist. secondly, I know of at least a dozen people personally who have stuff like "happily married", "ladies man", "Latin lover" and where are there bans? it's because being a heterosexual isn't "offensive" or "overtly sexual".

 

[Random]

no offense but bull****. being gay is part of what makes me an individual, just as being scottish and a Buddhist. secondly, I know of at least a dozen people personally who have stuff like "happily married", "ladies man", "Latin lover" and where are there bans? it's because being a heterosexual isn't "offensive" or "overtly sexual".

Can someone please start sueing someone! I'm in need of a good trial drama to distract me from the **** load of work I have to do.

 

[Planet-man]

Should someone's orientation be considered under "topics or content of a sexual nature", though?

Well, I'd say that, by definition, yes. Who you're sexually attracted to is a topic of a sexual nature, and thus against the rules that Skotti and "Teresa" and anybody else, straight or gay, signed when they signed up.

Let's say you want to look at it seperately, though. How appropriate that particular branch of sexuality is, ethics-wise, is certainly a gray area in a situation like this, but if I was forced to make a decision(like Microsoft is), I think I'd make the same one they did, because at the end of the day, there is no reason a person playing videogames on the internet just can't enjoy themselves unless they've got what sex they're attracted to spelled out in their profile.

What the hell does it have to do with anything? Just play the games. They even said there's no rules against talking about being gay or straight or anything of the sort during conversation during gameplay. How is that not a completely fair comprimise from a business trying to serve millions of people from early teens to old age under a single set of rules?

no offense but bull****. being gay is part of what makes me an individual, just as being scottish and a Buddhist.

If you can't even enjoy playing a videogame with a ton of random strangers on the internet, each of whom you'll interact with for maybe 10 minutes at a time, without being sure that each of them knows you're a gay scottish buddhist, I don't think it's Microsoft who has the problem.

This level of individuality has nothing to do with insanely huge, fast-food videogame networks. Try Facebook or something. In the meantime, I'll be playing Halo and having a blast with a bunch of people from all of the world who don't necessarily know that I'm a Scottish/Irish White Heterosexual Vegetarian Simpsons-fan, or whatever else makes me an "individual".

secondly, I know of at least a dozen people personally who have stuff like "happily married", "ladies man", "Latin lover" and where are there bans? it's because being a heterosexual isn't "offensive" or "overtly sexual".

1) Saying you're "happily married" has nothing to do with sex.

2) Have you reported everybody you see with the other two examples? If not, how do you know they wouldn't get banned?

 

[Jaggyd]

1) Saying you're "happily married" has nothing to do with sex.

NEITHER DOES BEING GAY!!


Christ why can't people get that through their ****ing skulls. If I were paralyzed from the neck down and could never be intimate with Cassie ever again, I would still love her with all my heart.

That's it, I'm taking a break from UC for a while. I don't need banned.

 

[Zombipanda]

NEITHER DOES BEING GAY!!


Christ why can't people get that through their ****ing skulls. If I were paralyzed from the neck down and could never be intimate with Cassie ever again, I would still love her with all my heart.

That's it, I'm taking a break from UC for a while. I don't need banned.

Aw! Aw, skotti! You know most people here seem to agree with you, right?

 

[Planet-man]

NEITHER DOES BEING GAY!!

Christ why can't people get that through their ****ing skulls. If I were paralyzed from the neck down and could never be intimate with Cassie ever again, I would still love her with all my heart.

That's it, I'm taking a break from UC for a while. I don't need banned.

Paralyzed or not, they're talking about describing the type of people you are sexually attracted to, which is what you are implying(a word directly used in the Terms of Service you signed) when you say you're "Gay" or "Straight", as in Homosexual or Heterosexual.

"Married" is a legal term and has nothing, legally, to do with sexuality. Gay and Straight are a different story. You're blaming Microsoft for using U.S. legal definitions to write a contract.

*I* know that there's a lot more to attraction than wanting to have sex with somebody, no problem. But that's what we're talking about. You got banned for saying "I'm a lesbian", which legally means you're sexually oriented towards women. After signing a legal document saying you wouldn't mention anything to do with sexuality. HOW IS BANNING YOU FOR THAT UNFAIR TO YOU? If you weren't going to follow the contract, why did you sign it?

And furthermore, you still didn't address whether or not you've actually reported anybody who writes that they're a Latin lover in their profile, so your claim that they don't ban heterosexuals is completely baseless.


Edit:

Aw! Aw, skotti! You know most people here seem to agree with you, right?

Even *I* agree with you on that post. But we're talking about things from a legal standpoint here.

 

[moonmaster]

Well, I'd say that, by definition, yes. Who you're sexually attracted to is a topic of a sexual nature, and thus against the rules that Skotti and "Teresa" and anybody else, straight or gay, signed when they signed up.

1) Saying you're "happily married" has nothing to do with sex.

I'm sorry, but this doesn't make any sense.

What you're saying is

Orientation = A topic of a sexual nature

"Happily married" = (At least in most parts of America) A man in a relationship with a woman = Totally fine

The rules say "stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate or relate to". "Happily married" easily stands for, hints at, abbreviates, or insinuates or relates to the fact that whoever said it is heterosexual.

And besides that, neither statement is really inherently sexual. You can't blame anyone for reading those rules and not thinking that "I'm gay" translates to some kind of intensely explicit sexual statement. People seem to be saying that they don't want their kids seeing it because they don't want to have to explain to them what being gay is, because this would apparently involve defining sodomy and showing them several hours of gay porn.

Some boys like girls, some boys like boys, and some girls like girls. It's not just about sex, if it was then anything that even suggests a relationship between two people would be defined as sexual. Mickey and Minnie Mouse's relationship would be "of a sexual nature".

Let's say you want to look at it seperately, though. How appropriate that particular branch of sexuality is, ethics-wise, is certainly a gray area in a situation like this, but if I was forced to make a decision(like Microsoft is), I think I'd make the same one they did, because at the end of the day, there is no reason a person playing videogames on the internet just can't enjoy themselves unless they've got what sex they're attracted to spelled out in their profile.

What the hell does it have to do with anything? Just play the games. They even said there's no rules against talking about being gay or straight or anything of the sort during conversation during gameplay. How is that not a completely fair comprimise from a business trying to serve millions of people from early teens to old age under a single set of rules?

If you can't even enjoy playing a videogame with a ton of random strangers on the internet, each of whom you'll interact with for maybe 10 minutes at a time, without being sure that each of them knows you're a gay scottish buddhist, I don't think it's Microsoft who has the problem.

This level of individuality has nothing to do with insanely huge, fast-food videogame networks. Try Facebook or something. In the meantime, I'll be playing Halo and having a blast with a bunch of people from all of the world who don't necessarily know that I'm a Scottish/Irish White Heterosexual Vegetarian Simpsons-fan, or whatever else makes me an "individual".

If none of it's important then they shouldn't allow any of it, but they do allow people to say something about themselves, and for a whole lot of people being gay is something they're proud to tell others.

I spoke a little about this in the thread I started, but one of the biggest reasons why I'm coming out now is because the Prop 8 controversy just reminded me of how important it is to be proud of being gay. There have been times in history and there are still places in the world where you can be arrested or even killed for being gay. Even in modern-day America you can still be killed for your orientation. Saying that you're gay isn't about putting up arbitrary personal facts or trying to hook up or something, it's about saying you're unafraid to acknowledge something that others have died for acknowledging.

If you're going to allow people a space to describe themselves briefly, you have to understand that for many people the fact that they're gay is incredibly important to them.