Microsoft: Gamertag ban "inelegant" |
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Here's their side of the story. Stephen Toulouse, program manager for policy and enforcement on XBL, talked to MTV News and explained the current stand of the company on the matter, and the steps they are taking to address the said issue.
It is true that as a matter of policy, the expression of relationship preference in Gamertag profiles and tags is not allowed across the board, whether that's heterosexual or other. But as we saw when we ran into the issue with this [last year], we started looking into that policy.
And as for Teresa's incident, they weren't able to take any action, he said, because they did not have all the information as to the said incidents of harassment. "Certainly, harassing someone, even if they have the expression of their relationship preference in their profile of their Gamertag, even if that may be against the current terms of use in the current policy -- that does not give the right for anyone to harass another player."
So will they be lifting the ban then? "On the face of that, we have no objection to that, except for one simple problem." That being some users prejudiced or immature enough to use the word "gay" pejoratively (pe⋅jo⋅ra⋅tive: adj. [pi-jawr-uh-tiv,-jor-,pej-uh-rey-,pee-juh-]: having a disparaging , derogatory, or belittling effect or force). And that's between 95 to 98 percent of the time that the word "gay" is used, mind you.
So what about coming up with a solution that will let people like Teresa, or even the unfortunate Mr. Richard Gaywood (though he's straight) express their "gayness" - literally or otherwise - without opening up the floodgates for abuse? One such suggested solution is having symbols or checkoff boxes that will denote one's sexual orientation. To that, Toulouse said,
That's the type of thing we're looking at as a solution... I can't talk about future plans, except to say we want to provide the capability for our users to express relationship preference or gender without a way for it to be misused.
Great, then. But as to what everyone else is waiting for, am sure, Microsoft's apology - well, he didn't outright say "sorry", but he did acknowledge their fault in the matter:
It's inelegant. And it's inelegant because the text-box field is freeform.
That'll do for now, I guess. And now I leave you with a treat - especially for our gay members out there - the queen of all queers. Madonna (let's put this under the "Just Cos" categ, shall we? ;P ).
Via MTV News
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Comments [refresh]
my post on xbox.com forums did stir up a real debate
show off
MS deserved it. not saying she should of put it in her profile. but i admire someone who has a diffrent lifestyle and stands up for it. She knew it would start arguments with fellow live players. but that proved that live is flooded with immature kids and adults.
That madonna joke reeks of poor taste.
i am a fan of madonna. and she is the queen of queers. >.< and the song in the vid is "sorry".
That's a gay sounding word in itself
Just kidding
But that Madonna song.. I don't like it.. I'm sorry! It's not queer enough! ..Isn't queer a mean word to use? lmao. Are you a girl Mabie?
i'm gonna change my gamertag to lezzy the lesbian and start a huge debate if i get suspended. i bet she's not even a lesbian, just an excuse because she was trying to be funny.
Right, I'm sure the reason she didn't change it and kept getting stalked is because she wanted to be funny.
Think before you speak, please.
A 12 year old rip roaring mad spewing
"F&%$ing JEW BAG MOTHER F@#&ER GAY HOMO C()CK F&#$ A$S REAMING *****!!!"
is OK... but listing yourself as a lesbian on your GT is not?
SERIOUSLY?
i did think, and i'm probably right, stop thinking your bigger than everyone
As an experiment, I tried to change my gamertag to "White Power" and "White Pride" and both were NOT allowed. "Black Power" and "Black Pride" were both allowed, as well as "Asian Power," "Mexican Power," etc.
Fair?
You can't put that you are proud to be a straight, white, male, but you can be proud of being a lesbian, black woman?
Fair?
Mexican power and asian power arent the same as white power and black power (which are both exactly the same)
but I agree with you point!
A guy. She's a strong, manly, not-at-all-lesbian guy! [/sarcasm]
this means I can talk about my big p3n1s on xbox live on my profile? hm...
You are not even close to probably right. Your mindset is essentially that any self-identifying lesbian is really a girl trying to get attention.
Screw off.
Agreed, white power won't let you summon the Megazord
The thing I don't get is why homosexuals in general try so hard to have equal rights so they can be equal, i.e. just like everybody else. Yet people like this girl goes out of her way to advertise that she's a lesbian. I mean why put that on your profile at all? Straight people don't put they are straight on their profile. Just seems like she wanted attention or something.
I have a few friends who are gay but none of them introduce themselves to someone new and say " hey my name is Jordan, I'm gay" it's not really a necessary thing to say, because why is it important that everyone know what choices you personally have made. Unless of course you want to gloat about your "individuality"...
girl and loving it.
I mean I don't believe anyone should be banned for stating their sexual preference. I mean sure, people can use it for an attack, but that can happen in real life, on the net, playing games online. It happens. However I've notice there's probably more pubescent pre teens playing XBL then PSN, but even still, doesn't mean we should limit the users who paid their money to buy your system.
Feel bad for Teresa and anyone else who likes to express their preference. Now, I may not know 100% her motive, whether it was genuine, or maybe doing it for attention, but i'll give her the benefit of the doubt she was just expressing herself. Hope she get's this settled soon.
"i am a fan of madonna. and she is the queen of queers. >.< and the song in the vid is "sorry"." - Mabie A.
Question Mabie, I've listen and know alot of Madonna since my older sister liked her for years and talked about her, is she really a queen among queers or was that like a sarcastic spoof?
Being gay is not a choice.
they don't allow white power because of the hate crimes the kkk did and ppl r offended by the kkk so tht i understand (and i am so tht is y i put tht on the top ) but i dont get y they allow other frazes like mexican power but i dont care about mexican power because i am 1 :)
tht would b dumb if ms let us do tht
except for the fact that it is a choice, freeplay
When did you choose to be straight?
queen. ask perezhilton. ;P
and again, no. that was not a sarcastic spoof. lol.