Gamers Against Bigotry site targeted by hackers

A new site looking to promote awareness about bigoted language in games and the gaming community has been the target of repeated hacker attacks since it launched just over a month ago. Maybe the worst thing about it is that it’s just. So. Predictable.

Most recently, more than 1,500 signatures were erased from the site’s database and the page defaced with bad words and some rather vile (if unoriginal) imagery. To put things in perspective, the people who signed the page were simply pledging to not use bigoted slurs (sexist, racist, and otherwise) while playing games online. The pledge reads:

As a gamer, I realize I contribute to an incredibly diverse social network of gamers around the world, and that my actions have the ability to impact others. In effort to make a positive impact, and to create a community that is welcoming to all, I pledge to not use bigoted language while gaming, online and otherwise.

Bigoted language includes, but is not limited to, slurs based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.

Clearly, the prospect of maybe not harassing and abusing others online is an exceedingly offensive one to a lot of people out there. SPEECH FREEDOMS and all that important stuff, especially when it invests anonymous trolls with the incontrovertible authority to threaten rape.

I like what Gamers Against Bigotry is trying to do, even if it’s ultimately a bit futile. Until they get things fixed up, we can support them by donating on IndieGoGo. You can also read more about the project on the Gamers Against Bigotry information page. Even Wil Wheaton is into it.