The GamerGate saga which erupted over the past few weeks has been massively divisive in the industry – at least, to those who are paying attention to it.

If you don’t know what GamerGate is, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

The difficulty in choosing sides on the issue comes through a lack of grasping what the issue actually is. Do you stand with the so-called feminists pushing for wider inclusion? Does that mean you can’t stand against corruption in the gaming media? What about the gamer identity? Is it dead? Dying? Evolving?

In many minds, GamerGate means one thing – but the truth is, it’s become about a lot of things – and people are taking sides, and shouting louder, and ultimately speaking right past each other.

On one side there are those crying foul in the wider gaming industry, labelling many media houses and indie developers (and their supporters) as “Social Justice Warriors” (SJWs), bent on pushing political correctness and other pro-feminist agendas in gaming.

As part of this, there is the claim that this “banding together” is part of a nepotistic (read: corrupt) relationship between indie developers and gaming media which places itself above gamers, and is actively trying to censor and shut down opposing views.

On the other side of the argument, there are very vocal minorities, prominent journalists, and game developers calling for an end to straight-white male dominance in the industry, fairer representation, and an end to the abuse that alleged propagators of the #GamerGate movement are laying, specifically, onto women in the industry.

In between these two groups there are a whole lot of people scratching their heads, some people pushing some pretty crazy conspiracy theories, actual abusive douchebags, and Adam Baldwin.

With so many things going on, it’s become difficult to keep track of where one stands on the issue – so if you’re wondering where you fit, take our quick 10 question quiz to find out whether you stand for justice, ethics, male rights, or just want to watch the world burn.

1. What is GamerGate?

1. It’s complicated, and difficult to make sense of because of all the loud noises.
2. A movement challenging ethics in game journalism.
3. A movement by Internet trolls to shut down women and minority voices in the industry.
4. A movement against the SJWs trying to push feminazi agendas and silence the truth!
5. A digital game deals site?
6. Operation Virtuous Mission!

2. What is the GamerGate end-game?

1. I honestly don’t know – everything is too mixed up and everyone is arguing past each other.
2. Transparency in gaming media, free of corruption.
3. To bully every female and minority voice out of gaming.
4. To kick the SJWs out of our space.
5. Uuuhh…
6. Chaos.

3. Gaming journalists are:

1. Imperfect, and trying to adapt to the maturation of their industry.
2. Corrupt, nepotistic, and condescending PR shills.
3. Highlighting the entrenched misogyny in the gaming industry, and aiding change.
4. Distorting facts, pushing SJW agendas and censoring anyone who speaks against them.
5. People who write about games.
6. The perfect fall guy.

4. Gamers are:

1. Anyone who is passionate and enthusiastic about games and gaming.
2. Not going anywhere. We’re sick of being talked down to.
3. Dead. As an identity. It’s all very abstract, see?
4. Gamers. As in we want games, not social commentary.
5. People who play games? Right?
6. Merely a means to an end.

5. What is #NotYourShield?

1. More cluster in an already cluster-fucked movement.
2. A tag used by non-white-males to show the SJWs aren’t speaking for them.
3. Just another desperate gasp of a dying movement.
4. More proof that the media and SJWs are simply pushing an agenda.
5. You’ve lost me completely, what is actually going on?
6. A perfect way to manipulate and weaponize minorities.

6. What is your position on online abuse?

1. It’s never okay – directed at anyone.
2. It’s not okay, but it’s not me doing it, and this isn’t about that, anyway.
3. It’s relentless. Especially if you’re a woman.
4. It happens to everyone, get over it. Welcome to the Internet.
5. Look, I really don’t know why I’m here, so…
6. Online? Puh-lease. Amateurs. It’s all about the real-world scares, man.

7. How do you feel about women in gaming?

1. Gaming is for everyone, that’s what we’ve always wanted, isn’t it?
2. Stop making this about gender.
3. It’s impossible to make it in the industry without being undermined or harassed.
4. Fake gamer girls are just looking for attention and to play victim.
5. Please…I just want to leave here 🙁
6. Bitches must get back in the kitchen LOLZ.

8. So the evidence of game media corruption…

1. There is evidence pointing to conflict of interest – but there has always been. Things can always improve.
2. It’s everywhere; no sites reporting accurately on GamerGate is proof. It’s all biased nonesense.
3. I’m yet to see it. It’s just been abuse directed towards women and minorities so far.
4. Just look how media rallies behind the SJWs and refuses to report on the sex scandal.
5. Can I PLEASE just get back to playing Destiny? Please?
6. Evidence is irrelevant.

9. And the evidence of a 4Chan abuse plot?

1. 4Chan is notorious for this kind of thing, but it’s clearly become bigger than that now.
2. Questionable and irrelevant, this is about ethics. GamerGate has moved on.
3. Irrefutable. See? It’s what we’ve been saying all along.
4. SJW conspiracy, I don’t believe it for a second.
5. Fuck this, seriously. I’m leaving.
6. What abuse plot? *Knowing wink*

10. Do you think anyone is right here?

1. No. This is far from a black and white issue. Everyone needs to calm down.
2. The gamers are rightfully voicing their frustrations.
3. Abuse? Death and rape threats? There’s nothing right about this.
4. It’s about freedom of speech – SJWs just want to suppress that.
6. Right? Wrong? It’s all about the lulz.

Results

Mostly 1s – Middling Mertle

Congratulations, you’re what many will call “middling” the issue. It’s either that you honestly don’t know what to make of all this, or you understand that the issue is far more complex than either side cares to admit. You struggle to support the call for better journalism when the underlying culture of misogyny is tied to the same movement – and no-one wants to be told to look past the abuse to tackle the supposed main issue. You just can’t win here.

Mostly 2s – Ethical Ethan

For you, this isn’t about women and men – this is about ethics. Games journalism is corrupt! The whole sex with journalists issue just serves to highlight that. It’s the tip of the iceberg in a vast sea of kick-backs and badly-veiled PR work. You get that online abuse isn’t cool, but that’s not what you’re about – you simply demand transparency and reform. Gaming news and reviews need to be about gaming, and by all that is holy, keep personal agendas out of it.

Mostly 3s – Social Justice Steve

It’s clear to you that GamerGate was started as a way to get back at a women for expressing any sort of sexual liberty. It has since become a perpetual cycle of harassment and abuse directed at women and other minorities – simply for existing in an industry they love – under the pretense of “ethics”. It’s calculated, systematic, and speaks to the entrenched paradigms that women and other minor groups face in every field of the industry. The perpetrators? Petulent, predominantly straight white men, fighting back against the death of an identity that no longer exists. RIP “gamers”.

Mostly 4s – Male Rights Mark

In your world, political correctness is going over-board, and people are complaining for the sake of complaining. Games are supposed to be fun! But now it’s all about “representation” and pushing some sort of pro-feminist, multi-racial or gay and lesbian agenda. Why must you suffer because *some* dudes online are being douchebags? This is gaming. If the feminazis and journalists that support them can’t deal with that, then they need to get the fuck out. And you’re more than happy to push them out the door.

Mostly 5s – Gamer Gertrude

You’ve probably been off the Internet for a while, or really don’t know what all this GamerGate fuss is about. You’re just here to play games, and all this talk of culture and identity and corruption and conspiracies is just beyond you. Go on, enjoy your life away from all this.

Mostly 6s – Trolling Tim

Oh, hello 4Chan. Please don’t dox us.

So? Where do you stand on GamerGate? Do you even care? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on the forum.

Note: This quiz aims to broadly summarise the stances currently held by main groups in the GamerGate debacle. Obviously, views vary, and are far more nuanced than can be described here. MyGaming’s position on all things gaming is to be open to all discussions relating to the industry while remaining inclusive, and non-abusive. Emphasis on non-abusive.

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