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NSFW: New Research Looks At Hate Speech On Xbox Live

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by Phil Kollar on March 20, 2011 at 06:25 PM
26,601 Views
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If you're a white, 18-to-35-year-old male with a nondescript Xbox Live Gamertag, then you probably face a fairly normal, more or less manageable amount of harassment when playing multiplayer games. But a new study proves what I'm sure comes as no shock to gamers familiar with Xbox Live's rowdy reputation: The more upfront you are with your gender, race, sexuality, or religion the more your online opponents will scream at you about it.

This study originates from the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab, where a group of gamers changed their Xbox Live screennames to PROUD_2B_MUSLIM, GayPride90, and Black_N_Proud90 while playing Halo Reach to see how other players reacted.

The study also finds some sexist insanity on the forums for League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, and Defense of the Ancients.

You can see this study's results for yourself in the video below, which was showcased during PAX East. In all seriousness, though, given the subject matter there is some extremely harsh language used here. If you're at all sensitive to hate speech or swear words, do not watch it.

Also, a personal request: If you're one of the idiots saying the stupid nonsense being spewed in these case studies, or if you've ever said anything similar on a forum or during a multiplayer game, just stop. Everyone deserves better, including you.

 

[via Kotaku]

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Comments
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  • by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:34 PM
    Thats why you stay in party chat folks.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:34 PM
    Only other time I've heard more people use the "n" word other than Xbox Live (Xbox Live takes the case for abusive speech by a mile) is Counter-Strike. I've always wondered though if there was no anonymity on the Internet (lets say everyone had to use their real names) if half of this stuff would be a problem. Most of the people saying these things are cowards, hence why they say online under an alias. I remember when World of Warcraft tried to force real names on the forums and people cried saying "privacy" when I'm sure in reality it had more to do with the dumb stuff they've probably said to people.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:36 PM
    why do people have to be such jerks?
  • by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:37 PM
    As an honest to god XBL gamer, the only game I have experinced hate speech in is COD MW2, and black ops. The game forces people to be in game chat, not party chat, and you here f-gs, n--gers, f--k yous, and much more. I wonder why XBL gets all the flak, yet PSN and Steam don't get taken on at all?
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:39 PM

    i do private chat then game chat when i play

  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:42 PM
    party chat rules.
  • by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:42 PM
    Honestly as much as I hate people cussing on xbox Live using gamertags like that ask for it.

    You're essentially trolling yourself - do people outside of games go out of their way to label themselves with such names like 'gaypride'?

    Sure there are exceptions but you're just asking to be harassed with such obvious names.

    I'd actually prefer more diversity in our online games, but this is by far not the way to do it. Skewed tests like these just make us look bad.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:54 PM
    This is the main reason I don't play competitive MP, people are just evil.

    This video really makes me lose hope in humankind.

    People like this will one day be in control of the world, we are so screwed.

    I am curious though, was each and every single negative comment said by a male, or did any female players join in on the hate?

    I'm sure the answer is all male, but I'd want to be sure.
    Throughout my life, males tended to be a million times meaner then females, but I have run into some women just as terrible.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:54 PM
    Im a african american and I tend to get loads of racist hate, but hey whatdya expect from immature ignorant children- Grown men as well; blocking, muting, doesn't pay any justice. If Microsoft informs the player of a certain individual they've previously reported, reesuring that they are banned, that would be more satisfying. It seems like these idiots are getting away with too much. I dont mind trash talking but some of it is beyond tolerant
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:55 PM
    I have been mildly rowdy on xbox, but never near a degree or based off of discrimination like this, and only to people that did things such as team kill, and say things like whats on this video to other people. This discrimination is awful, but it does not suprise me. What I want to know, is why they did not play COD which is far worse. On cod you practically Have to mute everyone you dont know. this is why i have started to move away from multyplayer.



    Really interesting video, I wish there were more studies like this.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 06:56 PM
    I've been treated horribly on Xbox Live and I never told anything about myself. People just like being jerks.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:04 PM
    Anonymity breeds idiots.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:04 PM

    Here Here!!!!!!!

  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:04 PM
    The problem isn't limited to descriptive gamertags, avatars are also a problem. Even with a discreet gamertag, the race of the avatar is a dead giveaway. I've experienced this, even with a my moderate tag.
  • by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:05 PM
    Why not just press the mute button?
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:07 PM
    This study shows how screwed up our society is. Full of idiots who just love to hate. A bunch of Xbox Live Bangers. Dudes acting like biatches cause they got sand in their vagina. Pretending to be hard, but inside they delicate like fine China.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:07 PM

    People feel they can say anything when they aren't face to face. That is why I almost always stay in party chat now.

  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:09 PM
    I don't care what you name is, if you're playing a videogame online with other users, focus on playing the *** game as a MATURE GAMER and stop LOOKING FOR REASONS to shout RACIAL EPITHETS. Why would you care enough about a person's name to get mad and start shouting ethic slurs? Nothing justifies ignorance, and being ignorant doesn't solve any problems... That's why bitter Virgins shouldn't be allowed online they will ALWAYS find a excuse to vent their anger lmao...
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:11 PM
    No offense, but did anybody else lol when they saw the title? I know I did.
  •
    by Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 07:13 PM
    ive thankfully never encountered this problem; im not about to drop 50 bucks on a bluetooth headset to hear a bunch of idiots scream nonsensical hate words at me. playing psn with no sound is totally fine with me, especially considering im not much of an online gamer. all of my multiplayer focused games are local co op, and honestly, thats much more effective and fun than depending on one sense to communicate with other players.
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