Editor's note: Please read this important communique re: last night's Call of Duty 4 match. -Demian
Dear fellow Call of Duty 4 player,
We were in a multiplayer match recently, and you disconnected before I could offer a fair rebuttal to your accusations, and so I wanted to take this opportunity, in a public forum, to express my dismay.
First off, I am not homosexual. Despite my gameplay shortcomings, and the way my Xbox Live headset ups the effeminate nature of my voice, I assure you that I have been attracted to women for as long as I can remember. I love the company of the opposite gender, both as friends and as sexual partners.
In fact, I have been with my current girlfriend for ten months now, and things are going very well, thank you. I guess all I mean is, when I shoot you, or you shoot me, or whatever gameplay event occurs, if you could refrain from incorrectly calling me "fag," "faggot," or implying that you just "butt-fucked" me with that last sniper kill, that would be much appreciated.
Also, if I may go off on a bit of a tangent, I would like to state, matter-of-factly, that there is a huge difference between getting "butt-fucked" and shot with a sniper rifle. They are different in many respects, for example, one involves a sniper rifle, while the other is primarily governed by the forceful insertion of...I should get back to the point at hand.
Secondly, I would like to admit that yes, I am new to the game. I only picked up Call of Duty 4 because I had heard such great things from friends and co-workers. I thought I might give it a try. And so far, I find it simply marvelous. That said, I do not know why you insist on calling me a "noob" and saying that I am cheating because I use the Juggernaut perk.
I use it because it gives me more health, which seems like a good thing, and because I haven't yet unlocked anything better. I assure you, though, I have never actually won a game, and I rarely place in the top three, so you do not need to be concerned about my perk choices. They clearly are not helping.
Lastly, I would like to apologize for lying earlier in this letter, when I stated that you disconnected from me. This was false. In fact, I hastily disconnected from the game you were in, because I had lost every single match, and because everyone was repeatedly calling me all of those previously mentioned slurs.
I decided that I must be in a bad game, or at least a game with players that communicated and played at a level that I was not accustomed to or interested in. So, I would like to apologize for leaving your game, and thinking that any other game I joined would be any different.
I later learned that no matter what match I joined, no matter the gametype, my sexuality was still attacked, I was still considered a cheater, and I still lost every time.
So please, accept my apology, consider the requests I have made, and accept my sincerest admiration: Those letters in your clan tag DO look just like a penis when put in that order. Astounding creativity there.
Sincerely,
Adam Dorsey
Comments (19)
TAKE BACK THE INTERWEBS!
But what I do play online is TF2, and I have to agree with Bryan that I have never really had a problem with anyone being rude, mean, or insulting.
Everyone knows it's like this, and it's seemingly accepted like it is just the way things are.
We (xbox live gamers) need to be more vigilant about using the tools we're given to help shape the community. Use Mute and player feedback when you run into someone like this. It's a shame that one of the best online set ups for gaming has such a negative stigma, but I'm pretty convinced that it is set up this way because we're too lazy to put forth even the smallest amount of effort to fix it.
I agree with David. Don't just avoid these players, use the tools at hand to actively fight this type of behavior.
I'm just as guilty of quitting without giving feedback as anybody else, we just need to light the torches and take action.
I'm not saying those losers aren't out there, cause they are. I mute them also, usually with the in-game mute, then during the break between rounds on xbox live I'll either mute them permanently, or I choose the "avoid player" option.
Also, I dont think the best defense against someone calling you a faggot is "Ya, well, Im not gay, so there."
And people wonder why playing video games isn't more accepted by the mainstream.
And btw, only noobs use juggernaut, martyr and the noobtoob.
(JK...I hate when people label perks and weapons as noob weapons)
Adam's charming experiences here make a compelling argument for that. I tend to stick to Team Fortress 2. For some strange reason TF2 players tend not to take things too seriously.
I suppose one of the advantages of multiplayer on the PS3 is the distinct lack of a headset without added investment so I don't have to listen to the thirteen-year-old that just shot me in the back call me a fag.
I'm hoping the facebook app will help put a face with the gamertags so people will be less likely to act this way.
Instead of going out of your way to assure him that you are heterosexual you should have instead explained that gender (male/female/trans) and sexual preference (LGBT) have nothing to do with you're game skills.
When someone calls me gay online I don't have that knee-jerk reaction to go, "No! I'M NOT GAY! STOP SAYING THAT! I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND! I HAD SO MUCH HETEROSEXUAL SEX!" I usually just ignore them or ask the player how they think being gay (in particular) is supposed to affect someone's gaming style. They almost never respond and the responses I've gotten I not worth mentioning.
As I write I just know some people (not all) will want to know my gender & sexual preference. Well, my gender is probably on my profile, I dunno. As for the reference, I don't think that matters.
Remember the African-American Civil Rights Movement? It wasn't only African-Americans that wanted equality. There were non-African-Americans fighting alongside us.
The knee-jerk reaction OP has to assure his opponent (and himself?) of his sexuality reminds me of John McCain's so-called defense of Barack Obama when a woman in a crowd says she's afraid of him because, "He's an Arab."
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRq6Y4NmB6U
WOMAN: "I can't trust Obama. [...] He's an Arab."
MCCAIN: "No, ma'am. He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about. He's not. Thank you."
I don't have to explain the correlation do I? I mean, this reply is long enough as it is but if you don't see the correlation I'll come back and explain it.