I'm Brianna Wu, And I'm Risking My Life Standing Up To Gamergate

[Dr Hobbitstein]

http://www.bustle.com/articles/63466-im-brianna-wu-and-im-risking-my-life-standing-up-to-gamergate

This weekend, a man wearing a skull mask posted a video on YouTube outlining his plans to murder me. I know his real name. I documented it and sent it to law enforcement, praying something is finally done. I have received these death threats and 43 others in the last five months.

This experience is the basis of a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode airing Wednesday called “Intimidation Game.” I gave in and watched the preview today. The main character appears to be an amalgamation of me, Zoe Quinn, and Anita Sarkeesian, three of the primary targets of the hate group called GamerGate.

My name is Brianna Wu. I develop video games for your phone. I lead one of the largest professional game-development teams of women in the field. Sometimes I speak out on women in tech issues. I’m doing everything I can to save my life except be silent.

The week before last, I went to court to file a restraining order against a man who calls himself “The Commander.” He made a video holding up a knife, explaining how he’ll murder me “Assassin’s Creed Style.” He wrecked his car en route to my house to “deliver justice.” In logs that leaked, he claimed to have weapons and a compatriot to do a drive-by.


The whole article is worth a read.
I, and many of my friends are avid gamers. The majority of us are male (myself included), and we stand with Briana Wu, Zoe Quinn, and Anita Sarkeesian. These GamerGate pricks are nothing more than little boys who are scared of women.

[hifiguy]

1. Every thinking person should stand behind

Ms Wu, Ms Quinn and Ms Sarkeesian.

What childish assholes.

[daredtowork]

3. Perhaps that's the best outcome of all this

The whole gamergate thing has extracted all sorts of jackasses from their hideyholes, exposing them to plain view. Let them reveal themselves and see how long they can exist under the light of day. The world will be a better place tomorrow.

Thank you Ms Wu, Ms Quinn and Ms Sarkeesian!

[Blue_Tires]

2. One on many reasons I left gaming behind...

[RedCappedBandit]

5. +1

[salin]

4. The guy threatening her is far beyond "little boy who is scared of women"

He appears to be unhinged, and very violent.

I applaud Ms. Wu - and am angered deeply at how her life has been disrupted by these folks.

Thanks for posting the story and speaking out against the ganergate dudes.

[NuclearDem]

6. Said it before and I'll say it again.

Fuck GamerGate.

[salin]

7. Great article. I praise her courage and calls for specific actions by different institutions,

Thanks for posting this.

[yuiyoshida]

8. she is on twitter..

can follow her:
https://twitter.com/Spacekatgal

I tweeted her this posting so she can see it on DU.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

20. oh, I'm glad you did!

She should know she's got the support of a lot of sane people.


This is a brave woman.

She deserves as much respect as men who face danger and death threats for human rights. (It always seems to me that the female heroes don't get credit the way males do.)

[Dont call me Shirley]

9. Wow! These women are brave!

These gamergate people sound like "the t word". Why are they so invested in keeping women out?

[Maedhros]

10. Remember, these are people who casually use the term "rape"

to refer to dominating success over one's opponent.

Video game culture was once an exclusive Little Boys Club, in which adolescents and development-arrested young adults created an insular misogynistic culture. They could log on and engage in whatever immature, offensive, and hateful behavior they wished without fear of being called out for it.

As more and more women joined the community, the most pathetic of these trolls - those who could not grow up enough to learn to check their own crude impulses - decided instead to collectively lash out at the women who they believed were ruining their little niche. They want to go back to the good old days when female characters in games were all one-dimensional sex objects and racist, homophobic, and misogynistic slurs comprised the cultural vernacular. When they don't get what they want, they throw tantrums.

[Dont call me Shirley]

13. Thanks...

For the background. I'm not a gamer so I really don't know much about what goes on in that world. Sounds like a club of unaccountable rich boys who take pleasure from hurting others. Sick is what it is.

[Maedhros]

14. Like most groups, gamers are paying a price for a vocal and irritating minority.

Most gamers I know are conscientious, thoughtful human beings. The subset to which I referred in my post tends to draw lots of attention, though.

[Dont call me Shirley]

17. The loud and the nasty love attention and they get it, sadly.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

22. good explanation, thanks. n/t

[Jamastiene]

78. That does seem to be the way they are acting.

They act like 10 year old boys who hate girls and spend all their time in their boys only clubhouse talking about how much they hate girls.

[Maedhros]

81. I used to play a lot of Call of Duty.

This comic very accurately depicts what the experience was like:

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/online_gaming

[druidity33]

27. that's equivocation...

Who are Anita Sarkeesian's "ilk"? Maybe that sounds clever to you, but to me that's a lot more like a targeting phrase...

What are her "claims" that you think have been debunked?

[druidity33]

34. I can't do videos...

i'm on a satellite dish and get 250MB per 24 hrs. But to be honest, i don't want one side of the story anyway. I would want to hear Anita's side too. Where can i hear that?

[WhollyHeretic]

36. They're not worth watching. The two of them are a couple of MRAs.

[Snow Leopard]

55. well at least

they use reason, logic, and facts. Something these 3 ladies seem to have problems with.

The idiots that have, by their threats, turned Gamergate into something that was initially only about ethics in game journalism have greatly confused the issue around the term. No excuse for it of course, but read any youtube comments section and your eyes can pop out of your head with the idiocy exhibited by these anonymous internet warriors assholes.

If she knows who this stalker is, then hopefully the authorities can lower the boom on him/her/them.

[WhollyHeretic]

58. Reason, logic, and facts? I don't know what the hell kind of person calls hateful misogynistic

crap "reason, logic, and facts" ... oh wait, yes I do

"about ethics in game journalism"?

I know you gamergaters are desperate to prove that it's anything but a childish, hateful, sexist temper tantrum but anyone with half a brain can see through the dissembling

[Dr Hobbitstein]

72. GamerGate was never about ethics in journalism.

After Zoe Quinn released "Depression Quest", and bunch of MRA fucktards (including her ex boyfriend) started implying that the ONLY reason her game was getting good press was that she slept with a Kotaku journalist. She was harrassed non-stop and had to change her phone number. That was the START. It was never about ethics in journalism, it was about shutting women out of gaming.

Take your bullshit elsewhere.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

57. Your appeal to tribalism isn't persuasive

I watched the videos, and their critiques of the so-called academic research was both extremely cogent and devastating. It's too bad that Skinner's jury system is constantly abused by extremists. I see this happening on the Discussionist as well.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[WhollyHeretic]

65. Maybe hatred and violence are the basis for your reality

They definitely aren't for me and most liberals. http://freethoughtblogs.com/blaghag/2012/02/scratch-the-amazing-atheist-off-your-list-too/

[ConservativeDemocrat]

79. Hatred and violence absolutely exist in my reality

...as does logic, drama queens, and over the top comments on message boards.
If you have a refutation of thunderf00t's cogent critique of this lady's so-called "scholarship", I'd love to hear it.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[m-lekktor]

50. thunderf00t is the epitome of a raging mysognyst asshole.

he uses all the "antifeminist" buzzwords that the MRA's use. i have watched his videos and read much of his bullshit on this issue when this gamergate crap first started. I am embarrassed he is a fellow atheist. the other guy I am not familiar with.

[jmowreader]

61. MRA = Men's Rights Activist

[WhollyHeretic]

35. Those two are a couple of sexist jackasses

[geek tragedy]

37. Why do you watch videos by misogynistic scumbags? nt

[geek tragedy]

39. Says the guy posting YouTube videos as if they were serious discourse.

http://www.newstatesman.com/future-proof/2014/08/tropes-vs-anita-sarkeesian-passing-anti-feminist-nonsense-critique

[NuclearDem]

40. TAA and thunderf00t are two of the most vile misogynists out there.

And yes, I have seen their videos about Sarkeesian's points, and they're full of MRA shit.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

49. Thunderf00t and AA are mysoginistic assholes.

Who cares what their opinions are? They're just pissed that she called out sexism in video games.

[alarimer]

53. The fact you listen to Thunderfoot and the other one says all I need to know about you.

Misogynist, nasty pieces of work.

There is nothing to "debunk" about those videos and reason has nothing whatever to do with it. I've read some of what they had to say and it is pure filth.

[DonCoquixote]

84. ok, let us say

that Anita S. is trash. I personally think she is about 50/50, some points she makes are valid, some total misses. But that would be to whiz right past the point, which means that these fools have NO RIGHT to threaten real-life violence on her and then wonder why people are angry at them.

[SunSeeker]

12. K & R for exposure. nt

[Electric Monk]

15. That Law & Order SVU episode is online (torrents) for those who missed it but want to watch it

Instead of linking directly, though, here is a google search that will find it for you:

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=Law+and+Order+SVU+S16E14+torrent

[lexington filly]

21. If it was on CBS, you can go directly to their website and watch it now

or if it was NBC watch it on Hulu now or with 8 day delay if ABC---all for free. (for folks like me who don't know a "torrent" from a black hole but am handy with a pipe wrench : ) )
I have followed the story of what I thought until now was only female gamers/developers/game bloggers being harassed and stalked online. I'm disheartened with this "Lord of the Flies" part of the internet but more inspired by the "sit down and shut up, punks!" parts.

[MADem]

16. I did a post on this topic a few months ago, and caught a lot of SHIT for so doing.

There's a bit of background in the citation that's helpful to this discussion at this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025739295

The behavior of some people is just, well, reprehensible.

[Are_grits_groceries]

44. I posted something too and

boy howdy was that a fun rodeo. NOT.
It stopped being about anything to do with journalistic ethics once threats were made.

[MADem]

62. Mmmmhmmmm! Gotta wonder why some folks are so doggone afraid!

Name Removed went on a tirade in my case!

[Dr Hobbitstein]

74. It was never about ethics in journalism.

It started with threats and harassment against Zoe Quinn (because her game got good reviews). Then, when pushed, the fucktards rambled on about ethics in journalism.

[Rex]

64. I remember that, people were trying to minimize a deadly situation for an innocent women.

The hatred of women is disturbing. Seeing it here on a progressive forum is unacceptable.

[MADem]

67. I found the topic interesting because it was a new area of learning for me.

I'm old, I didn't grow up in the American computer culture, hell, when I was a kid there was a time we didn't even have a television--and we weren't unusual, most of our neighbors didn't have one, either! But when I started reading about this topic, I was aghast. And that 8chan crowd--now we know where the pervy rightwingers are hiding!

http://www.dailydot.com/politics/8chan-pedophiles-child-porn-gamergate/

Public traffic data for 8chan.co is not available, but Brennan said the site “has held steady at a little over 1 million page views per day, 35,000 unique visitors per day, and 400,000 posts per week for the last few weeks.”

The site’s biggest boards are not pedophile-centric. Instead, many of 8chan’s most active boards are political. ... Self-described conservatives make up the majority of these boards. “Our largest politics board, /pol/, is very right-leaning,” Brennan explained.

I checked into /pol/ to take a sampling of the content. I saw discussion of small-government Republicanism, angry criticism of “n****r culture,” a long thread saying Bill Cosby’s alleged rape victims are faking it, and multiple rants against Muslim immigration to the West.

Brennan is himself a registered Republican, he told me, but only so that he could vote (for Ron Paul). 8chan has boards visited by people across the political spectrum, but there’s no doubt where the majority weighs in.

The right-wing ideology that permeates the site is made evident by 8channers’ preoccupation with feminism and other liberal ideologies, which they see as the root of evil. That’s not a surprise, given that Gamergate was the major catalyst for 8chan’s popularity.

[hopemountain]

70. thank you for pointing to this, MADem

and i applaud your efforts to keep on the lights of knowledge & awareness. as i have aged, new thinking and change of basic fundamental thinking from my generations & cultural upbringing are continual challenges. mostly, it is the challenge of "accepting" and being "open" to things i find reprehensible - such as disrespect of others and the need to be superior to others - a common, acceptable practice these days.

[MADem]

73. Indeed--it's easy to get complacent so I try to challenge myself every now and again.

I've gotten a lot of good tips re: reading material here at DU. It also helps to chat up the younger generations and find out what they're interested in; some of the trendy stuff is "Meh!" but they also have some fascinating interests as well.

As for the current fad to be dismissive and snarky, I've had about enough of that, too. It's like Mean Girls and Internet Tough Guys on steroids, some places! All we can do is hold up a mirror and hope they'll take a good, long look, I guess!

[marble falls]

18. Unbelievable. Having been stalked by one person who threatened, I don't know how I....

would react in Briana Wu, Zoe Quinn, and Anita Sarkeesian's situation. I am constantly amazed by the things people will say on line. And then there are the real sociopaths who are capable of following through.

Computers teach everything but empathy, it seems.

[marym625]

19. How is this still going on?

Wtf is law enforcement doing about this? For christ's sake! Do they have to die for something to happen?

Thank you Ms Wu, Ms Quinn and Ms Sarkeesian!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

26. actually, yes I think.

LE can't do anything until "an act of violence has occurred ". That's how I think it works...having read many first person accounts, the women always have this problem. Can't get much protection until the guy does something.

Stalking, threats....they can't stop the guy until he follows through. If I've got the story wrong or partially wrong, someone correct me.

[marym625]

28. Unless the law changed

If the threat is imminent, they should arrest him. If he has assaulted her or said something that isn't ambiguous, that's against the law. Or it used to be.

But, just like cops don't do anything in domestic cases, I am sure because they're women, you're right. They'll have to die first.

Sucks.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

30. I'd love to find I'm wrong.

IfMayb someone who knows will jump in to clarify.

[marym625]

33. I know it varies by State

I know it has to be an actual threat of death or bodily harm.

So you can't be charged with a death threat for saying something like, "die you bitch" but if you said, "I'm going to kill you." that's a death threat and in most states, maybe all of them, you can be charged and serve a year or more in prison.

Here's the legal definition of assault. Sure seems to fit

http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/assault

[Jamastiene]

80. Usually, yes, that is what LE will tell you.

If you are a woman being stalked and harassed, LE will usually tell you that their hands are tied until the person attacks and/or kills you. They can come in and put your body in a body bag after you are murdered, but before that, they are no help at all. They will swear up and down they can do nothing for you until the stalker physically attacks you. If you live, they *might* come in and diffuse the situation for a little while, but then you are back to being on your own, because they rarely arrest the guys. Usually, you have to explain to them for about an hour that it is not your boyfriend and you do not want this person harassing you. Every new person they bring over to ask you questions will always start with the same question. "Is he your boyfriend or something? Are you two having a spat?" Cops and college administrators and staff should NEVER be allowed to ask those types of questions more than once, but each new person that catches wind of something going on will come in and ask those same insulting fucking questions to a woman every single time. All a woman asking for help hears from each new person coming in is those insulting questions. Nothing gets done to help a woman until they come to put her in a body bag, after the fact, because they couldn't seem to get it through their thick closed minds that he was NOT her boyfriend and never was her boyfriend, but a stalker instead.

I know this from personal experience when a guy followed me home from college. Driving by the police station and parking there but not getting out or going in got rid of him the first time, eventually. I wasn't going to risk my life even that much. On the way BACK to college for classes the next day, he ended up behind me not long after I pulled out of my driveway. He was from 2 counties over in the opposite direction. I was asked if he was my boyfriend by 12 different people in one night that night. I was asked by people ranging from security at the the college to the cops later. It was the same with each new person they brought over to interrogate me while they placated him and patted him on the back.

If my mother's therapist hadn't been a professor at the college and hadn't been walking by at that point, I would probably still be answering that same idiotic "Is he your boyfriend?" question. No matter how many times a woman says, "No," cops and college administrators never hear it. We are on our own.

Personally, I believe women should just go ahead and start using real self defense (not the wimpy crap they teach in most self defense courses aimed at shutting women up) and taking these stalker fuckers out and be done with their bullshit. If the cops won't protect us and are just going to coddle and baby and protect the stalkers, and that IS LE's attitude, and college admins' attitude, then fuck them. Let them start putting their precious golden boys in body bags instead.

[marym625]

82. I'm so sorry you went through that

And when my sister was stalked, to work, at home, when out, for almost a year, she had a problem getting an order of protection because they had never been in a relationship.

When it finally went to court after he violated the order, the prosecutor asked if he was in a relationship with my sister. The guy said no "but if you had a machine and you could go into my mind and her mind you would know we're in love and meant to be together." That put him in Cook County for a while.



Tracy Chapman - Behind The Wall:

[LiberalLovinLug]

23. K & R

Good luck and be safe

[one_voice]

24. Brave!

Nah, little boys aren't scared of women. These are cowards & bullies.

Law enforcement need to step up their game and stop this.

K n R.

[whathehell]

25. This is nuts, not to mention Terrifying -- WTF is wrong with these men?

It seems we're definitely going backward, not only in terms of Race but

in terms of Gender -- Again, what is WRONG with these guys?

Thank you, Dr. Hobbitstein for supporting these women, and for bringing

the attention to this matter it deserves -- Women's Lives Matter.

[DonCoquixote]

29. NO mercy and no quarter for Gamergaters

These so called males (more like little boys) should be thankful that they are in socoiety that protects them from what some people wopuld love to do them, especially as we know that these creeps deserve at the very least a good beating and or time in a lockup where their fantasies of male dominance can be shown to therm in a whole new light.

The gaming industry will be the next Hollywood, in some ways, it already is, and I will de damned if I let a bunch of Guppies keep the pond small so they can pretend to be sharks. The worlds has moved beyond you little boys, so if you cannot ride the train, sta the hell away from the tracks, as lady programmers and lady gamers and female characters will run over you. Ah, for the days when Morgan Webb and jessica Chobot would rip these little bastards up on G4, which sadly, a female executive named Bonnie Hammer turned into "the Esquire Network" aka "spike TV for psudointellectuals."

[NutmegYankee]

42. Alert results.

On Fri Feb 13, 2015, 09:09 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

NO mercy and no quarter for Gamergaters
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6218484

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

I broadly agree with the sentiments expressed in this post, except for this: I don't believe that anyone should be given "a good beating and or time in a lockup where their fantasies of male dominance can be shown to them in a whole new light." While it is relatively rare to see people on DU advocating for the use of rape as a punishment, it is always disturbing.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Feb 13, 2015, 09:27 AM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Bah, say it in the thread. Nothing hide-worthy here.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I didn't read that as advocating rape. Good rant overall.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

47. Some MRA just lost their alerting privledges for the day... n/t

[NutmegYankee]

48. Yup. Nt

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

56. Ayup

[DonCoquixote]

85. thanks to the jury

I fully expected to be given a pizza, but it is good to know there is still intelligent life down here.

[Lancero]

60. Might come to a shock to you...

But there are women who are against her.

[MADem]

66. Really? Name them, would you?

I can't imagine any woman with a lick of sense being opposed to equal treatment under the law.

[Lancero]

87. On second thought...

Your wording outright says you're going to disregard any examples I provide.

When you decide to open your mind to the fact that women have the ability to make their own choices in what they give their support to, then we can talk.

[MADem]

88. I don't trade in snark. So please, name them, would you? nt

[Lancero]

89. Then why open this trade with it?

Well, whatever. I suppose I'll give you this, rather then attacking the women who dare have differing opinions.

http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/gamergate-and-women-in-video-game-culture/543c686878c90a71ff000157

I suppose that your disbelief that women can support such is understandable. People tend to pay attention to those who scream the loudest over a message rather then the message itself. And really, that is perhaps the worst thing about Gamergate - People have decided to focus onto those who scream loudest for their own goals, rather then to discuss what originally started the movement.

[MADem]

90. The longer you refuse to answer my simple, open, basic question, the more I wonder if you have

a list of names readily available. YOU were the one who made the assertion--I expect you to back it up. And I'm not alone, I'm sure.

Please allay my concerns, and name these women you referenced a couple of posts upthread. Thank you in advance.

I'll wait....

N.B. If you think a remark about "equal treatment under the law" is "snark," then perhaps you have some re-thinking to do.

[Lancero]

92. The snark was your comment about women who think diffrently are idiots.

Wait no more though, you've been given your viewing material.

[MADem]

94. No, that wasn't snark. That was a fact. Now answer my question.

If you continue to refuse, I will simply have to make a logical inference as to why.

And, I should note to anyone following this conversation, the only person to bring the word "idiots" into this discussion was YOU, Lancero.

Stop diverting, and answer the question.

[Lancero]

96. Refer to post 87, then 89

In 87 I said you would refuse any examples I provided.

In 89 I gave you a link to such examples.

And here you are, refusing the accept the examples I provided. So thanks, I guess, for proving me right?

[MADem]

97. You know, we can see when you edit your posts, as you did with post 89.

And you didn't pick a very good (or sincere) "champion" for your causes--next time, try picking someone without an ax to grind.

http://www.reaxxion.com/4258/how-did-jennie-bharajs-basedgamer-com-meet-its-funding-goal

[Lancero]

98. The post was edited long before you replied in post 94.

The last edit was at :37, where I fulfilled your request, and I informed you in post 92 made at :38 that I'd provided you material to overlook. Material you chosed to ignore when making post 94 at :42. I didn't edit post 89 with the intent to entrap you, like you are alluding to, I edited it after deciding to go ahead and answer your question and I made a effort to inform you that it contained additional information.

But as I said in 87, you'll ignore whatever I give you. That link lead to three people, two of which you are ignoring.

I've proven my claims, you've proven mine that you will ignore whatever I provide, and you've decided to attack me over a edit you were given warning and opportunity to read before making a further reply. You can consider this conversation over.

[MADem]

99. You didn't refer me back to your link. Are you in the habit of re-reading a thread everytime you

post? Most people aren't.

I didn't ignore what you gave me, once you made it clear that you'd added a link. And you haven't proven your claims, you've simply offered individuals with a pecuniary interest in the process. Where are the female consumers who support this kind of noxious behavior? They simply don't exist.

It is entirely possible for reasonable people to express disagreement about how games are structured, if there's any motivation for developers to work at being more inclusive on a variety of fronts, etc., without acting like a bully or an ass. That's where the objections of most people are coming from--the perspective that threatening someone's life or safety over something like this is ever 'ok.' Defending this kind of conduct is noxious--it's certainly unprogressive, at a minimum.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

101. Discuss what originally started the movement?

Zoe Quinn's Depression Quest got good reviews. A couple gamers didn't like that, and started harassing her. Then Zoe Quinn's EX boyfriend made the claim that she was sleeping with the reviewer at Kotaku (who, mind you was one of many good reviews that lead to Steam picking up her game). She denied it, the threats started. It was never about ethics in journalism, it was about slut shaming. Anyone suggesting otherwise is providing cover for mysogynistic assholes.

[DonCoquixote]

83. when you threaten to KILL someone

You cannot go ahead and say "I really was not being all the mean" My post was directed mainly at those who have threatened, or otherwise condoned, violence. If there are women in that group, well, some women hated Susan B. Anthony, and frankly Ann Coulter still does.

[Pacifist Patriot]

31. Just finished watching the L&O

I did not like the way they ended it.

[Blue_In_AK]

71. I didn't like the way it ended either,

but it was probably realistic.

[myrna minx]

41. K&R !

[el_bryanto]

43. Thanks for posting this. It's terrible what is being done to these women. nt

[mackerel]

45. Who is Frederick Brennan?

[Dr Hobbitstein]

46. The founder of 8chan.

8chan is supposed to be a 4chan clone for "free speech advocates". Aka, MRA types who have been removed from 4chan after GamerGate. Also, 8chan has pedophilia related boards which Brennan calls "reprehensible", but refuses to remove because "free speech".

Basically, he's an asshole.

[blackspade]

51. Gamergate can fuck off.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

52. +A Brazilion!

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

54. I am a woman gamer

I am 42 and happily married, but I just love first person shooters and I've been playing the Call of Duty game franchise since it began. Every morning before heading into work, in the evenings and on the weekends, I play a few rounds of multiplayer Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

I hardly wear my headset and my fellow players do not know I am a woman. I have heard open mic conversations among some players that were full of ugly hatred towards women and plenty of homophobia. It's sad when the hatred comes from young kids, but there's always hope that maturity will change them. It's even sadder when the hatred comes from more adult males - it doesn't bode well for their girlfriends/boyfriends, sisters, mothers and other female figures in their lives.

It is because of stories such as Briana's that I do not participate in the conversations with fellow players - even though most tend to be quite humorous.

It is sad that women gamers have to hide who they are or else be threatened by nutjobs.

[zappaman]

59. Buncha pricks.

Proud of Brianna and everyone else standing up to these fuckers.

[Rex]

63. The Commander? Sounds like a sniveling coward to me.

I'm a male and have been playing video games for 30 years now. Not ONCE did I ever give a thought to the gender of the people that make the games I love to play.

I think Gamergate is a front for another sorry group of women haters. It is sad they still exist in 2015.

[MADem]

68. He probably doesn't have "command" of his bowels!

I hope the charge sheet against him is long. He deserves it.

[Rex]

69. LOL! He seems to have Belated Darwin Award written all over him!

Not that I am hoping something terrible happens to him, just that somebody down the line terrifies him so he knows how it feels.

[MADem]

76. I'm afraid something terrible has already happened to him!

He was born as himself--I mean, really...who would WANT to be that little dweeb? He's such a noxious loser!!!! His insecurity is painted all over his twerpy little masked face!

[Chalco]

75. I watched the Law and Order show based on this story...

the other night.

I found it particularly disturbing because my daughter is a budding animation/game designer. In her experience, the industry is
almost 100% male. Her college sponsored a tour of local facilities (I'm not going to say the state/city). Before that tour she always chided me on being a feminist. "Mom, things have changed. There's no need for feminism anymore. Men and women are equal." Really, she said that in high school. So, she walks through the door and is lead around and sees that there are no women in her field. Shocked, she called me and said, "Mom, oh my God, you were right. Oh, my God."

[Jamastiene]

77. I must be very lucky when it comes to the gamers I know.

The guys I know would find what is happening to her appalling. The one I watch stream every day doesn't even allow people to say, "That's So Gay" or anything even remotely anti-gay in his chat. It is one of the reasons I like him so much. People get their asses banned for that kind of racist, sexist, or homophobic crap if they try it in his chat that accompanies his streams and he certainly wouldn't tolerate death threats.

Still, the truth is, there are asshole gamers too. I have just been incredibly lucky to find mostly good ones who don't treat women like targets to be destroyed/harassed/possibly murdered (if this keeps up, she probably will get murdered) like that.

[MADem]

93. It doesn't take many to make the majority look bad. All it takes is a critical mass of

stinking a-holes making a lot of noise, and the crowd can seem larger than it actually is. And of course, the weak ones will follow the blowhard loudmouths--it's just like Junior High School, where the Big Tough Bullies run around beating on the smaller children who have been cut out of the herd, and then follow up by bellowing how superior they are for winning what is clearly an unfair fight.

It's cowardice, plain and simple.

[DonCoquixote]

86. this is where

I call upon activison, EA and the money makers. Yes, I know that there is nothing that can stop all idiots but they can certainly funds a lot of psa's and send some cash to help Wu and the others targeted.

[ScreamingMeemie]

91. ^This

Where are we reading about this? On DU and assorted gaming blogs, news blogs, etc. Where are we not really hearing about this? MSM. I wouldn't even know this was going on if I didn't log in here because I'm not part of the gaming community. That's it's gone on this long is disgusting.

[DonCoquixote]

95. the problem is

half the people,. including both the gamergaters and the MSM, still think voideogames are kids toy, the other has seen gamnes make a billion dollars, and seen games like Bioshock Infinite take on questions of race and americna impoerialism that many run from.

[Pooka Fey]

100. This is really scary.

Exceptional women like Brianna Wu often become targeted by bullies for stalking and harassment for refusing to "shut up" and remain in their "places". Now Brianna has become the victim of a failed assassination in attempt real life. WTF?!!! She should be under police protection 24/7.

Good post.