Electronic Arts: It Gets Better; Gamers: No, It Doesn't

by Brandon Miller · 2010-12-21 13:46:00 UTC
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This is definitely a bittersweet story. On the one hand, how wonderful is it to see a video game company reaching out to gay teenagers? In a typically straight-male-oriented sector, it's pretty amazing to see diversity and acceptance championed.

And then we have the comments that have come since the video has been posted and, well, it kind of proves the point, doesn't it? Bullying is alive and well among video gamers.

But back to the beginning. Electronic Arts is a huge video game company, having brought the world games like "The Sims" and "Dead Space." In an effort to throw support behind the "It Gets Better" campaign, the company had some gay employees film a video targeting gay youth. EA is the first gaming company to join the campaign and the video itself is pretty effective.

"At one time, a bully actually physically threatened me and put a knife to my neck," remembers one employee.

That employee probably didn't expect what happened next. A slew of anti-gay comments have popped up online. It seems that some gamers have little interest in seeing EA stand up for gay rights.

A sample of YouTube comments for your viewing (un)pleasure:

"This video is disgusting, I'm never buying another EA product ever again, [deleted] homosexual agenda. I urge all parents to keep any EA games from their children to prevent them to be AIDS-spreading, Satan-loving scum."

"Ever bought an EA game? Then you're a [deleted] FAGGOT."

"Homos ruined GAMING."

I'm not so sure how we ruined gaming or, for that matter, how this video even affects anyone who is not LGBT, either positively or negatively. Don't like it? Don't watch it. It seems almost too simple, right? For what it is worth, gaming blogs have praised EA. But the comments there have been no less hate-filled.

"If you want equality don't call attention to yourselves," writes someone on Kotaku. "Believe it or not you don't deserve special treatment."

"Thats disgusting – Time to boycott EA," wrote another person on GamePro.

Lucky for us, the more time a homophobe spends in his basement playing a video game, the less time he has to go out into the world and torment gay people. Unlucky for us, they can now direct that homophobia and anger at others online.

Check out the EA video below. And rest assured that the comments here will allow for a safe space for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.


Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Brandon Miller is a freelance writer and editor from Toronto, Ontario.
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