A little realization hit me while I was watching videos about #GamerGate recently. MRAs and #GamerGaters really seem to enjoy depicting themselves as cartoon villains. Above, the skull-in-a-Koolaid-pitcher mascot of MRA videoblogger Bane666au.
Below, a screencap from a video by Mundane Matt, one of the movers and shakers behind the whole #GamerGate thing.
Once the smokey skull intro is over, here’s what you look at the rest of the time when you watch one of his videos:
And while we’re at it, the logo for his channel:
When they’re not depicting themselves as evil skulls with creepy eyes, MRAs and other antifeminists like to identify themselves with fictional villains:
That is, when they’re not posing as supervillains themselves:
Oh, hey, it’s our friend Davis Aurini, from earlier today, in an unphotoshopped screenshot from a video of his.
Oh, and here’s a screenshot from a more recent video of his. Note the skull. That’s right: he owns a freaking skull.
I hate to tell you guys, but I think YOU’RE THE BADDIES.
Yes, I know I’ve posted this video before, but once again it seemed very very apt.
You just displayed utter lack of knowledge of this site. BS on this attempt to derail what you’ve just said.
CHS is paid by the frigging American Enterprise Institute, YET ANOTHER Koch Bro think tank.
She’s a partisan hack trotted out to make the right wing seem less extreme.
Damn, this is the weakest trolling I’ve ever seen.
I’m an old so I remember Chris Gaines. That was hilarious.
It also never ceases to me amuse me when MRAs use Walter White in their memes. They completely missed the point of that show. I don’t think they love Walt because he’s a villain though. I think they love him because they mistakenly think he was supposed to be a hero.
I’m sorry, I’m not entirely sure how to quote users, or else I would directly quote you.
brooked: I worded that rather poorly. I have no problem with games presenting ideologies and unique world views. My personal problem rather comes from those who would push those views on others, acting as if everyone should follow those certain ideologies. I don’t try to make others follow my political/religious beliefs, and I would hope others would offer me the same respect.
weirwoodtreehugger: The origins of a movement don’t alter the movement’s message. However it may have started, it’s current goals and aims are not ones of harassment or defamation.
When I refer to “our” I mean anyone who identifies as a gamer. I do not claim personal ownership of gaming, nor do I claim that video games are an exclusive media. I simply mean that I would rather not have the ideologies of others forced upon me.
Weirwood, I’m being respectful of you and yours, please try to keep this to civil discussion and refrain from name-calling.
I posted this on the last thread, but it seems even more appropriate here:
This is something most adults know. If you think that acting like a cartoon supervillain (“Dark enlightenment”? Really?) makes you edgy or impressive, you’re just a nasty child at play.
I love that Tyler Owen lists Sommers as a feminist, when she herself denounces feminism.
Christina Hoff Sommers? Really? Next you’ll be citing Sarah Palin. Not only was she (C.H. Sommers) listed as the number one on a list of anti-feminist woman put together by by Amanda Marcotte, but Ophelia Benson over at FreethoughtBlogs felt the need to put together a watch post detailing all the smug, hateful shit Sommers was tweeting.
You don’t need every single gamergater to hate all feminists. Gamergate, as a whole, has simply been a vehicle for the ones who do hate feminists and do harass. Name one dude targeted by gamergate that wasn’t pulled in for defending the women being harassed.
Wow, you are new here.
Hmmm, how long til the failed flounce? Bets, anyone?
Ooh look, someone to argue the toss. Been a while.
This might not be the most substantial criticism of gamergaters, but heaven knows there’s more of Mr Aurini and his ilk around here. But presumably someone out to make a video documentary against Sarkeesian is *not* part of gamergate.
So if you didn’t see it, it didn’t happen. Right.
We actually covered this back in another thread. The short version: harassment did happen, it was the original purpose of #GamerGate, “journalistic integrity” was pastede on yey, and #GG is therefore a poisoned well. If you actually care about journalistic integrity, make a new movement and divorce yourself from #GG.
The longer version starts here when “Lisa” (who later admitted to being a white guy sockpuppeting as a lady) made more or less the same argument you just did, plus a few others.
T’is true. But I still want The Narada to fly around in. (It’s very cephalopod-y.) Interior re-design is a necessity, though.
@malcom johnston
Can you disprove it?
Speculation or not, I can’t really imagine many other reasons why they would behave in the awful way they do. The alternative is they’re just abusive people who get a kick out of exerting power over people to “put them in their place.” As far as I can tell, their only motive is to hurt people.
@Tyler:
(aside: blockquotes go like this: <blockquote> Quote goes here </blockquote> )
Name the people, and name the ideologies those people are acting like everyone should follow. Kinda hard to debate when you get lost in abstraction land.
Cassie’s Major Domo: I’m not trolling, I’m trying to have a civil discussion amongst those of differing opinions. I’m trying to be respectful, and I’m sorry if I’m unaware of the current goings-on of a site I’ve never visited before. I don’t expect you to explain things to me, but any helpful information you guys and gals might provide would be appreciated.
Also, I made sure to read the site’s comment policy before posting, and it seems that Mr. Futrelle is willing to at least allow me a voice on this site, rather than outright censoring what I might have to say. Saying that such is otherwise is rather confusing, seeing as how my posts were allowed to go through the initial moderation.
Tyler, you’re boring, and you have no talent for trolling. Find a new hobby.
False. The origins of the “movement” absolutely taint the whole thing. You’re following and agreeing with a faux grassroots movement that was designed as a misogynistic harassment campaign. If you care about integrity, try acting with integrity.
Who’s trying to force anything on you? Zoe Quinn made a game that you don’t have to play if you don’t want to. Anita Sarkeesian criticizes sexism in games. She’s not stopping anyone from playing the games she criticizes.
Oh, fuck that. You’re defending a misogynistic hate campaign. I don’t have to be nice to you. We aren’t your mommies and you’ll get no coddling here. This is a blog for mocking misogyny. Don’t be surprised when you get mocked for peddling bullshit here.
@Tyler:
This is a website dedicated to mockery, expect to be mocked. We get our fair share of trolls here, so patience can be limited. The best way to do yourself no favors is by complaining about tone.
Do yourself a huge favor and stop commenting now and spend a few days reading the site.
You aren’t being censored: we delight in taking foolishness and exposing it. If you don’t wish to look foolish, spend more time educating yourself about the site.
Thanks, and we’ll see you in a few weeks.
I admit to being curious how you define “pushing” a view onto you, and how this meshes with the fact that we are talking about games, that nobody forces you to buy or play.
HA!
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA
hee hee hee hee hee
heh….
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Yes, having a noted anti-feminist on board totally means you’re not anti-feminist.
It’s like you didn’t even try.
It’s like magic, isn’t it? Have a conversation about delicate manfeels and right on schedule this guy turns up to provide a helpful illustration.
I refuse to believe someone can be this thick.
#notallbricks
The Simone Weil quote is great. I’ve been using it for years, and now I know who said it!
Tyler, if you look at the evidence available for the origin and motivation for the #gamergate campaign, it is clear that it’s a case of malice aforethought. It is, in fact, ideologically motivated, just as the pushback is. The question becomes, which ideology do you support, and why?