If anyone hasn't seen the dreamhack Austin matches, then let me inform you that the pro African American player, TerrenceM, was barraged with racial slurs. This article in polygon discusses how his family and close friends had watched the racial slurs during the peak of his hearthstone career.
You can call me whatever you like: PC, sensitive, but go ahead and mock me for sticking up for what's right. First we need to acknowledge the problem. Then we need to have a consensus that this is disgusting and unacceptable. Of all the entertainment articles you read all day, spend one second and think about someone else and read the polygon article and make a stand for god sakes. Silence and inaction is a choice and an action.
I'd like to see a petition or a grassroots movement to curve racism out of professional highly streamed events. I want a call for moderators to crack down on this racism. Some moderators in the article reported that some were complacent to the chaos. You can't be complacent when it's your job. Your a moderator, so moderate, or replace the moderators.
Yes, twitch chat is full of assholes, and imo should be disabled for large events.
If not racism, it's sexism, trolling, etc, etc, etc.
It's a total failure for the organizers who didn't put enough security measures (bots, language filters, bannings, etc) to control what's posted and what not.
Speech liberty + Anonymity gave by the internet is your problem so.
I mostly agree, though the bigger picture is the lack of consequence. If comment on chat requires a deposit of $50 and getting banned means losing the deposit, I am sure chat is going to clean up a lot even with minimal moderation.
(Subscription would also work, but I am not a fan of the idea of pay to speak in major tournaments.)
Trying to get twitch chat worked is like getting the king of switzerland. You can't really do something against it since there are no politically correct rules inthe internet. Each Website has his own kinda rules and twitch staff can just delete stuff like (just as an example) asshole or fuck off. Nevertheless, if you just spam an emote, it is just logically clear that you don't offend someone directly (only if you are in Lifecoach chat, then you get banned by typing a single EleGiggle)
Only subs should have been allowed to post on this stupid chat. And i have never subscribe to anyone, because it just doesn't interest me enough to pay someone for playing a video game. But yeah if only subs were allowed to post a comment than this probably wouldn't be an issue anymore. If anyone would post something racist he would simply get banned and that's it.
About official hearthstone channel where you can not subscribe they should just disable a chat. I mean why is there even a chat anyways? Bunch of spam, insults, racists and so on... You can not have a normal conversation if there is 5k, 10k+ people who are all spamming most of the time the same thing.
I too was appalled by what happened to TerrenceM during DreamHack. As someone above said, it's a combination of anonymity + internet that makes it a thing, and unfortunately people find these disgusting memes and slurs funny.
The fact that there weren't mods on that stream from the very beginning blows me away. The latest Angry Chicken episode discussed this matter and had some good ideas for ways to try stifling the gross racism, sexism, and homophobia in Twitch chat.
As Dills on TAC said, "Apparently if you're not a straight white male, you're just fodder for insults and cruelty."
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Twitch will have to address this problem if it wants to continue to grow. This is true for most entertainment if it wants to become more mainstream. By continuing to ignore this behavior, the twitch user base will most likely plateau. As Twitch is owned by Amazon, we must assume they want Twitch to continue to grow and, based on Amazon's rules against selling offensive items, we could similar changes for Twitch.
Most people do not want to hear discriminatory and hateful remarks from the audience while enjoying their entertainment. Think of the people that are escorted out of sport venues for spewing hate, racism, or just vulgar behavior. The same can happen to Twitch and I think most of us would appreciate it.
This disclaimer Will cleanse any sense of innuendo or sarcasm From the comments that might actually make you think And will also insult your intelligence at the same time. So, if it sounds sarcastic, don't take it seriously. If it sounds dangerous, Do not try this at home or at all. And if it offends you, just don't read it.
I agree there is a need to deal with racist and other abusive postings. There is no free speech guaranteed when using a product. Twitch/Amazon should be able to implement whatever policy they want. As the Angry Chicken said the other day: if you want esports to grow, you need to deal with it.
I'd like to constructively argue against moving this topic. This is a serious issue, you would think differently if you were TerrenceM or his family to move this topic to a less visible location. This is something that needs to be fought for and made apparent so we can see change. People have already suggested a myriad of solutions and expressed their opinions. This isn't for general disscusuon? It's on the front page of polygon!
Holy shit,spamming an emote that resembles whoever is playing is a common twitch tradition and it doesn't mean that the people that do that are racist. Useless topic.
For example, I am a white man and I am offended whenever chat is spamming Kappa
We will live in a very sad world if a bunch of kids can't spam a fucking emote because they might insult someone,get real people,no one gives a flying fuck that you get offended,if there were some real consequences for that player,aka not getting paid or not getting acknowledgement for his wins because he is black that would be racist,but this?Nah.
As I'm a grown-up, old fart I put the state of twitch chat on the modern day. People don't understand that if you try to hurt people they will be hurt... It's, like, kids in Micky mouse suits or whatever getting abused. The guys who beat them and kick them don't understand that there's an actual person inside... They think it's fluff and Micky all the way through! It's appaling that people just check their morality at the door when it comes to the Internet. The only way to go through life is to, at every point, do the right thing! What you think is right! What feels right in your gut. What you feel is still right after you done it and reflected upon it for a few moments! And I'm not talking about abiding laws or follow set rules, I'm talking about your own morality you.
Thar said: it's about one to five percent or so being assholes on chat. The majority ignores the crap and a few try to stave it... Maybe if a majority wouldn't ignore it but acted instead?
I know that I'll get my ass busted here over this rant. Yes it's dramatic and a bit goody two shoes but you know what? It felt right. Can't be afraid of the trolls...
We live in a sad world if we think that we shouldn't fight for a better world. we live in a sad world if we lack the empathy to feel bad for TerrenceM's family.
Thanks pistolkatt.
This shouldn't have to matter, but for everyone assuming I'm white. I'm in fact both black and a legend hearthstone player, who enjoys this community. I have taken first at hearthstone gatherings around Texas.
Requiring only subscribers or a membership to post on major events is a great solution. If we want to see change we can't just sit around and be complacent. I thank polygon from the bottom of my heart by placing this issue on the front page. Change doesn't happen over night but this is Definitely a good first step.
Getting triggered by racism in 2016? TriHard It's twitch chat dudes, it's not racist, it's just retarded: they would hate anything for whichever reason and often times they just bait you with anything that may hurt you just for the sake of triggering you. If you're black they're gonna N word you, if you're fat expect OpieOP NA jokes, if you're female expect free sexism: whatever you get you shouldn't feel entitled to feel like a special case: you're not that unique snowflake, you're basically getting the generic twitch chat treatment, just slightly adjusted to your very target.
Yes, it is expected which is why Dreamhack should have done a much better job with moderators. However, I do not think it should be accepted as something that cannot be improved. No one is expecting special treatment, Terrence KNEW it was coming, just not on the level it did.
What you are saying seems very similar to claiming:
"white men are more likely to be CEOs, so women that get jobs in those companies should accept harassment, and black men should expect to be called the N word. Those that complain should not feel entitled to feel like a special case. You should expect what you get based on your very target."
or as those videos last year got around:
"men are idiots sometimes. If you are an attractive woman walking around New York, expect to be objectified, followed, ogled, and to receive sexist remarks. You should not feel entitled to any more respect than that"
I'd say overall, most people want to ensure that anyone does not have to be subjected to either example. Hopefully people look to improve Twitch in a similar way to see it succeed even more. If left as is, we can be sure it will never appeal to a wider audience. That is fine if that is what the majority of the community and the company wants, but I think the community and company want to continue to grow and improve.
Holy shit,spamming an emote that resembles whoever is playing is a common twitch tradition and it doesn't mean that the people that do that are racist. Useless topic.
For example, I am a white man and I am offended whenever chat is spamming Kappa
The inherent flaw of the internet. Anonymity is the key to seeing anyone's soul.
Yes twitch chat is stupid, but there are people that don't participate in that stupidity and actually talk about the event. I just feel like it's within every stream's individual right to censor/submode/shut off twitch chat. It makes the experience more professional. Yeah, anyone that actually participates in the sheer stupidity of spam and racism/sexism/whatever will feel like they're being infringed upon, but I have always believed you should say the same shit you do on the internet, face to face. And a lot of what people say would get them curbstomped.
BUT nothing will ever change, because humanity is damned.
If anyone hasn't seen the dreamhack Austin matches, then let me inform you that the pro African American player, TerrenceM, was barraged with racial slurs. This article in polygon discusses how his family and close friends had watched the racial slurs during the peak of his hearthstone career.
You can call me whatever you like: PC, sensitive, but go ahead and mock me for sticking up for what's right. First we need to acknowledge the problem. Then we need to have a consensus that this is disgusting and unacceptable. Of all the entertainment articles you read all day, spend one second and think about someone else and read the polygon article and make a stand for god sakes. Silence and inaction is a choice and an action.
I'd like to see a petition or a grassroots movement to curve racism out of professional highly streamed events. I want a call for moderators to crack down on this racism. Some moderators in the article reported that some were complacent to the chaos. You can't be complacent when it's your job. Your a moderator, so moderate, or replace the moderators.
http://www.polygon.com/features/2016/5/12/11658440/twitch-abuse-hearthstone
Yes, twitch chat is full of assholes, and imo should be disabled for large events.
If not racism, it's sexism, trolling, etc, etc, etc.
It's a total failure for the organizers who didn't put enough security measures (bots, language filters, bannings, etc) to control what's posted and what not.
I mostly agree, though the bigger picture is the lack of consequence. If comment on chat requires a deposit of $50 and getting banned means losing the deposit, I am sure chat is going to clean up a lot even with minimal moderation.
(Subscription would also work, but I am not a fan of the idea of pay to speak in major tournaments.)
People who refuses to play aggro out of principle are even worse than people who play exclusively aggro.
One should seek to become a complete player and play all archetypes, including ones that he despises for whatever irrational reasons.
Trying to get twitch chat worked is like getting the king of switzerland. You can't really do something against it since there are no politically correct rules inthe internet. Each Website has his own kinda rules and twitch staff can just delete stuff like (just as an example) asshole or fuck off. Nevertheless, if you just spam an emote, it is just logically clear that you don't offend someone directly (only if you are in Lifecoach chat, then you get banned by typing a single EleGiggle)
Just remember the good times!
Only subs should have been allowed to post on this stupid chat. And i have never subscribe to anyone, because it just doesn't interest me enough to pay someone for playing a video game. But yeah if only subs were allowed to post a comment than this probably wouldn't be an issue anymore. If anyone would post something racist he would simply get banned and that's it.
About official hearthstone channel where you can not subscribe they should just disable a chat. I mean why is there even a chat anyways? Bunch of spam, insults, racists and so on... You can not have a normal conversation if there is 5k, 10k+ people who are all spamming most of the time the same thing.
I've moved this forum post to our off-topic section as it is not strictly about Hearthstone.
You are all free to discuss the topic as long as it is done civilly.
I too was appalled by what happened to TerrenceM during DreamHack. As someone above said, it's a combination of anonymity + internet that makes it a thing, and unfortunately people find these disgusting memes and slurs funny.
The fact that there weren't mods on that stream from the very beginning blows me away. The latest Angry Chicken episode discussed this matter and had some good ideas for ways to try stifling the gross racism, sexism, and homophobia in Twitch chat.
As Dills on TAC said, "Apparently if you're not a straight white male, you're just fodder for insults and cruelty."
Building Quirky Decks Every Week, Loving Life at Rank 15!
Twitch will have to address this problem if it wants to continue to grow. This is true for most entertainment if it wants to become more mainstream. By continuing to ignore this behavior, the twitch user base will most likely plateau. As Twitch is owned by Amazon, we must assume they want Twitch to continue to grow and, based on Amazon's rules against selling offensive items, we could similar changes for Twitch.
Most people do not want to hear discriminatory and hateful remarks from the audience while enjoying their entertainment. Think of the people that are escorted out of sport venues for spewing hate, racism, or just vulgar behavior. The same can happen to Twitch and I think most of us would appreciate it.
I like how it's always white straight men who get offended, but people that are actually being insulted are smart enough to ignore assholes.
This disclaimer
Will cleanse any sense of innuendo or sarcasm
From the comments that might actually make you think
And will also insult your intelligence at the same time.
So, if it sounds sarcastic, don't take it seriously.
If it sounds dangerous,
Do not try this at home or at all.
And if it offends you, just don't read it.
I agree there is a need to deal with racist and other abusive postings. There is no free speech guaranteed when using a product. Twitch/Amazon should be able to implement whatever policy they want. As the Angry Chicken said the other day: if you want esports to grow, you need to deal with it.
Twitch chat racist ??? No fucking way.
I'd like to constructively argue against moving this topic. This is a serious issue, you would think differently if you were TerrenceM or his family to move this topic to a less visible location. This is something that needs to be fought for and made apparent so we can see change. People have already suggested a myriad of solutions and expressed their opinions. This isn't for general disscusuon? It's on the front page of polygon!
Holy shit,spamming an emote that resembles whoever is playing is a common twitch tradition and it doesn't mean that the people that do that are racist. Useless topic.
For example, I am a white man and I am offended whenever chat is spamming Kappa
Kappa
We will live in a very sad world if a bunch of kids can't spam a fucking emote because they might insult someone,get real people,no one gives a flying fuck that you get offended,if there were some real consequences for that player,aka not getting paid or not getting acknowledgement for his wins because he is black that would be racist,but this?Nah.
The 1st step towards a better game is firing Mike Donais! We had enough of his "skillful" balances!
#FireMikeDonais
As I'm a grown-up, old fart I put the state of twitch chat on the modern day. People don't understand that if you try to hurt people they will be hurt... It's, like, kids in Micky mouse suits or whatever getting abused. The guys who beat them and kick them don't understand that there's an actual person inside... They think it's fluff and Micky all the way through! It's appaling that people just check their morality at the door when it comes to the Internet. The only way to go through life is to, at every point, do the right thing! What you think is right! What feels right in your gut. What you feel is still right after you done it and reflected upon it for a few moments! And I'm not talking about abiding laws or follow set rules, I'm talking about your own morality you.
Thar said: it's about one to five percent or so being assholes on chat. The majority ignores the crap and a few try to stave it... Maybe if a majority wouldn't ignore it but acted instead?
I know that I'll get my ass busted here over this rant. Yes it's dramatic and a bit goody two shoes but you know what? It felt right. Can't be afraid of the trolls...
We live in a sad world if we think that we shouldn't fight for a better world. we live in a sad world if we lack the empathy to feel bad for TerrenceM's family.
Thanks pistolkatt.
This shouldn't have to matter, but for everyone assuming I'm white. I'm in fact both black and a legend hearthstone player, who enjoys this community. I have taken first at hearthstone gatherings around Texas.
Requiring only subscribers or a membership to post on major events is a great solution. If we want to see change we can't just sit around and be complacent. I thank polygon from the bottom of my heart by placing this issue on the front page. Change doesn't happen over night but this is Definitely a good first step.
The inherent flaw of the internet. Anonymity is the key to seeing anyone's soul.
Yes twitch chat is stupid, but there are people that don't participate in that stupidity and actually talk about the event. I just feel like it's within every stream's individual right to censor/submode/shut off twitch chat. It makes the experience more professional. Yeah, anyone that actually participates in the sheer stupidity of spam and racism/sexism/whatever will feel like they're being infringed upon, but I have always believed you should say the same shit you do on the internet, face to face. And a lot of what people say would get them curbstomped.
BUT nothing will ever change, because humanity is damned.
This thread again.