13 votes

Twitch streamers have mixed reactions to Ninja’s choice to not play with female streamers

Topic removed by site admin

35 comments

  1. [5]
    aphoenix
    Link
    This continues to be a pretty interesting topic. I think until Twitch figures out some way to pull itself out of its own dumpster fire, then anything that happens on Twitch will necessarily be...

    This continues to be a pretty interesting topic.

    I think until Twitch figures out some way to pull itself out of its own dumpster fire, then anything that happens on Twitch will necessarily be viewed through the lens of, "What is the terrible Twitch community going to do with this?" That's an unfortunate issue and I think it's going to be difficult to overcome. I'm not sure why young men feel like it's okay to be unadulterated assholes when given even the slightest bit of anonymity, but this does touch on a subject that I'm always interested, which is the idea of consequence free speech.

    The internet is rapidly becoming a place where anything can be said, which means that the things that we say have no consequences to them. This is horrendous. When we say awful things in person, people can associate those ideas with us as people, and there are natural consequences. For example, if Person A says something sexist, then everyone around him can think, "Hey, Person A is sexist! I don't like that." They may disassociate with him, and his social status declines. He's still free to say the things he wants to say, but he is not immune to consequence.

    Online, it is quite different. Person B says something sexist online. If anyone responds, they're "triggered". People cannot disassociate from Person B, because his online self is nebulous and he can just make new accounts at will. Hey may not even believe the sexist things that he's saying.

    There needs to be some kind of accountability for the things that people say and do online, especially in a place like Twitch Chat, which seems to have a lot of people in their formative years.

    13 votes
    1. [4]
      Celeo
      Link Parent
      You already mentioned why this'd be next to impossible: The systems that have tried to tie online accounts to real identities have been met with overwhelming opposition, see Google+ and YouTube.

      There needs to be some kind of accountability for the things that people say and do online, especially in a place like Twitch Chat, which seems to have a lot of people in their formative years.

      You already mentioned why this'd be next to impossible:

      online self is nebulous and he can just make new accounts at will

      The systems that have tried to tie online accounts to real identities have been met with overwhelming opposition, see Google+ and YouTube.

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        vikinick
        Link Parent
        But you can tie them slightly on twitch by enforcing subscriber-only mode.

        But you can tie them slightly on twitch by enforcing subscriber-only mode.

      2. UserFriendlyRobot
        Link Parent
        Remember when Blizzard tried to enforce RealID, and the #$%#storm that went down?

        Remember when Blizzard tried to enforce RealID, and the #$%#storm that went down?

  2. [11]
    demifiend
    Link
    That opposition came as much from the Google+ side as it did from YouTube. I was there when it happened, and the last thing hardcore Google+ users wanted was the "Eternal September" effect of...

    The systems that have tried to tie online accounts to real identities have been met with overwhelming opposition, see Google+ and YouTube.

    That opposition came as much from the Google+ side as it did from YouTube. I was there when it happened, and the last thing hardcore Google+ users wanted was the "Eternal September" effect of millions of YouTube commenters suddenly being able to comment on their posts. YouTube commenters tend to be ignorant shitfountains, little better than the morons you find on 4chan.

    4 votes
    1. [9]
      aphoenix
      Link Parent
      @Celeo I think this was a reply to you.

      @Celeo I think this was a reply to you.

      2 votes
      1. [7]
        demifiend
        Link Parent
        Shit. I did it again. Sorry.

        Shit. I did it again. Sorry.

        1 vote
        1. [6]
          aphoenix
          Link Parent
          You played with my heart, got lost in the game.

          You played with my heart, got lost in the game.

          2 votes
          1. [5]
            demifiend
            Link Parent
            Did you just quote Britney Spears at me?

            Did you just quote Britney Spears at me?

            2 votes
            1. [4]
              aphoenix
              Link Parent
              You did first! (almost)

              You did first! (almost)

              1 vote
              1. [3]
                demifiend
                Link Parent
                I tried to word my post to avoid such allusions.

                I tried to word my post to avoid such allusions.

                1 vote
                1. [2]
                  aphoenix
                  Link Parent
                  I think you strictly improved it, as most Britney covers do (like the Zappa's cover of hit me baby one more time which is an amazing cover.)

                  I think you strictly improved it, as most Britney covers do (like the Zappa's cover of hit me baby one more time which is an amazing cover.)

                  2 votes
    2. Celeo
      Link Parent
      Oh I definitely agree - it was not a well-liked pairing from either side, and both sides complained until the mandatory part of it was reverted.

      Oh I definitely agree - it was not a well-liked pairing from either side, and both sides complained until the mandatory part of it was reverted.

      2 votes
  3. Eugene
    Link
    This topic is pretty timely I feel, because if steamtv. The issue here isn't ninja, it's the twitch audience, and the solution is to correct the culture, but that's not at all easy. What is easy...

    This topic is pretty timely I feel, because if steamtv.

    The issue here isn't ninja, it's the twitch audience, and the solution is to correct the culture, but that's not at all easy. What is easy is to steer a new group towards a culture. So for this to not be a problem, twitch needs to either find a way to fix the culture, or a new competitor like mixer or steamtv needs to cultivate a better culture and then dominate the market

    2 votes
  4. DeFaced
    Link
    Who gives a shit? I'm honestly surprised this is still a thing. From what I understand he's just trying to respect his significant other and essentially taking himself out of the situation...

    Who gives a shit? I'm honestly surprised this is still a thing. From what I understand he's just trying to respect his significant other and essentially taking himself out of the situation altogether and that's just fine. FFS if anything this whole thing kind of gives his stance some credibility. Anyone and everyone would be trying to exploit him for sweet YouTube clicks, but I guess that kinda backfired since it's still happening. I don't like the guy at all, but I honestly respect that decision.

    1 vote
  5. [2]
    ninja
    Link
    I am @ninja and I don’t know what is going on here. Did someone mention me?

    I am @ninja and I don’t know what is going on here. Did someone mention me?

    1. super_james
      Link Parent
      Unless you are the twitch streamer Ninja then people aren't talking about you if you are then well that's kinda awkward I guess??

      Unless you are the twitch streamer Ninja then people aren't talking about you if you are then well that's kinda awkward I guess??

      3 votes
  6. [16]
    Comment removed by site admin
    Link
    1. [11]
      EscReality
      Link Parent
      I don't. Tyler's choice makes a lot of sense with how gaming culture and internet culture works. He is protecting himself, his brand and his marriage . There is nothing wrong with that, he's not...

      I think it is important to get some perspectives from actual women streamers in this discussion,

      I don't.

      Tyler's choice makes a lot of sense with how gaming culture and internet culture works. He is protecting himself, his brand and his marriage . There is nothing wrong with that, he's not the one that created the sexism in the industry he is just working around it. It's just safer for him to avoid the issue entirely and that makes sense. Other people's opinions on his personal choice, regardless of their gender, are irrelevant to his choice.

      10 votes
      1. [8]
        aphoenix
        Link Parent
        I want to be positive, but holy crap is that ever a head-in-the-sand point of view. "This sexist thing is happening! Let's not even talk to the people it has an effect on!"

        I think it is important to get some perspectives from actual women streamers in this discussion,

        I don't.

        I want to be positive, but holy crap is that ever a head-in-the-sand point of view.

        "This sexist thing is happening! Let's not even talk to the people it has an effect on!"

        18 votes
        1. [6]
          EscReality
          Link Parent
          It is his personal choice, it is his job, his career and his life. I get that you guys are trying to turn this into a topic about feminism in gaming, but in reality it's not. Other people's...

          It is his personal choice, it is his job, his career and his life.

          I get that you guys are trying to turn this into a topic about feminism in gaming, but in reality it's not.

          Other people's opinions on Tyler's choice are irrelevant.

          7 votes
          1. [5]
            aphoenix
            Link Parent
            True, but that doesn't make it not sexist. I do a lot of things that are personal choices in my job, career, and life, and people that experience that can make judgments about me based on those...

            It is his personal choice, it is his job, his career and his life.

            True, but that doesn't make it not sexist. I do a lot of things that are personal choices in my job, career, and life, and people that experience that can make judgments about me based on those choices. In this case, he's chosen a job that is under public scrutiny, and he has made a choice that is intrinsically sexist. The reasons for him making that choice are potentially understandable, but that doesn't make him immune to criticism or immune to the results of the choices that he has made.

            Other people's opinions on his choice are relevant because our choices do not exist in a vacuum, and they have an effect on other people. His choices are causing things to happen (or not happen), and so people can and should have opinions on those things.

            This isn't a consequence free existence.

            Furthermore, if you think that other people's opinions on what he's doing are irrelevant, then I would say by the same logic, it's irrelevant to post about those other people's opinions. You're in a thread talking about it; is it really irrelevant?

            11 votes
            1. [5]
              Comment deleted by author
              Link Parent
              1. [4]
                aphoenix
                Link Parent
                It's way easier to just not take part in it if you find it unimportant. And if you're point is that it's not important, you're ascribing importance to it merely be responding, based on how Tildes...

                It's way easier to just not take part in it if you find it unimportant. And if you're point is that it's not important, you're ascribing importance to it merely be responding, based on how Tildes works. If you want it to be less visible, then ignore it.

                Also, you can filter this out: the tag women in games covers both, and if Dubs keeps going as they are, the next one will probably get appropriately tagged as well.

                1 vote
                1. [4]
                  Comment removed by site admin
                  Link Parent
                  1. Catt
                    Link Parent
                    Please continue! Though I haven't actively engaged in these last posts, I, too, and very interested and appreciate you posting them.

                    Please continue! Though I haven't actively engaged in these last posts, I, too, and very interested and appreciate you posting them.

                    2 votes
                  2. Celeo
                    Link Parent
                    Great! It's important that we keep discussing this, and it's good activity for the site.

                    continue sharing pieces like this in the future

                    Great! It's important that we keep discussing this, and it's good activity for the site.

                    1 vote
                  3. aphoenix
                    Link Parent
                    Thanks! You keep posting and I'll keep navel gazing during the posts. ;)

                    Thanks! You keep posting and I'll keep navel gazing during the posts. ;)

                    1 vote
        2. Heichou
          Link Parent
          Quite frankly I don't feel like we should be putting the weight of the world on this guy. There are plenty of other streamers out there playing plenty of other games with females or female...

          Quite frankly I don't feel like we should be putting the weight of the world on this guy. There are plenty of other streamers out there playing plenty of other games with females or female streamers streaming with other females. Why does one guy not conforming throw a wrench in their (their being the population collectively outraged at Tyler's decision) plan? Hell, there are even female streamers who aren't playing the next big thing on Twitch (Personally I feel like streamers who only stream the biggest game atm are pretty shallow) and are trying to make it by playing the games they love. Do any female streamers even want to play Fortnite with Tyler besides the few that have spoken about the issue? Tyler isn't the only figurehead who can help out females on Twitch, and honestly the whole needing a male to help females on twitch thing seems kinda hypocritical. I'd dig the shit out of a stream with a bunch of females playing their favorite games. There's passion there; not playing a FotM (in spirit) game to get more views. Not to mention if said female streamer played Fortnite once, they'd be expected to play it again, and if they didn't, they'd lose subscribers. I also think it's important for female streamers to have their audience be their audience. Not some idiots who watch Fortnite compilations. They won't get the right kind of people or publicity by streaming with Tyler.

          3 votes
      2. [3]
        Comment removed by site admin
        Link Parent
        1. [2]
          EscReality
          Link Parent
          That's not his responsibility. He is doing his job, playing a game and trying to make money. He is protecting his career from scrutiny in an industry that can turn on you at a moments notice. He...

          Ninja is furthering the divide that already exists and rather than stepping up to combat the toxicity and use his platform to help women streamers, he is expanding the divide further.

          That's not his responsibility. He is doing his job, playing a game and trying to make money. He is protecting his career from scrutiny in an industry that can turn on you at a moments notice. He would not have the following he does if he tried to do what you are expecting of him.

          Stop trying to use this as a backboard for feminist discussion. It's his career and his personal choice to make.

          9 votes
          1. [2]
            Comment removed by site admin
            Link Parent
            1. EscReality
              Link Parent
              There is no way for him to alleviate toxicity in the community. It's just a part of gaming and gaming culture. When you get a bunch of people playing competitively things get toxic. It's been true...

              alleviate the problem, he is choosing to ignore it.
              I just think its a cop out response.

              There is no way for him to alleviate toxicity in the community. It's just a part of gaming and gaming culture.

              When you get a bunch of people playing competitively things get toxic. It's been true for every major multiplayer game since modern gaming became a thing. He is choosing to ignore it because it's not a fixable problem and it would be futile for him to try.

              You might think its a cop out, but that doesn't matter because him doing what you want him to do is just not possible.

              5 votes
    2. [4]
      Celeo
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      That's a good array of comments; it's good to see both sides! Pokimane's comment is particularly valuable, as they went through that experience; they know what it can do to someone. Expressly not...

      That's a good array of comments; it's good to see both sides!

      Pokimane's comment is particularly valuable, as they went through that experience; they know what it can do to someone. Expressly not wishing that to happen on Ninja is a really good argument for his side.

      that constantly calls anyone with tits a thot

      Obviously this is wrong. Twitch chat is vitriolic and full of nasty people, unfortunately.

      One thing that I'm caught up on, though, is this:

      is problematic and doesn't help in any way for women making their way in the industry

      and

      how're you going to use your huge platform/audience to help

      Uh, why does he have to help? Why does someone who is successful have to do anything to help people who aren't as successful as they are?

      Even if he did try, several of those comments point out that it'd likely be anywhere from not helpful to disastrous for the other streamer. A tricky situation for him: if he doesn't help, some disagree with him; if he does try, he's likely to make it worse for the people he's trying to help.

      5 votes
      1. [3]
        aphoenix
        Link Parent
        He doesn't have to. But he should help, or things aren't going to change. One of my favourite quotes is from The Lorax by Dr. Seuss:

        Uh, why does he have to help?

        He doesn't have to.

        But he should help, or things aren't going to change.

        One of my favourite quotes is from The Lorax by Dr. Seuss:

        Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
        Nothing is going to get better. It's not.

        4 votes
        1. [2]
          Celeo
          Link Parent
          Thanks for making this distinction - I can agree with it. I just don't like telling people that they have to do something for someone else just because they've accomplished it before themselves....

          Thanks for making this distinction - I can agree with it. I just don't like telling people that they have to do something for someone else just because they've accomplished it before themselves.

          That's a good quote; I'm saving it.

          3 votes
          1. aphoenix
            Link Parent
            I think that this issue comes up a lot, and I don't want to wax philosophical (I probably do want that, but I shouldn't) about what it is to be American, but it seems like a very typically...

            I think that this issue comes up a lot, and I don't want to wax philosophical (I probably do want that, but I shouldn't) about what it is to be American, but it seems like a very typically American point of view to say, "Why should I help someone? They should do it themselves!" It's a point of view that I have a hard time with, because I think that one of the most important things is kindness and support; we should be building everyone else up, because when we build others up, we improve ourselves as well.

            If Ninja took a stand against toxicity in a different way, then that would be amazing. It's unfortunate that he is only building up himself and not helping anyone else.

            1 vote