Hi, my name is Andrew Garcia and I have contacted individuals who identify with the Gamer Gate tag. While I’m neutral in the Gamer Gate fiasco, I believe that there are two sides to every story. I also believe before coming to any conclusion, one should look at both sides to form a conclusion. This interview was done with Remi who goes by @RemipunX on Twitter, Remi is a female supporter of Gamer Gate.
Andrew: Hi, my name is Andrew Garcia and I’m a contributor for Gamer Headlines. I’m glad that you have allowed me the opportunity to ask you a few questions. Remi could you provide some background information on who you are and how long you have been gaming?
Remi: Oh man! Haha, well, I’m 35 years old. My family purchased a Commodore 64 in 1982, when I was 3 and a lil’bit. I was very into arcade games up till my early teens, when tabletop gaming stole my affection. I started working at a comic book store (which was oddly enough, right down the hall from my arcade in my mall) when I was 16, which gave me income to start buying video games on my own. I mostly played 4th and 5th generation systems, which I still have way to many of (dusting my living room is a bit of a nightmare). Now I do most of my gaming on my PC.
Andrew: When did you first become aware of Gamer Gate and why did you adopt the hash tag?
Remi: I first heard about Gamer Gate from a friend in the comic industry. We didn’t have the hashtag, at least to my knowledge, but because of my passion for journalism and being a gamer Mom I started paying close attention. When the hashtag came about I jumped from Facebook over to twitter, so that I could be a more active voice and help as much as possible.
Andrew: Gamer Gate claims to be about ethics in gaming journalism. Could you provide examples of what kind of ethics in Gaming Journalism fights for.
Remi: It still baffles me that gaming journalism is so disconnected from the actual act of reporting. The things we want and ask for aren’t that hard. Honest and open disclosures. That doesn’t seem radical to me. If you helped pay for the development of a game (via Patreon or other means), don’t review it. If for whatever reason your boss insists you are the only one who can review it, have a disclosure at the top of the review. Can you profit either socially or financially by a game being purchased? Don’t review it. Have you had a personal relationship with a developer? Don’t review it. If a developer approaches you to review their game, after having had a few drinks and whatever else happens, don’t do it. Say no. Find someone else to review it if you are that worried about it getting press. Do not ignore games made by developers who are not buying you drinks. Do not ignore games that are not giving you goodies. You get paid to work, to review and to write. Do you job, do it well, and do it fairly.
That all seems very simple to me.
Andrew: Gamer Gate is not the only tag involved, could you explain NotYourShield?
Remi: NotYourShield is the hashtag that was started after the gaming journalist continued to scream that #GamerGate was made up of “white cis-gendered males”. Now, I’m going to say right now that being white, being male, being cis-gendered, etc, should never discount someone’s views. Everyone should have a voice. But, in order to push back and show our support, women and minorities began using #NotYourShield so that these bogus journalist didn’t have us to hide behind.
Andrew: Opponents of Gamer Gate claim that the movement is a smoke screen for harassment. What do you say to those who claim that Gamer Gate is a smoke screen?
Remi: I’ve had a few people be really nasty to me about this. I always invite them to take their time, and read my tweets. Read the tweets of the people I follow. Just today I spent hours helping report someone who was making multiple accounts to troll the hashtag. And I get really tired of being called a monster while spending time defending the people calling me names.
Here is the thing I think that the anti-GamerGate people need to think about. There is not just us and them. I refuse to believe that “journalist” and game developers are doxxing people within Gamer Gate. I refuse to believe that they are calling our works, and doing the dreadful things that are happening. Why? Because it’s the internet. It’s the same reason with 100% confidence that I say that Gamer Gate does not harass, doxx or abuse people. There are outside elements, who are happy to jump into situations and cause chaos and pain. And I feel completely comfortable blaming them.
Now if only the anti-Gamer Gate people, who spend just as much time online as I do, would be willing to make that same realization.
Andrew: Remi, I would like you to talk about the women in Gamer Gate.
Remi: There are some really amazing women I’ve had the joy of meeting via Gamer Gate. People I will be friends with for years to come. We’re a really diverse group of people, with such a wide difference in backgrounds. From game developers, to youtubers, to journalist and gaming enthusiast like myself. If anyone can look at #NotYourShield and continue to call us a hate movement, they’re willfully being blind.
Andrew: Why do you feel that women who participate in Gamer Gate are over looked by opponents of Gamer Gate.
Remi: Because we mess up their narrative. If they acknowledge us, then they have to start insulting women. Which, honestly, they seem to have no issue doing. I’ve had more men tell me I am stupid, mislead, can’t read, don’t know what I’m doing, etc. since I’ve started supporting Gamer Gate than I have in my whole life. These men, who claim to care about and want to defend and protect women, telling me I’m stupid for having a mind of my own? I just have to shake my head and laugh, or it would really start to get to me.
Andrew: Do you have any closing words that you would like to say.
Remi: To my loves in Gamer Gate, I just want to remind everyone to be kind. Be kind to each other. We get stressed, and jump and things that weren’t meant to be slights. Twitter is hard to communicate on, and tone can be lost. Be kind to those who stand against us. We’re up against people who’s castles are crumbling, and they are going to lash out and be angry. I had one media personality tell me that if they couldn’t continue to be “gaming journalist” that they’d not be able to find work as a journalist anywhere. Think about that. They are so bad at their jobs they couldn’t do it in another industry. And we scare them, because we are demanding they do a better job or get out. They’re going to lash out and be angry. We must continue to be kind, to be understanding and push for better things. Remember if you see something bad happening, don’t dog pile in. Report abuse. Come find me, or someone else who can spread the word and get the abuse reported. We’ve got this, it’s hard, but we’ve got it.
To those who oppose Gamer Gate, I remind you that we are people. We have feelings, and we’re not monsters. We’re mothers, daughters, and wives. We’re your coworkers and friends. Remember that the internet is a horrible place, and that the bad things you see happening, and are SO ready to blame on us, do not come from us. I do not blame you for the hate and nastiness I face every day. I ask you to think, and to give me and the people working hard to make change the same respect.
Andrew: Thank you taking the time out of your day and allowing me to ask you a few questions.
Remi: Thank you.