Lesbian gets banned from Xbox Live

[QUOTE="TheSylntChamber"]

Anyone who thinks M$ can ban anyone for anything needs to read up on law. You CANNOT discriminate regardless if it's a privately owned company, it's illegal.

Palantas

I haven't read up on the law. That's not my profession. If you have, then I'm curious what the law says about this. What laws and what court precedents speak to the ability of an organization to exclude gays from a recreational club?

One everyone should remember is when the Boy Scouts tried to keep gays out. The Supreme court ruled it illegal as there is a anti-discrimination law in every state that this goes against. I think both sides were probably wrong in this situation. M$ could have simply filtered her bio or made her change her gamertag, at the same time there is no reason you would need that in your info. There is more to the story to be told, I won't choose a side till it all comes out.

One everyone should remember is when the Boy Scouts tried to keep gays out. The Supreme court ruled it illegal as there is a anti-discrimination law in every state that this goes against.

TheSylntChamber

In Boys Scouts of America v. James Dale, the Supreme Court (of the US) said that the Boy Scouts did not have to readmit an openly gay scoutmaster, as they are a private organization and can exclude whomever they wish. That's the exact opposite of what you say above. Has there been a case since 2000 that overturned this ruling?

I thought the idea of banning and suspending people is cause they're some kind of f***s on the communities and they go around pissing people off...for her is people finding trouble for her, so isn't it a bit ??????

For the lady in question, maybe she shouldn't have to declare cause not anywhere in the live profile are you required to declare your sexual orientation...although people have gone too far off in causing her get banned, she shouldn't have courted this in the first place by doing something extra...

That's really disappointing. Just because her choice of live style isn't whats considered "acceptable", she isn't allowed to do something she likes to and more importantly PAYS to? America still has a long way to go before we catch up with the rest of the civilized world.

Edit: Having read a few of the posts obviously people don't know about the first amendment. Freedom of speech allows you to state whatever you wish and moreover when creating your Live Profile it says it's use is to describe yourself. I think if she wanted to let other people know who she is and what she's about then she has a right as a human being to do so. You don't see myspace profiles or facebook profiles being banned for stating their orientation and they're all about social interaction. Offensive is a word ignorant people use to describe what they dont understand and are afraid of when it comes to sexual orientation.

America needs to grow up. I mean seriously.

"OH EHM GHEE A PERSON OF ANOTHER SEXUAL ORIENTATION!!! THEY MUST WANT TO RAPE MY CHILDREN TOOO!!! OH GOOD! MUST HARASS!!! MUST GET THEM REMOVED!!!"

Seriously, Which 40 year old virgin homophobe crapped their star wars underoos and decided Gays/Lesbians don't have a right to play online? This is one of those things that makes me want to make housecalls with an uglystick.

I mean we are talking about a day an age were being of another sexual orientation is not only becoming OK but becoming POPULAR...*I'm looking at you Emo guys who pretend your Bi for the ladies.*

I can't blame Microsoft for this. I can't. Know why? Because the magnitude of homophobes on XBL requires this form of action from Microsoft.

In the end of the day. What is Microsoft? A company. What do Companies like? Money. They love it so much actually they stretched into the gameworld to make money with Videogames.

Now, when this happens.

When a bunch of Stupid, Whiney, American (or whatever else they are) Homophobic Sloppy Behind-the-times peices of trash decide that someone who likes people with matching parts must be evil and hell bent on ruining their day.

When that happens.

Microsoft makes a choice. They think [Are we going to help out the minority in this situation, losing cash across the board as our less tasteful customers leave? or dive low and listen to these complainers to try and keep the most money possible?]

Guess what. Microsoft can't stand losing money. So the innocent has to go. I can't blame Microsoft. That would mean I blame greed and a love of money, which would make a lot of us hypocrites here.

I only blame the low IQ chunks of SLIME that can't let their balls drop long enough to realize that for a very long time now it has been perfectly acceptable to be of whatever damn sexuality you please.

XBL is proof that you can't give people anonimity and expect them to mingle.

That's really disappointing. Just because her choice of live style isn't whats considered "acceptable", she isn't allowed to do something she likes to and more importantly PAYS to? America still has a long way to go before we catch up with the rest of the civilized world.

Edit: Having read a few of the posts obviously people don't know about the first amendment. Freedom of speech allows you to state whatever you wish and moreover when creating your Live Profile it says it's use is to describe yourself. I think if she wanted to let other people know who she is and what she's about then she has a right as a human being to do so. You don't see myspace profiles or facebook profiles being banned for stating their orientation and they're all about social interaction. Offensive is a word ignorant people use to describe what they dont understand and are afraid of when it comes to sexual orientation.

Something tells me there's more to it then just that...Scarface_tm431

[QUOTE="chaoscougar1"][QUOTE="qchazap"] i think that i can been banned if enough people complain about my profile even if i wrote there "Jesus saves"qchazap

from xbox live terms of use:

In addition, your use of the Service is subject to your compliance with the Code of Conduct (www.xbox.com/en-us/live/codeofconduct.htm and its successors). You agree that we may also discontinue your access to the Service if you do any of the following while connected to the Service:

* Defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten, or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others;

* Publish, distribute, or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, or unlawful content, topic, name, material, file, or information;

and why Gaywood was banned:

http://kotaku.com/5010324/microsoft-explains-gaywood-ban

That's really disappointing. Just because her choice of live style isn't whats considered "acceptable", she isn't allowed to do something she likes to and more importantly PAYS to? America still has a long way to go before we catch up with the rest of the civilized world.

Edit: Having read a few of the posts obviously people don't know about the first amendment. Freedom of speech allows you to state whatever you wish and moreover when creating your Live Profile it says it's use is to describe yourself. I think if she wanted to let other people know who she is and what she's about then she has a right as a human being to do so. You don't see myspace profiles or facebook profiles being banned for stating their orientation and they're all about social interaction. Offensive is a word ignorant people use to describe what they dont understand and are afraid of when it comes to sexual orientation.

That's really disappointing. Just because her choice of live style isn't whats considered "acceptable", she isn't allowed to do something she likes to and more importantly PAYS to? America still has a long way to go before we catch up with the rest of the civilized world.

Edit: Having read a few of the posts obviously people don't know about the first amendment. Freedom of speech allows you to state whatever you wish and moreover when creating your Live Profile it says it's use is to describe yourself. I think if she wanted to let other people know who she is and what she's about then she has a right as a human being to do so. You don't see myspace profiles or facebook profiles being banned for stating their orientation and they're all about social interaction. Offensive is a word ignorant people use to describe what they dont understand and are afraid of when it comes to sexual orientation.

Having read a few of the posts obviously people don't know about the first amendment. Freedom of speech allows you to state whatever you wish and moreover when creating your Live Profile it says it's use is to describe yourself.

MuscleCarMan

Oh for Godssake... Before I just explain outright why you're mistaken here, let's see if you can figure it out yourself. Was someone arguing that legally, she shouldn't be allowed to state her sexual preferences? Was freedom of speech even the issue here? Does freedom of speech even have anything to do with private organizations censoring themselves? Should I be allowed to write descriptions of my sexual preferences all over the walls of your apartment?

You don't have to answer all those. They're just food for thought. See if you can figure out on your own why freedom of speech has nothing to do with this.

yes microsoft has the right to ban you randomly, but it cannot be due to discrimination. banning her because she was a lesbian is like banning someone because of their race. They can excersise their authority but they must give a valid reason that isnt against the law, just because its a private service doesnt mean they are above the law

chaoscougar1

I just had this conversation with someone in this thread, and I don't think he knew what he was talking about. What exactly does the (American) law say on this issue?

lol you used the word homophobe so many times, and nice fallout reference at the end :lol:chaoscougar1

To put it honestly you can refer to those people as either Homophobes, what I beleive was the correct term unless my vocabulary came up as short as my overall I.Q.

Or you could go on a rant trying to remember all those really nasty insults you've heard over the years.

They are idiots. Whiners. Greifers. Cancer that is killing....errrrm...Gaming. Yeah, Gaming.

As long as the bad outnumbers the good, the bad wins. Because if the bad loses they go away, as is natural in the gamer world. Microsoft isn't gonna lose that much money without a fight.

If this many people honestly care. Sue Microsoft and have them FORCED to make the right choice. Then when the Homophobic fools whine, Microsoft can point at uncle sam's big bootprint on their a$$ that says "They can play too. Now Shut up and like it."

[QUOTE="MuscleCarMan"]

Having read a few of the posts obviously people don't know about the first amendment. Freedom of speech allows you to state whatever you wish and moreover when creating your Live Profile it says it's use is to describe yourself.

Palantas

Oh for Godssake... Before I just explain outright why you're mistaken here, let's see if you can figure it out yourself. Was someone arguing that legally, she shouldn't be allowed to state her sexual preferences? Was freedom of speech even the issue here? Does freedom of speech even have anything to do with private organizations censoring themselves? Should I be allowed to write descriptions of my sexual preferences all over the walls of your apartment?

You don't have to answer all those. They're just food for thought. See if you can figure out on your own why freedom of speech has nothing to do with this.

That's interesting. None of that came to mind when I read that part of his post. Freedom of speech probably doesn't apply to XBL somehow. I don't know more then the next lazy couch potato.

Still, Microsoft gave one hell of a cold shoulder by letting people who can't except others win out. It seems extremely wrong. Especially now that things like that are supposed to be accepted all around.

Maybe someday this issue wont exist. I was born into a time when it doesn't make a difference what race you are. I never think about race at all making any life choices. Ideally someday my kids or grandkids (If the powers above see fit to punish this world in such a way) will be born in a situation were people have stopped worrying about gay or straight.

This seems like one of those issues were it finally boils down to 'Someday it'll stop. One can only hope.'

[QUOTE="chaoscougar1"]

yes microsoft has the right to ban you randomly, but it cannot be due to discrimination. banning her because she was a lesbian is like banning someone because of their race. They can excersise their authority but they must give a valid reason that isnt against the law, just because its a private service doesnt mean they are above the law

I just had this conversation with someone in this thread, and I don't think he knew what he was talking about. What exactly does the (American) law say on this issue?

I just read the exact wording on the case in 2000 that dealt with nearly this exact issue. The Supreme Court ruled that private clubs have the right to discriminate in choosing their membership, based on any arbitrary guidelines they choose. It's protected under the right to free association. I think people in this thread are confusing laws regarding hiring practices to laws regarding private clubs.Palantas

Nice find. Bit of a bummer for the innocent party.

strange, it seems nowadays you'll get banned for anything you say... saying nagger (if you know what i mean) gets you banned, f*g, g*y or even if your name is naggerwood.

but the word microsoft doesn't seem to care about is the c word (cracker), there's so much racism against white people via slurs or naggertalk on LIVE but microsoft don't care because such racism is unjustified widely accepted around the world. Therefore if parents are concerned their children are listening to this naggertalk then why doesn't Microsoft simply ban them? owwwww... riiiiiiighhht, because that would be racist against black ppl for banning them because they speak their common language, yeah right

Basically MS knows they can't moderate every hate mail or hateful voice interchange the woman will receive, so instead of genuinely trying to clean up Xbox Live from the filth state it's in, they punish the people that are targetted by the idiots on Xbox Live. Great one. Effectively they're pandering to the mob mentality. But then money always ran the show.Hoobinator

strange, it seems nowadays you'll get banned for anything you say... saying nagger (if you know what i mean) gets you banned, f*g, g*y or even if your name is naggerwood.

but the word microsoft doesn't seem to care about is the c word (cracker), there's so much racism against white people via slurs or naggertalk on LIVE but microsoft don't care because such racism is unjustified widely accepted around the world. Therefore if parents are concerned their children are listening to this naggertalk then why doesn't Microsoft simply ban them? owwwww... riiiiiiighhht, because that would be racist against black ppl for banning them because they speak their common language, yeah right

DutchDoc

The only thing that keeps me happy at night is knowing there are plenty of fires for you to die in my good sir. All jokes aside. Allow me to convey the feeling that your post made me RAGE so hard I think I might just be angry enough to beat Ninja Gaiden on the hardest difficulty with my toes.

You seem to miss what really happened here, you simply trailed off into some random thing. This girl got banned for specifying her sexuality on XboxLive. No 'N' work or the word 'Cracker'. Also, if you are bothered by 'Racism against whites'....grow up dude. If anything us whiteys are catching hell so the others can catch up to us racism wise. Seriously, shut the hell up about that.

Seriously. The racism against skin is old news man. Learn to ignore it and it is nothing. It is wether you LET it get to you. Just words man. These days it is the hate towards different sexualities carries all the weight to those involved as whites against black back in the slavery days.

So you too are saying that racism against whites is acceptable? No matter what, this topic subject was that of discrimination. Each form of discrimination seksist, racist, antisemist still exist and isn't old news at all even if you consider it's old news then you sir are ignorant. In Africa they yell that a black man now rules over the whites while they're simply ignorant to the fact that he's half WHITE (not old news). The glass isn't half full if it isn't half empty.

However directing to the assumption that only whites waged black slavery then you're wrong again, first blacks in the imperial age sold their own ppl first to white ppl because they used their own ppl already to serve for them. People like to forget that whites were once slaves too (called servants at that time to compensate any cruelty) and are accepting black minority with open arms while white minority is the future of this world. Hell, even blacks had white slaves at the start of the imperial age, dont believe me? watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugo1YxZWWJ8

im sorry to explain it to the core but when ppl are raged at what i said before i'd like to go further into the subject so ppl are going to be happy rather than to be enraged that they're going to play ninja gaiden :)

[QUOTE="DutchDoc"]

strange, it seems nowadays you'll get banned for anything you say... saying nagger (if you know what i mean) gets you banned, f*g, g*y or even if your name is naggerwood.

but the word microsoft doesn't seem to care about is the c word (cracker), there's so much racism against white people via slurs or naggertalk on LIVE but microsoft don't care because such racism is unjustified widely accepted around the world. Therefore if parents are concerned their children are listening to this naggertalk then why doesn't Microsoft simply ban them? owwwww... riiiiiiighhht, because that would be racist against black ppl for banning them because they speak their common language, yeah right

phynixblack

The only thing that keeps me happy at night is knowing there are plenty of fires for you to die in my good sir. All jokes aside. Allow me to convey the feeling that your post made me RAGE so hard I think I might just be angry enough to beat Ninja Gaiden on the hardest difficulty with my toes.

You seem to miss what really happened here, you simply trailed off into some random thing. This girl got banned for specifying her sexuality on XboxLive. No 'N' work or the word 'Cracker'. Also, if you are bothered by 'Racism against whites'....grow up dude. If anything us whiteys are catching hell so the others can catch up to us racism wise. Seriously, shut the hell up about that.

Seriously. The racism against skin is old news man. Learn to ignore it and it is nothing. It is wether you LET it get to you. Just words man. These days it is the hate towards different sexualities carries all the weight to those involved as whites against black back in the slavery days.

Well, first off having the word gay in your gamer tag is kinda of inappropriate. Just like having any other sex related term. I doubt we're getting the full story here. Regardless why would this person be going around talking about their sexual orientation anyway? It is inappropriate. We'll never probably get a proper story. This is just going to be over blown and everyone will think of it as prejudice. Only looking at this in one angle.vashkey

I wish I could see whatever was written in her gamertag, motto and bio. I mean, I'm a straight man, but if my motto was something like "I love to F*** P****!" (rhymes with LUCK and the another one is another word for "kitty") Would be worthy of a ban. Maybe she had something like that... Gamertags shouldn't be allowed any sexual, racist, or offensive words. In the case of the Gaywood named dude... Xbox live was the LEAST of his problems. Gaywood, seriously, if I were you, I'd have a family reunion and get new ideas for a last name. If I met him, I'd mock him a lot for it. He had it coming on him... the ban was actually a gift. He'll avoid people annoying him on live. Internet is very harsh on that.paulokoenigkam

So you too are saying that racism against whites is acceptable? No matter what, this topic subject was that of discrimination. Each form of discrimination seksist, racist, antisemist still exist and isn't old news at all even if you consider it's old news then you sir are ignorant. In Africa they yell that a black man now rules over the whites while they're simply ignorant to the fact that he's half WHITE (not old news). The glass isn't half full if it isn't half empty.

However directing to the assumption that only whites waged black slavery then you're wrong again, first blacks in the imperial age sold their own ppl first to white ppl because they used their own ppl already to serve for them. People like to forget that whites were once slaves too (called servants at that time to compensate any cruelty) and are accepting black minority with open arms while white minority is the future of this world. Hell, even blacks had white slaves at the start of the imperial age, dont believe me? watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugo1YxZWWJ8

im sorry to explain it to the core but when ppl are raged at what i said before i'd like to go further into the subject so ppl are going to be happy rather than to be enraged that they're going to play ninja gaiden :)

[QUOTE="phynixblack"][QUOTE="DutchDoc"]

strange, it seems nowadays you'll get banned for anything you say... saying nagger (if you know what i mean) gets you banned, f*g, g*y or even if your name is naggerwood.

but the word microsoft doesn't seem to care about is the c word (cracker), there's so much racism against white people via slurs or naggertalk on LIVE but microsoft don't care because such racism is unjustified widely accepted around the world. Therefore if parents are concerned their children are listening to this naggertalk then why doesn't Microsoft simply ban them? owwwww... riiiiiiighhht, because that would be racist against black ppl for banning them because they speak their common language, yeah right

DutchDoc

The only thing that keeps me happy at night is knowing there are plenty of fires for you to die in my good sir. All jokes aside. Allow me to convey the feeling that your post made me RAGE so hard I think I might just be angry enough to beat Ninja Gaiden on the hardest difficulty with my toes.

You seem to miss what really happened here, you simply trailed off into some random thing. This girl got banned for specifying her sexuality on XboxLive. No 'N' work or the word 'Cracker'. Also, if you are bothered by 'Racism against whites'....grow up dude. If anything us whiteys are catching hell so the others can catch up to us racism wise. Seriously, shut the hell up about that.

Seriously. The racism against skin is old news man. Learn to ignore it and it is nothing. It is wether you LET it get to you. Just words man. These days it is the hate towards different sexualities carries all the weight to those involved as whites against black back in the slavery days.

lol. The rage and fire part of my posts were mostly me giving you a hard time. But I found it interesting you felt that this was a situation warranting mention of racial hatred. You see, here online I mask the fact that I am an insecure gamer d00d who barely supports him and his girlfreind by being a giant flaming douchebag.

This seems like it had primarily been discussing the issue of homophobia online and discrimination over the many sexualities. You happened to mention Race and it caught my eye. Maybe I should instead inquire how you came to thinking race from all this? I am sure you could flash some youtube links at me or tell me of a similar case but I don't much go for that. (I will give the video a look when I am done with this hoever)

I guess I could be called ignorant. I am an 18 year old caucasian male. I catch the insults like cracker and all that stupid crap ALL the time. I hear it. But that word means nothing. It is literally the same as a brothah calling a brothah say 'nigra' or some of the many variations of the original racial slur that has been used in hip-hop music so much recently.

This word should not bother you. For that matter. No racial slur needs to bother anyone. I think whites, along with people of every other color gotta just do what the African American community did. Simply take the power out of the word. No you don't have to use the word in everyday speech. But if you don't let it weigh on you. It is worthless as an insult and people will stop seeing ad using it as one.

It isn't that I am ignorant so much as I refuse to give an insult that stupid any weight in my life. If you can't agree, I can respect that.

Dear Gamers,

My brothers and sisters. Today a tragedy has struck the gaming world. The corporation Microsoft chose to damn our Gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters to a life of lies, or execution with the banhammer.

Well HEAR THIS. We must fight hatred like this if we wish for it to change. But first ask yourself if you care. If you can say out loud 'I am sick of discrimination', then we are all a step closer to a community online were gamers need not fear ridicule over their chosen sexuality.

We may not be able to take it to court. We may not be able to lift the bans.

But if you really care. thee is one option always open.

Yes, That's right my brothas and sistas.

PROOOTEST.

If you really give a flying hoot, then a cause must be made. A presence must be known. Strike out against those feeble minded who fear and win over by being the majority.

This cause can be carried out simply by including a phrase of support in ones Bio. I beleive this course of action could use some discussion.

That's BS. But the title is misleading. She didn't get banned because of M$'s ideals, she got banned due to M$'s faulty banning system.-eddy-

Yeah, it sucks for her, but if it is offensive to other players then Microsoft did the right thing. It's not worth taking her over like the 20 or so who found it offensive and as soon as the story came out more people would know about it. That's like asking someone to take a $5 over a $100. For them business wise it makes sense, but it's not fair that she can't express herself. As for the kids that were harassing her they need to be suspended or banned because they have no right to do that.MJ_SPARTAN

Many of these online games are filled with an incredible amount of violence, yet people get offended by someone letting others know she's a lesbian. The people who would get offended over that are idiots. wituckius

So you too are saying that racism against whites is acceptable?

DutchDoc

[QUOTE="-eddy-"]That's BS. But the title is misleading. She didn't get banned because of M$'s ideals, she got banned due to M$'s faulty banning system.phynixblack

So you too are saying that racism against whites is acceptable?

[QUOTE="phynixblack"][QUOTE="-eddy-"]That's BS. But the title is misleading. She didn't get banned because of M$'s ideals, she got banned due to M$'s faulty banning system.-eddy-