To clarify, what bothered me is the dichotomy between the nature of this episode of GTA Diaries to that of the The Point: Depressing Gender Wars and pretty much any episode of Feedbackula. It's the content of the latter episodes that created my expectation that GS is the voice of mature reason among the rude and fanatical people that post in the Comments section.
But this episode seemed counter to that expectation. The description alone "Danny and Shaun reenact the nativity of Jesus by harassing hobos, shooting up strip clubs and slamming hard liquor." seems more like someone stoking a fire instead of someone trying to tame it. That's from where my issue stems.
Please know that I don't write comments to stir things up, I only do it to present a point of view. I don't expect an apology from anyone because I don't think anyone owes me one. It was only my intention to share how I perceived this video. If I misunderstood, then I genuinely apologize.
@meatz666 @loafofgame @93ChevyNut Loaf, I agree with a lot of what you said and I appreciate you making your point in a respectful way (a courtesy that hasn't been afforded to me from a lot of other people).
What bothered me is the dichotomy between the nature of this video to that of the The Point: Depressing Gender Wars and pretty much any episode of Feedbackula. It's the content of the latter that created my expectation that GS is the voice of mature reason among the rude and fanatical people that post in the Comments section.
But this episode of GTA Diaries seemed counter to that expectation. The description alone "Danny and Shaun reenact the nativity of Jesus by harassing hobos, shooting up strip clubs and slamming hard liquor." seems more like someone stoking a fire instead of someone trying to tame it. That's where my concern stems from.
I'm not trying to start a war or anything and I certainly don't believe everything that many Christians believe. In fact, it never ceases to amaze me how exclusive Christians can be when Jesus' ministry was one of inclusion.
I love GTA diaries (and am a Danny fan), but this was a little offensive to me. However, I'm not offended because of the nature of the content of the video. As a Christian myself, I'll admit it is uncomfortable for me to hear people be so cavalier about the birth of Christ, but that's my issue and I don't think GS has a responsibility to believe what I believe.
What did offend me was that Gamespot, as a whole, is a very forward-thinking organization that regularly preaches tolerance. So much so that many Feedbackula episodes have called out specific people who they deemed to be closed-minded and attacked them for their insults to various groups. Recently, Danny did an episode of The Point where he vented his anger at people that don't believe a woman could be a game developer.
GS seems quick to stand up for one group in the name of equality and, at the same time, be so crass about something so many people hold very dear to them. It just seems hypocritical to me.
Something a pastor once said to me that is so true but so many people have a hard time understanding:
Intolerance of intolerance is still intolerance.
In other words, you can't say that you accept everybody until you accept those you disagree with.
@nigelholden @93ChevyNut I'm not really sure what to do. The fact is, the anonymity of today's technology affords anyone to be a bully without consequence. As you pointed out, many of us (myself included) were jerks to some extent simply because we thought it made us cool, not because we really believed deep down in the hate we were spreading. I didn't change my ways until one particular day I saw the effects of what I was saying and changed my tune forever.
I don't think punk pre-teen, tweens, and teenagers (like I was) will ever understand how awful the things they are saying are until it becomes real to them.
Danny, great video as always. However, one of the biggest issues I have with trying to understand the "gaming" community is that the community includes such a wide range of people. From PhD's to 3rd graders.
Anyone can get an account on this site (or Facebook or Twitter) so to give all people an equal voice to represent the "gaming" community is a little misguided. I would argue that the worst offenders in the comments sections or voice chats in online games come from kids that aren't nearly old enough to understand what they're saying. Don't get me wrong, it's at that age that the reform needs to take place. But don't get too riled up over a 12 year old running his/her mouth behind the protective wall of anonymity.
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