#NOMOREHARASSMENT

#NO MORE HARASSMENT: The Critical Gaming Lab joins the gaming community in its effort to tackle virtual and physical harassment of marginalized members of the gaming community.  The CGL defines the gaming community broadly including but not limited to gamers, game developers, the gaming industry, game studies, etc.  

The gaming community must address the culture that has allowed for the oppression and repression of marginalized gamers including women, people of color, sexual minorities, religious minorities, and others.   No matter one’s identity, everyone should be free to game without fear of being threatened or harassed.  

Serious reform is needed if we are going to create a climate of inclusion. A few solutions include: 

1)       Game developers must abandon the practice of creating stereotypical characters and must diversify their staff whose opinions they take seriously.

2)      Gamers must recognize and value differences.  We are not all the same but that is no reason for disparate treatment.

3)      The gaming industry must accept and cater to their changing demographics.  Traditional means of advertising won’t work.

4)      The gaming industry must create more efficient ways to report harassment within virtual gaming communities

5)      Academics must be more inclusive of researchers and literature discussing marginalized gamers  

6)      We must all openly condemn not condone the harassment and victimization of members of our gaming family     

For more information on what you can do to stop online harassment, please contact the Critical Gaming Lab at www.criticalgaminglab.com.