Dad bans kids from "racist" Xbox Live - requests personal intervention from Bill Gates
A sensational episode of US crisis-solving talk show Dr Phil tackled online bullying recently, with Xbox Live getting the usual kicking over its small-yet-nasty collection of racist and abusive voice chatters.
With regards Xbox Live, dad Terry said "I love playing video games as much as I like eating food. I've been a loyal customer to Xbox Live and Xbox 360. Now it's gotten worse with the racial slurs, the name-calling and the bullying online."
And, as ever, it's THE CHILDREN that suffer the most - "I've had to stop my children from playing online, my 10-year-old daughter, my 13-year-old son, and even my 5-year-old son. He asks me, 'Daddy, why can't I play online with you? I want to play that,' and I say, 'No.' He goes, 'Why? Are they going to call me names?' I think that's sad for a 5-year-old to know that."
He pointed out that he complained to Microsoft about the situation, but MS said it need to get 10 complaints about an individual before banning/warning/beating the offender.
Terry quite cleverly pointed out "That's like you coming to my house, robbing me, and I call the police. Are they going to tell me, 'Well, if that guy comes back to your house 10 times, we'll come out and do something about it'? I think that's disgusting. I think Mr. Gates needs to change that rule, and I think it needs to be changed immediately."
You hear that, Mr Gates? And Terry's not alone in making noise about offensive Xbox Live users, either - the recent Fox News hatchet job proved there's a lot of people out there starting to think Xbox Live's jam-packed with Nazis.
A summary of Terry's complaints - along with more horror stories of online abuse - can be found on Dr Phil's site.
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Comments
I can completely understand where Terry is coming from. When I play Xbox Live I am fortunate in that the type of games I'm fond of don't seem to attract the less pleasant members of society.
My partner however, plays COD4 an awful lot and I can say without any hesitation that I have never heard such racist and homophobic language as I have from the Americans. To them, the words Jew, Homo and Gay are insults. I find this beyond belief. To me this would be like me using the word 'man' as an insult to a male, or 'woman' to a female.
It's utterly ridiculous. I'd have thought that in the 21st century, a person's faith, gender, sexuality or colour would be completely irrelevant in all but matters of religion and politics. And even in those circumstances I'm often doubtful.
Obviously it's not ALL Americans that behave so reprehensibly but sadly, there do seem to be a fair few, which ruins the game for many people. There have been countless times when hosts (including my partner) have terminated games because of the insults...which I may add, probably have no basis in truth and certainly no bearing on the game.
I find any kind of 'ism' deplorable at the best of times but when it means that children are prevented from participating in something that ought to be harmless fun, then I find it doubly objectionable.
Posted by: Nicole le Strange | January 11, 2008 5:22 PM
Yep, it's awful. I only play with friends now, and much less frequently than before. It's really spoiling the whole idea of Xbox Live.
Posted by: Losers | January 11, 2008 5:47 PM
Awww c'mon. Who ever said that the games that "Daddy" plays were made for children?
Daddy should find some other activity that he and his kids can enjoy. COD4 and Halo 3 are NOT kids games. Ice cream is not for breakfast, and no, you can't watch SAW III tonight. Xbox live is not the problem. The parenting is the problem.
Daddy is probably just upset at the trash talking because he sucks. No one talks trash to the winners, just the to losers. No one is forcing you or your children to play violent adult video games.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 6:17 AM
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