Helen Lewis

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This is what online harassment looks like

Obscene images, hate sites and a game where people are invited to beat you up have been inflicted on Anita Sarkeesian.

By Helen Lewis Published 06 July 2012 9:30

An online game invites players to "beat up Anita Sarkeesian".

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View the discussion thread.

480 comments

Fri, 2012-07-06 22:38 — huge.dick46 (not verified)

Right there with u boy. Ur so hot andbothered.I can feel ur ass squirm under me now.No don't stop Lester.Feel my cock inside.Deeper and deeperAh, u scream like a girl when u come I'll fist u next.

Fri, 2012-07-06 21:50 — Kirt (not verified)

The people who cry "free speech" in these situations never seem to understand the difference between condemning morally bankrupt behavior and making it illegal.

Yes, it's legal to do these things. Just as it's legal for the KKK to dress up in sheets and rant and rave about the supposed inferiority of African-Americans. That doesn't mean I can't condemn this sort of behavior on moral grounds.

Fri, 2012-07-06 23:11 — Amanda K. (not verified)

The thing is, these are real threats that can easily be executed. Most men are physically stronger than women (in Anita's case: they actually know what she looks like and where she lives), so we're sitting ducks, hoping that these men are indeed only writing/photoshopping and don't do what they threaten us with. Unfortunately many women have experienced that a certain amount of men don't just talk, they do rape, and most get away with it. So a 'spoken' or 'virtual' rape threat, is perceived as an actual rape threat. This is why this is not just 'goofing around' or 'free speech'.
(I can't believe I even have to explain this to the above 'free speech' cryer. Try to imagine what someone else might be feeling for a change.)

Fri, 2012-07-06 21:01 — STOP PROPAGATING THIS SHIT (not verified)

NICE GENDER WAR!

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:43 — Lauren (not verified)

Yikes...look at all the sexist posts on this article. I'm so glad my husband is a feminist and a proud honorable man. After reading some of these comments I feel more and more like I won the lottery.

Fri, 2012-07-06 21:40 — Donald (not verified)

Odd cause most of what I read aren't sexist but arguments defending the offensive crap that's been posted. And pretty much all of those arguments are backed with valid reasoning; sure I don't agree with them but it doesn't alter the fact that they have legitimate points. Is it sexist solely because a man is disagreeing with Anita or is disagreeing with how much this issue is being exploited? I haven't read every single comment but I've read a good number to realize that there aren't many sexist comments. Some disagreeable arguments yes; but nothing sexist.

I must also point out that feminism is a stupid idea; at least its modern trends. Feminism seems to go a couple hundred years back and tends to portray women as weak idiots who are all unwittiingly under the control of men. Modern feminism turns men into James Bond villains who seek the complete control of society and culture. Most feminists themselves (Anita included) are often supporters of gender bias and misandry regardless of how much they want to deny it. I support Anita but only because of the harassment surrounding this. I want her to make some points and prove some facets, because it'll shut all the loud mouthed jerks up that can't handle a woman impeding on their "territory." I often disagree with most of her videos and find her points and opinions to be completely wrong, so much so that she almost seems to believe everything is a massive sexism conspiracy. And she has often stated that men are not objectified and don't suffer sexism, regardless of any arguments and statistics that point to the contrary. She's purely a biased misandrist who feels that even jokes based around objectification or sexism are in themselves sexist and are only hiding behind the excuse that "it's comedy." I wouldn't be surprised if this woman thought Buffy, Firefly or any other work by Joss Whedon for that matter to be sexist and objectifying women.

I'm a humanist, and I believe in equality, gender wars are completely idiotic especially when all the layers are peeled back and the truth comes out that we're not even that different, and feminism is just gender wars in the disguise of "equal rights" sentiments nothing more.

Sat, 2012-07-07 00:37 — Amanda K. (not verified)

Donald,
Here's a great video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2mjvFNOwmc [Tim Wise - The Pathology of White Privilege] that further explains the points that the other replier to your comment makes. The video is about race, not gender, but the point it makes is the same for gender issues as for racial issues.
It's point is that if you look at (racial or gender) problems from the point of view of the privileged group (white males > have been in power throughout history), the issues look very different. A privileged person does not know what it is like for the other, and never had to find out, because his/her life is fine the way it is and s/he made the rules. On the other hand, the unpriviledged persons have always had to live in a way that perpetuated the priviledged person's views, even if these were not their own. The video explains why it is necessary for a priviledged person to first try to see the issues from the unpriviledged person's point of view, before dismissing what s/he has to say.

Sat, 2012-07-07 08:31 — Donald (not verified)

I'm not dismissing what anyone has to say on this topic, I'm dismissing the fact that he/she is implying there were sexist comments. There are many now but at the time there wasn't much, mostly just people trying to defend the terrible "jokes" by using the excuse that they are just that, jokes. I understand the sentiment of the privileged but I don't really fall into the category of someone who has not been a sufferer of racial profiling, sexual harassment, rape or misandry. It's an interesting video though and I do thank you for sharing.

Fri, 2012-07-06 23:15 — withalittlewit (not verified)

The problem with this is that you are assuming there is not a problem that needs to be addressed. That is what your argument is assuming. African-American civil rights movements were also based on the idea that there was a problem in how Americans treat African-Americans in the race war, and by looking over the fact that there was a problem jut proves that there is a problem. There is a gender war, and it is messed up, and yeah, it's worth fighting or. Downgrading feminism to man-hating women is like down-grading MLK to a white-hating black man. The idea of feminism is not fighting men, but fighting the idea that men are better. Men and women are equals, and you saying that you acknowledge that does not mean that the world understands that. These innocent comments are the backbone of sexism. It's not the abusers, the rapists, the religious crackpots. It's making a comment on how your wife's point is not valid because she is on her period in front of your child. It's the television show telling girls that if they are not pretty and have a boyfriend, they are worthless. It's someone reducing a valid movement to bra-burning feminazis.

If you have never been scared to walk outside at night because there is a chance you could be raped, than you cannot say a single word against the very legitimate movements for feminism. If you have never been called a derogatory term because you accepted a sexual advance, or because you turned down a sexual advance, or because you wear certain clothes or because you hang out with only men, or because you are religious or because you aren't pretty or because you are pretty or because you exist, then you cannot begin to understand what it is like to be a woman. It is ridiculous how women are treated, and we are nowhere near as equal as men are, and the gender war will continue until every woman is equal to a man in every aspect. So are feminists adding to the gender war? Yes, we are. But if we weren't fighting, then equality would never be achieved. Nothing ever got done by sitting on our asses. Didn't a man say that?

Sat, 2012-07-07 08:15 — Donald (not verified)

I'm not assuming there is no problem, I know clear and well that there is but addressing an issue from a bias standpoint doesn't entirely work for me. You can bring up MLK but he wasn't addressing the issue from a bias standpoint, in most of Anita's work it's obvious she isn't exactly on the side of equality for men and has often denied and claimed that men have been victims of objectification, rape and abuse. She's ignoring other issues solely because she wants to focus on men as evil. She reminds me of a slightly more toned down version Evebitfirst, the blog site responsible for radical feminist posts claiming "Men are rape supporters if.." and then detailing a list that not only every living man violates but every woman violates. I'm not downgrading feminism really, only the modern ethos of the whole movement as I stated in my post. I'm for the equal rights of women and for feminists, but I am not for feminists the like of Anita or my own step=grandmother who berates and treats my younger brother like dirt solely because he has a penis, while showering my sister with love and adoration solely because she does not. The majority of modern day feminists that I've seen aren't exactly for the equal rights between genders, but seems more like a political movement intended to put women on top and make men obsolete. Worse off is many feminists seem to opine that women are stupid dolts who have been controlled by men and therefore have not a single thought in there head and are incapable of self-preservation. Some of the radical views border or extreme misogyny. I'm generalizing a bit but that's what I've seen of modern day feminism.

Also I must also mention that I was raped by an older cousin when I was eight and was recently sexually harassed by a woman who couldn't take no for an answer; telling me that "you want it." So I know the fear of walking and the possibility of rape, but considering that I have a better possibility of being robbed or mugged I'm more concerned about that. I was called a sexual deviant and pervert for accepting the sexual advances of an ex-girlfriend of mine while in high school, the girl I mention above called me a prudish pussy, I've been called a murderer and creep by a many people because I enjoy wearing a trench coat and a fedora, I've been told I was going to burn in hell and suffer eternal pain for not being religious, I've been told to kill myself, and while in middle-school I was literally the mock of the entire school. I had zero friends and was belittled and abused every single day. I've also been arrested and charged for assault because a vindictive ex of mine thought the best way to punish me for a little argument we had was to call the police and tell them I beat her. No evidence required, save for a little red-mark on her face. I was laughed at when I mentioned my past rape and the most recent sexual-harassment because "men can't get raped." The words of a woman I might add. I'm sorry but if you look at statistical facts many of the things feminists are fighting for have been solved and in a shocking twist women tend to have more rights than men, especially in the areas of violence and spousal abuse. Statistical fact shows that there is an almost greater percentage of female to male spousal abuse and shows that women get off the hook easier than men. I knew this guy who's wife used to beat him, and I mean beat him, she'd bruise him up bad. Finally he hit her back, she called the cops, he was arrested and was told that he should just walk away. Her, she got away scott free.

I know there's still a lack of equality in the political/business world for women and I know there's still a lack of strong portrayals of females in video games, but fighting a war with bias one sided opinions and under education on the equality itself isn't going to help anything. I want peace, understanding, not people picking sides and expressing the same venom and hate at the other it doesn't work that way. The original civil rights and feminist movements focused on the prospects of equality, mentioning issues from a worldly view not a singular one.

Sat, 2012-07-07 08:41 — Donald (not verified)

I meant she claimed that men are not victims of these acts, sorry about the typos it's late.

Fri, 2012-07-06 23:07 — Raven (not verified)

The only reason feminism looks like a stupid idea is that so many people are so determined to present and eviscerate straw man versions of it rather than engaging the real thing.

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:50 — Evul Terribul Man (not verified)

Yikes... Look at all the condescending "let's jump on Men" posts... I'm so glad my wife is a realist and understands that she needs to kick me in the ass just as much as i need to kick her in the ass.

I wouldn't cash your check from that lottery just yet... just sayin

Fri, 2012-07-06 21:35 — Gwen Rae (not verified)

What does "realist" even mean? Mutual figurative ass-kicking sounds pretty equal, and thus... feminist...?

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:28 — Evul Terribul Man (not verified)

Now that I've researched both sides to this issue I can safely say the following:

1. Men are immature pigs...
2. Women put too much faith that men will "Do the right thing"
3. When in denial about #2, women seem to forget #1.

Women... please. Understand this. We are NOT like you. We don't think like you, we don't act like you, we don't smell like you, we don't experience life the same as you. We are conditioned from when we are young to follow a set of "MANLY" principles... and when we DON'T follow those principles, we are called "Wimp, pansy, crybaby, Liberal..." ha.. i'd wear that last one as a badge of pride though ;)

My point is, regardless of how much (Seriously pointless) research you may do to find some "Hidden?" reason behind why men act the way they do, We will CONTINUE to act this way... We are conditioned... Just as much as the fairer sex is conditioned to act prim, proper, polite and Beautiful...

Is it all Bull? Of COURSE it is...

Can we change it??

No... not right now. We are too immature as a Species. The fact that we need to have this discussion in the first place is evidence enough that we are not ready to evolve to that plateau of realization and self actualization.

HORRIFIED is what I feel toward my fellow man by the display of immature behavior... But seriously. The people whom you want to change will never change. You are literally beating the dead horse here.

One day we will grow up and realize the horror... but it's not today

Sorry for the Reality of the situation

Sat, 2012-07-07 18:51 — Siega (not verified)

The research Anita is conducting for a video series is not about finding a hidden meaning or a manly conspiracy against women.

It is about finding the most typical ways women are portrait in video games and explaining the ups and downs of those stereotypes and why it does not work anymore without a lot more issues, when gamers are more mainstream and >40% are women.

The little boys clubs is no more, women has been playing for decades, but there is so many more of them now than before, so staying silent is not longer the only option.

Some game dev teams does a bad job at giving characters more depth and equally positive gender portraits. I am a gamer, and I see it often. It is a problem that something as "addictive" as media (games, tv, movies, music) does not have a broader perspective, since it is conditioning the unthinking audience.

It could maybe even explain why the conditioning of the "MANLY principles" into youth through media gives them a skeewed view of women and men in generel if subjected to it long enough. Maybe even a view that in a minority of gamers dysfunctional brains justifies harashing and threatening a woman -- or for the matter anyone else -- for using her freedom of speech online.

Naturally it would help if parents tried to invest some sense into these people before they grew up to be bullies with a anonymous criminal internet record :p

This issue needs to be discussed at a mature level.

Sat, 2012-07-07 18:51 — Sipl (not verified)

The research Anita is conducting for a video series is not about finding a hidden meaning or a manly conspiracy against women.

The little boys clubs is no more, women has been playing for decades, but there is so many more of them now than before, so staying silent is not longer the only option.

Naturally it would help if parents tried to invest some sense into these people before they grew up to be bullies with a anonymous criminal internet record :p

This issue needs to be discussed at a mature level.

Sat, 2012-07-07 04:59 — Oh gee (not verified)

Funny, my kid gets that you don't harass people, and he's 22. Something went wrong in these peoples' heads.

Immaturity is not equal to cruelty. If they'd said something carelessly or didn't realize the harm they did, that's immaturity. However, these people know exactly what they're doing. That's just evil.

Fri, 2012-07-06 22:18 — Artemisia (not verified)

That may be your reality, but it's not mine. Anything can change today, if people want it to. And that critical mass is coming, whether men are ready or not.

Fri, 2012-07-06 21:39 — Gwen Rae (not verified)

That's why video projects like Anita's exist: to challenge this behavior. It's not a cure-all, it's a way of taking another step towards maturity. Immaturity is saying something won't ever change. Everything changes.

Fri, 2012-07-06 21:03 — BasicHumanRights (not verified)

Hello,

I just want to indicate that what you're suggesting is that nothing can ever change in short amounts of time, so it's pointless to ever try to change it, at all, even slightly.

I'd be interested in knowing how you expect anything to change, ever, if nobody should ever change, ever, because change is pointless.

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:10 — a person (not verified)

By saying "online bullies if you want to be a semantic stickler" when referring to trolls demonstrates that the author does not understand the full meaning of that word.
The objectification of both sexes is rampant in video games, the hero will generally be some muscled Adonis, tech support guys will be bespectacled weedy types.
Terrible what has happened to this woman however, I feel ashamed to be part of the human race when we are capable of such behaviour.

Fri, 2012-07-06 23:08 — Raven (not verified)

Men are stereotyped as awesome things for men to be. Women are stereotyped as sex objects for men. See the difference?

Sat, 2012-07-07 02:02 — Not sure why replying (not verified)

Though the things men are stereotyped as may be "awesome things to be", I would dispute that the comedic relief bespectacled nerd who wets himself when a baddy comes past is though, that real life male kids are often bullied for not meeting the standards of the killing machine Adonis, or end up feeling inferior from not meeting the presented level of machismo that all men are needed to have.

What both genders need is a more varied representation in video games and the media as a whole.

Sat, 2012-07-07 19:37 — Siega (not verified)

I agree with you, there are male stereotypes too that is not positive rolemodels too. As you say "What both genders need is a more varied representation in video games and the media as a whole."

That is actually all women are asking for. A varied representation of their gender.

Anitas research is about how women are portrait, since the negative rolemodel representation of women are more generel in game.

That does not mean, that there isn't room for a video series about how men are portrait in media and the topic is open for discussion for when a male character in a game is a positive or negative portrait for a rolemodel for their gender or the opposit gender.

Obviously a Male Chauvinist Pig's picture

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:09 — Obviously a Male Chauvinist Pig (not verified)

Quick, call the waaambulance!

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:58 — Obviously a feminist (not verified)

Did somebody call for a professional ass hat?

Fri, 2012-07-06 22:33 — Vagblood (not verified)

Excuse me, but "ass hat" is an inherently offensive, sexually-loaded triggerphrase.

Sat, 2012-07-07 05:03 — Oh gee (not verified)

*Ass hat* means a person who has stuck his/her own head up their own head up their own ass because they're not too bright. It's not meant to be a sexually loaded triggerphrase. I'll grant you that it is very offensive.

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:08 — ago (not verified)

Sorry If Im being a little too agressive this time... But I can't Believe the amount of BS Im reading in the comments...

How in the mother of god that woman have a valid criticism because a bunch of no brainers did stupid, disgusting, trolling trash comments, productions, in a Stupid way to prevent a Stupid campaign (in my opinion).

Why So much people is pointing out that she is right, because a lot of IDIOTS, because that's what they are... harassed her, IN INTERNET. Is not justified... But I will give you a hint. She or someone with her name... Went to the WORST place in Internet (pages where there are trolls and idiots of that class)... And posted her project just to make every one of these complete idiots (let me repeat it) to troll and harass her.

And , this is funny, Many people gave her money, because of that harassment.

Wich actually makes me repeat the same thing again.. Being trolled , don't make you smart... Baing harassed don't make your project be rignt, and less when you go to forums and imageboard full of trolls and spam your links and expect everyone to troll you.

Ad you know what? I think the most trolled people were the people who actually paid for that project. A project of videos other people made, for free, with better information, and you can just browse youtube for that.

That woman didn't deserve all the harassment she got (I think she expected less) But either her project worth any dollar. You can try to neglect this... But htere is another fact that makes my thing this was all her plan (that got a little out of control) When the harassment started she writed that out in the blog and if not wrong in the kickstarter. And then a lot of people started to donate twice as fast. Sooo... She is right because of trolls harassing her? Like if trolls have some sort of critcal value...

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:36 — adkm1979 (not verified)

Nobody is saying that the abuse proves every point hat she s making. It does prove, however, that sexism (like every other form of prejudice) is surprisingly still very much alive and well.

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:08 — Scorp (not verified)

Back in my day abuse was when someone physically assaulted you.

Fri, 2012-07-06 21:57 — Kirt (not verified)

Emotional pain hurts as much as physical pain. Just because it's happening via the Internet doesn't mean it doesn't have real effects.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7512107.stm

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:49 — lester.b

Please post your photo. I'll be happy to create a video game in which your face gets punched or you are anally raped.

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:34 — adkm1979 (not verified)

I'm not familiar with the Age of the Imbecile. Which century was that?

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:42 — Evul Terribul Man (not verified)

I'd say we are all pretty much living in it right now.

And as a reference... Ad hominem attacks only harm the issue...

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:04 — Case (not verified)

To me, purposefully orchestrated or not, Ms. Sarkeesian's campaign is genius.
The current reality trumps the original goal 100 fold, bringing to light the misogyny and stereotypes often proliferated more due to larger marketing tropes and laziness than malice. I'm sure many of the men designing and creating the games she will be dissecting honestly do not feel they are (and likely are not in person) degrading to women. These are not all the stereotypically pimply, anti-social, emotionally defunct, sex obsessed teenage geeks we're taught to expect them to be. Both the developers and the players feel they're fighting there own war against being branded as such - but - that is why Anita's campaign is so crucial. The tinderbox is lit, and similarly to Morgan Spurlock's recent dive into the lion's den of product marketing (and its sobering parallels to our current system of government in the US) we see that the act of posturing is enough to bring daylight and real discussion to an issue mostly tucked away in the cellar and deemed better buried than addressed. Whether or not the videos originally planned and funded are successful studies of current conditions (I for one think that they will be) this campaign has put a spotlight on an issue that needs one, and that is worth discussing openly. Ultimately it is only the internalizing of these issues and personal decisions of the conscious thinker that will tact our course. Gamers and game developers are insightful, caring, creative, engaged and passionate people. Soon the minority presenting these hate messages will realize they have much more in common with Anita Sarkeesian than they currently believe and turn that vigor towards the ultimate win condition.

Fri, 2012-07-06 19:50 — poop (not verified)

just f.y.i. spokker is an insane misogynist who got banned from something awful for having an insane misogynist meltdown, stop responding to him

Fri, 2012-07-06 19:48 — BC (not verified)

Wow, the comments so far really prove the article's point, don't they?

And for anyone claiming "yes, but she's wrong on the issues", how is that even relevant? Does she DESERVE this abuse, then?

Fri, 2012-07-06 19:42 — PD (not verified)

The harassment she has received since starting this project and the negative comments on this article show exactly why she is right, and why this project needs to happen. Thank you, trolls, for making this problem visible to everyone.

Fri, 2012-07-06 19:53 — ago (not verified)

No... that show how there is people stupid enough to not know how to criticize a bad campaign that if I dare to say, Stole people money by doing nothing relevant to the issue it wanted to say... not mentioning the research she actually made, was almost null, some things she said were fake, or misinterpreted. If people give you a lot of money to do research and make a good quality product... DO RESEARCH AND MAKE A GOOD QUALITY PRODUCT. It is not hard. But no, the problem here is that either her and the people who harassed her are perfect examples on pretty much everything wrong in the world. If someone says something stupid or immature... It doesn't make the other one being right. It just make the first look like an idiot and the comment is invalidated.

And the project happened... Guess what. Nothing... People paid a lot of money for something that could be done for free. and not giving mention to the fact half of that information was inaccurate or just FAKE.

She IS right about sexism in videogames, She is right about games directed in a major part to male audience... Tell me... You did't know that? You need someone else get PAID to say exactly the same thing? And to make things worst, Using inaccurate information anyway to exemplify?

I will resume fast as I can because I overextended this reply and my english is not very good as you can read.

She is not right because idiots are wrong. (btw they always are, that's why they are idiots)

Sat, 2012-07-07 05:06 — Oh gee (not verified)

You don't have a clue about Kickstarter, do you? Get your facts straight, bud.

Sat, 2012-07-07 00:02 — PD (not verified)

"Stole people money"

That, uh, isn't how Kickstarter works. You can't forcibly take money from people there.

This isn't about "idiots", this is about social systems and long-term trends in behavior. We're talking the advanced class, you're obviously still flunking 101.

Fri, 2012-07-06 21:21 — Aveline (not verified)

"Stole people money by doing nothing relevant to the issue it wanted to say..."
"People paid a lot of money for something that could be done for free. "

Believe it or not, there are many people out there who follow Ms. Sarkeesian's work, have followed it for a long time and *want* to compensate her for it. Many things can be done for free -- it doesn't mean they must, or should.

I have followed Sarkeesian's work for quite awhile, and I was thrilled to donate to her Kickstarter when it launched. I have enjoyed her videos and articles so much that I wanted to contribute. I also contribute to blogs and other content-producers that I read or view regularly.

It's ridiculous to say she "stole" money from people who, the majority of whom were almost certainly familiar with her work, voluntarily chose to give it, knowing the level of content she has produced in the past. She has stolen nothing from me; I gave it to her in appreciation for work done in the past, and in anticipation for more of it in the future.

If anyone has a problem with that, all they needed to do was not donate. Really not that hard.

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:33 — gtoiufs (not verified)

AGO, your general point is true...a person's detractors behaving like idiots doesn't make that person's argument correct.
However, you aren't making your case very strongly. What information in the research project is innacurate or fake? How is the Tropes vs. Women, as a project, inadequate? If you have intelligent critique, offer it in detail, not in vague accusations.
And even so, the use of "stole" is over-the-top. Remember, those who gave to the project did so of their own free will. Even if the research is shoddy, it is hardly alone in the world of research, and loads of shoddy research is funded by far less transparent means.

Fri, 2012-07-06 20:33 — gtoiufs (not verified)