Streamers respond after Twitch harrasment for playing Hogwarts Legacy

[Specter]

1 hour ago, Communion said:

 

I just think that's too broad of a definition of parasocial relationships and veers more towards the commodification of personality under capitalism. 

 

For most people, parasocial relationships are clear - not based on "I like this personality and will watch" but rather "I like this personality and this person is therefore my friend." [As for "technical" qualification, they actually are rather skilled at analyzing games, with major game studios frequently platforming them for such.]

 

The feeling of betrayal imo is less about "how could they do this to me" (which is parasocial), but more about the kind of content they want. 

 

This is all tangential, though. I can sort of see what you're saying but I think it's a very apathetic view of "they knew what they were doing" - because clearly they thought that a) given that they received it for free, it would not materially contribute to the revenue of the game (something their audience would be more upset by) and b) raising money for trans youth simultaneously (without backlash) is more than enough. 

 

As for their largely political stances, that was inferred based on their previous pro-consumer/union positions and them standing against bigotry. 

 

It's also not as simple as just their audience being upset because, as seen, people were paying to subscribe - something their audience already was.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Phantom

[Miley Cyrus]

lgbt need to go back into the closet  

[Specter]

57 minutes ago, Miley Cyrus said:

lgbt need to go back into the closet  

Wtf?

[Hurem]

Can't wait to purchase the game

[Taylucifer]

not surprised these people have worms for brain 

 

now i want to purchase the game out of spite and lots of people probably feel the same way

[Heartbreak Prince]

These online “AcTiVIsTs” need to get a grip. It makes me so happy that they’ll be sitting seething about the success of this game, partly caused by them annoying people so much to the point where they just buy it to prove a point.

 

If you want to help trans people, being bullies is not the way to go. Focussing your entire efforts into shouting about how “transphobic” a game is is not the way to go.

Go outside, touch some grass, stop crying & help trans people in a way that will actually be beneficial to them if you want, and let people enjoy things before you bring anymore harm to the cause you’re failing to stand up for. Or keep seething, whatever you prefer.

[Reginald]

Oh, well! NO sympathy here. The bigots have been having a field day in every comment section for this game. Thousands of incel 30-somethings using this game designed for literal 12 year olds as a jumping off point for the most disgusting hate I've seen online since 2020.

 

This is the JKR legacy: Fake allyship, and bigotry.

 

If only these losers would go outside and touch some grass, they would realize they've been duped into playing the most WOKE game of the year , featuring trans characters, a diverse cast. 

Edited February 8, 2023 by Reginald

[Communion]

5 hours ago, Phantom said:

I just think that's too broad of a definition of parasocial relationships and veers more towards the commodification of personality under capitalism. 

 

For most people, parasocial relationships are clear - not based on "I like this personality and will watch" but rather "I like this personality and this person is therefore my friend." [As for "technical" qualification, they actually are rather skilled at analyzing games, with major game studios frequently platforming them for such.]

 

The feeling of betrayal imo is less about "how could they do this to me" (which is parasocial), but more about the kind of content they want. 

 

This is all tangential, though. I can sort of see what you're saying but I think it's a very apathetic view of "they knew what they were doing" - because clearly they thought that a) given that they received it for free, it would not materially contribute to the revenue of the game (something their audience would be more upset by) and b) raising money for trans youth simultaneously (without backlash) is more than enough. 

 

As for their largely political stances, that was inferred based on their previous pro-consumer/union positions and them standing against bigotry. 

 

It's also not as simple as just their audience being upset because, as seen, people were paying to subscribe - something their audience already was.

I could see what you're saying, but again, I think there needs to be more self-awareness from them.

 

They tweeted out they were gonna play it in that exact way you framed and had to follow-up with a tweet acknowledging that most of the reaction was negative. They're... video game streamers.

 

They're not performing essential services. Making money off of playing a Harry Potter game is not some inalienable right they were denied. As much as I think you can go "it's just a game, relax" to people upset, the same has to then apply to people who frame themselves as somehow unfairly slighted. Like.. just play a different game! lol!

 

And while I think consumer activism has its shortfalls and is largely unproductive, I'm also less sympathetic to these people for fueling some anti-trans hysteria by causing this situation to happen and letting it get any kind of attention for the far-right to further villainize trans people.

 

Let's be clear, this happens anytime a marginalized group tries to do consumer activism. 

Gays say Chick-Fil-A supports conversion therapy? People line up the street for it.

 

Like if your business brand or persona in anyway claims to care about trans people, at least be self-aware enough to know that there's no benefit to "reviewing" the game (aka... just playing it on camera) because it's just... not something anyone needs to do. Like at least be creative. Mod the game and let people make their character trans. Let the villain's name be changed to JK Rowling. Help mass piracy it. You got it for free? Okay, help everyone get it for free. Let's actually do some meaningful protest besides just engage with the product. 

[Reginald]

 

 All of this drama over such a medicore looking game meant for 12 year olds 

[Specter]

19 minutes ago, Communion said:

 

Interesting. I somewhat agree with you (they definitely could have been more self-aware about their first tweet), I guess our disagreement is about the periphery of this.

 

They did the follow-up tweet poorly, but it wasn't a last minute scramble because of the backlash. Raising money for the Trevor Project was their plan, in any case.

 

Yes, this does happen when people try to do consumer activism. But I'll be honest I take some issue with the "they let this happen" framing because, as much as I dislike the vitriol the game is spawning, the game broke records on Twitch - it is the most streamed game ever, on launch (x). Of course, game streaming isn't some essential right, but it feels weird in this situation - you can understand why, right?

 

It's not a human right to be able to stream a game. No one said that, neither did they.

 

I also get that you were just giving casual examples, but

 

-They can't help mass-pirate it - that would lead to legal action. Codes are given by the publisher, and if they helped people crack it these two would never get a code again, and would likely violate most ToS on services.

-You can actually create a trans character I think (not sure).

-If they give the game away for free, they would need to buy more codes -> so instead of supporting the game materially once (which they did not do), they bought it to give it out multiple times...is that not worse?

-JKR as a villain in the game may be creative, but is it also not arguably even less meaningful?

 

The core of the issue I think is how meaningful consumer activism is arbitrarily defined, more often that not. I personally think they did enough by not buying the game and raising money for charity, but I guess you and others don't, which is alright.

[Prisoner]

Good

[khalyan]

Nobody who considers themselves a trans ally should be affiliating themselves with this game. 

[Mr. Blue_Shirt]

This whole situation kinda sending me I'm sorry 

 

And yeah I agree that boycotting this game by harassing the people who playing it it's not working. JK Rowling already made billions of dollars from merchandises and books alone so this game is just a tiny fraction of her wealth and without it, she's still generates a lot of money in the end

 

Honestly the only thing that works in this situation is just pirate the hell of the game or if you're streamers (and you have to play it for whatever reason i guess ), do fundraising for trans charities

 

Also we should shame and dragged the people who using this situation to justify transphobia and harassing trans people while supporting the game. Period! 

[Mobility Mary]

18 hours ago, Communion said:

This is just... bad business. 

 

If you get paid to play video games for a living, and have an audience that pays you that is avers to the content related to a specific public figure, why review content related to that figure?

 

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic but.. you're playing video games online while people watch you. You're not working in coal mines. Just pick a different game. 

Or get this; they can play any game they like and anyone sending them death threats and having mental breakdowns over it needs to go see a therapist instead of watching Twitch streams.

[fauxtography]

19 hours ago, VOSS said:

I would love if these terminally online leftists would put their energy into something other than these ideological purity tests about playing a Harry Potter video game. Sadly it seems they can’t help themselves.

To be fair, "terminally online leftists" isn't quite the umbrella I would put them under. Many of these people only care about this issue as if you check any of their twitter profiles the only topic they have any passion about is gender.

 

That is their prerogative though. Lord knows if I was a streamer I would avoid this game like the plague just to not get caught in the middle of it.

 

 

[VOSS]

21 hours ago, Communion said:

This is just... bad business. 

 

If you get paid to play video games for a living, and have an audience that pays you that is avers to the content related to a specific public figure, why review content related to that figure?

 

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic but.. you're playing video games online while people watch you. You're not working in coal mines. Just pick a different game. 

Should they have avoided playing TLOU2 also then? Bad business to play a “woke” game you’ll be attacked on Twitch for?

[Smarticle]

9 hours ago, Miley Cyrus said:

lgbt need to go back into the closet  

Ok ATRL user Miley Cyrus 

[Zylo]

Honestly, this whole situation has caused me to do quite a bit of introspection. I’m just a college student who uses games as a way to destress and I kinda like this one but not what it’s associated with. While I understand it’s as simple as just not buying a damn wizard video game, truthfully I realize that I can’t help myself in the midst of escapism & having enjoyed games for this exact purpose since I was a kid. 

 

I can’t pirate since I have a PS5, so yeah I accept that it’s not an ethically good or “supportive” purchase, but it is what it is. Those harassing people for it can kick rocks tho, buyers and boycotters alike  completely valid to not support it with your coins if that’s what you desire. 

[AMIT]

They know their audience, the audience showed who they are again with the backlash. Why am I supposed to be sorry for the streamers? Getting into a fight with their audience is a terrible business practice. That's besides the fact that the audience is acting a mess. Both things can be true here.

[Material Girl]

no one on the internet can ever just let someone enjoy something 

[Kamil24]

oh is this out? I should get a Switch and buy the game  

[Katamari]

53 minutes ago, Zylo said:

Honestly, this whole situation has caused me to do quite a bit of introspection. I’m just a college student who uses games as a way to destress and I kinda like this one but not what it’s associated with. While I understand it’s as simple as just not buying a damn wizard video game, truthfully I realize that I can’t help myself in the midst of escapism & having enjoyed games for this exact purpose since I was a kid. 

 

I can’t pirate since I have a PS5, so yeah I accept that it’s not an ethically good or “supportive” purchase, but it is what it is. Those harassing people for it can kick rocks tho, buyers and boycotters alike  completely valid to not support it with your coins if that’s what you desire. 

You could just get it used as well

[Specter]

They responded. 

 

 

 

[Katamari]

On 2/18/2023 at 5:14 PM, Phantom said:

They responded. 

 

 

 

best gaming channel getting some good press from this