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Microsoft Bans "Gay" And Explains
By Daya Baran at June 12, 2008 14 Comments
Richard Gaywood was surprised to learn that he was banned from the Xbox Live user group.
He had created a gametag in the user group under his legal name Gaywood.
Microsoft said that his legal name which contains the word “gay” was in violation of Microsoft XBox Live’s terms of use.
“We want the Xbox LIVE community to have the freedom to express themselves, but we also have a responsibility to create an inclusive, safe environment. While it may be clear to some that Gaywood is a legitimate surname, it may not be obvious to other Xbox LIVE members. In this case, a complaint was filed by a member of the community, requiring the Xbox LIVE team to examine the gamertag within the context of the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use. Based on the these guidelines, it was necessary for the gamertag to change”, said Microsoft’s Stephen Toulouse.
Not too long ago “TheGAYERGamer” received a ban from Microsoft. Toulouse stated that “Gamertags are visible to everyone and it would be hard for me to defend to a parent of a young child who saw it that the name did not contain content of a sexual nature.”
Microsoft said that Mr. Gaywood’s gamertag will not be reinstated.
Labels: Microsoft
14 Comments
Come on Microsoft. This is ridiculous.
Microsoft would probably be surprised to learn that XBOX also has sexual connotations. In fact, it was joked about on the TV show “Will and Grace”.
“Box” is often used to describe a person’s private areas. And X? Well, it used to be a movie rating used by the MPAA to describe a movie with Adult Content, and no children were to be admitted. While it’s no longer used by the MPAA (in favor of NC17), it’s still used to describe sexually-oriented content everywhere else.
So where does it end? “Gay” is also a first name. Is “Rod” next? I personally would be very upset if I found out I couldn’t use my real name (if I wanted to) just because a few people out there have dirty minds.
If I were him, I would sell my XBox. I always thought Microsoft was full of idiots. Now I know I was right.
When will people learn!!!
That’s it. I’m changing my XBOX Live account to ‘GaymerTag’.
If my name name like Gaywood, getting kicked off xBox live would be the least of my worries, in fact MS probably did this guy a favor.
Catering to the lowest common denominator in society is cowardly.
Eventually, we’ll probably see that the only permitted userid on XBox is:
BillGates1
BillGates2
BillGates23484
I guess Microsoft is now going to refrain from advertising on Cox Cable now too, right? Heaven forbid that some idiot think that Microsoft is supporting pornography by having the temerity to advertise on a cable network with such an obviously sexual name…
Easy solution. Use similar sounding things.
gheyman4cox
ghaylover
geiliketosuck
and so on..
After a while they simply will have to give up on banning every single phenome that sounds like “gay”
And let’s not forget that one of the minor heroes of World War II was Ensign George Gay — he was the sole survivor of an airplane squadron wiped out at the battle of Midway.
They’re saying _he_ couldn’t use _his_ name either. Where are the family values in that?
Sounds a bit like censorship to me. Although “gay” is a sexual orientation, it is not soliciting or eliciting any act. That all happens in your own mind. I can see where the problem lies, but this also seems to be one of those slippery slopes where we start to ostracize a group because of one arbitrary reason or another. If I find religion to be offensive, or I am very religious, should they start banning things with the word “god” in them? Where does it end?
This is happening in this day & age? Oh please. This is one more reason for why it’s smart to switch over to Apple computer stuff.
What if the person’s legit name was Charles Dickenson ?
Perhaps they could use a human checked aside from the automated program checker.
Does Wii have any kind of restrictions like this? I own a Wii, not an Xbox 360, and my mii name is “Kev” so as far as I know, that can’t be mistaken for anything inappropriate. I’d be interested in knowing if anyone else ran into problems with their mii name on Wii though.
Ok, I love the game Grand Theft Auto 4 and am not complaining, but c’mon this is out of hand.
When I can go run a hooker over after having sex with her and take her money on the game (which is great you get the sex and your money back!) and can’t use the name your real name or Richard Hardens or my fav Haywood Jablome that’s BS.
I’m ready to get PS3 and be done with it. Microsoft milked the Halo series and never matched the 1st one in game quality and user experience. Not to mention ‘Live’ on Playstation is Free…
This just makes me mad enough to turn on GTA4 and run over every pedestrian I see (well I do it anyway, so I guess I really don’t need a reason). That is all…
well i’m glad Richard Gaywood doesn’t refer to himself as “Dick”. that’d be plain embarrassing.
If Microsoft can make a guy change his name because it offends someone, that will only give fuel to the rest of the world of people who are easily offended. How far will this go? Anyone with a name that can be made fun of by kids in elementary school will be forced to have their real name legally changed so it no longer offends people. Think about what you are starting, Microsoft.