Why Gamers Don't Cancel Blizzard Over Sexism: A Call for Common Sense in the Gaming Community
There is a growing debate within the gaming community about cancel culture and its impact on companies and individuals. One of the most discussed topics is the decision to cancel gaming giants like Blizzard for offensive or sexist behavior. While it is essential to hold companies accountable for their actions, it is equally important to remember that cancelling them doesn't solve the underlying issues. Let's explore why gamers find it challenging to cancel companies simply because they have made mistakes or engage in unethical behavior.
The Impact of Cancel Culture on Gaming
Cancel culture has become a significant phenomenon, where individuals and companies face severe consequences for minor or even unintended mistakes. This can have a chilling effect on creativity and innovation, as companies and individuals fear any misstep could result in being cancelled forever. While being held accountable for harmful actions is crucial, cancelling entire companies or excluding them from the community entirely is not always the best approach.
The Cancellation vs. Fine Philosophy
As a gamer who has been playing for decades, I believe that companies should be fined and prosecuted when they engage in harmful or unethical behavior, rather than being cancelled outright. This approach ensures that justice is served while allowing the gaming community to continue engaging with the company if it shows genuine intent to improve.
Instead of cancelling a company, gamers can choose to boycott their products or services. This sends a clear message that their behavior is unacceptable without permanently isolating them from the community. For instance, if you dislike what a company does, simply refrain from purchasing their products. By doing so, you demonstrate your disapproval while still allowing others to decide for themselves whether they want to support the company.
The Dilemma with In-App Purchases and Game Development
There is one exception where I have had significant issues: Electronic Arts (EA). The introduction of in-app purchases and the model they adopted to boost microtransactions has had a detrimental impact on game development. The move towards microtransactions has led to several titles being overhauled with paid expansions, causing frustration among players who feel they are being asked to pay more for the same product they could have received earlier.
Before these business models were introduced, buggy games on release were rarely a problem. Most issues could be fixed with minor patches or updates. However, in recent years, we have come to expect day one patches and accessible content via paid DLC. While this has increased the cost for consumers, it has also diminished the overall gaming experience for many players.
Why Emotional Outbursts in Gaming Aren’t Justified
Gamers find it challenging to police every action of a company while also maintaining a level of professionalism within multiplayer environments. Online interactions in games often involve profanities and derogatory language. These exchanges can be quite intense and may stem from frustration, anger, or even racism. However, in-game behaviour is not representative of a player's general beliefs or ethics.
For instance, when someone uses profanity or derogatory language in a game, it is often a temporary outburst due to frustration or a bad experience. While such language is unacceptable, it is not a reflection of an individual's character in real life. Gamers should be able to engage in these interactions while still maintaining a sense of community and support for one another.
Taking a Balanced Approach to Accountability
It is essential for the gaming community to hold companies accountable for their actions but to do so in a balanced and constructive manner. Letting companies know that their behavior is unacceptable and providing them with an opportunity to make amends is more effective than cancelling them outright. This approach fosters a culture of growth and improvement, which benefits not only the companies but also the gaming community as a whole.
By using a combination of boycotts, constructive criticism, and support for positive changes, we can create a more responsible and accountable gaming culture. Cancellation might seem like an easy solution, but it often does more harm than good. Instead, we should focus on addressing the root causes of the issues and working towards meaningful change.