Xbox Live gamer suspended for saying he lives in Fort Gay

[foxfeet]

By Winda Benedetti

It's not easy being a gay gamer — and apparently that holds true even if you aren't actually homosexual.

Microsoft recently banned a 26-year-old gamer from Xbox Live, accusing him of violating the online gaming service's code of conduct by publicly declaring that he's from the town of Fort Gay.

A customer service rep from the company told Josh Moore, an unemployed factory worker, that the town's name was considered offensive.

But Microsoft now finds itself having to issue an apology not only to Moore but to the entire town of Fort Gay, West Virginia. Yeah…turns out it's a real place.

It also turns out "gay" isn't an offensive word. But we knew that already, right?

Full article: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/08/5071101-xbox-live-gamer-suspended-for-saying-he-lives-in-fort-gay

[realisticphish]

1. This is just standard corporate idiocy

from experience, though, XBL is a hive of scum and villainy... there is definitely a fine line they have to walk

[meow mix]

2. i was considering a purchase of the upcoming xbox,

scratch that idea.
PC is best anyways for games imo

[sailor65]

5. No, don't scratch that idea

This only happened because Live is trying to fight a very real problem. It happened because Microsoft DOES get it.

[TygrBright]

3. Reminds me of back when AOL tried to filter the word "breast."

Leading to the formation of the "Hooter Cancer Survivors" chat room.

Sheeeeeeeeeesh. Teh stupid.

resignedly,
Bright

[sailor65]

4. Don't blame Microsoft, and don't alert till you read the rest!

As somebody who plays on XBox live almost every day, and whose son does the same, I can tell you that the slurs and homophobia are a whole lot worse than most of you probably know. Microsoft should be commended for working so hard to combat the problem. Although an automatic ban like this was an error, it happened for the right reason. For any gamer who uses "Gay" in a perfectly honest way, there are at least 100 who don't. Likely many more. You wouldn't believe some of the names we've seen before Live spotted and banned them.

This guy didn't get banned because Microsoft considered Gay offensive. They didn't need to "Learn" better. They already know it. We've seen players kicked immediately by monitors based on verbal shit alone.

[47of74]

6. Considering Micro$oft was less than helpful...

...they deserve criticism for this.