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@OP,
I don't like this kind of political steering, anger vent posts. Your aim doesn't seem to be discussing stuff, but rather to make everyone reading a couple of older articles posted in some news papers upset at Steam and at Valve. It is emotional chaos you seem to aim for and you yourself are not open to any change in your views. I am honestly not sure if this came from you yourself, or if the agenda of the providers for the articles you shared make you into someone who shares the same goals as they are; but in effect you're doing the same as they are instead of being an individual.
Both of the links (vice and adl) you posted display articles from a year ago, which speak about the ADL post, which speaks about stuff from before 2021
And the way I see it, is that you're trying to start a fight rather than discuss, but the way you're doing it, abusing indirect communication is also immediately going to label people, because anyone who would disagree with you for any reason or give you any critique will then get grouped by your labels; and those labels apparently, according to the articles are at least 'extremist', which frankly can mean anything with a certain view.
Though normally, extremist refers to people willing to take action, not just post memes or whatever. (In the news papers it maybe people who post memes though.)
All kinds of people play games. Some of them role play extremist stuff or whatever, which can go too far in my opinion, but it doesn't mean that Steam is being 'used' for extremist agendas.
I'll quote something from the paper you posted yourself:
Games that are set in war and history tend to appeal roleplay of extremism. The paper knows that, but lists them anyway.
The ADL isn't exactly a good organization:
https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/emmaia-gelman-anti-defamation-league/
They're a literal professional victim yes (they get funds from crying that there is endless extremism and they are victims of it), but no one likes the boy that cried wolf.
You can't take people who don't get up from the ground pretending their legs are hurt for 100 years seriously, but anyway...
One problem with the news articles you mentioned is that it is basically doing the same as "Asking if you're a bother to your neighbor"
If you do that, they will always say yes, because they will get benefits from doing so. You'll be indebted, and feel a need to fix things.
People will always feel some kind of insult, especially in PvP games. They will feel belittled, simply because they lose. People will find it, experience it as harrasment simply to lose to others.
Also notice how ADL is associating results from 'all sorts of social media platforms' together with 'gamers'; which essentially blackens the view of video games (online).
This isn't a scientific article, but a political / steering one. It's designed to appeal to emotions, to make people read, upset and then read their papers and blogposts more.
That's not because of the game or their experience with other players, but because of the entire stack of stressors they experience in life and lack of Social Support, Medical Support, Psychological Support, etc. Considering this is about the US specifically as well, it's a clear attempt to distract from the problem that there is no good healthcare support system in the US.
This whole article feels like an odd attempt at lobbying and finding reasons to avoid more serious problems which are diffidently related and shouldn't just be cut out as they are clearly doing.
And how the heck are you supposed to harrass based on identity (they're making a very long topic on that) in video games. Each player has an avatar; all you can do is say that you don't like their avatar practically. Apparently people can't joke about what stuff you expose (even if it is a lie), because that is harrassment. Sigh-
Also funny, the "who is responsible" part. (Remain as vague as possible with the options, but remain sly and point fingers to some)
The vice news article is basically the same in nature as the ADL article.
It's to emotionally stirr people so that they read their articles instead of pointing out problems and critique. It's way too sided and incomplete.
I recommend going to unbiassed research institudes and ask them for an opinion instead; let them investigate.
Also, I am not saying that extremism doesn't exist. People diffidently have their views and they may speak about them loudly as well as their reasoning, but one important question is 'is it causing problems'.
If you encounter someone on the street and they happen to make extremist statements, are they also causing other people harm at that time (by for example attacking them, or trying to gather people together to start demonstrating against the person)
Usually it just remains with sharing opinions and views, nothing more. 'more' is something not for inside games, but for addressing at the government through demonstrations against certain regulations or through a political party and directly inside the parlament; so it makes no sense to express that in games. It also doesn't make sense to do it in front of the supermarket either.
People generally want peace, no violence or thefts or whatever, and each political group (including extremist groups) have their own ways and views of getting there. Extremists may for example simply wish for a nation that they control with just them or their ideal in it; they won't go to war with other nations after they achieved that goal. (there is literally no reason to) Extremist groups can be all kinds of groups, some powered by religion, some powered by fantasies, heck-- there may at some point form one based on isekai fiction that has something with truck-kun. I don't know.
What is extremist also changes as time passes and with whome you ask, so-- hard to say how it is defined. Is going for extreme Op-sec considering privacy and security automatically turning you into an extremist simply because you try to avoid eyes and use Tor? Some people will diffidently say 'yes', and so what 'extremism' is is really hard to say.
This essentially makes words like 'extremist' magical, because they suggest something very negative and give a strong impression to others, while being able to mean anything, which is something sly organizations and blog writers can abuse for opinion stirring.
(It reminds me of how left and right is always different with each political subject. Climate has its own left and right balance per nation for example, so no one knows what extreme right means there, but oddly enough the news does use these terms.)
edit: I also want to note that people's views, even if they are extremist, can change.
I don't think simply because they currently think in a particular way that they should be excluded from being able to discuss their views and game with others. In fact it may help them see the light and that things aren't very simple. It may even turn them into a saint that suddenly wants to help everyone and welcomes everyone, though that too sounds to me extremist so, idk.
No, it's the users on that game hub that are going to be held liable if any. Besides what could they ever do? Post some nasty words? Oh no, won't someone think of the children!
There have been videos on Youtube, TikTok, Twitter and all other video sites showing these Life hacks that can get you killed. Have any of the owners of these sites been thrown in jail? No?
Then that won't happen to Valve either.
The "far right terror organizations"? Which ones?
The only terror organization in USA right now is Antifa that have been labeled a terror organization. There is no threat from the right. It's media just creating their own little world of problems and telling it to everyone else as if it was the truth.
If there was an actual terror organization on the right it'd be cracked down upon with the help of the military because of how much power is being abused by the Democrats right now. Throwing lawyers into jail and so much more. But you know Antifa being active doesn't matter for the democrats at all no matter what they do.
Nothing.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1200330/Strategic_Mind_Blitzkrieg/
See point shop items.
From that we've ended up here. Unfortunately people keep feeding oxygen to the fire rather than ignoring them.
I see.
Edit: Yeah I never checked their message history indeed, but it does seem to be the case indeed.
Another reason I made the post though, is because I see this adl article and a discussion about it more often. Usually I don't meddle with it, but people can seem to be extreme in their views about these things, I thought he was being legit like them. No clue.
But you're diffidently on to something. It is indeed odd that after their ban they decide to go here and post about this first, instead of ... well, saying hi, lurking, etc.
Maybe OP wants Valve to stop selling games that allow us to (punch) shoot Nazis in the face, to which I say "NEIN!"
The Steam feed algorithm provides thread recommendations based on your search habits. So if you're seeing an increase in "alt-right discourse and themes in the forums", it's because you've been looking for that kind of content.
I don't doubt your concerns, but you've said it best time and time again... "if you don't like it, report, block and move on." Smart advice ever, too, my feed is nothing but puppies, sunshine and favorite types of anime catgirls.