Enforce the no politics rule for game creators?

[Bubbles420]

I'm not worried about how things are on steam, just where they could be headed.
I'm seeing more and more politics from game creators in the steam library labeled as "game update news"... Why am I prohibited from political posts on steam if they aren't?

If games had "news updates" where they said "vote Trump for 2024" or "vote Biden", it would be like allowing a toaster vendor on amazon to describe the dimensions of the toaster as, "You need to vote a certain way you are bad". They would be required to change the description because it's irrelevant. Kind-of like how Roe V Wade is irrelevant to a Dinosaur game.

If things progress with more political "news updates" it will lead to more alienation of people, more arguments, and less money for that company and for Steam. It probably doesn't equate to anything substantial right now but don't let Steam turn into Football/Youtube/Twitter where political propaganda is pushed by corporations and the customers and individuals are silenced and shadow banned.

I can see why a lot of people think i'm wrong here and that i'm retarded, but i'm not convinced either way and this thread has been a valuable brainstorm. Those of you that made good points I really appreciate you for enhancing the discussion, next time i have a question i'm making a post on steam there are clearly a lot of smart individuals on here lurking, thanks.

Here's the rules for steam users
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6862-8119-C23E-EA7B
Read the "Content Rules", Am I prohibited from making political comments?

Here's the original "game news" that has me questioning the situation, as you can see the comments look like a "twitter war"
https://steamcommunity.com/app/346110/eventcomments/3417684283216631477

This thread is full of emotional outrage triggered by political opinions, If you think this discussion is about abortion, you missed the point entirely.

[Reported.]

Първоначално публикувано от м:

I'm a little confused when i read this.

Aren't games about war technically also about politics? Nobody making a drama there.

I guess gun, war and violence related politics are fine, but when it's about giving women a choice it must be stopped at all cost.

No. Many game devs say their games aren't political or saying anything of expression. Many many companies that make games try to say they do not make a stand at all. On anything. They never want to alienate one customer base.

Valve is especially noteworthy for not taking stances on ANYTHING UNLESS enough PUBLIC pressure, otherwise its ignored.

Just like The Division 2 isn't political. Or Call of Duty isn't political: its just a visit to a country. Or Spec Ops The Line isn't related to conflict.

[Seraphita]

Wars ARE political therefore war games have politics. Even fantasy games have politics but no one are supposed to take them seriously. Not real life wise anyway. Having politics in games is sometimes what decides what you fight for or for what cause. Not just "for fun".

What you're referring to is if games try to give propaganda or not. I don't think it happens. You can't really ban politics in games because it's sometimes part of the whole system of the story, you CAN ban propaganda made to manipulate players, however. Little difference.

[Tito Shivan]

Първоначално публикувано от I cant carry, stupid.:

To everyone being like " but his post history" your character smearing attempt tells more about your character and lack of abilty to have a civil conversation than it does about who i am as a person.

When someone makes a claim, is expected for others to go check that claim. And checking your post history shows a of dots that challenges your claim.

I can have a civil conversation and note you have inflamatory and insulting comments in your post history which some pokes some holes in your argumentation.

Reminds me of all the times at the old VAC forums, where the same user claiming he had been 'banned for nothing' also had posts on cheating websites under the same username complaining he had been caught by VAC and warning others to stop using the cheat.

Първоначално публикувано от n00b:

Just like The Division 2 isn't political. Or Call of Duty isn't political: its just a visit to a country. Or Spec Ops The Line isn't related to conflict.

May want to note that's sarcasm, because someone will take it at face value.

[Zoopy]

And unsurprisingly, "I cant carry, stupid" is right back to their shenanigans. Apparently not learning from their mistakes. Next stop: full community ban.

[Reported.]

Първоначално публикувано от Tito Shivan:

May want to note that's sarcasm, because someone will take it at face value.

Yes, its quite scary how people cannot take an iota of sarcasm.

[Reported.]

Първоначално публикувано от Seraphita:

What you're referring to is if games try to give propaganda or not. I don't think it happens. You can't really ban politics in games because it's sometimes part of the whole system of the story, you CAN ban propaganda made to manipulate players, however. Little difference.

Then who decides when enough politics is enough? We already get debates when people don't like their particular brand of politics/viewpoints (whatever the hell they may be), in some media or isn't.

People are exceptionally weird like that these days. It defies any logic: Almost as if they are acting on emotions only. Surely some people can see it as "hey, thats the creators perspective, thats okay to agree/disagree" and move on. It seems these days thats exceptionally now not the case, to the point people get offended, even.

[GobboKirk]

Първоначално публикувано от n00b:

Първоначално публикувано от Tito Shivan:

May want to note that's sarcasm, because someone will take it at face value.

Yes, its quite scary how people cannot take an iota of sarcasm.

With the amount of weirdo opinions out there it can be hard to tell :P
Kinda need to know a person before you can make a solid guess, it's steam after all so assuming a well thought out argument is a stretch :)

[Crashed]

Първоначално публикувано от Blood Princess:

Steamworks Distribution Program

Rules and Guidelines:

We have a few guidelines about the content that can be distributed via Steam. Please keep these guidelines in mind when choosing whether to proceed with distribution.

What you shouldn’t publish on Steam:

- Hate speech, i.e. speech that promotes hatred, violence or discrimination against groups of people based on ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation

- Sexually explicit images of real people

- Adult content that isn’t appropriately labeled and age-gated

- Libelous or defamatory statements

- Content you don’t own or have adequate rights to

- Content that violates the laws of any jurisdiction in which it will be available

- Content that is patently offensive or intended to shock or disgust viewers

- Content that exploits children in any way

- Applications that modify customer’s computers in unexpected or harmful ways, such as malware or viruses

- Applications that fraudulently attempts to gather sensitive information, such as Steam credentials or financial data (e.g. credit card information)

- Video content not directly related to a product that has shipped on Steam.

- Non-interactive 360 VR Videos

- Applications built on blockchain technology that issue or allow exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs.

The first point doesn't prohibit stereotypes based on political party, otherwise GTA V would be banned.