New Way to Regulate Homophobia / Racism / Sexism / Transphobia

[Mother Vain]

Look, the homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, it's out of control. Steam represents gaming, and we made huge strides in gaming over the years, but the forums reflect a dark and cruel part of gaming culture: the anonymous players. Steam forums have tarnished gaming into a cesspool of exclusion. There's something that can be done.

Here's what I ask to be changed:

Step 1. Flag specific words to immediately be reviewed by Steam moderators. Take specific words that are inappropriate, don't just hide them under hearts.

Step 2. If the system sees something that's potentially racist, sexist, homophobia, etc., don't post it. Make it so that the post says "This post will be reviewed by the moderators prior to posting for flagged inappropriate content. If the content violates our terms of service, appropriate action will be taken." Scare the player for saying cruel things by having this step.

Step 3. Screen the post before it can be posted. Sure it'll seem like a lot initially, but it'll scare off the hateful ones. In the long run, this is going to discourage hatefulness. Right now, it seems like Steam doesn't care. And if you get through this first month, you will change the culture of Steam to a place where communities can thrive.

You don't realize how badly people think you encourage hatefulness. Discord channels are devoted to games now because of how hateful the discussion forums are in games.

Culturally, Steam needs to change. The forums are a bucket of hate and I see it in every game that I own.

[nullable]

Valve can certainly keep working these issues. However ultimately the problem is going to be.

1. Bigots like video games too
   
2. Valve has limited responsibility to solve the human condition
   
3. While Valve could be much much more aggressive in policing their platform, and I'm not against that, the reality is bigots will just resort to being more subtle in concealing and communicating their beliefs.

One consequence of this is without overt examples it leads people who aren't targets to believe that the problem no longer exists because they don't see it. So that's the rub, having bigotry be highly visible sucks. Having bigotry being well concealed still sucks, just differently. Which flavor of suck do you prefer? Which is ideal? Option three, end bigotry? I wish. I'll put anyone who figures that out up for a Nobel Peace Prize and fight anyone who disagrees.

And I don't know what the exact amount of action on Valve's part is the correct amount. I do know one can always argue they should do more, better, different. And maybe they should, even if all it does is mix things up and keeps the worst people on their toes. But they will never be able to solve this issue, it's just way beyond the scope of Valve's power. And I think with some of your claims you put way way to much responsibility on Valve.

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

Valve, I beseech you, you aren't just representing our industry -- you ARE our industry.

I mean you may feel that way. But I don't think you really have a picture of the size of the industry and how large a slice Valve has. You seem to think their slice of the pie is large enough that you can lay all this responsibility at their feet. But I'm not really sure either by revenue or other metrics that their slice is so large that they're responsible for carrying the gaming industry on their back.

They can manage their platform. But they're not gaming incarnate.

[Drab]

"The forums are a bucket of hate and I see it in every game that I own."

This is simply not true.

[Start_Running]

davidb11 の投稿を引用：

Yes, and that still has nothing to do with the fact that you're complaining about something that is amazingly rare on Steam.

I think the rarity is dependent on eenvironment and perception. I'll be the first to admit Competitive team multiplayer is where you'll find some of the most creative language contructions. But at the same time anyone understands that the context basically takes it in a different light. It's either psyching out the other guy. Or straight up Venting. And everyone can appreciate the need to vent.

Hence why its best to jusrt not take things personally all the time. If the guy is really getting to you. Mute, and report. COntinue playing.

Ignoring the racists, bigots, and phobes tends to do more than trying to actively silence them. At best you just drive the sentiment underground. At worst you make it worse as they steadily co-opt ever more words into the slur vocabulary.

[Edifier]

Can't say I've seen a lot of this. Sure on some occasions but those people are being banned quite quickly.

Steam forums are quite good. The only issue are people with elitist opinions and if you struggle with something you might not always get help.

[Prof.Jackie]

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

The forums are a bucket of hate and I see it in every game that I own.

After a brief look at your games list this statement turns out to be a blatant lie.

[Nx Machina]

Op

You obviously have your volume off if you put Discord on a pedestal. Do you in all honesty live in a vacuum where you only see Steam forums as a cesspit. Try Reddit etc.

SJW's the biggest hypocritics on the planet.

[Brian9824]

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

davidb11 の投稿を引用：

Yes, and that still has nothing to do with the fact that you're complaining about something that is amazingly rare on Steam.

If it's so rare, then why are you afraid of its implementation?

Why go on about it, and hijack the thread, if it's so rare and will be so rarely activated?

Haven't seen anyone afraid, just pointing out rightfully so that it takes a lot of work, would generate a lot of false positives and take away moderators from responding to actual reports which would be far more effective then what you propose.

There already is a great system in place, report the posts, a moderator reviews it and if they wish a moderator will remove it.

Although again been using Steam for over a decade and I fail to see the urgent issue that you claim on the forums.

[Frostbringer]

Prof.Jackie の投稿を引用：

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

The forums are a bucket of hate and I see it in every game that I own.

After a brief look at your games list this statement turns out to be a blatant lie.

I dunno, those pandas in Planet Zoo can get pretty mean sometimes.

[Walach]

I don't know if someone already said this but: How would it work with other languages, and if the person uses both english and their own on the same forum?

For example: you wouldn't like to say the swedish word for "end" in a forum that is set to english. And how many people change their settings when going from one language to another?
Can you even do that on most forums?

Sounds like a lot of work, and I can understand if it gets censored but you don't know how much of a hassle it is if you're not just typing in english. Even Steam is no fun with that one. :(

[ShelLuser]

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

Look, the homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, it's out of control.

Oh? Strange, because I beg to differ; I don't spot any rampant problem on the forums. The only thing which I think is out of control is people who don't bother to follow up good advice and allow themselves to get scammed over and over again (you see those threads appear almost daily in the support forums).

But any of this? Nah. Is it perhaps possible that what you consider to be homophobic or racist is actually commonly accepted by the community? Because that also happens a lot these days... A girl wearing a Chinese design dress to her prom? According to some nitwits that's a very racist thing to do these days because "would someone please think of the Chinese?". The same actual Chinese who don't see anything wrong here and even disapprove of all the hate.

Ergo: all the things you mention above are open to debate (and interpretation) these days.

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

Here's what I ask to be changed:

Step 1. Flag specific words to immediately be reviewed by Steam moderators.

Dumb idea in my opinion. It would severely clog the system not to mention add even more strain on the moderators. What's wrong with simply reporting a post if you think it violates the rules? Optionally blocking the user who made it so you don't have to see their posts again?

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

Step 2. If the system sees something that's potentially racist, sexist, homophobia, etc., don't post it.

This already happens, more or less. Posts are automatically moderated on several fora and plenty get delayed while "awaiting moderation". You're actually suggesting something that already exists, making me wonder how deep you looked into your suggestion before making it...

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

You don't realize how badly people think you encourage hatefulness.

You can change the messages but that won't change the people. Then what?

Suggestions like these don't solve anything, they only move the problem and burden onto others.

[greenraven22]

Mother Vain の投稿を引用：

Step 1. Flag specific words to immediately be reviewed by Steam moderators. Take specific words that are inappropriate, don't just hide them under hearts.

Step 2. If the system sees something that's potentially racist, sexist, homophobia, etc., don't post it. Make it so that the post says "This post will be reviewed by the moderators prior to posting for flagged inappropriate content. If the content violates our terms of service, appropriate action will be taken." Scare the player for saying cruel things by having this step.

Step 3. Screen the post before it can be posted. Sure it'll seem like a lot initially, but it'll scare off the hateful ones. In the long run, this is going to discourage hatefulness. Right now, it seems like Steam doesn't care. And if you get through this first month, you will change the culture of Steam to a place where communities can thrive.

First of all this literally already exists.

https://imgur.com/4uV5y3B

Secondly censorship is a slipper slope and has already been plenty abused in the last few years.

More censorship is not the answer.

[Synk]

Attempting to filter/censor the internet is pointless. People are toxic simple and some for reasons most just "troll" though. Censorship doesn't solve the problem it only attempts to hide it and it gets more people to do it in the end unless its like china where they kill you. If people didnt care then the "trolls" wouldnt be able to make people mad using it so there would be less of that and more serious people like actual racists.

[Synk]

Do you want to live in china ? Everyone just lets companies etc take away there free speech without caring. Yeah I get some people just cant take the fact people are racist etc and are soft now a days but you must remember the importance of free speech. Without it you are moving closer to a communist or fascist society. Trust me governments would like that because more power for them. There are many problems in society you could write a book the size of a bible about them.

[Flynt]

Are you somebody that's the targeted by this kind of stuff or are you one of those people that gets offended for other people's sake?

[Leonardo Da Pinchi]

Synk󠀡 ⁧⁧⚝󠀡󠀡 の投稿を引用：

Do you want to live in china ? Everyone just lets companies etc take away there free speech without caring. Yeah I get some people just cant take the fact people are racist etc and are soft now a days but you must remember the importance of free speech. Without it you are moving closer to a communist or fascist society. Trust me governments would like that because more power for them. There are many problems in society you could write a book the size of a bible about them.

False equivalence, free speech only protects you from censorship/punishment by the government.

Private entities, companies included, are allowed to dictate via their ToS what is and isn't allowable.

Example, come onto my lawn spouting racism, I'd happily have you removed.

A lot of people who whine about their "free speech" being taken, don't even know the first amendment and usually just try to cite said amendment to cover for crappy behavior.