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Side Quest, Episode 7: Bullying, Harassment, and Abuse in the Video Game Industry (Patreon)

Published:
2018-01-15 17:22:11
Edited:
2019-01-08 23:34:52
Imported:
2022-01

Content

It's getting shitty out there.

Files

Bullying, Harassment, and Abuse in the Video Game Industry -- CLS Side Quest

When it comes to the video game industry, social media has enormous upside, but the reality on the ground is far different. Today, I want to tell you the stories of online harassment on social media from the perspective of a video game developer, a games journalist, and through my own lens dealing with a serial harasser. In short: No one deserves to be treated like this, especially in our industry, and we all need to do much more to combat it. Colin's Last Stand: Side Quest is free of baked-in ads, product placement, and other obnoxious forms of advertising because of your support. Please consider subscribing to CLS' Patreon to show your support for independent content: http://www.patreon.com/colinslaststand Buy Colin's Last Stand merch, all made in the USA! http://www.declarationclothing.com Listen to the CLS podcast, Colin’s Last Stand: Fireside Chats (also available on podcast services): https://soundcloud.com/colinslaststand Subscribe to the original Colin’s Last Stand channel: http://www.youtube.com/colinslaststand Twitter: @notaxation Instagram: @clsmoriarty Facebook: /colinslaststand Colin's Last Stand is a product of Colin's Last Stand, LLC PO Box 1233 | Santa Monica, CA 90406 Still imagery come via a licensed Shutterstock account from the following contributors: Alexander Pavlov, Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley, patronestaff, Rose Carson, and Tero Vesalainen. Other still imagery via Destructoid. This video’s thumbnail image was created via art provided by Shutterstock account Alexander Pavlov, acquired under license. The following videos were incorporated into this episode of Side Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smGzACyrVDE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LRFxs1BEFk Bibliography/Reading List: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajagrawal/2016/03/18/its-not-all-bad-the-social-good-of-social-media/ https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/the-global-games-market-will-reach-108-9-billion-in-2017-with-mobile-taking-42/ https://www.gamestm.co.uk/features/10-videogame-developers-to-follow-on-twitter/ http://www.doz.com/social-media/social-media-gaming-industry http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-social-wellbeing-20150606-story.html https://www.wsj.com/articles/political-divisions-in-u-s-are-widening-long-lasting-poll-shows-1504670461 https://medium.com/@morganjaffit/the-cost-of-doing-business-c09cc5cc8728 https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/13/ea-star-wars-game-is-so-unpopular-the-developer-is-getting-threats.html http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-11-01-attacking-someones-family-over-a-video-game-is-not-acceptable-miles-jacobson https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/03/guys-its-time-for-some-troll-theory/521046/ http://fandom.wikia.com/articles/dragon-ball-fighterz-sausage-fest https://kotaku.com/if-you-hear-someone-getting-harassed-in-an-online-game-1796921373 https://www.pcgamesn.com/league-of-legends/why-are-gamers-awful-to-each-other-the-psychology-of-online-abuse https://www.wired.com/2014/05/fighting-online-harassment/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/pop-psych/201711/online-games-harassment-and-sexism https://thinkprogress.org/the-real-life-consequences-of-online-harassment-5c8e9547a93e/ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/soraya-chemaly/when-it-comes-to-harassme_b_4577719.html http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/We_Find_Them/ways-handle-prevent-cyber-harassment/story?id=15973742 https://lifehacker.com/how-to-prevent-online-harassment-from-ruining-your-day-1796860350 https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/21/ways-to-stop-social-media-harassment/

Comments

Steven Camilo

Mmm, bullied people bully others. Looking forward to listening.

Anthony Wright

This was a great episode Colin. Brave as well.

Brent Lindquist

Thanks for sharing this video and these stories. I can't imagine experiencing the level of harassment that you have seen, and it's frustrating as hell to see those tweets flash across the screen. He already told his followers to report your video to YouTube, and referred to his harassment as "the lightest criticism." I'll admit, in the past I have thought to myself "Colin, just ignore the asshole and he'll disappear," but I didn't realize just how frequent and insane he has been with this shit. It's mind-boggling.

Drew Packard

Great episode Colin. I’m sure it was hard to talk about this.

David Clarke

I stopped subscribing to Retronauts a while back after I heard about this. Mackey is unhinged.

Eric Gee

I have never heard of this Simpsons fetishist before (then again, I don't think I'm his target audience) but his obsession with you is disturbing. I hope you will not hesitate to bring down legal tools should things escalate any further. Thank you for discussing this in such a well-reasoned and calm manner, considering how the stalking has bled into your family and inner circle it would have been so easy to simply rage and rant.

LiquidEnder

As a lawyer myself I'm heavily inclined to recommend you to go and talk to a lawyer and be prepared to take whatever steps necessary to stop this creep. Hang in there man

Joey Finelli

Colin.. fantastic piece. i feel sorry for the trolls out there who feel the only voice they have is try to take down others. Side note: you need to find a old timey chair to sit in. it would look way more fun when you are taking into the mic.

Anonymous

Hot damn, I love that artwork.

Ryan Taylor

Great episode Colin, mustn’t have been easy to put together or talk about but well done.

Dylan Manuszak

I understood your conversation with Danny, it might have been better to say he was "just as diverse" rather than more diverse than a black woman, but it's really not a big deal, you by no means deserved that hate. Also, what rubbed me the wrong way was, Danny was talking about hiring diverse people because of their different backgrounds... then when you mentioned him having a diverse background he interpreted that as 'you' saying he had "less opportunities"??? which wasn't What you were saying at all! That just shows you his intent is with hiring for diversity sake rather than skill, he believes it's a way to give people opportunities because their race or gender is perceived to be oppressed... sad.

Chad Lewis

Tough one to "enjoy" man. Just know your out here having incredible positive effects on peoples lives and some of us take whole hearted pride in having our names in the credits.

Daniel Boyer

Very important video, great work.

Anonymous

I'm incredibly disappointed in the way Danny handled that whole exchange, and it actually upsets me the more I think about it. It seems like basic human decency has been thrown out the window on social media. The trolls just get angrier and more deranged in their threats, and people on the other side with their perceived moral high ground just talk down to everyone that doesn't share their exact views. There is no attempt at reaching an understanding. It's disheartening. I don't know how you feel about Danny now, but my opinion of him has forever been tainted because of this. He's clearly stuck in the groupthink echo chamber with no tolerance for opinions and views outside of his own. It sucks, because he does important work within the games industry. No Clip puts out some incredible content. All of this makes me double think my desire to enter the games industry. I've written for smaller sites and corresponded with a handful of notable personalities, and I'm just terrified of saying something the masses deem inappropriate and being tarred and feathered in front of millions. I'm incredibly disheartened. As always, thank you Colin for giving me more to consider and think about, and thank you for sharing your story.

David Kramme

Really well said, sorry you've been dealing with that nonsense, I have nothing but love and respect for you sir, keep up the good work!

Anonymous

So I'm very much a democrat voter but I've really enjoyed your content for a while whether I agree, disagree, or you get some wrong (everyone gets some wrong). I follow a bunch of video game podcasts, never really messed with Retronauts (I didn't like 1Up as much as everyone else did back then). Literally my only Bob Mackey sightings has been him talking shit to you. And judging by his current twitter feed I would be a damp flag boy for enjoying your content. There really needs to be separate words to identify people who are purely partisan from people who care about actual implementation regardless of party.

Josh Squires

Hey Colin, I couldn't support the message behind this video more, but I wanted to point out that Danny O'Dwyer and Steve Kim also dealt with people piling on them via Twitter for days after you talked with and mentioned them respectively. As much as it bums me out, I can't see how some of it didn't come from within our community and I would have loved to see you bring up those examples as well. I know these individuals aren't really your responsibility, but I think it would have strengthened your point and possibly brought about some actual change in any of your followers who did take part.

Anonymous

The toxicity of social media is nothing new. It's only getting worse because more people are entering the frey. We're tribal by nature. The big thing to realize is that these people don't act as individuals; they are part of a large tribe who think unanimously and follow trends because they are weak by themselves. You will continue to be misrepresented and harassed by people who are weak and only attack when they have an audience to fall back on. You're a leader in essence because you rise above the hate and don't cater to it, so you should rise above it now and realize that these people are weak. It would do to discourage any sort of negativity towards even Mackey on this community's part as well. It only contributes to the toxic nature of social media. EDIT: I'm glad you addressed this; however, I see no end in sight until people decide somehow miraculously to be better to each other, for which there is no tangible incentive, so I see no end in sight. That's the sad truth of it.

Michael Ferrari

Awesome episode. That whole Bob situation is scary/sad. The dude definitely has a few screws loose, probably due to jealousy, among other things. It's a shame Danny O'Dwyer hasn't gotten back to you. I don't know why people on the left are so afraid of having an honest-to-goodness, adult conversation with people of differing views. Until the left grows up, and stops being afraid of simply talking, things aren't going to improve in this country.

Liam Argent

I knew Bob Mackey had been harassing you, but I had no idea it was this bad! I'm sorry about him Colin and well done for giving your point of view and side of the story in the most fair and responsible way you could. People games media takes note. If we are all truly against harassment then we must fight it on all front regardless of who its from or against.

Anonymous

This is a brilliant insight Colin and a truly helpful video for those dealing with a similar situation. I feel bad that this degenerate uses the act of insulting / misrepresenting you as a coping mechanism for his own inadequacies. I think he just ultimately is a man child that can’t deal with his irrelevance but no doubt that’s its a scary situation for yourself. Keeping doing what you do, Colin 👊

Anonymous

This is your finest episode Colin.

LastStandMedia
>>9492309

Well, the video isn't getting taken down, so I'm not worried about it. His abuse speaks volumes about who he is and what he's about. I can't control it, ultimately.

Peter Campbell

Good video. It's a very horrible situation to be in, to have someone irrationally out for you. There's gotta be mental illness and compulsions involved here, because few would have the energy after they are blocked. Is there no legal defense you can have, showing the non-stop behaviour is a sign of instability and needs investigating? If someone was talking obsessively about anything, away from the internet in real life, there would be questions asked. This is an area, like swating, where laws that occur offline have to be a consideration for online behaviour. What you described is beyond harassment. While I'm strongly free speech, what people say and write do have consequences in the real world, and that should occur with online behaviour.

LastStandMedia

Thank you for your support and your kindness. I appreciate it.

LastStandMedia
>>9494681

it's not the first time Danny has tried to hit me, but I continue to respect and like him for his content, and because we had a warm and friendly relationship in San Francisco.

Owen

This stuff is a bummer man... I hope also that no one in this amazing patreon community is participating in going after Mackey as you're feeding into the problem if you do. I hope though that this behavior continues to get called out. Even if I disagree with Alexa's opinion on dragonball fighterZ, which I do, she is a person, and a nice one at that, and doesn't' deserve to be talked to that way. Just as Colin doesn't deserve to be talked to/about the way that Mackey and the like do. - Lets be better to each other yall... learn how to disagree without being a piece of shit.

LastStandMedia
>>9495522

I'm sorry they got harassment, but I'd argue that I didn't do anything other than 1.) Write some thoughtful comments to get a conversation going, and 2.) Call someone out for calling me a racist with zero context. That's it. I can't control what people do. My video is EXPLICIT: Be better. If people don't want to listen, what am I supposed to do about that?

LastStandMedia
>>9495605

I was clear that no one should be abusing or hurting anyone else. I suspect most people got the message.

LastStandMedia
>>9496014

When people are afraid of having a conversation, it's usually because they don't know what they're talking about and can't back it up.

LastStandMedia
>>9496393

It's crazy, homie! But we'll survive, and hopefully all come out better on the other side.

Anonymous

This episode was truly profound. You are hitting on meaning of life level appeals. This level of transparency and vulnerability was not something to be taken likely. I pray some good comes from this openness. I would love to see you visit on meaning of life questions, similar to your fireside chat discussion with your dad, with a California pastor. Someone like Francis Chan. We do all need to be better to each other, 100%.

Smokey Joh

Another great ep mate. After following the Bob Servo stuff for a while, it seems to be a case of him using trolling and hate to garner support and attention. Those with tall poppy syndrome tend to find like minded people and together they form an echo chamber of hate, all the while trying to recruit more people for more attention. He is hoping that those like minded as him will support his own endeavours through their mutual dislike of you. Its pathetic. Also, you have every right to defend yourself online if someone attacks you or your character. I always say that if the conversation devolves into name calling and unbased abuse, they either have no facts to back them up, or know they are in the wrong. We all make mistakes in this area, but like you said, we need to be better. Think rationally and unbiased. Seek first to understand, then be understood.

Josh in Tampa

Great, thoughtful episode Colin. Side note, I liked the Codename “CLS IV Coming February” teaser on whiteboard. Exciting!

Tony Colton

Again a thought provoking and insightful piece. I myself left FB about 2 yrs ago as the toxicity of it really started to grate on me. I don't have any social media apps on my phone so I'm nicely disconnected from any of the toxic dribble. "Antisocial Media" as I like to call it, along with negativity has no place in or control on my life and it's truly liberating. I loved your podcast on your struggles with depression and your approach to being more positive towards others in your day to day to try help drive out any negativity and help your own mind focus to get through things. I know all too well what dealing with the darkness of depression is like and I hope that this video will go some way towards helping others take note and to be better, more positive and know it is ok to have differing opinions and no place for this negative behaviour in this world. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your experience with us 😊

Anthony Wright

Don’t you think it’s interesting that because you have a fan base defending yourself ya automatically @punching down”? People who harass others shouldn’t be able to hide behind “he’s to famous to be mean to me”. If these nut jobs are really so concerned your fans are going to give them shit, maybe they should leave you the fuck alone in the first place.

Marvin Castro

Hey Colin. Really great episode and I'm sorry you have to deal with all this BS. I know you're an atheist but I'm a Christian and I'm going to pray for you and your loved ones dealing with all of this and for this dude harassing you to get some help. With that said, if I am ever at one of your public events (like the one in my profile pic), I got your back. #gowithChrist

Brett Geiser

Hi Colin. When I re-subbed I was thrilled with you coming back to gaming content. This video by its very nature is bringing the politics into video games - which I was under the impression this would not be. I also recall you saying you were ‘ready to enter the culture war’ - and part of that is going to be some shit slinging. You were never going to come out of this unscathed. I know Bob is certainly on the extreme end of shit slingining, but at your level of reach I don’t think it’s unexpected. I’ve paused my sub for now - I hope the gaming content goes back to just being good gaming discussion I’ve always known you for...I’m done with the culture war personally.

Anonymous

Stay strong Colin ,all I want to say is keep up the great work.

ScKeptiC17

Great video, and very important. We really need to do a better job as a society to respect each other on social media as we are taught to do so in person. Bob acts as if there are no consequences, but someday that will change as we learn more about the psychological impact on cyber bullying.

Chris Nelson

Just wanted to share my appreciation for what you do. Much love

Elliott

Very much appreciate this video and you being open, more vulnerable with the audience. The negative backlash is expected but undesrved, just because you ae you doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to not only expess but to feel these kinds of emotions.

Anonymous

Good video Colin. I think you should do a video on Tribalism. It would be a great way to highlight how people can be inconsistent in their values depending on others being in the in group or out group. How it's ingrained in all of us and how it's important to recognize when we find our selves falling for it. It really does explain why people behave the way they do.

Nicole Webb

I will just never understand this kind of behavior. Folks certainly have the right to voice their dislike but to do so in such a destructive fashion seems so unreal. Appreciate you sharing more in depth about your experiences with such negative, hateful, and ignorant behavior. Hoping your message finds others who have found themselves undeserving of similar treatment and that it gives them strength knowing that they aren't alone. Most of us aren't like those who seek to ruin someone's day, or life, just because they can. Thanks for all you do.

BettyAnn Moriarty
>>9505294

I totally agree with you. Thank you for saying something so powerful in such a simple to understand way.

Ryan Berry

Well that escalated quickly. Looks like this video about social media being a catalyst for harassment has catalyzed harassment for you in particular. Thanks for being the sacrificial lamb, apparently. Thanks for speaking up and bringing awareness to issues like this. There’s a weird dialogue, specifically on Kallie’s thread (which seems super backwards, by the way) that you are being hypocritical by criticizing the safe spacers and SJWs, but feeling hurt by harassment of your own. My take: there’s less hypocrisy involved with trying to start a dialogue versus being blind to the alternative. Keeping an open mind and maintaining civility is the important distinguishing attribute between using social media for good, versus the alternative. Thoughts?

strawhatninja

I pray for the safety of you and your family Colin. I understand how risky it is being opinionated on the internet. The negativity often overshadows the positivity buy just know that you and other Patreon people I follow really help me get through every week with just a little more enjoyment.

Jason Kelley

I used to really enjoy Bob Mackie's work, and was a patron of a show he often appeared on. Once I saw how he treated you on Twitter, I cut my pledge. His obsession with you is truly terrifying. Dude needs serious therapy for his own well-being.

Kyle Hinze
>>9503941

I'm praying as well. Colin is certainly not deserving of that crap.

Anonymous

I have never in my almost 40 years seen anyone get piled on like this. A man makes a great video adressing a serious concern about online harassment and then proceeds to be harassed online by some of the very people who stand up for anyone else that gets harassed. And for what the man's political views? This has gotten more than a little ridiculous and I might just have to take a step back from games media in general. But Collin you keep doing you don't change a thing!

Kyle Hinze

I'm kind of dumbfounded that people piled on you because of this one. The line you draw between criticism and harassment is pretty clear to me. I appreciate that work you do immensely. Keep it up the great stuff man!

LE

I’ve been really busy lately and kind of behind on videos but I seen the bs on Twitter about this video. Stay strong Colin!

Anonymous

I honestly think Twitter is 90% of the problem. It's a super toxic environment on there, and the cost/benefit of it for a public personality just doesn't seem worth it. Most of the harassment we hear about, especially towards game devs, Colin, females in the industry, the new crew that took over podcast Beyond, etc... are all from Twitter.

Luke Farinella

Yeah, I decided a while back that no constructive criticism or any discourse with people that disagree with you can be effectively done on twitter. I am only using it as an outward rss feed now. If someone hears the actual demonstrable abuse toward Colin and dismisses it because of ....whatever. Well then they can go....y'know

CTE

I just listened to this. Man I don't know whether to laugh or cry. That was just about the most harmless video that it could have been on this topic. If that is the source of your pains then it just shows how bad it's become. I guess the reality is this person was always going to go into hyperdrive when you called him out. I don't do twitter. Can you guess why?

Jay Jones

Man, I read your letter about the missing this week’s episode before viewing this, and I’m astonished. You didn’t say or do anything malicious or disrespectful to anyone at all. And the fact that you’re catching hell is amazing sad to me. I don’t know you personally, but I’ve been a fan of yours since the days of you and Greg being on Beyond!. Hell, one of my fondest memories is you replying to one of my tweets to you when Nassau County held the vote to get funding for the new stadium to keep the Islanders on Long Island. I know you may not see yourself as one, but you’re a celebrity to me. Especially to me, cause although you’re from Suffolk, I came up in Nassau. So seeing someone from the Island come up and make it, always makes me feel a sense of pride and happiness for Long Island aka Strong Island. Never forget that man. You’re a strong, intelligent, well spoken, and thoughtful dude. Please don’t let these individuals tear you down. Keep doing what you’re doing and never deviate from your path. Your Long Island brother.

Anonymous

Maybe all this harassment by Bob is a ploy to drive his own Patreon numbers.

Anonymous
>>9557555

I think it's certainly part of it. Bob has a lot to gain by punching up. Every time Colin calls him out on it his twitter numbers go up, which drives traffic to his Patreon. I wonder what percentage of his followers are there just to consume the continued harassment of Colin. After all, Bob did a survey on his twitter asking his followers if he should continue the harassment and almost 80% voted yes. Bob and his supporters don't call it harassment but it's dog whistling all the same.

LastStandMedia
>>9497781

It's textbook harassment, but as some of the response to the video has shown, it's easy to ignore and write-off that behavior if your target is your enemy.

LastStandMedia
>>9497884

I hope not either, and I doubt many people are. This is a great community full of great people. We can only control ourselves, right?

LastStandMedia
>>9498141

Thank you for your kind words. I'm always open to interesting guests on Fireside Chats if you have any other recommendations. Just message me!

LastStandMedia
>>9500300

Thank you for your kind words. I've not been using social media very much the past week, and it's actually been really nice. Who needs the abuse?!

LastStandMedia

A certain amount of abuse comes with the territory, and the larger and more influential you become, the crazier it seems to get. But no one deserves the harassment and abuse I've been treated to, and I'm glad that message resonated with so many.

LastStandMedia
>>9504233

Thank you for your feedback! The videos and podcasts will be what they are; you're welcome to support or not.

LastStandMedia
>>9510435

Thank you. I'm always happy to be vulnerable and open with my audience. I feel like that's part of our relationship with each other.

LastStandMedia
>>9512851

Thank you for your kind words. I will never understand this behavior, either. I guess it comes down to people like you and I being raised properly.

LastStandMedia
>>9522333

Ironic, right? I'm still happy that the video is out there. Outside of the games media echochamber, it was well received and resonated with folks.

LastStandMedia
>>9524710

Thank you for putting your money where your mouth is. I would never, ever support a person who reveled in treating others like shit.

LastStandMedia
>>9535239

That's basically how I'm going to be using it moving forward, too. To promote CLS and to read what's happening in the world. That's about it. Happy to talk to my audience here on Patreon. =)

LastStandMedia
>>9546928

It's a situation where I cannot win. So why even bother showing up on the field, y'know? But I returned today with a new video, and we will move forward from here. LI!

LastStandMedia
>>9557555

Clearly. And he's benefited from it, which is sad. If that's the kind of ecosystem you want to develop, more power to you, I guess. I want nothing to do with that level of toxicity.

Jay Jones
>>9546928

LI TIL WE DIE! Always had and will have my support. Through whatever.

CTE
>>9557555

It’s kinda like the Streisand effect as I understand it. He benefits from being called out I suppose. Next time might be worth just saying you are no stranger to it and not attaching his name. That way he cannot benefit.

Ryan Berry
>>9522333

Good to hear. Somewhat related: it’s really cool that you make an effort to reach back out to your patrons, despite the anxious place you must be in right now. Very important, and not unnoticed. When Kinda Funny really started to take off, I honestly felt it became detached. Despite what we (the consumer) sees, the actual product was not content; it was intimacy. As you grew at KF, you gained profit, but lacked intimacy. That ultimately will prove to be non-scalable in the long run. In short, thank you.

Diego Macias

I listened to Mackey's podcast regarding his side of this whole thing for objectivity and fairness sake, and the only thing I gleaned from it is that he hasn't liked you from day one without provocation Just Because of Who You Are which he basically admits. The mental gymnastics performed by them are quiet a sight to behold, every crappy thing they accuse you of is something that Bob has done himself and the lack of self-awareness astounds me. I knew that he was truly full of it when he mentions Mitch Dyer and how you sent him after him which is hilarious because honestly I couldn't see anybody more on the other side of things from you than Mitch. And with his friends doing so much of the talking for him during the whole thing it's no wonder that he doesn't want to debate you, he needs others to speak for him because he clearly can't do it himself, it was abundantly clear that his one friend seemingly has a bigger axe to grind with you than Bob himself. I was hoping to at least learn the Catalyst of why he hates you so much, but he only succeeded in solidifying the fact that he is obsessive and as other deep issues. Truth of the matter is Bob is exactly what he claims to hate he is a reactionary with zero compassion. And I seriously believe the best thing you can do is to ignore him.

LastStandMedia
>>9664591

Well, it speaks a great deal to his character, or lack thereof. I'm going to ignore him completely moving forward, and I think that's what we should all do.