October 18, 2014

These 7 Geek Icons Have Had Enough of #Gamergate. Here’s How They’re Fighting Back.

“A cliched bloodthirsty roaming gang from post-apocalyptic fiction seems to be ruling gaming fandom right now.”

Seth Rogen is dead to Gamergate supporters.<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/8611679596/in/photolist-e7Z7jq-9qemcf-9qbjQc-9qbhn6-6aAstc-9qekPC-9qbhD2-9qbiXK-2DkAEb-9qekx3-7HCQ7J-9qen7A-8r3v4F-8sAoXp-e7TtV2-8r3v1z-58FUVN-5j68wC-5j5YMd-9qbjLg-9qeiZC-5j1QBv-kU1ynB-9qbjR8-9qbioF-9qbitn-e7TuNB-7m1HNa-e7TqNt-7kzisQ-7mux64-7muwHx-amNh7g-5j1FCt-9qbiJX-5j68yY-5hUA4G-841tio-5j5YEJ-5j5YWJ-7m1HGp-6aAsMe-6aAtR4-7mux1c-caGjv1-7muwWF-5txsu5-7myr2h-7myrdG-5MKS97">Gage Skidmore</a>/Flickr

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As the conflict known as #Gamergate continues roiling the internet, some #Gamergaters have been surprised to find that their geek idols aren’t exactly on their side. Take, for example, science fiction author William Gibson, coiner of the term “cyberspace,” who retweeted this on Tuesday:

“Fuck. Fuck. Fucking hell,” an 8chan user wrote on the site’s GamerGate message board after reading through Gibson’s Twitter feed. “I have been waiting for his new book forever but now I dont even want to buy it…I feel devastated.”

Dozens of irate gamers responded with the names of other fallen heroes who’ve “betrayed” them by criticizing macho video game culture. Here’s a sampling of the offending tweets:

From screenwriter and director Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Avengers):

From comedian Patton Oswalt:

From actor and filmmaker Seth Rogen (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up):

(Adam Baldwin has been one of #Gamergate’s most outspoken supporters.)

From actress Felicia Day (The Guild):

From computer game designer Tim Schafer (LucasArts, Double Fine Productions):

From animator Mariel Cartwright (Skullgirls):

Lamented another 8chan user, with no apparent irony: “Unfortunately even misinformed people can put out their opinion on whatever they want, and they’ve got a large platform to do it with via the internet.”

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