Gamersgate: Received threats about ‘us being the idiot gamergate guys’

Last week, we reported on digital retailer Gamersgate.com, a website that has been selling downloadable games for the past 10 years, receiving threats due to an unfortunate name mixup with the controversial #gamergate movement.

Though the original statement from Gamersgate CEO Theodore Bergqvist was sent out to clarify that the company is "not part of this controversy whatsoever," I found one thing — the part where he mentions they've been receiving threats and "harsh words" — to be of particular interest. Mostly because much of what we hear now is centered on pro-gamersgate supporters being sexist and racist. The idea that a retailer with a name similar to this movement would be receiving threats would indicate that anti-gamergate folk aren't entirely innocent in this whole debacle.

Following up with Bergqvist, he told me in an email that most of the harsh words his company has recieved "is about 'us being the idiot-gamergate guys,' what they will do with us, our site, etc."

"Exactly what it mean[s] or what part of the story or debate they think we're behind they don't say," he told me. "It's obviously some great anger out there and some people can't see what's what."

At this point, it's kind of hard to define what #gamergate is all about. It started as a movement calling for journalistic integrity when it was said that an indie game developer allegedly had relations with authors at a certain outlet (though this has also supposedly been debunked). From this incident, sparked an entire movement/debate/argument among the industry about journalistic ethics which, unfortunately, has also involved sexist remarks and death threats being made. Instances of this have already been documented with situations where females such as Anita Sarkeesian have had to leave their home due to threats. Though Bergqvist couldn't define exactly which side of the argument the threats were coming from, it's becoming clear now that all parties involved are of equal guilt when it comes to threats and mud-slinging.

Whatever the solution to this debacle may be, it probably starts with treating each other humanely and with respect. There's no need for misogyny, racism, death threats, or any other kind of inappropriate, harsh words. If these are things you need to express your point of view on the topic, then it's probably not a good view.