Alright I was having some fun in this thread with some internet trolling (tm) but let's have some real talk.
The main problem with NeoGAF right now is so many of the normal, well adjusted people have been banned, you just have an echo chamber of socially awkward freaks who have failed in the real world and are now trying to be crusaders on the internet, believing that they're fixing the world, when really they're just the punchline to a sad joke.
And what they don't realise is they create a lot of the hostility they are so adamant they're eradicating.
I have no problem with women, homosexuals, blacks, transgender, you name it.
But because NeoGAF members are so militant about white people being evil, all of the above being persecuted so much, preparing themselves to suck Bish off when he goes on a "ban spree" and takes out the trash, it makes me tired of it all and actually makes me want to wind them up about it - and actually care less about the issues they're talking about.
Feminism, for example, is something you can't escape on the gaming side.
In university, I did a film course as part of my degree, and in my second year I produced a film which focused on a female friend of mine who was trying (and now has) broken into comedy. A large part of the film was focused on it being a boys club which made it harder for her, even though she was very talented. It wasn't a feminist film by any means - but it's just one example of how it would be laughable for someone in the real world to call me a sexist.
But when you read a thread like the RDR2 reveal on GAF, where nobody is talking about the fact it's great it's finally happening, how amazing the world looks and how the game will surely be fucking awesome, instead crying that there's apparently no female characters, it annoys me so much it makes me want to see more games ignore females just so they get riled up.
And, ironically, these are people who probably find it too difficult to actually speak to women - almost certainly virgins - who are just saying "the right thing" because they think the more they stand up for females the more chance they have of actually touching one at some point in their life.
They have absolutely no perspective on the real world. I am nearly 30 now and in every workplace I've been employed at, in every bar I've gone to, in every social gathering I've attended, there are so many racist, homophobic, ignorant people it's unreal.
Do I think this should change? Yes.
Am I guilty of having my own ignorant views? Of course.
But this is life and it's not changing any time soon. All jokes aside, it's so incredibly pointless (and to an extent dangerous) for these people to surround themselves with like minded folks and then fool themselves into thinking that most of the world is like that.
Most of these people would be punched in the face if they said 10% of what they do on GAF in a real pub.
The issue I think is, primarily, mental health. From anxiety and depression to who knows what, these are people who can't function with the every day life that normal people like us can, and rather than find help so they can function, they've instead created this crazy world on the forum where they feel like they're at the top of the food chain and anyone who dares disagree even slightly with their "progressive" views are banished from the kingdom.
GAF used to be a place where you could have fun. You'd make dark, bad taste jokes, post loads of stupid gifs, admit when a woman is fucking hot and, most importantly, focus on games and the hobby we all loved. But over time all of that fun has been squeezed out of the place to try and achieve some sanctuary from the real world which they're now all dangerously disconnected from.
Of course, the irony here is, I'm a sad fuck. I spend a lot of time playing games, posting on the internet, writing paragraphs about how a fucking internet forum has gone downhill. I'm aware of that. But I also have a job, a long term relationship, I own a house, I drive a nice car, I have a large circle of friends (which includes most of the minorities most on GAF would think someone like me hates) and I'm living a normal life.
It's debatable whether most of GAF could ever live a life like this, but when they surround themselves with like minded idiots, who continue to brand anyone who isn't as militant as them as "dangerous" then they never will.
