This happened a few days ago and honestly I'm still dumbfounded a bit. I wasn't sure if it was something to bring up here on VGC, so I apologize if this is not allowed. Just figured I'd try and get some discussion over what happened and what I view as an extremely dangerous mob mentality that goes everything against rational thought and behavior.
I made a total of 5 posts in a thread about Kingdom Come Deliverance's head creator Daniel Vavra. Here they are:
https://www.resetera.com/posts/8160453/
https://www.resetera.com/posts/8161433/
https://www.resetera.com/posts/8162021/
https://www.resetera.com/posts/8162317/
https://www.resetera.com/posts/8162711/
So to head off I'd like to state that I do not want this thread to debate whether or not whatever the allegations being tossed around in that thread are true or not. If you wish to pursue that or enlighten me then I request that you private message me instead and we can discuss it there. For this thread I want it to be about mob mentality, particularly on the internet.
So, a little about myself. I don't Twitter. I rarely Facebook. I prefer proper discourse over short quips. I ascribe to the thought put forth by Jon Stewart of "I Disagree With You, But I'm Pretty Sure You're Not Hitler". I seek to find understanding in why people think the way they do, especially if they are very different from my own thoughts. If something is going on and I don't understand it, I will seek help to try and understand. And as for what finally tipped me over after reading 6 pages of what I viewed as irrational rancor and hatred, my biggest pet peeve is when somebody says "fact" when they are purporting their own opinion.
My first post in the thread (after that darn pet peeve finally flipped my switch from passive reader to active poster) is basically a retort and request for proof of a supposed "factual" statement regarding Vavra's character. This first post went unanswered. My second post was a more general request specifying sources on why they are defaming Vavra's character. My third post was yet another plea for quotes or actions that at least insinuate what it is that they were saying. Prior to this post someone posted a giant image about GamerGate and some of the terrible actions that have been done under that guise. Also included in this image was a tweet Vavra made with the hashtag #GamerGate. My 4th post is basically saying, okay, so he tweeted a hashtag, tell me what actually terrible things he has said or done. I was implying that the absence of actual evidence wrongdoing by Vavra himself meant that he didn't seem to be guilty of the stern condemnation being spouted in that thread. My final post to which I was banned permanently is saying how stupid it is to dogpile on a guy for X reason when there isn't any actual evidence for X reason which justifies it.
So here are my thoughts. I was banned for requesting proof of the charges that were made, and when no proof was brought forth I then criticized this mob mentality. I attempted to invoke rationality and reason which got me permabanned. It is extremely dangerous social behavior when pleas for rationality and reason are stifled. There needs to be an open forum as long as the discussion is civil. All viewpoints should be taken into account. Otherwise this just leads to an echo chamber where nobody is attempted to understand anyone who doesn't think exactly like them.
So, what are your thoughts? Please remember that I do not want this devolving into the accusations being made or especially about pro-GamerGate or anti-GamerGate rhetoric. This is not the thread for that. This is regarding the lack of evidence not mattering whatsoever to a hivemind who continuously verbally tarnished Vavra and his work. Or is the mere tweet of a hashtag of a movement/group/etc evidence enough to be considered part of the absolute worst of that movement/group? Have we as a society stopped judging people by their own actions and deeds?
Also, I'm new to this and cannot figure out how to tag games to this post so imagine "Use Your Words" is tagged in irony.