How To Block A User: A Tale Of Truth
So there I was on the night of February 13th quietly applying nail polish whilst humming the entire score of the Mikado, when I received a friend request on the PSN. Oh joy, another friend from the GayGamer forums! Most of my friends are on the lavender list, so I feel quite safe when adding people to my growing collection of friends.
The message read:
Add friend request
From: ganonx
Subject: Hey babe
Wassup
With such a friendly friend request, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to respond with affirmation. I quickly whipped out my controller and messaged my new friend back.
“Not much. Chillin, playing DMC4. Do I know you from GayGamer?”
Then I went back to my nails, applying a second coat of Jungle Red. It was quite a sight to behold, all of my pretty paddies glistening in the candlelight as I awaited fervently for a response to my inquiry. So it came, to my delight. The quick response let me know that I wasn’t dealing with any Joe Shmo, this was someone special.
From: ganonx Subject: Re: Hey Babe No… I just typed in what I thought was sexy names and u came up.
Well, I do have to admit that the mere mention of my name has heralded many a sailor to park their dingy in my dock, much like a lighthouse on a foggy night. So I figured the same would work on the PSN. Quickly after this message another came.
From: ganonx Subject: Re: Hey Babe R u a girl
At this point I figured something was up. A little curious soul came scouring the great wide interwebs and has stumbled upon my humble home. So as not to hide under false pretenses, I had to let him down as gently as a mother puts her newborn in a pram.
I told him, “Nope, all man. I write for GayGamer.net under the moniker Toots.”
My work was done. So I turned off my PS3 for the evening and closed the door on this epistolary brigade to divert my attention back to my nails.
The next day, I logged into the PSN and there was another message from dear ganonx. It simply read:
From: ganonx Subject: Hey faggot
It’s not like he was telling me anything I didn’t know about myself since my earliest recollections. Instead of feeling disempowered and shrugging this off like a tattered jacket, I felt the need to share this with you all. And to let you know that it doesn’t matter what people say about you online. You may be in an elimination match with voice chat enabled, with the most ignorant foul-mouths imaginable, spewing hatred from every fiber of their being. Just remember, they don’t know you, never will, nor do they care. But we as GayGamers do care. So, when you encounter anything like this, know there is a safe haven for you all here at GayGamer Castle. Our drawbridge is always down.
One more thing, if you do encounter anything like this on the PS3. Simply block them. Go to your [Friends] bar on the XMB and go to your [Message Box]. Click on one of the messages from the person you want to block, and press the triangle button to pull up the options menu. Then click on the Add to Block List option. That person will not be able to send you messages anymore.
Toots
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 28 February 2008
· Comments (18)
Other stuff like this: block list, ganonx, ps3, psn
Awww, thats kinda sweet...
Your story, not this blokes shinnagins...
If one of 3 friends on my PS3 gets to me, I know what to do :)
(I NEED more PS3 friends *sob*)
/heart
i was trying to explain to my friend why there should be a site for gay gamers and she thought it was a stupid idea. then i came up with, "well, we're kinda a minority. so we need to stick together." she kind of understood that, but she still couldn't grasp the idea of a separate site for gaymers. she thought it was prejudice, like if there was a blackgamers.net or something.
but this story will help me convince her. thank you, and i've had similar problems happen to me like this. not online though, in person.
Blocking people is nice and all, but the real emphasis should be on changing the minds of these people who think that it would be ok to do something like that in the first place. But I suppose that's a much larger issue and not one a single person can determine the outcome of, so in the meantime the block option is the only weapon at our disposal. I don't have a PS3, so I wonder, does it have the option to report messages or users like Xbox Live does? Not that I think Microsoft really does anything about people reported for harassment, but it's nice to have the illusion that it makes a difference.
I just blocked my first person. And he was from gaygamer. After saying "Hi", the next message was a "age/sex/location" check. ::sigh::
After explaining why I felt the message was inappropriate, or improper, since he didn't share first, I got a "Get over yourself" message. Boom!!! Onto the block list.
I would've liked to learn this person's gaming interest, since it was on the PS3 and I'm enjoying multiplayer gaming. And I still don't know the person's age/sex/location .
Your reply to "Get over yourself" should be "Yes, I get it, you have a penis. Congratulations on that discovery. You're not the only one. Deal with it."
::pats Toots on the back:: As simple as your story sounds, I think it happens far less option than it should. I'm sure you definitely make your fellows at the castle feel proud of you as a friend to handle it so simply and maturely (as I feel it isn't handled as simply as this).::claps::
A similar thing happened to me. I did a little voice thinking it was somebody normal from the site. But they must have been smoking weed or something, it sure sounded like it. Just giggling and acting incoherent. Instant block.
That's the internet for you =\, bleh. We all love you here!
I get all kinds of "R U a real girl?" and requests for cyber. It's annoying but not nasty and threatening. I guess I never realized how it could go for guys.
Oh, if only there was that ignore feature in real life!
There's no gaming equivalent of Stonewall. We're not going to see the world of 13-year-olds change their mind about us because of a really good game of Halo; the distance between headshot and money shot for most of these pre-teen e-peen wielders is just too close for their psychological comfort.
It's the same as it's always been - all we can try and be are good examples, and be safe in the knowledge that the only thing that will *truly* change their mind is when they have a friend who is, themselves, gay. (Hopefully that friend won't respond by getting them extremely drunk...)
It'll take a few generations to work out the kinks. It doesn't matter if it doesn't happen tomorrow; we've come a long way since Stonewall, and we've got further to go, but we are getting there.
Until then, don't hide, but don't take shit for it. Ban when you need to ban, and live how you want to live.
Have a lovely morning. :)
I've had this happen with someone I reamed in TF2, killed him about 6-7 times... and he friended me afterwards, with the message, "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey faggot."
I replied,
"We like to game too, you know :-*, and I still kicked your ass."
Friended him so I could seek him out and take him out a few more times ;).
Sadly, this is one of the reasons I do not add anyone to my friends list blindly.
Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible to change someone's attitude in these situations, but I'll for damn sure speak up and push back when pushed.
For those that are looking for friendlies on XBL, feel free to send me a friend request!
Agreed, those PS3 users out there... Friend me! :)
"Jaesin"
I could always use a few more buddies.
I've yet to come across anyone I needed to block on my PS3. The 360 is a different matter. I think I block at least one person per on-line session. I really think reporting them does nothing either.
MY 360 name is the same as this and my PS3 name is "wolvyfactor". Feel free to add me.
PS3 is Felinius and 360 is FelDaCougar, I'm always up for a game :)
And that is why I quit WOW. Couldn't take it any longer. That is the one thing about internet and gaming that is sad. People with hate or ignorance in their hearts can shoot their mouth off and never meet a person who is different then them face to face.
I have found many times that it is those face to face meetings that can some times make the difference.
"she thought it was prejudice, like if there was a blackgamers.net or something."
And what would be wrong with a blackgamers.net? Absolutely nothing.