As California, and the remainder of the United States, finds itself embroiled in a divisive discovery of gay marriage rights, it's a shame to see similar things perpetuated into developing online worlds. As you may, or may not know, Home has finally entered into it's 1.0 stage, and prior to it's launch into open beta status, new entitlements have been advanced.
Most notably, users are now able to create private, "Clubs," for up to 32 members. But unfortunately, Sony shares the unnecessary protection cycle with the word "gay" that Blizzard also initially rationalized with World of Warcraft. Microsoft has also been guilty of this time and again with Xbox Gamertags and taglines.
Upon downloading and firing up Home 1.0, I immediately set forth to develop the groundwork for a GayGamer.net club, and I was subsequently denied. The direct message I received through the system was,
"Message contains disallowed words."
Perhaps this is fortunate, considering that Home is still in a closed beta status. Perhaps Sony will quickly remedy this situation. But, there are other questions that arise. Why would they do such a thing? Had their staff not observed the similar arguments within World of Warcraft? Isn't Home developed by SCEE? Did they really think that blacklisting a word from a group that directly identifies with the word would disallow an antagonistic group from focusing on anti-gay rhetoric?
I can easily create a Focus on the Family club. This takes a matter of seconds. I can also readily create an Equality California club.
The basal argument that I've seen within the Home forums is that any and all usage of the word, "Gay," is readily equivalent to the, "N-word."
I don't see this as such.
There is no middle ground between the negative, "Gay," and the positive, "Gay." If there were, then I should expect a plethora of comedians to bandy it about in a positive, colorful manner. I have yet to see a pasty, white kid with fashionable clothing identifying as, "Gay-light."
This is just another moment in my life where I can only hope for a comedian of Richard Pryor's stature to revoke a word once used only in obvious hate as a word used toward group identity.
Let us protect ourselves, Sony--Much as we've done for the past century. Your word filter does little other than to deny us the ability to unite together against the daily struggles that we already, understandably live with.
There's still time before Home launches into an open beta state. Sure, it may be within the next month, but I can only hope that Sony figures out that their investment in Life With PlayStation as an eventual obliteration to cancer can be equated to observing homosexuality as something other than permissibly negative. It takes a lifetime to become fully functional with our identities in real life, so why would you so readily deny us the ability to live freely in our virtual ones?
In the meantime, Home remains awash in pseudo-transsexuals and hyper-masculine teens. I hope you're ready.
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