Home Gaming GDC sent bomb threats over Sarkeesian award

GDC sent bomb threats over Sarkeesian award

2 min read
21

bobomb

Anita Sarkeesian is possibly one of the most hated people on the internet. Her controversial Feminist Frequency videos highlight overt sexism in video games and the industry around them; though according to some her arguments are based on flawed logic and cherry-picked  details and even lies. You can only begin to imagine those people’s vitriol when GDC announced that Sarkeesian was to receive an award for her work. Taking their anger perhaps a smidgeon too far, they sent threats to GDC’s organisers, warning of a bomb should the awards proceed as planned and Sarkeesian’s award not rescinded.

“We can confirm that approximately 25 of GDC’s organizers received an anonymous email early in the morning of Wednesday, March 19th, 2014 during GDC 2014,” the organizers said in a statement.(via Kotaku)

“The email stated the following: ‘A bomb will be detonated at the Game Developer’s Choice award ceremony tonight unless Anita Sarkeesian’s Ambassador Award is revoked. We estimate the bomb will kill at least a dozen people and injure dozens more. It would be in your best interest to accept our simple request. This is not a joke. You have been warned.'”

Event organisers erred on the side of caution, and brought in the San Francisco’s police department, who found nothing. Organisers didn’t let attendees know of the threat, but increased security to implement bag checks and other measures to stop angry people from ruining things.

The event went off without much more fuss in March, with Sarkeesian walking away with this year;’s Ambassador award… The accolade is doled out to “an individual or individuals who have helped the game industry advance to a better place, either through facilitating a better game community from within, or by reaching outside the industry to be an advocate for video games and help further our art.”

It’s arguable, perhaps, whether or not that award was deserved – but bomb threats are no way to argue such things. I don’t care whether you’re a fan of her work or not (For the record: I think she makes some rather salient points, but I don’t like her videos much myself), but being aggressive, and violent – even by way of perhaps false threats is no way to get a point across.

Of course, there will be those who say Sarkeesian fabricated the threats for even more publicity – and it’s fine if you believe that; just don’t be a jerk about it. I just don’t get it. People are really upset because they feel Sarkeesian is making “gamers” look bad – but angry, violent and threatening ones are making us look even worse.

Last Updated: September 19, 2014

21 Comments

  1. Brady miaau

    September 19, 2014 at 07:41

    Sigh. Stop the planet, I would like to get off here please.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 19, 2014 at 07:47

      • Anon A Mouse

        September 19, 2014 at 08:09

        I’m sure you can hack into the Mars rover to get wi-fi there.

        Reply

      • Lord Chaos

        September 19, 2014 at 08:18

        There’s wi-fi on the moon…

        Reply

        • CAE9872

          September 19, 2014 at 08:47

          That’s because it came from the moon.

          Reply

          • Skoobaz

            September 19, 2014 at 08:54

            To…The Moon!!

          • MakeItLegal

            September 19, 2014 at 10:28

            o?

      • RinceThis

        September 19, 2014 at 08:42

        Note the arrow is not pointing at SA 😛

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          September 19, 2014 at 08:46

          LOL!

          Reply

        • Norm

          September 19, 2014 at 10:19

          Well spotted!

          Reply

    • Hamed5514

      September 19, 2014 at 08:03

      Start making cash right now… Get more time with your family by doing jobs that only require for you to have a computer and an internet access and you can have that at your home. Start bringing up to $8012 a month. I’ve started this job and I’ve never been happier and now I am sharing it with you, so you can try it too. You can check it out here………

      http://GOOGLEBESTJOBs/2014/09/18..,,..

      Reply

  2. TGS Babay (Umar)

    September 19, 2014 at 07:49

    Generally….There is an increase in loss of intelligence on the net. No debates, no opinions just staight forward good ol bashing. If you feel that strongly about her, please realize that anyone can make a video and upload it to youtube, maybe counter some of her arguments, show the world that gamers aren’t bad,at all.

    But hey hey, can I tell ya sumin?….YOU’RE the one making gamers look bad, so please stop, ‘kay

    Reply

    • CAE9872

      September 19, 2014 at 08:47

      I agree – I love nothing better than a good old debate with people having a viewpoint. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with me, but it does foster thinking!

      But that is impossible on the net – say something just slightly askew about someones favourite shooter number 1000m, or the brakes on that car don’t work like that in real life and all you get is vitriol. No-one can just stand back and say “Hmmm that is an interesting point you make god sir/madam…however, I disagree for the following reasons…”

      I mean RPGs right – sheesh who could possibly stand to play those! Must be nerds 🙂

      Reply

      • Splooshypooh

        September 19, 2014 at 15:03

        I’ve noticed a trend where most people simply voice their opinion in comments or forums, then end it with an insult completely out of left field. Kind of like THEIR opinion will land up getting the most attention because they’re screaming the loudest?

        PS… Assbitchbag

        Reply

        • CAE9872

          September 20, 2014 at 08:16

          I see what you did there…I think

          Reply

  3. Hammersteyn

    September 19, 2014 at 07:51

  4. Ryanza

    September 19, 2014 at 08:16

    Then people get upset they always mention a bomb threat. It’s kinda a normal human reaction. I stood for hours in this bank and you won’t help me. I’ll blow this shit up.

    If there was a serious bomb threat planned then they would not have announced the bomb threat.

    I hate DRM. Now let me bomb the shit out of it.

    Reply

  5. RinceThis

    September 19, 2014 at 08:37

    Man this saddens me. Fuck is wrong with people? Honestly? Now i want to send a bomb threat to the people who sent the bomb threat! That would show them!

    Reply

    • Weanerdog

      September 19, 2014 at 09:10

      Well I know a guy, and he has some friends and they could pretty much arrange that bomb threat for you, but without the threat part.

      Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 19, 2014 at 09:13

    WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? I thought the point of this connected social age was so that people could actually use their words like big boys & girls. What kind of FUCKING IDIOT thinks something like this is a good idea, never mind actually does it? You threaten people with DEATH because you don’t like what someone says about VIDEO GAMES? And then some people think she did it deliberately to drum up publicity? YOU’RE AN EVEN BIGGER FUCKING IDIOT. GET A FUCKING GRIP ON REALITY.

    Reply

  7. Lars Anderson

    September 20, 2014 at 20:11

    The day Anita fades away and is ignored will be a glorious day indeed.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Blizzard wasn’t expecting such a negative fan backlash over the announcement of Diablo: Immortal

Fans aren't happy with the announcement of Diablo: Immortal, resulting in an outrage acros…