Brad Glasgow over at GamePolitics.com did something unique when setting out to cover the gamergate movement, he asked people taking part in it questions rather than only their detractors.
I decided to run an experiment and see first-hand the difficulties one might encounter when covering an online movement. Rather than wait for GamerGate to come to us, I went to them. I joined their very popular Kotaku in Action (KiA) subreddit and interviewed several hundred GamerGate supporters from Tuesday, July 28 through Tuesday, August 4. It is my hope that what I learned will assist journalists with covering GamerGate and any similar movements in the future.
The Experiment
I asked one question on the KiA subreddit every 12 hours. The question was stickied (placed at the top in the most recognizable area) until I posted a new question. The new question was then stickied and they were given an additional 12 hours to submit replies to the old question and vote on their favorite answer. After I asked 7 questions I then asked 7 follow up questions on the final day.
The article was interesting enough but what I found hilarious was when he then tried to do a similar interview with the anti-gamergate types over at Gamer Ghazi, he was quickly banned.
I did experience some hostility from the anti-GamerGate side for covering GamerGate. While I was treated well by the people of GamerGhazi when I tried to speak with them, I was quickly banned by moderators, who said I have spent too much time posting on the GamerGate subreddit.
(Score: 5, Funny) by aristarchus on Thursday August 13 2015, @08:56AM
The cult of Social Justice does not allow dissent or even inquiry. You either step in line or you get doxxed, harassed, banned, blacklisted, and shunned.
Your lack of social justice has been noted. Prepare to be harrassed, baned, bluelisted, and shuffled. We will welcome you to the league of Social Justice Warriors League when your education is complete. (Notice that I did not even have to say "re-education"? Because you can not re-educate someone with no prior education. What you call dissent is assholery. What you call "inquiry" is unreconstructed ignorance! Do you have a point? Do you, you uneducated backbirth of a human being? Huh? Excuse me for asking, there is no point.)
(Score: 2, Disagree) by K_benzoate on Thursday August 13 2015, @09:25AM
I'm still waiting for you to make an intelligible point I can respond to. Take your time.
Climate change is real and primarily caused by human activity.
(Score: 5, Informative) by FlyingSock on Thursday August 13 2015, @09:31AM
I think it was supposed to be satire.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Kell on Thursday August 13 2015, @12:07PM
The truly sad thing is that sometimes in these matters, it's hard to distinguish satire from an earnest statement of position.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 2) by wantkitteh on Thursday August 13 2015, @02:54PM
Would a "Depressing" mod be +1, -1 or neutral?
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday August 13 2015, @03:50PM
A +1 as it would be more in the vein of True, but depressing. At least that's how I would think of it.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Insightful) by MrNemesis on Thursday August 13 2015, @09:34PM
Feature request: a "±1 Poe's Law" mod option to be made available :)
"To paraphrase Nietzsche, I have looked into the abyss and been sick in it."
(Score: 2) by meisterister on Thursday August 13 2015, @06:14PM
The correct term here is, "Whoosh!"
(May or may not have been) Posted from my K6-2, Athlon XP, or Pentium I/II/III.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 13 2015, @06:22PM
> I'm still waiting for you to make an intelligible point I can respond to.
So, you are saying he made lots of 'intelligible' points for which you have no response?
(Score: 2) by MrNemesis on Thursday August 13 2015, @02:06PM
Is there a "Collected Wisdom Of Soylent" fortunes file we can put this gem in? Well played, sir.
"To paraphrase Nietzsche, I have looked into the abyss and been sick in it."