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: 2, Interesting) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday August 13 2015, @11:10AM
During? It's still going strong a year later. That link above was from less than a week ago. Check the #OpSkyNet tag on twitter, you'll see plenty of action.
You'll see plenty of rage on both sides of the discussion, which is fine. People should get worked up about issues important to them. Rage about people having the gall to break your narrative by having a discussion at all is not fine.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by ticho on Thursday August 13 2015, @03:05PM
Another day, another hashtag. Someone should make a hashtag to announce all these new hashtags, so people with actual lives can keep up.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 13 2015, @08:40PM
Done, the #OpSkynet and other hashtags related to it are also attached to the #gamergate hashtag, and listed in places where discussion about said hashtags take place.