Microsoft Banning XBox Live “Gay” Gamertags
Ok so i read this article about the Xbox Live user whose gamertag was barred because it violated XBL policies (you can’t have a sexual term in your name, regardless of sexual orientation). The incriminating gamertag was “RichardGaywood”. I can’t help but think that Microsoft’s policy is a little flawed. I know they have to appease everyone who uses their service and I know that there are some incredibly sensitive people on this planet
Microsoft’s Stephen Toulouse referred to the XBL Terms of Use in explaining why the user “TheGAYERGamer” received a ban, stating:
“Gamertags are visible to everyone and it would be hard for me to defend to a parent of a young child who saw it that the name did not contain content of a sexual nature.”
Surely it’s only offensive to someone who knows what this word means, a young child surely wouldn’t find this offensive even if he/she knew what it meant they’d probably find it funny and have a giggle about it. I believe it’s the parents who are over sensitive about things like this. I am also aware that there are a number of homophobes who may find anything to do with the word “gay” offensive but try and remember that the word gay actually means happy among other non-sexual things
By all means report anything you believe to violate the policy to XBL but if, as in the Richard Gaywood example, the person in question can actually prove that this is his/her real and legal name, it should be allowed to remain as their Gamertag and the person who complained should be notified that this is the case.
What other names/words could Microsoft ban gamertags for containing?