Among many factors he said contribute to mass shootings, President Trump made mention of violent video games, and as of the writing of this post, the No. 1 trending topic in the United States is #VideogamesAreNotToBlame.
There are a lot of gamers out there, and they’re not buying it, and they’re being very vocal about it on social media, hence the trending hashtag. But for some reason, Media Matters editor-at-large Parker Molloy decided to set up a straw man suggesting that gamers have no answer to Trump’s suggestion that Fortnite is driving the mentally unstable to shoot up Walmarts.
PEOPLE: Hey, it'd be cool if you could play as a woman in this video game
GAMERS: OH MY GOD YOU'RE TRYING TO CENSOR THIS INDUSTRY. AS A CHILD, I WAS BULLIED AND SHUNNED AND…
TRUMP: HELLO I THINK WE SHOULD CENSOR YOUR INDUSTRY!
GAMERS: [unsure calculations about how to react]
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) August 5, 2019
Unsure how to react?
Weird narrative you've got there considering every gamer on my timeline is upset about Trump's comments on video games. https://t.co/A6W07XGWlS
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 5, 2019
Can confirm.
— Ethan Isaac (@EthanIsaac9) August 5, 2019
— Dr Emile Schaffhausen (ze third) (@gimpn8ez) August 5, 2019
Aaamen. Most of the people I play FFXIV and tabletop with with are other women and queer people. We're getting more queer representation. This isn't a white male hobby anymore.
— Emma Harmon (@emmabodemma) August 5, 2019
hilarious these people think someone was putting locks on games that somehow prevented women and LGBTQ+ from playing ?
— I estrad (@estrad_i) August 5, 2019
Completely fabricated problem so they could "sell" their solution. It's a joke.
— Souls (@Souls_101) August 5, 2019
Here, let me strawman you as well, since you like to strawman others.
Gamers: I like this woman character.
Journos: OH MY GOSH, THAT CHARACTER HAS BREASTS. YOU MISOGYNISTS ARE TRYING TO RUIN "OUR" INDUSTRY!
Also Journos: I THINK WE SHOULD CENSOR YOUR INDUSTRY!
— Photo shoot this week Avie (@AvietheTrap) August 5, 2019
Your sounds way more accurate.
— Video Game Hunter (@vgh32) August 5, 2019
I have a question: Since when did people complain about women in gaming, whether to be female characters? From what I've seen, the only ones who do that are the types people who get in a twist over skin being shown or whatever.
— Romario's Revival (@DimensionDizzy) August 5, 2019
Don't gamers fight over who's best girl of almost all games?
— MischievousTomato (@mischieftomato) August 5, 2019
Yes. Yes, they do.
— Grandark_Z318 (@GZephyrum) August 5, 2019
uhm….yeah…..lazy tweet is super lazy pic.twitter.com/1ymWBLOJr0
— Justin Belmont (@HydalenKnight) August 5, 2019
Gamers: We want good characters
Twats: You just hate women and don't want female characters in games
Gamers: Oh? Clearly you need refresher pic.twitter.com/omyKMiN7JI— Rin Aldrin (@RinAldrin) August 5, 2019
— Rich (@RickGumshoe) August 5, 2019
Aren't the people who complain about women in videogames those journalists that cry about them being "too sexualized?"
The lack of self awareness on your part is staggering.
— Photo shoot this week Avie (@AvietheTrap) August 5, 2019
Gamers: Oh hey this female protagonist is pretty cool
"People": YOU ONLY LIKE HER FOR HER TITS YOU MISOGYNIST!!!
I can make up stupid bullshit too, mate.
— CornishDinosaur (@JoeCarne) August 5, 2019
i'd love you to show me these "gamers" that are happy when boomers that don't know shit about video games blame video games for violence.
— Blu (@BluThunderV3) August 5, 2019
I'm boomer and played video games for 40 years and never blamed video games for violence. Try again.
— Martin Krischik (@martin_krischik) August 5, 2019
PS: and even 40 years ago we had games where you could choose to play as a female character.
All those years we actual gamers never had a problem with it.
It's non issue.
— Martin Krischik (@martin_krischik) August 5, 2019
2. Please find me one prominent pro-gamer influencer who ISNT shouting at Trump, Fox and the whole damn GOP for trying to blame this on video game.
Just one, Polly
— The 3 Eyed Centrist (@3EyedCentrist) August 5, 2019
No one is saying that, dummy. Quit being an ideological dumbass.
— lazy illustrstor (@TombaHat) August 5, 2019
Literally nobody complains about female protagonists and nobody was unsure of how to react to trump saying video games cause violence
— Vin (@vinnyc1010) August 5, 2019
using mass shootings to own the gamers
— Jero (@gamesarentart) August 5, 2019
Weird straw man. I see people all over my TL condemning how stupid his comments were.
— Craig Snyder (@c89) August 5, 2019
Christ, what a reach
— Cyberdeonpunk 2099: Ultimate Edition (@Valier_DEONXV) August 5, 2019
You know what exactly zero gamers are thinking. Good job.
— the OG ice bae ?☠️❄️ (@ceruleetheblue) August 5, 2019
Nice strawman.
— Holden (@Holden97052970) August 5, 2019
It's almost like you have no idea what you're talking about and just write what you think will get the most hate clicks…
— SmellsLikeUpdawgGeesus (@fistfullofboth1) August 5, 2019
I sure hope you didn't waste the entire farm's worth of hay constructing… whatever this is
— Fasc (@FascBear) August 5, 2019
It's been quite some time since I've seen a Tweet so wrong about literally everything. Good job.
— Aaron Evangelisti (@SicklySteed13) August 5, 2019
No one has a problem with women characters. There have been many in video games. The issue you refer to involved a series that toted itself and was known for historical accuracy in its setting and then tossed it out the window by rewriting historic events.
— Mr Manceres (@MrManceres) August 5, 2019
God that's weird since my entire feed full of streamers and game lovers is literally 100% opposite of what you just said. Its almost like you're full of bull.
— Unoriginal Name Here (@If91100) August 5, 2019
Gamers: Hey, you should go take a poll of your Steam friends list and see how many agree with this take.
Parker Molloy: What's "Steam"?
— MidwestPatriot107 (@MPatriot107) August 5, 2019
There are plenty of games that allow you to play as women. Or are those not good enough for your pathetic feminist ass?
— PopplioPrincess (@PopplioP) August 5, 2019
This is a non issue. Gamers don’t care what they play as as long as the game is good. The only time it becomes an issue are games that claim to be historically accurate but then change history in order to be more inclusive (cough cough battlefield)
— Masked.Conservative.Official (@MaskedConserva2) August 5, 2019
are you always this disingenuous or did you suffer some form of head trauma?
— Ickly Bognostroclums (@Bognost) August 5, 2019
We've been playing as women for 30 years, have you tried actually picking up a game?
— CFGX (@CFGX_20T) August 5, 2019
— Tricky Rick (@TrickyRickDaddy) August 5, 2019
This is the laziest attention grab I have ever witnessed. pic.twitter.com/czKk3PlYbw
— Jeffrey Timmons (@Jeffrey76670325) August 5, 2019
You have no idea what you're talking about just be quiet.
Want to play as a female character, knock yourself out you LYING HACK!— MAGA JangoBear (@JangoBear) August 5, 2019
Do you… go online?
— Camilo Restrepo (@CamiloR05086581) August 5, 2019
— joriḑ̂îc̠ͤ̚ulous❄️ (@PunkleJones) August 5, 2019
Oh my god the reach pic.twitter.com/Jccn3PLBvR
— Oxymoron (@JKHeadass) August 5, 2019
We guess she felt she had to say … something.
Related:
Brian Stelter turns to Reliable Source Shannon Watts for advice about how the media can improve coverage of gun debate https://t.co/Fli7YNUtMZ
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 5, 2019
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