2. Considering the anonymous nature of online gaming, how do we actually know the demographics of people committing "toxic" behavior? Do we have actual data on what percentage white people vs. black people use the N-Word online? Do we have actual data on what percentage of white men vs latino men call someone a homophobic slur online? It seems like the assumption is online toxicity is a white male problem just because its often white males we encounter online. And, I suspect, because social justice minded people (the ones most likely to be having conversations about this) seem to downplay or overlook the bad behavior of women and minorities.
It doesnt really matter whether there are individual women or non-white people who may engage in toxic behavior. The discussion is about a larger problematic culture. And that culture is one that overwhelmingly targets people who are non-white, female, or non-heteronormative.
Also, slightly unrelated, but it does bother me how even discussions where white men arent the victims get turned into discussions about making white men the victims, when the entirety of the harassment being discussed is targeted at everyone but white men. You may be tired of seeing the word toxic online but minorities are tired of the actual toxicity being thrown at them.
3. I disagree with that. I don't think the relative levels of prejudice white people vs black people endure in society at large is a relevant factor. If we should make a hard distinction for one, we should for all. If there wasn't a need to make such a distinction, then why is there such a reaction from white males when articles "explaining" toxic white males show up? Unless you think that kind of reaction is going to occur every time anyone talks about toxicity in gaming.
That reaction is from those people feeling personally attacked. But again, this article is not going to make people who read it think that all white people are like this, whereas a negative story about a group of black people often has (and still does) make people think of all black people more negatively. Thats why the discourse is different.
This is utterly and completely bs. Everyone who's ever played a game like COD has been the target of this kind of vitriol, not just women and poc. The first match I ever played in Modern Warfare this guy yelled at me "If your mom had an abortion after I raped her like she should have, you wouldn't be playing this game right now!" ---