Why The Makers Of Dying Light Need To Speak Out Against Sarkeesian’s Slander

Earlier this week, everyone’s favorite feminist critic/con artist decided to hop on the Twitter and run her mouth about a video game she knew next to nothing about.

I know, I know, Sarkeesian finding nonexistent misogyny in a video game she has only superficial knowledge of is hardly anything new. It’s just kind of what she does. Thankfully, everyone’s favorite based Brit Total Biscuit was there to explain to Anita why she was talking out of her ass.

Stay based TB, stay based.

I couldn’t help but wonder though if the developers of Dying Light had anything to say on this. If they have, I haven’t been able to find it. So to those developers, should you happen to read this, this is why you need to speak up.

Ignoring it won’t make it go away

I realize a natural instinct in this sort of situation is not to acknowledge it, for fear that you may be “legitimizing it”. I hate to break it to you, but a corrupt gaming press has already “legitimized” this woman and her “cause” a great deal. Her and the people she represents are not going to “go away” without a fight. They will slander you and they will use any means necessary to get your product off the shelves, even if they have to lobby governments to get involved.

I’m old enough to remember the Senate hearings on violent video games from the early 90’s. Don’t think for a moment government’s won’t stick their nose in. She’s out there telling lies about your product and your industry to people who are dumb enough to believe her and in some cases powerful enough to give you a lot of headaches. Don’t think you can ignore it and it will never come back to bite you.

If you won’t do it for you, do it for your customers.

Let’s face facts: despite recent greater mainstream acceptance, the gaming community has had a lot of crap flung at it over the years. Political opportunists over the years, both on the left and right, have sought to censor it to further their respective political agendas. Snobbish Baby Boomers have sneered at it as “not legitimate art”. And gamers have been called everything from gross nerds to terrorists.

So take a stand for your customers. You know, all those people who put money in your pocket. The Sarkeesians of the world are not your customer base and never will be. We are. So stand up for your customers. Tell this moralizing busybody that you won’t stand for her talking shit about the people who are your bread and butter. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because you will gain one hell of a loyal fan base for it.

It wouldn’t take much on your part

I’m not asking you to go on a crusade against anyone. I’m not even asking you to take a side in the grand #GamerGate debate. I’m saying stop letting this sort of slander go unanswered. Something as simple as a tweet saying “What do you care? You don’t even like video games.” would have been all the burn needed. Is that too much to ask to defend this game you’ve poured yourself into, as well as your customers?

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