Bullying, Harassment, and Abuse in the Video Game Industry -- CLS Side Quest
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2024
- When it comes to the video game industry, social media has enormous upside, but the reality on the ground is far different. Today, I want to tell you the stories of online harassment on social media from the perspective of a video game developer, a games journalist, and through my own lens dealing with a serial harasser. In short: No one deserves to be treated like this, especially in our industry, and we all need to do much more to combat it.
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Still imagery come via a licensed Shutterstock account from the following contributors: Alexander Pavlov, Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley, patronestaff, Rose Carson, and Tero Vesalainen.
Other still imagery via Destructoid.
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The following videos were incorporated into this episode of Side Quest:
• Official Hand of Fate ...
• DRAGON BALL FighterZ -...
Bibliography/Reading List:
www.forbes.com...
newzoo.com/ins...
www.gamestm.co...
www.doz.com/soc...
www.latimes.com...
www.wsj.com/ar...
/ the-cost-of-doing-busi...
www.cnbc.com/2...
www.gamesindust...
www.theatlanti...
fandom.wikia.co...
kotaku.com/if-...
www.pcgamesn.c...
www.wired.com/...
www.psychology...
thinkprogress....
www.huffington...
abcnews.go.com/...
lifehacker.com...
www.engadget.c...
You've always got me in your corner, brother.
That's what a loyal friend looks like. Big fan of both of you
What are you talking about? Do you see any of the kinda funny guys here? Dave had his back a year ago when every other BEST FRIEND threw him under the bus. Get your facts straight
My dude Dave!
Kudos to you for sticking up for him. Colin has received some pretty harsh and shabby treatment from his former industry.
Good man. It's a rarity now adays to find good people like you. People like you give humanity hope.
I'd just like to say... People here, please don't take this as a cue to go harass Bob, there is no need for that. It'll just give him more ammunition to continue his abuse.
I agree completely. Heed the message of the video. Let's be better. -Colin
Too late. They're already at it.
There's no reason to stoop to his level even before you get any sense of how emotionally compromised he appears to be. I really just feel bad for the guy. It's hard to watch.
BertoBeats Good idea. Literally the first thing I thought to do in response to this person, who has absolutely past the line of acceptable behaviour, was to go leave a few of my own choice words for him. This comment made me think perhaps there's a better way. So, I ask you; what can a Joe Shmoe like me, who's just a fan of Colin and what he's contributed to me personally through gaming and politics for yrs now able to even do, if not make his obviously disturbed stalker well aware that he's not welcome if his behaviour doesn't change? There's a reason why nice guys finish last. It's cuz they can't seem to recognize where the point of no return is and end up missing their chance to make their will manifest. Perhaps this guy realizes that the attention of 10's of thousands of ppl united against him is a bit more than he bargained for and leaves Colin alone. Now that he's been called out directly, if he receives no consequences he's likely to only take it further, that's the difference between trolls and legit psychos. Eventually the troll will always move on, the psycho will never move on until you make him move on.. So, what to do?
Adirtybirdy I really don't know the answer. Colin and many others have been calling him out on Twitter for a while now, but it doesn't seem to have done even a bit to stop the abuse.
Thank you for speaking out. This was well put. Love you, Colin!
Thank you! I appreciate you. -Colin
Colin has expressed time and time again that he does not like sonic
Ryan Darmos and I don't like Mega Man, your point?
What do you like?
sonic
Wholeheartedly support you Colin and sending good vibes! You are a strong and honest man! That’s a quality no bully could ever possess. Can’t wait for to see what’s coming in February!
I have seen some of Bob’s abuse over the last year or two but I had no idea it was so abundant and serious. That kind of shit is toxic and you don’t deserve it man. Keep putting out the knowledge and positivity, we all appreciate it!
Also, the end credit music for side quests is so so good!
It breaks my heart to see that so many people in the games industry, with listening audiences, watched your video and their only take away was that they hate you, and will never give you a chance. It's truly saddening to see so many people do, say, and be so many bad things and think "yeah, I'm a good person. I've made the world better today, by shitting on a good man".
You're just as flawed as anybody else, Colin, but you don't deserve that shit. You deserve to have your voice heard free of bias. Keep it up dude. I love your work and I can't wait for whatever Codename: CLS IV is.
Colin I've been following your content since the beyond days. Super glad to see you back on the games side! Enjoy all your content keep up the great work!
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 is all I can say! I’ve never understood the point of abuse/harassment that ppl spew on social media. Especially when that energy can be put to better use elsewhere.
Keep doing what you do, Colin! Longtime fan here who has a lot of respect for your content and point of view.
Thanks for making this video Colin and I want you to know that though I don’t always agree with you, I’ve always respected you and your opinions
Thanks for sharing, Colin. We need more content creators that keep the rhetoric respectful and genuine, regardless of their opinion. Keep it up, man.
I love u Colin! Never change!
I won't. Thank you for your support! -Colin
so sorry to hear that you and countless others are dealing with such horrible, disgusting behavior. Keep safe. Love you Colin!
Mad respect for sharing these personal issues with us Colin. I really respect your unique perspective in games, politics and anything in general. Keep on giving us great content and I hope you can pursue your dreams in an environment free of vitriol and toxicity.
Sometimes I look at Bob Mackey’s tweets... dude honestly disturbs me with his fixation. He’s so holy about it
This and "Politics, Social Issues, and Videogames" are some of my favorite videos you've ever done. Well done.
Don't let that guy bring you down, Colin. You're happier and more entertaining than ever.
before I start: for some reason i didnt get a notification for this video even though I have subscribed and hit the bell to get notified. I hope this was just a hitch. I hope someone higher-up sees this and fixes it.
Colin, I've followed you in the gaming media since your BEYOND! days.With every passing episode I grew to love your insight more and more. Though I dont always agree, I respect your opinions and where they come from. I have met you in person through NYCC meet and greets. You and the rest of the crew were always the highlight of my day. You were always kind and delightful, and so was your family. Just hope you know that we love you and care very much about what you do. Thank you. Keep on, keepin' on.
You are a hero and a beacon of hope, not only to myself, but for many other people around the beautiful blue & green marble.
You will always be supported by your fans and more importantly, your family & friends. FUCK the haters and all those unhinged human beings that calm themselves journalists, continue the work you do because it shows the rest of us that being yourself, regardless of the consequences, is worth more than any acceptance we could receive from others.
You have been and always will be a role model, influence and a sage figure for myself and my career. I headed into gaming journalism because of what you said and how you voiced your opinion no matter what light others would paint you in because they could not understand how to not pander to social media behavior.
If you ever need to talk to a random person (and fellow NYer) of course I would be more than willing to give back after the years of you showing me it was ok to speak the way I wanted to and still follow my dreams, deal with my anxiety and still focus on what is important.
FUCK Bob or whatever that piece of garbages name is, he just looks for attention and the best advice I could ever give you after years of following yours, ignore the bastard. No matter what words come out of his mouth and fingers, ignore him. No response and he will die on his own hill covered in acid.
Good luck, god speed and remember we are all here to support you and give Bob a good old NY verbal thrashing if need be.
Colin,
I loved this episode and really everyone needs to see this. We as a people tend to abuse the anonymity of the internet and social networks in general. I wish everyone would treat each other nicely. If Bob or anyone said the things that were said to Alexa or the game developer, in person, they could face charges or just be ignored in general. Obviously anonymity isn't going to change so all of us need to. Let's make the internet and social media a better place.
I really appreciate the video Colin and thank you for taking the time to make and post it. I also truly appreciate you bringing the Bob Mackey situation to light again. It seems many of us simply weren't paying close enough attention and either had no idea anything was happening or had no idea to what extent it was happening. I, for one, had heard mention of a dispute between Mackey and yourself a while back but had erroneously assumed that it was brief and passing. I'm now left with some important decisions to make regarding how I continue as I do currently support some projects he is affiliated with.
Of course the other situations you revealed are important as well, but these comments only go to you.
Whether i agree with yours or others positions or not (and I'll admit to not always agreeing with yours), it is important that we conduct ourselves civilly in our discourse whether in person or online. People need to stand up and voice their objections towards this type of behaviour regardless of the personal opinion someone voices to illicit it. It's not okay for people to be receiving death or rape threats; it's not okay for people to be bullied or harasses online - regardless of how much one disagrees with another's beliefs. We must fight back to prevent, or really reverse, this type of behaviour from being viewed as normal and okay.
Hey Colin, I don't normally comment and i've never really dealt with online bullying. But I sincerely enjoy your content and although I only know you through an online persona only you seem like a man of rarefied integrity. Keep making video's and don't sweat the hate, there's more love than you think.
You know what bothers me even more than not saying anything, is big personalities in the video game journalism business actually follow this Bob guy and re-tweet him when he says stuff like this about Colin.
And these are people who have been in this industry for over a decade.
Shameful stuff...
I agree. It is shameful. -Colin
Peter Hawthorne I didn't realize Danny was like this. I didn't even see him say anything about Colin... Just his ignorance and arrogance when it comes to what he tweets turned me off a few months ago. I finally unfollowed him. And I don't do that often. I prefer to see what people I disagree with are saying but his was just so... Idk. "toxic" maybe?
Sucks too... First time I saw him was his doc on the Witcher devs and it was nicely done.
All that has done is show me where not to direct my mouse pointer. I'll get all the info I need on new releases from the Steam reviews now.
Keep up the good work Colin
really enjoying Side Quest
very informative.
Thank you for sharing Colin. It is a very serious subject and more light needs to be shed on it.
Hang in there and remember we love you!
Damn Colin, thank you for making this video. I've been following you since Beyond but I've never written in or posted a comment on one of your videos till now. I've always enjoyed your ability to frame and present your arguments in a logical and intelligent manner. However, it was when you began to encourage your audience to learn to open their minds to differing opinions and make an attempt to understand where another person is coming from even when you don't agree with that person/view that you became one of the few UA-camrs/personalities I personally hold in high regard. Toxicity and cyberbullying on social media and social forums is truly sad and disheartening especially in regards to the gaming community. Hopefully, we as a community will be able to identify the root of the problem and uproot it. Although, I've never stalked or bullied a person online to same level as described in your video, there are times that I have spoken out of ignorance and have remained silent while this things are done to others. This is something that I will now be changing. I'm not sure if you'll ever read this comment Colin, but your video and your words have broken through and have reached me.
I knew for quite some time that Colin was dealing with a cyberbully/online stalker, but I never knew it was on this magnitude. The Twitter conversation about diversity truly opened my eyes about it.
I struggle really badly with depression, I honestly don't know how public figures go through that every day. I quit social media on several occasions and I even go without a cell phone because it gets so bad for me. Thanks for speaking out on it, I totally understand.
This is one of your best videos. Colin, when I first came across your content at kinda funny, you were the most intriguing person to listen to and still are to this day. There are times I disagree with what you say, and early on, I wanted to not listen anymore because of that. Didn’t take long to realize you are one of the good ones, Colin, and that it’s ok to have a different opinion as long as everyone is excellent to each other. 😎
Thank you for this Collin. We all know this is going on but very eye-opening in the way you organized this segment. Keep up the great work and don't let the haters hate on you too much! Keep it coming!
Colin, your content is great and please continue to make new stuff. Sorry you had to go through that awful abuse. None of that is okay and I am glad you are speaking up. That dude is obsessed and needs to focus on himself.
Keep on killing it Colin. I couldn't imagine dealing with this bull shit.
Colin, you definitely reminded me and showcased why I admire your content, and you as a person, in this video. You know how to handle the tough subjects with the utmost respect! This definitely motivated me to stop being silent and help out those being harassed. Hope the harassment comes to an end soon!
Keep being awesome!
I've been following the abuse that Mackey guy has been giving you for a while now and honestly his attitude towards you and his tweets give me anxiety, he seems so unhinged and hell bent on making you feel bad for no reason. The sad part is that so many people still follow him and like his tweets, I don't know how any genuine human being can follow/like/root for someone who treats others so poorly.
I completely agree, particularly with what you said at the end there. Says a lot about people who support this behavior. I would never, for one second, watch someone I actually liked do that to someone else and walk away with a high opinion of them.
And it gives you anxiety?! It's insane, dude. -Colin
Yeah man for sure, I hope he sorts his life out and backs off soon. Its not healthy for anyone!
lol Yeah it does, I wouldn't be able to handle that sort of bullying, I get anxious not only for me but for other people going through tough situations too ha. You're handling very well with your patented integrity and poise, respect man.
the best part is that he truly, genuinely thinks that he (and his weird following) is a wonderful person and a crusader for justice and that Colin is a terrible bigot
Colin's Last Stand: Side Quest I am ashamed to say that I’ve witnessed this dogpile abuse happen on social media from a family member. I lightly nudged that I thought it was not cool but didn’t really press the matter. I ended up deleting my Facebook because of it and other instances of toxic echo chamber-ism. Maybe I’m part of the problem because I didn’t push hard enough, but until there are some real-world consequences, this behavior will live on.
Colin's Last Stand: Side Quest
I used to listen/watch a lot of Bob's content (talking simpsons/retronauts/lasertime) but stopped once I became aware of the harassment towards Colin.
I only hope more people have done the same thing.
Im neither a fan nor a follower but watched with open mind. You don’t deserve that treatment just as anyone else. I’m sick of people who try to tear each other down, especially when it’s present on every side. Everyone needs to speak up when they see it. Thanks for sharing.
You're a good honest genuine person Colin, never forget that.
Bob Mackey makes me feel sick. So sorry for what you have to deal with, Colin.
I have to admit Colin has some serious nuts to call out the jerks on social media to get a good point across.
Even further I respect that he isn't just calling them out to call the out, and using them as an example to further the topic. THAT is what a great person Colin Moriarty is.
Hello Colin. I am glad you made this video. Seeing how disgusting a person with a twisted prejudice towards a particular person and the distance they would take to pain the person and find pleasure in doing so is just so sick, so gross to the point that I feel a physical reaction watching the video and made me tear up. However, I was also really glad that you told us, your audience/fans about the things you go through, and I hope that the support you got from this video (although no doubt you probably got an amount of attacks after posting this) has helped you counterbalance the received abuse even just for a little bit.
Months ago when I posted a comment about my joy of your return into making content and appreciate how humble you always are, you replied with something alone the line of "thank you, but I hope the audience will enjoy the content for the content, regardless of the creator" (sorry, not sure how to dig through the youtube system to find the exact comment). That reply stuck with me for months, because on one hand, I agree with it, but on the other hand, I enjoy all of your content and support them because of you being you. I know you as a person with a kind heart who speaks his honest opinions in respectful ways without losing sight of yourself by always holding onto a sense of humbleness that you and perhaps all humans should remember. I saw the kind of person you are since early days even from the IGN Insider Podcasts, and I really appreciate that. I like how you speak with confidence, intellengence, and certainty, and because you are a person I respect, it breaks my heart to hear about the abuse you would receive for being the way you are that also gained you so much respect. Anyhow, as my comment begins to go in a circle, I would just like to say it again that I am really glad you made this video to make this (and the issue in your next video) public, letting the few of us know of the dark sides of tools and industries that we adore so that some of us can be reminded of how we as human beings should never lose sight of some quality virtues, regardless of the topic at hand.
Thanks again.
Hi Colin,
I don't comment on videos very often but I felt like I had to write to you after watching this video. Big fan!
I completely agree with you on your stance on diversity and many people at my job, which are mostly black women, would agree with you too. We've had conversations around what "diversity" means and many of us don't like that word because it's so misunderstood in the society we live in today. We hire people that are best for the job and can expand our organization's portfolio of knowledge.
Also, throughout college, I did a few papers on cyber-bullying, and while I have never really been a victim, those projects taught me a lot and I feel for you. I bet this very video will be a part of some college papers in the time to come.
Keep up the great work!
The annoying thing about human nature is when you hear 999 compliments and one insult, the insult tends to be the loudest thing you hear.
With stories like these, I like to reminisce on the most storied words I know: Be excellent to each other.
Thanks for sharing, Colin, and keep moving forward. We've got your back.
Be excellent to each other, indeed! -Colin
Colin, I feel ya, so I'm sure you know what's worse with these bullies that think stop signs don't exists anymore. What happens when the social media switch turns off? Trust me no one is ready for that one, keep up the good fight. Great job.
Colin, you are a gem in the midst of mounds of rocks on the Internet. Thank you for fighting the good fight, and I’ll stand beside you every step of the way.
Looking forward to something new in February 😏 keep killing it Colin!
Thank you! -Colin
Just got around to finishing this video. I'm blown away by all of it. That man is disgusting. Honestly Colin, you are an inspiration. You are a gentleman and a scholar. Don't let anyone tell you different. Keep up the awesome content!
Thanks for the meaningful content. It's rare to see this topic being discussed and I'm glad you brought to focus specific people who are affected. i feel sad about the misrepresentation that people have to deal with, it's not possible to completely deal with it because once a maliciously framed retweet is out there, there's a horde of knee-jerk reactions. I've been in that group at times. It is truly a difficult thing to get to the bottom of an issue but seeing to talk about it gives me courage and optimism to do my personal best in the hope that things can improve.
I've only seen parts of the Bob Mackey stuff while browsing Twitter and I always felt like something was wrong. I never thought it was this bad. Mackey seems to be literally crazy and idk how anyone hears this story and says "it's not bad enough to be harassment". Thanks for sharing your story Colin and know you have people who like you out there.
Great Video and thanks for speaking out about this, sorry you've had to deal with this type of harassment especially since it's involving your family too. I think part of the discussion also goes to how the gaming community reacts to harassment in games themselves, like how long ago has it been since kotaku made that article about women in overwatch being harassed and immediately the reaction was just mute the person. Granted that's a different scenario (and you can only argue so much that doesn't solve the problem) than being publicly harassed via social media but I think it's telling that as much as the issue is brought up, people seem to care only so much about harassment in gaming when a little more helpfulness could go a long way to fix it.
Colin, I've been a long time fan of yours since your debut on Beyond! and I've enjoyed your input in just about every conversation I've heard you participate in. I think your views are valuable and well researched in general. You're clearly not a racist or stupid person. Keep doing your thing.
Heyy sir! Just want to give my support for all your work. I've only been a more recent fan (I love your history videos!), but this was all new to me. Anyways, just want to say be safe and you'll always have a fan here :)
Just keep on keepin' on Colin.
Love your content mate.
I'm soo glad your talking about games(I know you've been doing it for a bit) bro your awesome and love ya keep up the great work man
Already, the people aforementioned are on the war path (sigh) :/
I've dealt with something similar before (on a much smaller scale), where a small outside group seemed hell bent on destroying my reputation because of my career path. I can't begin to imagine going through such daily harassment as you've explained, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, so I greatly respect you're strength in the face of it.
As a games developer early in my career, making games for an industry and community I love, i'm terrified of having to deal with this sort of negativity on a daily basis in my future, like so many developers deal with in the industry. Like most i've learned to adapt a thick skin, but as I'm sure we're not all willing to admit, that sometimes doesn't help either.
Colin, long time fan, keep up the good content, stay connected, I wish you well chap.
Patreon dollars coming at ya as soon as I'm able.
Love the good work Colin does. It was good to hear the story about this. Bob put out an hour long podcast on Lazer time to show his side of the story. The color of Bob's character is clear in the negativity that he slings at Colin. He admits to disliking Colin from when they worked in the same building.
I remember having a conversation with you on this exact topic when we worked at a Foundry event together many moons ago, back at the Sparcade event.
I asked you specifically "Do you feel there needs to be more education on how to use social media platforms". I see this conversation remains pertinent to your daily life, albeit in a more toxic context these days, which I am truly sorry you have to navigate this field often with no assistance.
It was at this time I mentioned what I believed to be a solution to the issue, though one with potential ramifications. I have attempted to put this into practice in my own life to navigate this online social space. I actively choose to identify myself both online, as well as in Esports competitions and commentating, by my full name. What started out as a playful jest that I may become the next Justin Wong has actually proven to help level my temper, and ego, and contextualize the impact of what media postings I may make. By choosing to go by my full name, I hold myself accountable to any actions I may perform on a social media platform or within competition. With the knowledge that my comments have my identity backing them, I am required to parse out any potential toxicity in a statement I may make, and constantly reflect and proofread my content before posting.
I wish for a day where I wouldn't have to see some anonymous cretin with a mangled Bart Simpson avatar identifying as a fixed rotation motor for robotics, but rather as his true identity Bob Mackey. I would guess he would reflect upon his postings knowing the ramifications of online harassment that would be attached to his person, potentially poisoning any future aspirations he may have where said comments would come back to haunt him. Unfortunately, it appears as though this will just be a harsh lesson many, like Bob Mackey, will have to learn through consequence rather than promoted through education.
I still today ask if society would be better off requiring mandatory identification when logging online. But as you stated in that conversation long ago, part of the beauty of the internet is in it's anonymity, promoting a "Wild West" nature that facilitates growth without regulation. Regardless, there's some level of introspection we as a culture must invest in. We must educate each other to be better online, to treat each other as we wish to be treated, to communicate in a fashion that is respectful of each others opinions, and that is patient and compassionate in refuting dissenting opinions. You know, the stuff we learned in Kindergarten. My biggest fear is that this bubble may burst with consequences unforeseen and potentially violent or deadly to our society. We are already seeing that bubble dangerously close to bursting in gaming, let alone the politics space.
May we better ourselves as a society before it's too late.
I'm going to have to assume he's jealous of how far you've taken your life, while he just treads water at the same level for the rest of his. I've been listening to you for 8 years now, thanks for all the content!
I can’t believe how much this guy is after you. Stay strong. You definitely don’t deserve that hate.
"If you don't have anything nice to say to someone, don't say anything at all." It seems a lot people's parents failed to teach them this important lesson.
Great content like always Colin, do not let people pull you down. You are my favorite youtuber keep up the good work
That's crazy and scary. I've never taken internet hate seriously, but I've also never been on the receiving end of it. Hope that it eventually stops or that you can make it stop. Seriously, your story and your friends' is just crazy.
Dear Colin, as a fan for a couple of years -one that decided to stay out of Twitte- this is a complete surprise, I really like the videos that you make and also Mackey's podcasts -mostly his participations in Retronauts-. This is just a bit shocking, he just seems like a great guy. This can't be just jealousy, it is absurd.
The other danger of voicing disagreement through aggression is it makes people want to hide among the comfort of the people who agree with them. We need people to tell us we are wrong sometimes, it helps us grow and keeps our values and beliefs in check. I think an 18min video is not long enough for such a heavy topic and Colins methodical style; still enjoyed it though. Thanks for sharing something so personal and I regardless of whether we see eye to eye, I hope you and your family can find some kind of peace within the storm.
I don't watch all of Colin's videos but I've listened to all his gaming podcasts. There's a reason I followed him and tossed Kinda Funny content to the side. Compared to his former companies and colleagues, Colin is extremely honest and tells people what he thinks. I don't always agree with him but at least he doesn't pretend to be something he's not.
Hey Colin. Thanks for doing this episode (and all of them, really). It means a lot to me to hear you open up and share something difficult like that. Keep up the good work, brother.
I hate that this gets me pissed off. Great Video Colin. Appreciate what you do. Lets hope we learn and get better!
BobServo is an absolute creep
Trevor Sheehan that hate boner is strong with that one.
no shortage of them on the internet...he just happens to be a creep with a following
lol this guy, seriously... ua-cam.com/video/LZx-EFYD65E/v-deo.html
wait, thats what he looks like. Dude looks like he get winded if he opened the fridge too fast and he borderline wants to have a street fight level of harassing?
He's the type of guy who has to foment controversy in order for anyone to notice him.
so sorry to hear this is happening to u.stay positive colin.love your videos.
Colin, I'm really sorry that this has become something you have to deal with. You've always been my favorite voice within the medium and I respect the fuck outta you.
Incredibly well said Colin. Stay strong brother!!
Sending all the positive vibes your way Colin :)
Wow, crazy story Colin. Your content is great stuff! Keep it up!
Thank you! I appreciate you. -Colin
I'm here for ya Colin! It's incredible what these crazies are doing online. I'm no longer on FB or any other social media service, the whole lot of them are depressing and not worth the time. Unfortunately it's your job, but you should be getting paid for your unique content and not having to put up with this crap day in and day out.
Great job, Colin. Excellent stuff.
Colin's comment about a white foreigner being more diverse than a local black man is bait for abuse. Colin clearly has an academic type of personality that likes to challenge things and discuss them. That comment about diversity was just another example. When you say something like that online, it's the safest bet you could ever make that it will be taken out of context.
Colin's relationship to social media can be compared to the relationship of a politician and the mainstream media. Energy and time, two valuable resources, have to be invested just to explain yourself and keep the relationship in good standing. Colin's personality was inherently going to attract the abuse that he has attracted, and I think that making videos like these are absolutely necessary in this line of work.
Colin. You are an amazing person. I started watching you on IGN many years ago when I was in university. You always stood out to me as a really beautiful person. You have an aura to me that is both wise and gentle. Your sense of humour has colour and your opinions are well thought out and have depth. You give me a feeling that reminds me of an older brother and I absolutely love you Colin. From the bottom of my heart. I'm not very vocal on the internet but I just wanted to tell you. You beautiful beautiful man. I have been through very hard times and your videos have cheered me up. Thank you so much Colin. I truly love you as a brother. I'm glad you are here on Earth =). HAHA=). Peace out Colin! I love you! YOU'RE AMAZING COLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TRULY TRULY!!!!!!!
Excellent video Colin! Looking forward to February for whatever CLSIV is! I love all of your content, keep it up and never change.
It is painful to hear that you're dealing with this Colin. Thank you for choosing to encourage decency rather than lashing out against your harassers. You're taking the right path and this community will always admire and respect you for it.
Thank you. I really think the best path to take is understanding, kindness, and being the change you want to see. -Colin
I am so so very happy you finally called out Bob. it NEEDED to be done. Thank you Colin!
I support you Colin, and tens of thousands as well. Success brings this type of behaviour. Never was a successful man or woman liked by everyone else. You are therefore doing good for yourself. The day you only receive praise is the time to say goodbye and look for a different career path. Keep up the good work and please dont change 👏👏
Amazing video Colin. Thanks for talking so openly about what you're going through. Keep doing what you're doing!
I go to Twitter to get updates and news from people I enjoy. Seeing the abuse and things like what happened between you and Danny this weekend really depresses me. I shouldn't be so effected by things that happen to other people, but I can't help it.
Thank you for sharing all of the stories in this video. Its really disappointing that I wasn't even a little shocked at the experiences these people were having, but I do hope the internet will continue to mature.
Love your critical mind. Social media is an expression of collective social consciousness, and it's easier to be incendiary and hateful rather than compassionate, thoughtful and helpful. Always a fan, sir.
Best side quest yet. Great job! Hopefully future employers will get a glimpse of this before hiring Mr.Mackey for any work.
Love you Colin. Please keep up the amazing work.
My favorite side quest yet. I look forward to this conversation and thank Colin for putting himself out there
Holy shit tho. Just checked this Bob Mackey twitter and dude is totally out of it. Sorry you've had to deal with this shit Colin. It's certainly not right but again thanks for speaking out on it. Long Island forever!
Power to you Colin! Thanks for the content :)
The root of the problem can be boiled down to one word: anonymity. People feel a sense of power online that they don't feel in person simply because they're anonymous. There's no perceived repercussions to their actions because, at the end of the day, people only know you by your username and NOT by your actual name. You have absolutely nothing to lose when you type things like that online. As opposed to in person, where people could recognize you by your face, your name, or just a general description of what you look like or where you live.
On a different note, the harassment directed towards you seems very personal, which is a completely different story. I'd be willing to bet most of that guy's audience has no idea who you are. They just know the distorted image of you that he presents to them.
I doubt you'd want any advice from an internet stranger, but I'd say you should try to see what his problem is with you and then perhaps work towards making amends. Whether you're actually to blame or not, it seems like he blames you for something shitty that happened in his life; and this is his way of lashing out at you. Because in my experience, nobody spends that much time doing the same thing over and over unless they get something out of it. A normal troll would get bored and move on to the next thing, but this guy clearly has some sort of motivation that's keeping his anger directed towards you.
Victor Sullivan I think anonymity is an important factor, but in on Facebook these are often named people and in Colins case it's a named person who knew him from work.
The lack of consequences seem to be more of the root problem. If a deformation case was filed maybe this would stop.
The main problem is that what Bob does isn't illegal, and the attention he gets from it (like this video) is the gratification he seeks. It's just a lot of shit slinging lol.
The root of the problem is much, much deeper than anonymity, it is spiritual. Human beings are fallen beings in a fallen world. In my opinion it is a lack of a personal relationship w Jesus Christ. We live in a "unspiritual" society where we have been taught since kindergartner's that anything goes. We are taught their is no universal truth, that human beings are an accident of reality and so an objective moral code CANNOT EXIST with that world view. As a Christian I believe we are image bearers of God and it is in our spirit to know that good/evil, right and wrong do, objectively exist through an eternal God. Without God, online harassment is PERFECTLY ok. Accidents harassing accidents isn't wrong! However image bearers of God treating other image bearer's of God with malice and disrespect, online, is absolutely wrong!
First of all - it's pseudonymity, not anonymity. I know this sounds a bit nitpicky initially, but it's important since with anonymity you would have a hard time to even make a case that it's the same person.
Second - Introducing real names does not (significantly) reduce this behavior. There have been several forums or other services like FB that require real names. Abusive behavior is still rampant on them. It does decrease such behavior a bit, but it also excludes many people from using these services for other issues due to this. There's actually a good amount of literature on the topic, as it's the naive answer many people think will solve the situation.
Third - This is more towards Colin but I needed a Third after I had First and Second ;P - he conflates "acceptance" with "tolerance". No, online harassment is not accepted in society. Acceptance means people think it's good, they agree with it. It's generally tolerated since there is no solution that is cost/benefit effective and feasible. There is no intolerance towards it (see as there's no laws in regards to this behavior unless in exceptional cases that are stalking or such), but also no acceptance - the services still tend to give you either tools to deal with it or try to police it, even if they mostly fail.
To be fair, recent research suggests people are even worse when using their real names. Google "Trolls are even worse when using real names"
I like both personalities professional careers. I’m really sorry that both of you have had to deal such negativity. There is no right answer here. I had no idea this was happening until I saw this video. It just really saddens me to know there is this much hatred being disguised as jokes. I just hope you guys are eventually able to work something out. Many times it just takes time away from the situation. Good luck Colin. We’re here for you.
As someone that has followed Colin for over 7 years since his IGN days I always find it funny when people call him bigoted or racist. Anyone that truly follows or knows Colin would know how false these claims are and understand how good a person he is. Sad to see him recieve all this hate.
I feel bad for you, Colin but more than that I worry about the world my 9 and 7 year old children are coming up into. They don't have the perspective of a pre Twitter and rampant online abuse world to know how to ignore and cope with it. We're here to support you! Just know that the majority of us are!
I know that the bad apples will always sting, but you know in your heart that what you're making is good and that is reflected in thousands of people enjoying it. Keep doing what you're doing, imma keep watching :)
Colin, I've been listening to you for a long time. I don't always agree with your point of view, but I always appreciate how eloquently you express your opinion. To your detractors I would say this - no point of view is valid without examining its opposite. You have often helped me gain a better understanding of opinions that challenge my own. Thank you.
Great stuff Colin, keep up the great work.
It's like I said before...We're all in the same boat. If u hurt it will be harder. If u help it will be easier.
It saddens me that people use social media to push so much negativity rather than politely discuss thoughts and ideas. Good manners and respect for one another should be something of a backbone of any great society.
Colin, you are one the best people that I know.
Stay strong Colin. We love you.
Ohhh an exciting tease on the whiteboard!!
xLudix blue boards matter🤣🤣🤣🤣
PSILY 2.0??? I WILL CRY TEARS OF JOY
Positive energy feels great in these comments.
Anything Colin does with a whiteboard is a win.
This video is depressing. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this Colin. I have been negative before but never just for the sake of being negative. I just have criticism that I would like to see improved and can come off hastily. I hope things get better for you. (Side quest- I am about to finish before the storm)