So the most prominent Fortnite (that's a very popular social video game) streamer on Twitch, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins, who has more than 10 million subscribers, is pulling a Mike Pence and refusing to stream with female gamers, period. "I don't play with female gamers", he explains, because "If I have one conversation with one female streamer where we’re playing with one another, and even if there’s a hint of flirting, that is going to be taken and going to be put on every single video and be clickbait forever." He continues: "The only way to avoid [the rumors] is to not play with them at all." He would know, as someone who has been known to treat other male gamers in precisely that very manner himself, using his platform to ask invasive questions about relationships with female gamers, press the issue, start rumors going, and then just leave them hanging in the air for obvious YouTube clickbait purposes. (
Example.) Anyway, it's all about protecting his wife from rumors, he says. (See the Pence parallel?)
This development is generating a lot of attention in gaming spaces; most of it disapproving. While I wouldn't go as far as some in my criticism, I do think this is a problematic move.
My thoughts:
1) Some feel that this is a cynical, intentionally sexist gesture by Ninja. I don't think that Ninja's actual intention here is malign. I believe this is being done in ignorance. I believe he is genuinely concerned about the welfare of his marriage. I can understand that. But I do think it's nonetheless something that's damaging to female pro gamers, who are few and far between and could really use visible platforms like Ninja's. I don't believe he's really thinking about the damage that someone of his profile and stature taking this kind of stance publicly can do. Other prominent male streamers could begin to follow his example and cut off female gamers from gaining more visibility and success in streaming.
2) It's also kind of a reflection of male privilege in gaming in a way. I mean just that he has the option of permanently playing in single-sex environments. Women are so wildly outnumbered in pro gaming that...is that even possible for women? Is it even possible for female pro gamers to permanently play in female-only environments, for example? Could a female streamer even do this for the well-being of her marriage? I mean without going broke for lack of visibility?
3) Also, if he's worried about this pattern of rumor-based clickbaiting on the Internet, maybe he shouldn't treat other male gamers the way he worries about being treated in the first place! Be part of the solution, not part of the problem! Don't be a hypocrite!