Microsoft Suspends Xbox Gamer For Living in Fort Gay

Microsoft Suspends Xbox Gamer For Living in Fort Gay

www.pcworld.com

You've just signed up for Xbox LIVE. You're entering your personal information, and when you get to the city and state fields, you tap in 'Intercourse, Pennsylvania'. A couple days later you get an email from Microsoft notifying you that your account's been suspended. Why? Because you violated the online gaming service's code of conduct by using a term with overtly sexual connotations.

(visit the link for the full news article)

It seems to me that Microsoft needs to at least CHECK to see if a place with an "inappropriate name" exists before outright banning someone from their services.

I have been to Intercourse, PA and I can tell you that while the name could be construed as "inappropriate" the residents there do not!

On another note, I find it ironic that it was suggested to Microsoft to "Google" the location to see if it existed. I suppose they could not rely on Bing to return accurate results.

www.pcworld.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I'm sure it was an automatic computer rejection and all the person would have to do would be to contact XBOX Live support at 1-800-4MY-XBOX.

Non-story.

reply to post by NOTurTypical


Evidently you didn't actually read the story...

Moore attempted to resolve the situation by contacting customer service, but was warned off using the name--even after asking the rep to Google Fort Gay's zip code. The town's major David Thompson got involved, but was reportedly told by Microsoft that the veracity of the city's name didn't matter, and that the word "gay" was inappropriate regardless.

reply to post by BomSquad


Yes, I did read it, it's sensationalism and I doubt it's a true story. I have an XBOX and play online many times a week. I see some sort of "gay" in people's gamertags, clantags, et cetra virtually every time I play.

Intercourse, PA probably has to do with the roadway.
Unless.
We should investigate that town.
Why did they pick that name.

reply to post by TeslaandLyne


All the times I have driven by the exit sign I never really bothered to think about why they got that name. Thanks for making me think about it.

Formerly known as "Cross Keys", this village was founded in 1754. The name was changed to Intercourse in 1814.

There are several explanations concerning the origin of the name of Intercourse, but none can really be substantiated. The first centers around an old race track which existed just east of town along the Old Philadelphia Pike. The entrance to the race course was known as "Entercourse". Some suggest that "Entercourse" gradually evolved into "Intercourse".

More on why Intercourse might be named Intercourse.

So now onto the mystery of Fort Gay.

What would happen to the residents of S#horpe or Wetwang in England, Wank in Germany, or #ing in Austria? Are Microsoft that bored that they feel the need to impose their morale vicissitudes of the moment?

Life is too short, what's wrong with the word "Gay" anyway? It used to mean happy and carefree, so what if it refers to one part of the community over their sexuality. Where's the beef? It's just a word, it's a harmless word without harmful meaning.

Now there are some words I might object to being used, ****, and ******, and *******, and most certainly *******! But that's my prejudice, and those words might cause riots in the streets!

Originally posted by Rob37n
What would happen to the residents of S#horpe or Wetwang in England, Wank in Germany, or #ing in Austria? Are Microsoft that bored that they feel the need to impose their morale vicissitudes of the moment?

Life is too short, what's wrong with the word "Gay" anyway? It used to mean happy and carefree, so what if it refers to one part of the community over their sexuality. Where's the beef? It's just a word, it's a harmless word without harmful meaning.

Now there are some words I might object to being used, ****, and ******, and *******, and most certainly *******! But that's my prejudice, and those words might cause riots in the streets!

Obviously you have never been on Xbox, you do not know true prejudice and hate if you have never been on XBOX LIVE. This was just a moderator mistake, many people have outright offensive profiles and the moderators probably though this was one of them.

I don't believe it!!!! ATS has censored S c u n thorpe!!!!! For god's sake the place is a major town in the UK!!!!

Sc_un_thorpe
Sc_un_thorpe

As for the place in Austria, it's a four letter word to describe procreation used a lot in films about the Mafia, and said every 22 seconds or so in The Big Lebowski.

Life really is too short. Surely it's not beyond the wit of mankind to determine the context of certain lexical strings within a word to check if it's valid. As far as I am aware the use of Sc_un_thorpe has never been used in a derogatory fashion, especially as it allowed Wank, or doesn't that mean anything in America?

I frequently go to "Climax, GA" I love it!

Yes, I think they should at least check the validity of the name before they sanction it. There are plenty of weird city names.

reply to post by NOTurTypical


Then you must have missed everything in the article after the opening paragraph...

Weirder still, Microsoft recently updated its Xbox LIVE code of conduct policy to allow gamers to use sexual orientation identifiers like lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, and straight in their Gamertag or profile.

Originally posted by TeslaandLyne
Intercourse, PA probably has to do with the roadway.
Unless.
We should investigate that town.
Why did they pick that name.

Let's see. On the same trail (now road) we have in order.....

Blue Balls, PA
Intercourse, PA
Climax, PA

You be the judge.

BTW, my grandparents live in Climax, PA. I'll have to ask my cousin if he was able to sign up for xbox live. Or if he had to use his mother's address.

Thats ridiculous, Ive seen worse names and clan names. I was playing MW2 earlier today with a clan called [gay] and a guy called lesbienfish (i know he spelt lesbian wrong)

And some of the other names wouldnt be suitable enough to post here

reply to post by Nutter


Although, according to Google Earth, Blue Balls, PA is not recognized. I wonder if they changed the name? Or if I just remember wrong?

Anyway. I wonder why the tech wouldn't do anything about it? Not to be offensive to anyone, but I can guarantee this microsoft tech wasn't from the U.S. But a simple search would have proven that it was a legitimate place. Are there no more thinking men/women left?

I onlt have experience with the PSN but I have heard quite a few horrro stories about XBOX Live esp in regards to MWF2. I have the 36o at home as well but so many of my friends have had bad experiences on there that I decided I didn't want to risk paying a fee for a service that might not cater to my sense of humor or colorful use of language.

Originally posted by Nutter
Are there no more thinking men/women left?

Not when thinking goes against company policy. Thinking is well and good and all until it costs you your job.

reply to post by Nutter


Here is a nice looking bed and breakfast in Blue Ball. I don't want to know what they have for breakfast though.
www.bbonline.com...

reply to post by BomSquad


This doesn't surprise me, I play Xbox Live and have had friends who have been forced to change their gamertags due to the profanity filters. Microsoft are apparently serious when it comes to this sort of thing and it honestly doesn't surprise me... I see people all the time who actually have modded their names somehow in order to circumvent the censors and use all the profanity they want.

My real question is why would this person want to give away their location in their XBL profile? Just type in USA and be done with it, rather than risk having people show up to your house in person to let you know what a noob you are

reply to post by InvisibleAlbatross


Rocky Mountain Oysters must be on the menu right?