My Worst Moment

@JayHitcher said:

I find it rather strange that this situation has swelled up to this point, yet when Patrick used "tranny" in the Chrono Trigger Endurance Run, no one else spoke out about it. I don't think Patrick meant to harm anyone in that situation, in much the same way that Ryan didn't either, but I completely agree with Ryan that yes, context is meaningless in this situation, and I'm glad he's addressing the issue so well; yet at the same time, it feels somewhat hypocritical considering that.

To be fair, that was out of line too, and it's a good thing I didn't catch it or I would have been quite sad. But also to be fair, a LOT of people don't know that's not an acceptable word.

@dr_mantas said:

@Animasta said:

@Bishop113 said:

@Frostmane: I have a bi-sexual friend and know a couple of other gay people. The one thing I notice about them is they don't get offended by the word faggot, they don't cry about it, they don't bitch you out for saying it, because they, like me, see it as just a damn word that only has the weight you give it. She wouldn't act like a bitch just because Ryan let slip a word that certain fools take offense to.

"I have gay friends" is not a valid argument, sorry! you don't get to decide what people think about a word. Especially not when people are still being beaten up for being gay and being called that word.

Excuse me, I must have missed the part where Ryan beat a gay person up and called them that oh so terrible word. That would be grounds for an apology.

This isn't.

Whether or not you believe that to be the case, Ryan felt it was worth apologizing for.

I kinda feel sorry for the Moderators. 
All that drivel they have to go through because some prepubescent dolts suddenly feel like what they say matters. 

I find it rather strange that this situation has swelled up to this point, yet when Patrick used "tranny" in the Chrono Trigger Endurance Run, no one else spoke out about it. I don't think Patrick meant to harm anyone in that situation, in much the same way that Ryan didn't either, but I completely agree with Ryan that yes, context is meaningless in this situation, and I'm glad he's addressing the issue so well; yet at the same time, it feels somewhat hypocritical considering that.

@JayHitcher said:

I find it rather strange that this situation has swelled up to this point, yet when Patrick used "tranny" in the Chrono Trigger Endurance Run, no one else spoke out about it. I don't think Patrick meant to harm anyone in that situation, in much the same way that Ryan didn't either, but I completely agree with Ryan that yes, context is meaningless in this situation, and I'm glad he's addressing the issue so well; yet at the same time, it feels somewhat hypocritical considering that.

Actually pretty sure I said something about it on that video but I don't remember exactly what.

There always has to be arguments made! Always! Anyway good on you for apologizing Ryan!

I wasn't there for the actual stream but I can understand the situation you were in and I'm sure EVERYONE here has at least made one vocal outburst to a game that aggravated you. (I know someone here will say they never have because they're intellectual or something so whatever)

@CustomOtto said:

@august said:

@The_Reflection said:

I still dot think he did anything wrong, that word doesn't mean the same thug it did years ago.

Ask a gay kid growing up in a rural part of the midwest what that word means. It still means the same fucking thing.

Like two months ago near where I live two gay men were beaten with baseball bats while being called that multiple times. The obliviousness required to make a comment like that (it doesn't mean the same thing it used to) astounds me.

Hell, it happened to me a few years ago. Not so rural, but still the midwest. No bats though, and I escaped with very minor injuries due to someone coming and scaring them off. Doesn't change the fact that I thought I was going to die while having that fucking word shouted at me.

Ryan made a mistake, he recognized it and immediately apologized. Respect the hell out of him for it. Some of the sentiments I'm seeing in here are far more upsetting than what he said, but at least it's made me remember why I tend to stay away from the forums.

@acethesuperhero: Yeah, I completely agree that it's out of ignorance, and that I'm sure if more people knew about it it would've gotten as much attention.

Patrick's not really less of a good person for it, it was just a mistake, and he wasn't aware of what he was saying.

This whole thing is just bumming me out because it's really showing the unfortunately small amount of awareness of that word being a slur.

Good on Ryan apologizing for something he feels he needs to apologize for.

However, I still can't wrap my head around how this community feels its ok to pick and choose what slurs/bigoted remarks are fine and what aren't. Just wish the same respect was shown all around and not selectively.

I think something that is important to remember here is that you don't get to decide what words me to other people. If someone finds a word offensive, for what ever reason, then that's their prerogative. For some people in the LGBT community they associate that word with people literally hating them for who they are. That's something that isn't easy to stop thinking about, specifically for young people. And, of course this is something that should change, but the best way for that to happen is for people like Ryan to not condone it. Ryan is absolutely in the right by apologizing, here.

Now, Bishop113, it seems your friends have had the fortune to not have grown up in such oppression, but remember some have not been so lucky.

One last thing, the only reason ANYONE is making a big deal out of this is because Ryan chose to make a big deal out of it. Making all of you that much more ridiculous, again like a moth to flame the idiots roll in.

It's okay to slip up, but Ryan is an accountable individual. I appreciate the apology, but this has huge ramifications. Many a time I have heard you comment on the state of Xbox live communication, but you still manage to let one slip? As a paying member I do expect higher caliber broadcasts from the bomb squad.

@Bishop113 said:

One last thing, the only reason ANYONE is making a big deal out of this is because Ryan chose to make a big deal out of it. Making all of you that much more ridiculous, again like a moth to flame the idiots roll in.

Uh, no. It was a big deal the minute the word left his mouth.

As a homosexual male, I've never been offended when people like Trey and Matt, Louis C.K. or Bill Hicks (way back when) crack jokes about gays or use the word in question. Mainly because it's obvious that it is all a joke and there is no malicious intent. Stupid people might take it as license to use the word and be assholes about it but we can't keep babysitting stupid people and assholes. People who use the word maliciously aren't going to do it any less if no comedian or rapper uses it. No anti gay schmuck is going to be okay with gay marriage if there's no one in the media using the word. It's been so ingrained in modern American youth that of course South Park, CK and others are going to bring it up. That being said, I do get annoyed when stupid people use the word as an insult in a dickish way. It's not that I get offended, I'm just annoyed. There was no stand up routine that went along with using the word, it's just being used out of stupidity and I know they aren't quoting South Park or thinking "Trey Parker said it, why can't I?". As for one Mr. Ryan Davis, I truly feel like he regretted saying the word in the fashion he did. He felt he needed to issue this apology and I respect the man for it. It's been brought up earlier in the thread that we shouldn't tell him he didn't need to apologize. Ryan Davis is one of the most unapologetic men I know of. I've been following his work since his early GameSpot days and I don't know the man personally but it has always seemed like "sorry" wasn't in his vocabulary. This has also been mentioned earlier. The fact that he willingly issued this apology makes me feel like we shouldn't just tell him he didn't have to do that. I personally wouldn't have minded if he didn't since I know he's not homophobic and it really did seem like it just shot out of his mouth without him thinking, but he felt it was wrong and knew there would be people who would take offense. This is all just my thoughts on the subject, I'm not saying you all have to be okay with South Park's use of the word or that you have to not tell Ryan that his apology was unnecessary. This is just one gay guy's thoughts. I know many other gay guys that would disagree. Well, as a yearly subscriber to Giant Bomb and a proud homosexual, I accept your apology, Ryan T. Davis.

@Kieran_Smith5 said:

It's okay to slip up, but Ryan is an accountable individual. I appreciate the apology, but this has huge ramifications. Many a time I have heard you comment on the state of Xbox live communication, but you still manage to let one slip? As a paying member I do expect higher caliber broadcasts from the bomb squad.

Huge ramifications? Really?

Ryan i'm sure its all fine. People who get offended and all hurt by words need to grow up. You said it out of frustration towards an sprite in a video game, something i'm sure 99% of us have done especially if you're of the NES era of games. Words can't hurt you. I'm a fat fuck and you know what? I'd much rather be called a fat fuck than get punched in the face or shot. I can brush the words off, much harder to brush off a wicked right cross or a .45 slug. We need to break through this PC nonsense and oversensitivity to words.

You're ok in my book, Ryan. I wouldn't apologize, but that's because I'm an asshole. Keep on keepin' on.

Also the Michael Richards effect at work in this thread is pretty hilarious, what with the homophobes swarming out of the woodwork to "defend" Ryan in the same way that Bizarro drops babies into burning buildings as his twisted version of Superman's altruism.

I'm glad Ryan apologized, but as someone else here mentioned, Patrick dropped "Tranny" a few months ago and no one seemed to care. Also, Brad said Jeff played "like a little bitch" in the3D0 TNT.

Maybe they all need to exercise a little restraint when it comes to that stuff.

And to the people who say others are being too sensitive..shut up.

You never had to go to high school and get called that word ALL DAY everyday for four years. You never had worry about hearing that word when walking down the street, worrying that a kick to the head (or worse) was going to follow, and you never had to hear your parents yell that at you when they decide that what you are isn't good enough for them anymore. That word has too much weight for a lot of people.

Ryan, of course, didn't mean any harm when he said it, but a lot of people don't want to hear him say it, so I appreciate that he copped up to it and apologized. We've all said she we knew was wrong after the fact. He's a bigger man for apologizing.

@Bishop113 said:

One last thing, the only reason ANYONE is making a big deal out of this is because Ryan chose to make a big deal out of it. Making all of you that much more ridiculous, again like a moth to flame the idiots roll in.

Uh, no. It was a big deal the minute the word left his mouth.

As a homosexual male, I've never been offended when people like Trey and Matt, Louis C.K. or Bill Hicks (way back when) crack jokes about gays or use the word in question. Mainly because it's obvious that it is all a joke and there is no malicious intent. Stupid people might take it as license to use the word and be assholes about it but we can't keep babysitting stupid people and assholes. People who use the word maliciously aren't going to do it any less if no comedian or rapper uses it. No anti gay schmuck is going to be okay with gay marriage if there's no one in the media using the word. It's been so ingrained in modern American youth that of course South Park, CK and others are going to bring it up. That being said, I do get annoyed when stupid people use the word as an insult in a dickish way. It's not that I get offended, I'm just annoyed. There was no stand up routine that went along with using the word, it's just being used out of stupidity and I know they aren't quoting South Park or thinking "Trey Parker said it, why can't I?". As for one Mr. Ryan Davis, I truly feel like he regretted saying the word in the fashion he did. He felt he needed to issue this apology and I respect the man for it. It's been brought up earlier in the thread that we shouldn't tell him he didn't need to apologize. Ryan Davis is one of the most unapologetic men I know of. I've been following his work since his early GameSpot days and I don't know the man personally but it has always seemed like "sorry" wasn't in his vocabulary. This has also been mentioned earlier. The fact that he willingly issued this apology makes me feel like we shouldn't just tell him he didn't have to do that. I personally wouldn't have minded if he didn't since I know he's not homophobic and it really did seem like it just shot out of his mouth without him thinking, but he felt it was wrong and knew there would be people who would take offense. This is all just my thoughts on the subject, I'm not saying you all have to be okay with South Park's use of the word or that you have to not tell Ryan that his apology was unnecessary. This is just one gay guy's thoughts. I know many other gay guys that would disagree. Well, as a yearly subscriber to Giant Bomb and a proud homosexual, I accept your apology, Ryan T. Davis.

@depecheload said:

I'm glad Ryan apologized, but as someone else here mentioned, Patrick dropped "Tranny" a few months ago and no one seemed to care. Also, Brad said Jeff played "like a little bitch" in the3D0 TNT.

Maybe they all need to exercise a little restraint when it comes to that stuff.

And to the people who say others are being too sensitive..shut up.

You never had to go to high school and get called that word ALL DAY everyday for four years. You never had worry about hearing that word when walking down the street, worrying that a kick to the head (or worse) was going to follow, and you never had to hear your parents yell that at you when they decide that what you are isn't good enough for them anymore. That word has too much weight for a lot of people.

Ryan, of course, didn't mean any harm when he said it, but a lot of people don't want to hear him say it, so I appreciate that he copped up to it and apologized. We've all said he we knew was wrong after the fact. He's a bigger man for apologizing.

I completely agree.

You stay classy, Ryan. The apology felt sincere and it's clear it was a slip of the tongue. Don't worry, man, we still love you.

@HunterGathers said:

So you yelled out for a British cigarette. Smoking is bad but stress leads to stupid acts.

Thank you for clarifying what happened with class.

I'm in no position to judge, being an absent party but that's cool of Ryan to fess up.

Anyway live content almost every single week with a website as vulgar as this one... I'm sure a slip had to happen somewhere. Surprisingly enough NOT in the Cards Against Humanity live streams.

I'm glad Ryan apologized, but as someone else here mentioned, Patrick dropped "Tranny" a few months ago and no one seemed to care. Also, Brad said Jeff played "like a little bitch" in the3D0 TNT.

Maybe they all need to exercise a little restraint when it comes to that stuff.

And to the people who say others are being too sensitive..shut up.

You never had to go to high school and get called that word ALL DAY everyday for four years. You never had worry about hearing that word when walking down the street, worrying that a kick to the head (or worse) was going to follow, and you never had to hear your parents yell that at you when they decide that what you are isn't good enough for them anymore. That word has too much weight for a lot of people.

Ryan, of course, didn't mean any harm when he said it, but a lot of people don't want to hear him say it, so I appreciate that he copped up to it and apologized. We've all said she we knew was wrong after the fact. He's a bigger man for apologizing.

I've decided I find the word idiot offensive, because of associations with mental retardation. So anyone using it in this thread should apologize.

We wouldn't want to be offensive, now would we.

@Evan_Buchholz said:

Hey guys if you want to have a debate make a thread about it or discuss it elsewhere and stop going back and forth about it in a fucking apology post.

Just post whatever you want to post here and be done with it. There is a forum here for a reason!

This *is* a thread, don't mean to burst your bubble. Wouldn't this be the most appropriate place to discuss it?

@Evan_Buchholz said:

Hey guys if you want to have a debate make a thread about it or discuss it elsewhere and stop going back and forth about it in a fucking apology post.

Just post whatever you want to post here and be done with it. There is a forum here for a reason!

Thanks, Mr. Giant Bomb Police!

@lordofultima said:

@Evan_Buchholz said:

Hey guys if you want to have a debate make a thread about it or discuss it elsewhere and stop going back and forth about it in a fucking apology post.

Just post whatever you want to post here and be done with it. There is a forum here for a reason!

This *is* a thread, don't mean to burst your bubble. Wouldn't this be the most appropriate place to discuss it?

I think he feels that the debate is taking away from what Ryan has tried to accomplish in this thread.

While I won't forgive you as easily as the rest of the community, I know that you didn't mean what you meant to say. An apology can only go so far, but thanks for doing it anyway. Let's just try to move on from this.

I've decided I find the word idiot offensive, because of associations with mental retardation. So anyone using it in this thread should apologize.

We wouldn't want to be offensive, now would we.

@dr_mantas: Classic straw man argument. Nobody has decided a word is offensive, but through years of usage and being associated with hate and hateful acts it has become that way.

@Evan_Buchholz: I think this thread is the perfect forum to discuss WHY the apology was necessary and have a thoughtful, civil discussion about hate speech, it's pervasiveness in gaming culture and how we can recognize that when people hear what we say they can react to it and form an opinion of us, our employer, our group of friends or our community as a whole. Apologizing and understanding what he did has ramifications was the right thing for Ryan to do. As a community it's fair to reflect on the situation and discuss how we feel and how we can learn and grow from the situation.

@dr_mantas said:

I've decided I find the word idiot offensive, because of associations with mental retardation. So anyone using it in this thread should apologize.

We wouldn't want to be offensive, now would we.

Cool, but I never personally decided to find homophobic slurs offensive. Doesn't work like that. Thanks.

@dr_mantas said:

I've decided I find the word idiot offensive, because of associations with mental retardation. So anyone using it in this thread should apologize.

We wouldn't want to be offensive, now would we.

That's not the way it works.

To the people making the argument that "words don't have meaning", and saying that only the intent is what is offensive or damaging. You are 100% right about that, on any logical basis. Of course a series of letters can't really "mean" anything that bad. That's just logic.

But we don't live on Vulcan, we live on Earth, where humans being are innately emotional creatures, who build up feelings and responses to everything they encounter. Someone can perfectly understand the logic of context and intent, but that means jack shit to how it makes them feel. Of course a word can hurt someone. To say otherwise is insane. It's not a matter of logic. You could show me a damned math equation that proves a word is not offensive, but that is meaningless to someone who's attached an emotional response to that word. Obviously words can loose their offensiveness or prior meanings over time, but it's not an on/off switch.

Please bear in mind that people you talk to on the internet are not robots, they are humans with hearts and brains that feel and think a million thoughts and emotions every day.

@beej said:

@dr_mantas said:

I've decided I find the word idiot offensive, because of associations with mental retardation. So anyone using it in this thread should apologize.

We wouldn't want to be offensive, now would we.

I know you think this is "POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE MAD" but one could reasonably argue that it's kind of shitty to condescend towards someone based on intelligence they were born with. But more importantly, it ignores the whole fucking history of being gay in most of the world (it usually involves being denied status as a person, being murdered, being bullied, being castrated, etc) to think that history hasn't imbued these words with a power that goes beyond what someone chooses to be offended by is ludicrous.

Well said.

@Kingfalcon: Thanks Mr. guy.... person on the internet! I'm sure you're a cool dude! Sorry!

@dr_mantas said:

I've decided I find the word idiot offensive, because of associations with mental retardation. So anyone using it in this thread should apologize.

We wouldn't want to be offensive, now would we.

You're an idiot.

Thanks for the blog post Ryan. You're a straight-up duder.

This is why I love Giantbomb, and Ryan.

But.... anyone feel like private messaging me what was said, my curiosity is peaked and I missed the stream. Thanks.

@beej said:

@dr_mantas said:

I've decided I find the word idiot offensive, because of associations with mental retardation. So anyone using it in this thread should apologize.

We wouldn't want to be offensive, now would we.

I know you think this is "POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE MAD" but one could reasonably argue that it's kind of shitty to condescend towards someone based on intelligence they were born with. But more importantly, it ignores the whole fucking history of being gay in most of the world (it usually involves being denied status as a person, being murdered, being bullied, being castrated, etc) to think that history hasn't imbued these words with a power that goes beyond what someone chooses to be offended by is ludicrous.

You seriously think that it's harder to be gay than mentally disabled?

@CustomOtto said:

@Brunchies said:

@NancyDrewFan123 said:

@Brunchies: He used a hurtful slur used towards homosexuals.

So the other f word, didn't south park do an episode on people being offended by that word 2 or so years ago. I mean I can see being offended if it was truly hateful but if its just a slip up like that, I think it should have been ignored and everyone should have moved on. Of course I don't think I'm in any kind of position to make a call on that so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I'm so glad two straight white males decided to give thousands of adolescents the okay on using homophobic slurs. Thanks for setting us back, Matt and Trey.

did you watched the episode? they didn't incited the use of homophobic slurs, they changed the meaning of the word, the power a word comes from its meaning and the word Ryan used means nothing because it only does in the minds of ignorant neanderthals, Ryan hasn't insulted anybody but himself.

Honestly, the word has evolved in its meaning.

Remember when gay meant happy? The same way is with this word, I'm thinking. Most people say it as a crude term without being homophobic, in my opinion.

People say it all of the time and I would say that the people that do say it don't mean anything inflammatory against homosexuals.

@beej said:

@dr_mantas said:

I've decided I find the word idiot offensive, because of associations with mental retardation. So anyone using it in this thread should apologize.

We wouldn't want to be offensive, now would we.

I know you think this is "POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE MAD" but one could reasonably argue that it's kind of shitty to condescend towards someone based on intelligence they were born with. But more importantly, it ignores the whole fucking history of being gay in most of the world (it usually involves being denied status as a person, being murdered, being bullied, being castrated, etc) to think that history hasn't imbued these words with a power that goes beyond what someone chooses to be offended by is ludicrous.

The mistreatment of gay people is wrong. The part about words "having power" above just offending someone sounds too much like thought police.

@jayjonesjunior said:

they changed the meaning of the word

Nope.

Honestly, the word has evolved in its meaning.

Nope.

@matthias2437 said:

This is why I love Giantbomb, and Ryan.

But.... anyone feel like private messaging me what was said, my curiosity is peaked and I missed the stream. Thanks.

Just read a couple pages of the thread. It should become pretty apparent.

It's ironic that people are taking this as an opportunity to dickride Ryan.

@artgarcrunkle: HILARIOUS

Remember when Vinny said "cunt" .. ? That was pretty neat.

Ryan felt that using this word went against his own moral compass and he apologized for using it. Saying he doesn't have to probably doesn't matter to him - it's how he feels about it that matters in this case. There are very few words I won't use and 0 words I don't think are funny in the right context.

I don't know what the point of me posting anything here is other than I wanted to type out the word "cunt."

It's my favorite word.

@Milkman: Yeah noticed that right after.

Still what I said original fits. Instead of defending himself he owned up. Fucking awesome.