This has been an issue since the internet and video games collided, many people have spoken out against racism, homophobia, sexism and even age discrimination in the generally anonymous online environment that these games provide. There are others that speak out against the games themselves, touting sexism, objectification of women and bad influences from built in play. Others while denouncing the acts themselves support the rights of those who do say the derogatory comments.

It is common knowledge that in many online video games people are rude and crude at almost all times. For the most part it is believed that this is due to the anonymity of online games, and the large audience involved. This is actually summed up in the “Greater Internet F***wad Theory" seen here: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/ (warning: language). Even average people and not the racists and sexists and other intolerants make crude and poor comments in these types of situation, as long as it is funny, and more often than not when it isn’t, insults will be used.

Many people find it a horrible display of racism, sexism, etc. when these things are said (or typed out) online. I, however, don’t think it is. Racism is defined as the belief that racial differences provide superiority. But in these online environments, race and gender and age often never really make a difference and any posturing that they do is only to insult another person, which would be done regardless of those traits to begin with. This is an example of the joke “I’m not racist, I hate everyone equally” and in the case of video games, this is actually true.

The other part of this problem with online videogames is the discrimination through actions. For instance many people on World of Warcraft do not play with younger gamers, for they have reputations of being childlike and disruptive, or with non-English speakers for many of them are gold-farmers or dislike or communication problems. This happens in all walks of life, and is complained about there as well, but it is more accepted elsewhere than in games. Children want to spend time with the cool adults at the movies or mall, they aren’t allowed to. People speaking only one specific language are generally encouraged to live with others that speak that language. In the wowinsider link, it discusses people not grouping with non-English speaking Chinese players, if in real life you only speak English, how many non-English only speakers do you hang out with? None. This is the same issue, just a newer environment.

            You cannot make people be nicer or make them treat everyone better, you can legislate and take steps to prevent unfair biases, but you cannot tell them to be nicer to people in general.

There is no problem, you aren’t being singled out and treated poorly. We all hate everyone here. Like the Mayor in Ghostbusters II said: “Being miserable and treating other people like dirt is every New Yorker's God-given right.” Welcome to the internet, here’s your helmet.

Sources:

http://mmorpg.qj.net/Do-Girl-Gamers-Have-Cooties-/pg/49/aid/57700

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/ (warning: language)

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism

http://www.wowinsider.com/tag/discrimination/