Christina Hoff Sommers Weighs in on #Gamergate, is Run Down by Gawker Journalist

Christina Hoff Sommers is the feminist that feminists love to hate thanks to her fact-based criticisms of what the movement has become. She’s regularly attacked via social media by people who disagree with her generally reasonable views. Her latest controversy? Daring to suggest that gamers just might be people, something Gawker journalist Adam Weinstein seems to strongly disagree with.

It all began with a single Tweet from a few days ago:

Most gamers are not political. They have no desire to hurt anyone.They just love their games. So don’t confuse them with vicious trolls.

— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) August 29, 2014

A fair statement and one that received very little in the way of backlash. In fact, most people seemed to be supportive of the idea that millions of gamers aren’t all potential rapists and internet trolls, something that some individuals find difficult to believe. Finding new support, Sommers posted more about #Gamergate and the feminist reaction surrounding it.

Gender police in gamer world are going to freak out when they see @Nero brutally frank takedown. #GamerGate http://t.co/6CdOgEbajD

— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) September 1, 2014

@Nero has received death treats for his exposé of cronyism & twisted gender politics in game industry.Has no plans for video about threats.

— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) September 1, 2014

Do video games breed evil? Smart 2005 article from the Economist defends games from hysterical detractors.Must read! http://t.co/oYGevEJV6E

— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) September 1, 2014

Most gamers seem to support equality feminism. What they reject is today’s male-bashing, propaganda-driven, female chauvinism. #GamerGate

— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) August 31, 2014

It’s that last one that caused a bit of a stink with Gawker journalist Adam Weinstein.

Gosh when you put it that way, harassing a journalist and driving her out of her home seems STILL FUCKING BONKERS OK https://t.co/721rkMbcpy

— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) September 1, 2014

Sarkeesian has always been a controversial figure – that’s what you have to expect when you report on sexism in the gaming industry in the way she does. Some forgive her for the overall message, which is a positive one, but those that need convincing aren’t being taught anything. The videos she releases are an echo chamber for those unhappy with the gaming industry, and they don’t need to look any closer than that.

With that said, nobody should ever receive threats of anything violent, and I’ve yet to see a single person actually suggest that it’s okay – except for people saying that there are people saying that it’s okay.

Sommers probably could have left it there, but decided to write back to Weinstein.

@AdamWeinstein Is it your view that male gamers are collectively guilty because of a few crazies?

— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) September 1, 2014

.@CHSommers No, it’s my view that 1) your calling it “collective guilt” is a fallacious, emotional either-or. And 2)…

— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) September 1, 2014

.@CHSommers … You exploited (w/o condemning) her public ordeal to make your non-sequitur political argument about a fictional war on men.

— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) September 1, 2014

.@CHSommers But clearly, being the white knight you claim men need seems to be profitable, so don’t let me impede. Carry on.

— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) September 1, 2014

At this point, several of the Gawker editor’s followers chime in, mocking the “MRA supporter.” There’s a to and fro between Weinstein and Sommers discussing where she gets her information from:

@AdamWeinstein I reviewed a lot of discussions, looked at lots of data, and then determined that gamers are normal human beings.

— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) September 1, 2014

This is enjoyed by people of a certain mentality, who call for her to cite her research. If you’ve made it this far, welcome to The Twilight Zone: a feminist is saying that gamers are human beings and people are disagreeing with her and asking her to prove it, as though it’s not fairly obvious in the first instance. These are the same people, no doubt, who rushed to Zoe Quinn’s aid when she claimed to be attacked by the denizens of Wizardchan. How many of them asked for proof then? How many are asking for it now?

The conversation ended soon after:

@AdamWeinstein Adam, I have said some kind words about gamers. But speaking about a group does not mean I speak for them.What is your point?

— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) September 2, 2014

That’s not the end of Sommers’ thoughts on the issue though, and she’ll be releasing a video in the coming days.