EDITOR’S NOTE: I don’t agree with this post, as you probably know, given my recent statements. I don’t have a problem with attacking people who attack me, never have…and I don’t feel like GamerGate has lost its way. But still, I value diversity of thought, and so I wanted to let a friend of mine who differs with me voice their side of things. Lemme know what you think down below.

GUEST EDITORIAL by Allen Harris 

The recent controversy surrounding Mark Kern, which occurred and is peripherally related to, his “leaving #GamerGate” poses an interesting quagmire for the movement.

For many of you who don’t know, Mark Kern, aka @Grummz, has recently stated that he was done with #GamerGate.

https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/642707202264817664

He states that it was not about Sarah Nyberg, but rather that he feels #GamerGate has lost its teeth.

https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/642988645566156801

This controversy started with Kern drawing into a brief spat over gender politics and political correctness.

https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/642527529069182976

But his points about GG losing its way are relevant. We’ve become a group that attacks people rather than arguments and defends people rather than ideas.

This is where our quagmire starts. Are we a group, or at least, have we become one? Is it appropriate, or even relevant, to defend people just because they “are” #GamerGate or attack them because they “are” anti-#GamerGate?

For those who would seek to vilify people on just being bad people (such as Sarah Nyberg), I would say this: As a person who came from the “dreaded left”, I can tell you that all the passion and fervor you have – all the absolutely knowing “you” are right and “they” are wrong – all the being assured that your arguments are of greater merit – all of these qualities are qualities which the left possesses. They “know they are right”. They are certain of it. They “know” there’s a wage gap, and that women are being “kept out of tech”. So the passion and fervor you have, no matter how resolute, will not change their mind. Only evidence, reason and open discussion can.

I think the question as to whether our actions have merit lies mostly with the question of what our goals are. Are we here to fight for the sake of fighting? Because if that’s the case, attacking people, rather than ideas, is warranted. But, if we’re “in it” to elicit change, then that’s a tactic that will fail before any words are even uttered.

So I think at this point, each advocate of the hashtag should really be asking themselves that question – what is it that you’re “here” for?