Xbox Blocks W.Va. Gamer Over Town's Name: Fort Gay

CBS News ^ | Sep. 08, 2010 | AP

[antiRepublicrat]

(AP) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Microsoft Corp. and the chief rules enforcer for Xbox Live are apologizing to a small West Virginia town and a 26-year-old gamer accused of violating the online gaming service's code of conduct by publicly declaring he's from Fort Gay - a name the company considered offensive.

The town's name is real. But when Josh Moore tried to tell Seattle-based Microsoft and the enforcement team at Xbox Live, they wouldn't take his word for it. Or Google it. Or check the U.S. Postal Service website for a ZIP code.

[antiRepublicrat]

Microsoft is apologizing and is going to "make it right" so probaby some free time on Live.

[Paladin2]

Rename it “Fort Jolly”.

[Question Liberal Authority]

Try “Fort Homosexual”.

[Responsibility2nd]

Good for microsoft - at least for finding the term “Gay” offensive.

[noiseman]

Yep, surprise surprise, “gay” is a perfectly fine word that was misappropriated by some to use as a euphemism to describe their activities. Sad that the thought no longer enters anyones’ minds that it could mean anything else.

[ThomasThomas]

Why did AP tell this out of MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) and not the town Fort Gay?

[Yo-Yo]

“Don we now our ... colorful apparel, fa la la, fa la la, la, la, la.”

[GreenAccord]

Apologies in advance for hijacking the thread, but I remember being disappointed when I found out that the movie Fort Apache, the Bronx wasn’t a Western.

[AppyPappy]

That’s so gay

[Hacklehead]

If you live in someplace called Fagopolis, you should buy a Playstation, and MOVE.

[VeniVidiVici]

This guy is extremely lucky he doesn’t live in Ft Niger, WV.

[stefanbatory]

I wonder what they would do to Fred and Barney for having a gay old time...

[Puppage]

No joy in Mudville

[whd23]

But when Josh Moore tried to tell Seattle-based Microsoft and the enforcement team at Xbox Live, they wouldn't take his word for it. Or Google it.

I wouldn't expect a Microsoft employee in their official capacity to use Google.

[Cyber Liberty]

Then Bing it....

[Cyber Liberty]

Everybody’s cool with that because Betty and Wilma were there, too.

[andy58-in-nh]

He ought to have told them he was from Fort Dix.

[ReneeLynn]

So, now ‘gay’ is offensive? What term is now deemed unoffensive?

[Truth29]

The town could follow the time honored American way and sue Microsoft. Probably get free Microsoft services and a statue in the town square - subject to be determined later.

[relictele]

Sounds like it’s time for a don’t ask don’t tell policy especially in military-themed games.

[re_nortex]

Yep, surprise surprise, “gay” is a perfectly fine word that was misappropriated by some to use as a euphemism to describe their activities.

I'm in total agreement with you here. I'm old enough to remember what I consider the rightful meaning of ``gay''. And I'm enough of a fuddy-duddy to NOT use ``gay'' when describing that perversion. It's homosexuality and it's a disgusting, sinful, sad way of life -- anything but ``gay'' in my lexicon.

I'm just waiting patiently for the rest of the world to catch up with me in that regard. :-)

[allmendream]

Internet filters have also been the bane of BEAVER University.

[Onelifetogive]

Storming the rear gates of Ft. Gay...the only military offensive the Dims can fully support.

[rickb308]

“Then Bing it....”

Careful how you do that.;-) LOL
Especially in Ft. Gay, West (by God) Virginia!

[rickb308]

Storming the rear gates of Ft. Gay...the only military offensive Bawny Fwank can fully support.

FIFY

[Rastus]

Hey, that works two ways: you could be saying to buy the new Move motion controller, or you could be telling them to move to a town with a better name.

[Snardius]

Fort Gay, WV...All our problems are behind us.

[fieldmarshaldj]

How ‘bout Fort Fudgepacker ?

[Buckeye McFrog]

so when are they going to ban someone from Queer Lake, NY?

[rawhide]

I used to know a very beautiful girl in high school named Gay.

[MediaMole]

It’s ironic that Xbox Live blocks almost anything that could be considered remotely offensive, yet in-game voice chat is often nothing but 12 year olds calling people “faggots” and “homos.”