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Upcoming Law and Order features GamerGate

2 min read
28

DUN DUN

I used to love watching Law and Order. I used to watch it on normal TV as a student because the Dutch TV stations would show a few episodes in a row, but it became even better when Netflix got all of the seasons – it’s perfect background TV that you can watch, fall asleep or cook to and not feel like you really missed anything. They usually base episodes on real events, but this latest one might depict gamers in a way that they won’t like.

On a very special episode of Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit to be aired 11 February, the topic will be GamerGate. Titled “Intimidation Game”, the episode’s tag line is “The virtual world becomes reality when a video game convention turns into a crime scene”.

Video game developer Raina Punjabi (guest star Mouzam Makkar) solidifies the launch of her first game amid a stream of online insults, intimidation and death threats from the male-dominated gaming community. When a female employee is assaulted at a gamer convention, Detective Tutuola (Ice-T) investigates the crime but Raina refuses to delay the launch, and the cops must “level up” to protect her.

Of course, I’m worried about how gamers will be depicted in this. Law and Order: SVU deals specifically with crimes against women and children or any form of sex crime, so this will obviously portray violence against women. However, the show is also known for taking a more nuanced approach, often showing characters with conflicted emotions and uncertain truths. I am particularly comforted by the fact that Ice-T will be playing such a big role in this episode – he is a hard core gamer and a really nice guy. I don’t think he would allow too many stereotypes into the script, and at least the scenes of people playing games should be a bit more realistic with his on-set coaching.

It’s a tricky topic, and while I think Law and Order: SVU might approach it well, I’m worried that they might just fall down the extremely messy rabbit hole. Still, I wouldn’t mind watching the show and seeing how they do.

Last Updated: January 30, 2015

28 Comments

  1. Blood Emperor Trevor

    January 30, 2015 at 14:03

    Actually, it’s about ethics in video game journalism…

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      January 30, 2015 at 14:17

      BWAHAHAHAHAH!

      Reply

    • Brian Murphy

      January 30, 2015 at 14:23

      Hahahha oh wait, a ton of sites have actually re-written their ethics policies.

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        January 30, 2015 at 14:23

        Really? COOL!

        Reply

        • Brian Murphy

          January 30, 2015 at 17:18

          Yeah, several sites either changed, or at least put in writing their ethics policies. While some may not agree with the direction Polygon went, they did at least notify their readers that their intent is to interject socio-political agendas of their choosing, into their reviews/articles.

          Reply

        • Brian Murphy

          February 8, 2015 at 23:09

          The Verge just started including Affiliate Link disclosure on their articles as well, as a response to the FTC campaign

          http://blogjob.com/oneangrygamer/2015/02/the-verge-updates-affiliate-link-disclosure-following-gamergate-ftc-campaign/

          It’s almost like…it’s about ethics in journalism! To date, that’s Gawker, Verge, Polygon, IGN, PC Gamer’s, and The Escapist Magazine.

          Reply

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 9, 2015 at 07:56

            bwhahahahahahaha are you still carrying on?

          • Brian Murphy

            February 9, 2015 at 09:49

            Wouldn’t define it as such, was unsure which sites had specifically done it when I first responded and was reminded of the conversation when I saw that Verge story earlier.

      • RinceThis

        January 30, 2015 at 14:36

        When will LG write theirs? 0_O Not ethical to have cabbages working for you, even as an intern.

        Reply

        • Lord Chaos

          January 30, 2015 at 14:40

          IF you call that work…

          Reply

        • Brian Murphy

          January 30, 2015 at 17:19

          Well, that’s up to LG.

          Reply

    • So Hard (Umar)

      January 30, 2015 at 14:23

      I really hope they use that line in the show

      Reply

    • Gideon Venter

      January 30, 2015 at 15:01

      Loved this XD

      Reply

    • Brady miaau

      January 30, 2015 at 22:28

      But I thought it was about whatever you needed it to be for your current argument?

      Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    January 30, 2015 at 14:17

    STFU LOL XD

    Reply

  3. RinceThis

    January 30, 2015 at 14:18

    What? If they portray some men in the gaming community as being big jerks they would be wrong?

    Reply

    • Brian Murphy

      January 30, 2015 at 14:22

      No, it’d only be half the truth, because I’ve run into some women who are equally useless online. 😀

      Reply

  4. Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7

    January 30, 2015 at 14:20

    DUN DUN

    Reply

  5. So Hard (Umar)

    January 30, 2015 at 14:24

    Ice-T knows whatsup, he’ll teach these fools about ethics #CoCoGate

    Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      January 30, 2015 at 14:25

      Pity its not Mr. T – “I pity the fool who messes with ma gaming”

      Reply

      • So Hard (Umar)

        January 30, 2015 at 14:29

        Would’ve been great, the entire gamergate thing would’ve fall to pieces. These fools don’t know about ethics!

        Reply

  6. HvR

    January 30, 2015 at 14:33

    So we will get to Ice-T bringing down the law on the biggest online bigots and racists.

    Wonder if they are going to ban the episode in Australia if it shows Ice-T tea-bagging a obnoxious 100lb 14 year old kid.

    Reply

    • Lord Chaos

      January 30, 2015 at 14:35

      Just as long as they don’t show it in First Person.

      Reply

    • Gideon Venter

      January 30, 2015 at 15:00

      Ice-T Bagging FTW!

      Reply

  7. Ghost In The Rift

    January 30, 2015 at 14:39

    I really really get the urge to give a dude a p%$s klap who are childish enough to give girls crap about gaming, especially ginger girls who game:-P

    Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      January 30, 2015 at 14:46

      The soulless people… Dude you have issues LOL

      Reply

      • Ghost In The Rift

        January 30, 2015 at 14:52

        LOL i blame it on the weed:-P

        Reply

  8. Paul Creenis

    January 30, 2015 at 21:27

    Good thing it isn’t the ’90s and people don’t care about what trashy, ill-researched story Dick Wolf limps to the yard with.

    Reply

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