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The software giant's immensely popular gaming console Xbox lets players compete over the Internet with the subscription Xbox Live service. Connect some audio headsets to some blood thirst, and teens are ready for an afternoon of murder.
But as many players have learned, some words just aren't fit for the service. Like … "gay."
User "xxxGayBoyxxx" was told by Microsoft that the Xbox "community" thought his handle was offensive; was it the use of the word "gay" or those triple-Xs? Either way, it didn't stop others players from virtually bashing him.
A player who claimed his real name was "Richard Gaywood" was told he also needed to change him name.
Except Microsoft's standards policy isn't that clear cut. One user had her account suspended because she identified as a lesbian.
That said, Xbox Live doesn't ban the words "gay" or "lesbian" from being typed out in the service.
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I am glad to see that "fag" is treated as a curse word on these websites (other issues/words aside).
Enough with the word hysteria. If I want to ask Continental about the best fag-fisting travel options in Salt Lake City, I'd appreciate a non-judgemental response, thank you. Besides, I just like the image of a Continental employee doing research on fag-fisting, arranged by price and convenience.
Xbox Live supposedly bans any mention of any sexual orientations whatsoever in gamertags and profiles; I've seen users like "SatansGreasyKok" and "Ladiesman", though, so… that's a bit debatable.
I was on a Continental flight last summer, and the in-flight entertainment was an episode of How I Met Your Mother–the word "lesbian" in the sentence "People will think this is a lesbian bar" was bleeped out.