Men Must Speak Out Against Toxicity Towards Women - For Their Own Sake | Opinion

The recent reports of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and discrimination at the Game Developers Conference have sparked a much-needed conversation. The incidents, which included inappropriate comments, physical assaults, and drink spiking, were allegedly perpetrated by both attendees and industry professionals. Psyop's vice president of Games, Mick Morris, expressed his outrage and disappointment on LinkedIn, stating that such behavior is unacceptable and that men who witness it have a responsibility to speak out. His post sparked a discussion, with many men and women supporting his stance and sharing their own experiences. I suggested that a roundtable discussion led by men could be an effective way to address the issue, and Mick has taken up the challenge. The Develop:Brighton conference has agreed to host the roundtable, which will take place this year. While a roundtable discussion can help raise awareness, it is only the first step. The gaming industry has a long history of toxic behavior, and it will take more than just talk to create change. I have worked in the UK gaming industry since 1992 and have experienced my share of shocking incidents. At one conference, I received a series of inappropriate messages from a fellow speaker on LinkedIn, despite having just met him and making it clear that I was engaged to be married. The conference organizer was supportive, but the publisher of the speaker was more concerned with protecting his business interests. It was a classic case of a man's behavior being excused because of his importance to the industry. Another incident that stands out was when a senior games leader made a sexist comment about not hiring women because they don't play first-person shooters. The room fell silent, and no one challenged him. It was a stark reminder that even in a room full of senior leaders, sexism and misogyny can go unchallenged. The men in the room later explained that they didn't want to speak out because they didn't want to be seen as speaking on behalf of the women. They felt that they didn't have the right to challenge the comment, but they could have spoken out on their own behalf. This lack of understanding is a major obstacle to creating change. The gaming industry has a unique opportunity to address these issues and create a more inclusive and respectful environment. We need to educate ourselves about what is acceptable behavior and raise awareness about the impact of toxic behavior. We need to create a safe space where people can share their experiences without fear of retaliation or judgment. The #metoo movement has shown us that even the most powerful people can be held accountable, but we need to create our own movement - a #withyou movement - that supports and uplifts each other. I am committed to working with Mick and other men in the gaming industry to create change and make our industry a better place for everyone.