Microsoft's Toulouse explains why swastikas are banned on Xbox Live

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An Xbox Live user recently inquired to professional banhammer-wielder Stephen Toulouse whether or not he could use a swastika as his Call of Duty: Black Ops emblem, to which Toulouse responded, "No, of course you can't, we'll ban you." Apparently, this sparked quite a reaction from gamers who witnessed the exchange, who defended the use of a swastika as a symbol widely used throughout several Eastern religions. In a post on his personal blog, Toulouse explained why this argument doesn't hold much water with the Xbox Live moderation crew.

"Let's be clear: no educated human on the planet looks at the swastika symbol ... and says 'oh, that symbol has nothing at all in any way to do with global genocide of an entire race,'" Toulouse stated, "'and, even if it did, one should totally and reasonably ignore that because it's a symbol that was stolen or coop-ted from religions.'" He succinctly adds, "If you think the swastika symbol should be re-evaluated by societies all over the Earth, I think that's great. Your Xbox Live profile or in game logo, which doesn't have the context to explain your goal, is not the right place to do that."

We certainly know that every time we see someone use the swastika as their identifier on an online game, our first thought is, "Oh, how nice, they're pushing for a global re-evaluation of the meaning of the swastika." Like, that's just common sense, isn't it?

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/microsofts-toulouse-explains-why-swastikas-are-banned-on-xbox-l/

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"Microsoft's Toulouse explains why swastikas are banned on Xbox Live" :: Login/Create an Account :: 56 comments

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shadow1Posted:

The_Commando its funny whoever removes my posts on justice is clearly blind and a complete idiot
swastikas mean peace and happiness but because of hitler it is feared and hated and is never thought of except for killing jews and genocide and


you clearly dont see difference for the one that mean peace and the one that doesnt. see, the one the nazis made, as you can clearly see, is slightly reversed (as in turned). now the once that means peace is not turned and has 4 dots on it. look it up on google "hindu symbol for peace". now the people are making excuses for keeping it the bad way with the peace excuse, even though its turned and has no dots and has the same colors the nazis use. i know that doesnt mean peace. if you want it peace, make the symbol red and the way like i said it with a brown back round. now that means peace.

Aznboy38Posted:

Awww c'mon do people really get banned for this?

SecretsPosted:

I think that symbol should loose it's meaning.

nblzPosted:

The_Commando its funny whoever removes my posts on justice is clearly blind and a complete idiot
swastikas mean peace and happiness but because of hitler it is feared and hated and is never thought of except for killing jews and genocide and

I agree Commando this is a sad thing.

RedguardstolemehorsePosted:

its funny whoever removes my posts on justice is clearly blind and a complete idiot
swastikas mean peace and happiness but because of hitler it is feared and hated and is never thought of except for killing jews and genocide and

shadow1Posted:

-Colin- plz can someone teach me how to make a swastika


i will, and then when your done i will report you and laugh.

DaleUKPosted:

So much hassle over an emblem, but he is right, no-one looks at it as a peace symbol, it all relates to the WW2 Nazi's and the genocide caused...

Jacob8hockeyPosted:

Noahboi808 Im a "rutard" , well at least i know how to spell you KOHE!!! and i dont know how old you are but im only 15 and when i saw this i just gave my honest self expression twords it. so you need to go get a life and stop commenting on other peoples form of expression , it doesnt make you cool to qoute on someones comment , your just showing how much of an A-Hole and fat no life loser you are that you have to write something stupid about someone elses thoughts , and p.s. if you comment back i wont even acknowledge it because whatever you say wont bother me in any way at all, i dont have time in my life to deal with an immature ignorant idiot.

Kohe? Towards, Quote, No caps? I got the bad spelling in grammer?

Im only 14 and im not fat or a loser. Sorry for pissing you off and oviously you havent seen the hangover. So get your facts straight you RUTARD!

P.S. I am cool ;)

Noahboi808Posted:

DrPhil321
Dark
Jacob8hockey
Noahboi808 your no better than that jacob guy both of you need to get off your fat okole's and go out and enjoy life , instead of commenting on someones self expressionate thoughts twords a subject, whats wrong with people like you ?, do you not have a life at all ?, i dont even know why im wasting my time with you, i have better things to do then get down to your level and start acting like an idiot, if you write back to this then bravo your truly showing how much of a no life you are.quote]

Noahboi808Posted:

Jacob8hockey
Noahboi808 Im a "rutard" , well at least i know how to spell you KOHE!!! and i dont know how old you are but im only 15 and when i saw this i just gave my honest self expression twords it. so you need to go get a life and stop commenting on other peoples form of expression , it doesnt make you cool to qoute on someones comment , your just showing how much of an A-Hole and fat no life loser you are that you have to write something stupid about someone elses thoughts , and p.s. if you comment back i wont even acknowledge it because whatever you say wont bother me in any way at all, i dont have time in my life to deal with an immature ignorant idiot.