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A gamer in a small West Virginia town was banned recently from Xbox Live because his profile listed his hometown as "Fort Gay." He wasn't slinging invectives against our homosexual brothers and sisters, though. Fort Gay is a real place.
Moore (as he's identified by The Associated Press) couldn't convince Xbox employees his town was a real place, so he was suspended for a few days before reason returned and the ban was lifted. For the records: Fort Gay has been around since 1789, a full 6 years longer than Microsoft itself!
"At first I thought, 'Wow, somebody's thinking I live in the gayest town in West Virginia or something.' I was mad. ... It makes me feel like they hate gay people," Moore, an unemployed factory worker with the gamertag Joshanbo, told The Associated Press.
Eventually, reason prevailed, and Xbox Live mini-boss Stephen "Stepto" Toulouse reinstated the guy's gamertag and made things right.
"Someone took the phrase 'fort gay WV' and believed that the individual who had that was trying to offend, or trying to use it in a pejorative manner," Toulouse said. "Unfortunately, one of my people agreed with that. ... When it was brought to my attention, we did revoke the suspension."
Toulouse promised he'd give a call and apologize, so this story has a gay (I mean happy!) ending.
Also, just thought you'd like to know: Fort Gay is located at the junction of the Tug and Big Sandy rivers. Heh heh: Tug River.
Source: The Associated Press
(thanks to TheFeed tipster Jason!)
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GandP357
Actually, Bill Gates was born in 1760, 8 years before Steve Jobs. In 1780, They jointly created a time machine that they used in 1797 (2 years after Gates and Jobs founded Microsoft) to travel to the present and a time better suited to their technological genius. But alas, this story is void of a happy ending, for when they reached 1975, Jobs looked down to see a large microchip (the first XBox 360 component, in fact) protruding from his chest. Gates then proceeded to tell Melinda that Steve had gotten lost on the journey (to this day she believes that they were on a boat) and took her as his own. After founding Microsoft in the present, and returning to the 18th century to cover his tracks, he discovered that Jobs had planned for his betrayal, and in a stunning twist to our story, had used the time machine just before their trip, to impregnate a woman who would then give birth to Steve Jobs 1.4.2 and that Jobs is the one that screws over Apple-product-users on a bi-yearly basis.
GandP357
Actually, Bill Gates was born in 1760, 8 years before Steve Jobs. In 1780, They jointly created a time machine that they used in 1797 (2 years after Gates and Jobs founded Microsoft) to travel to the present and a time better suited to their technological genius. But alas, this story is void of a happy ending, for when they reached 1975, Jobs looked down to see a large microchip (the first XBox 360 component, in fact) protruding from his chest. Gates then proceeded to tell Melinda that Steve had gotten lost on the journey (to this day she believes that they were on a boat) and took her as his own. After founding Microsoft in the present, and returning to the 18th century to cover his tracks, he discovered that Jobs had planned for his betrayal, and in a stunning twist to our story, had used the time machine just before their trip, to impregnate a woman who would then give birth to Steve Jobs 1.4.2 and that Jobs is the one that screws over Apple-product-users on a bi-yearly basis.
sixtoes
Damn hasn't anyone at XBL heard of Google Maps?
ajdbomb
Is he the only person in that town on Xbox live? I'm surprised this issue hasn't come up sooner.
StarWars_Enigma
What if a guys name was Gaylord Focker? Would they still ban him even though its his actul name? lol
sinsa33
for any one that is interested in educating them self on the psycho-social aspects of this everyday occurrence, check out this book at http://www.ucpress.edu/book.ph p?isbn=9780520252301. it's a good way to find out more about your self and just why you think the way you might.
Cosmo1882/Hangslow
I remember when they banned Richard Gaylord or Weenie Gaylord or something like that. I couldnt believe that was the guys real name either.
ckaye02
Gay ppl rule!
NmDrkAngl
A full Six years?
Between the founding of Fort Gay in 1789 (although it didn't officially have that name until 1932) and the founding of Microsoft in 1975?
Someone needs to check their math. :D
Natedizzy
Fort Gay hahahahahahahaha
boldmadgun
I actually thought microsoft was made up of billion dollar smart asses boy was I wrong.
Baxter
So the real story here, is that the people who control your fate on XBL are unfamiliar with the process of Googling. Brilliant.
cheesypoofs
is that west of Fort Beefcurtain?
hngryGenghis
I had the same problem when they wouldn't recognize "Camp Stabyouintheface" as my real place of residence when I signed up. Even though it is!
Aerindel_Prime
I never understand how gay is offensive if it is probably the most common term that gay people use to describe themselves.
DreamingDarklyRobin
Me thinks Microsoft should require employees to do some background information before they ban someone.
Atavax
this just goes to show that Microsoft should not be policing xbox live to this degree. People complaining to Microsoft because someone was mean to them or said a bad word need to grow up; they are being ridiculous and Microsoft should not be trying to cater to them. Microsoft should not try to govern social interaction on xbox live with the exception of illegal activities such as child pornography or adults soliciting sex with minors.
blueboykc
so for once when some kid laments the town im from is so gay..he wasnt exaggerating..
Vesuvian Ast3r1x
Well THAT was a complete mix-up and lack of research by Microsoft A multi-billion dollar company.
Microsoft: Using all the money we got from you in the first place to piss you off even further. AH! satisfaction.
Shuklar
I wonder what they would do if I lived in Dildo, Newfoundland, or had the British Columbia postal code V4G1N4...
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