Episode 66 - Empathy

Carl, the coordinator for the Games and Online Harassment Hotline and all-around good guy, joins Ben this week to discuss a word introduced in print by psychologist Edward Tichener in 1909!  They talk about their personal stories of processing their emotions, what harassment looks like in the digital age, toxic masculinity, the power video games, and what the hotline is doing to make the online landscape more hospitable for everyone.  They close out the show talking about what games Carl has been playing recently.

00:00:50 - Hotline Coordinator Carl (he/him/his) introduces himself and what he does
00:02:40 - Feminist Frequency, shoutout to WGG and Jae, 2 men talking, and definitions
00:04:45 - Nearly 3 centuries between sympathy and empathy, and Ben’s story about his father
00:07:36 - Feelings, empathy can take work and imagination, and connecting with people
00:10:19 - Carl’s story about his first experience, and the pros and cons of using labels 
00:13:43 - Ben’s empathy, sympathy, and compassion Venn diagram
00:16:00 - The internet has turned the bullying volume up to 15, and dispelling notions
00:17:47 - Using games as an outlet for processing feelings, and Carl’s behavior in cars
00:20:15 - “Game type” statistics, and dispelling false assumptions about online harassment
00:23:36 - Continuous training for agents relating gaming news and impactful events
00:26:17 - Understanding oppression dynamics, and accountability conversations in support
00:28:31 - A tricky navigation, fostering a positive online community, and creating resources 
00:31:14 - The targets of hate raids helped to create a resource for marginalized streamers 
00:34:53 - Hate raid mitigation, Carl and Ben don’t Twitch, and supporting content creators
00:37:54 - What Carl is playing these days…Apex Legends, Grounded, and Overwatch 2
00:40:30 - Gamers feeling entitled can lead to harassment of players and developers
00:43:55 - Acknowledging the potential for empathy, and redefining gender norms
00:46:10 - Feelings and expectations about making connections in the gaming industry
00:48:00 - The future of gameshotline.org , donate, spread the word, and/or volunteer  

About the Games and Online Harassment Hotline (taken from their webpage):
“The Games and Online Harassment Hotline is a free, text message-based, confidential emotional support hotline.  We created the Hotline specifically for the gaming community. Whether you’re a player, a developer, a streamer, a competitor — any part of this community —we’re here for you, whether that means offering emotional support or finding the referrals and resources that you need.”

Keep up to date with what’s going on at the Games and Online Harassment Hotline by visiting:
https://gameshotline.org

PS  PLEASE… somebody play Grounded with Carl; you might just make a friend for life!