Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"Many had embraced Gamergate because they felt it wholly matched their ideals, and yet – quite consistently – no one in the movement was willing to be associated with the abuse being carried out in its name. Prominent supporters on Twitter, in subreddits and on forums like 8Chan, developed a range of pernicious rhetorical devices and defences to distance themselves from threats to women and minorities in the industry: the targets were lying or exaggerating, they were too precious; a language of dismissal and belittlement was formed against them. Safe spaces, snowflakes, unicorns, cry bullies. Even when abuse was proven, the usual response was that people on their side were being abused too. These techniques, forged in Gamergate, have become the standard toolset of far-right voices online.

"In 2014, the media's reaction was often weak or overtly conciliatory – some sites went out of their way to 'see both sides', to reassure people that openly choosing to be affiliated with a hate group did not make them in any way responsible for that hate. Olive branches were extended, but professional lives continued to be ruined while lukewarm op-eds asked for us to come together so we could start 'healing'. The motivations may have been sound, but it's the language Trump and his supporters have used post-election to obliterate dissenting voices."

-- Matt Lees, "What Gamergate should have taught us about the 'alt-right'", the Guardian, 2016-12-01