An Overwatch gameplay video gaining traction online can only be described as 16 minutes of pure horror. Throughout the entire recording, several members on a female player's team verbally harassed her, hurling moronic, sexist, rapacious vitriol at her — nonstop.
The video is absolutely gut-wrenching, not only because the content itself is horrifying, but also because it stands for something larger: It's a distillation of the experience of gaming online if you don't fit the stereotypical image of what a gamer is supposed to be.
"I am putting this and a few other examples of the way I am treated up not just for entertainment," Overwatch player Glisa said in the description of the YouTube video. "I want to give people a look into how women are treated online. This is not OK, and I'm doing my best to show that."
Overwatch players Acayri and Joel verbally harassed Glisa for 16 minutes straight
The majority of the harassment came from an Overwatch player called Acayri, an individual who can only be described as a Yahoo comments section come to life. Here is just a brief sampling of some of the things he said over the course of the match:
• "Mercy, heal me. I won't call you ugly again. Just kidding, you're probably ugly."
• "I like how this Mercy's trying to heal me because she wants me."
• "I'm assuming Glisa's setup is in her kitchen — as you know, she is a woman."
• "We honestly lost because we had an e-girl on our team"
• "Can you stop talking please?"
• "I don't care, post about it on Tumblr, you sexist."
• "I like Americans because they're good at raping people."
• "This isn't sexual harassment, this is gender equality."
• "You're a woman, do you even have a right to give your opinion?"
Glisa tried to defend herself — and it only made things worse
