This brave video game reviewer messaged her sexual harassers’ moms

Alanah Pearce, a video game journalist, reviewer, vlogger, and radio presenter, had been receiving some really offensive, scary, not-OK-at-all messages on her Facebook page. These messages, which were sent from some boys, threatened to rape Alanah. One read, “i’ll rape u if i ever see u c**t.” Instead of getting angry, Alanah took the high road. She contacted their moms.

Alanah told The Guardian, “Awhile ago, I realized that a lot of the people who send disgusting or overly sexual comments to me over the internet aren’t adult males. . .It turns out that mostly they’re young boys and the problem is they don’t know any better, so responding to them rationally didn’t resolve the situation.”

Telling on these boys might not solve the problem forever (nor will it solve the underlying sexism that’s prevalent the gaming world), but her actions probably got them grounded (at the very least). And maybe what these young gamers really needed was a lesson from their moms.

Alanah sent all four boys’ moms messages, explaining the situation, and what her sons said to her. She already heard back from one mom, who apologized for son’s horrible behavior.

Anna responded to this by texting, “omg that little s**t. I’M SO SORRY. YES I WILL TALK TO HIM.”

The Guardian asked Alanah if the name-calling and sexual harassment has a connection with Gamergate, and she replied, “It’s directly related and it’s a weird thing that has been happening in gaming culture specifically. I’ve had people asking me today why this boy has been sending me rape threats, and is there any context. I can only assume he’s seen a video of mine that he didn’t like, or that I’m a woman in games on the internet. It sounds illogical, but it happens to so many people.”

Although gaming culture is littered with sexism, Alanah says that she’s seen a massive shift. “It great to have more women in the industry and to encourage more women by telling them it’s not this horrible place.”

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