[sockypuppy]

> "you are gay", "fagget" etc.

> Because that is what they believe to be the best way to hurt my feelings

TLDR: These people probably aren't trying to hurt your feelings, their language -- while shocking to you -- is a product of a different culture.

I think this is a cultural difference between you and them. You must realize that much of HN -- I'm assuming this includes you -- lives in a bubble of left-leaning people from left-leaning urban areas.

Growing up in a different time and place, in middle and high school I always thought calling someone "faggot" or "gay" was roughly the same as "idiot", "jerk" or "asshole" -- a generic insult not meant to be taken literally. And in the context of a multiplayer game, especially online, such a word is typically used to express momentary anger at the in-game situation, not trying to attack you personally.

It was quite a culture shock to me when I got to college and discovered that most people on campus viewed insulting someone by calling them a "faggot" to be political incorrectness of the same order as calling someone a "nigger" or "retard".

[ps4fanboy]

I understand what you are saying but I can assure you this isnt delivered in the same way you are describing, its not hard to misinterpret the intent of someone sending you all caps messages and screaming down their mic.

[PaulHoule]

Well, if you're seriously left-leaning you might think calling somebody a "faggot" is praise...