A professor faced a wave of online hate from gamers.

    This was not due to any wrongdoing on her part.  She was simply doing her job.

    She was hired as a consultant for a video game.  The game was set in 16th century Japan.  It featured a female assassin and a Black African samurai.

    Gamers were upset about the inclusion of the Black samurai.  They saw it as an attempt to push a political agenda.  They targeted the professor, attacking her online and flooding her inbox with hateful messages.

    The professor could have ignored the hate.  Instead, she chose to confront it head-on.  She decided to respond to the hate with kindness.  She invited some of the gamers to talk to her face-to-face via Zoom.  She asked them why they were mad at her.  She even reached out to an influencer who had written about her.  She asked him if he intended to inspire the death threats she was getting.

    Some of the gamers apologized.  They realized they had been wrong to target her.  They had been caught up in the heat of the moment.  They had not stopped to think about the human being behind the online persona.  The professor's kindness had a powerful effect.  It showed them that she was a real person, with feelings just like theirs.  It made them see the error of their ways.

    The professor's approach was unique.  Most people who face online hate retreat to protect themselves.  They do not engage with their attackers.  They do not try to understand where the hate is coming from.  The professor's approach was different.  She saw an opportunity to turn the hate into something positive.  She saw an opportunity to educate and to bridge divides.

    The professor's actions had a ripple effect.  They showed others that it is possible to confront hate with kindness.  They showed that it is possible to turn a negative situation into a positive one.  They showed that it is possible to make a difference, one conversation at a time.

    The company behind the game, Ubisoft, defended their choices.  They said they carefully research historical settings.  They said they collaborate with experts.  They said they take artistic liberties.  They also said they do not condone harassment or bullying.

    The professor's actions were praised.  She was commended for addressing the topics directly.  She was appreciated for her approach and expertise.  Her actions showed that it is possible to stand up to hate.  They showed that it is possible to make a difference.  They showed that kindness can be a powerful weapon against hate.

A Professor's Unlikely Response to Online Bullies

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