Annotated Bib Final Draft

Mahir Malick

The online gaming culture has existed for quite awhile now, but has become even more
popular in recent years. With this culture, also comes its pros and cons, such as recreational
time for an individual and toxic behavior. In what ways can trash-talking in online video games
potentially escalate to cyberbullying? Cyberbullying has been a growing concern within the
online gaming community where children and youth spend a significant amount of time. The
toxic traits of the community can make it a ground for bullying behavior, but it also undermines
the positive aspects of online gaming such as socializing and building relationships.

Kaye, L. S., Hellsten, L. M., McIntyre, L. J., & Hendry, B. P. (2022). “There’s a fine line between
trash-talking and cyberbullying”: a qualitative exploration of youth perspectives of online gaming
culture. International Review of Sociology, 32(3), 426–442.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03906701.2022.2133407

This research paper explores the perspectives of the youth on online gaming culture,
specifically on the relationship between cyberbullying and trash-talking. The conducted study
uses a qualitative method, with data collected through focus groups and individual reviews with
youth who have experience in playing online video games. The authors found that there is a
clear distinction between cyberbullying and trash-talking, although it is accepted within the
online gaming culture. They identify it as playful banter that is part of the nature of the game,
while cyberbullying is seen as intentional harm or harassment.

Boudreau, K. (2022). Beyond deviance: toxic gaming culture and the potential for positive
change. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 39(3), 181–190.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15295036.2022.2080848

Kelly Boudreau explores the negative aspects of the toxic gaming culture within the
online gaming community. She argues toxic behaviors such as cyberbullying and online
harassment are viewed as irregular, stemming from cultural norms and social dynamics of the
community. Boudreau hypothesizes that in order to tackle this issue, necessities such as
understanding the root of the causes and working towards making a safer and more inclusive
gaming environment is required.
Ortiz, S. M. (2019). The meanings of racist and sexist trash talk for men of color: A cultural
sociological approach to studying gaming culture. New Media & Society, 21(4), 879–894.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818814252

Stephanie M. Ortiz explores the experiences of colored men in online gaming culture
who have experienced racist and sexist remarks. She adopts a cultural and sociological
approach on studying the meaning behind trash talk and the impact it has on men of color. Ortiz
argues that trash talk can be seen as symbolic and has its practical implications for colored
men, which can also be rooted into larger cultural and social systems of oppression and
inequality.

McInroy L, Mishna F. Cyberbullying on Online Gaming Platforms for Children and Youth. Child &
Adolescent Social Work Journal. 2017;34(6):597-607. doi:10.1007/s10560-017-0498-0

Lauren McInroy and Faye Mishna investigate the developing problem of cyberbullying
within online gaming communities. Both argue that online gaming platforms have become a
common place for the youth and children to encounter and experience cyberbullying, which is a
growing concern for both parents and educators. They describe it as intentional cyberbullying
and repeated harm caused towards individuals and groups through online communication.
McInroy and Mishna also highlight the unique challenges posed by these online gaming
platforms.

https://writingspaces.org/past-volumes/grammar-rhetoric-and-style/

Dan Melzer explores the concept of discourse communities and its impact on
communication and knowledge exchange. Melzer defines discourse communities as groups of
individuals who share a common goal, value, and norm, and communicate and exchange
knowledge through written or spoken language. He argues that understanding discourse
communities is crucial to have effective communication and knowledge exchange, since
individuals must understand the norms and expectations of a community in order to participate
effectively. He also argues that these communities play an impactful role that shapes the way
people think and communicate about certain subjects.
https://writingspaces.org/past-volumes/navigating-genres/

Kerry Dirk examines the role of genre in shaping communication and knowledge
exchange. She defines genre as a recognizable category of written and spoken communication,
such as a research paper, novel, or email, which is characterized by specific expectations and
conventions. She argues that understanding genre is essential since individuals should be able
to recognize and understand the conventions of a certain genre to participate in its discourse.