Social Media Users Are Debating Whether 'Teabagging' in Video Games Should Be Considered Sexual Assault

gamerant.com:

In online gaming, there are more than a few ways in which players can mess with their opponent. One of the most common ways a player can jokingly troll their opponent is through «teabagging.» For the uninitiated «teabagging» is a gaming term that involves one player, usually in an FPS or fighting game, rapidly crouching over their defeated opponent. It is assumed that the practice began somewhere around the era of Quake or Counter-Strike in 1999, but «teabagging» truly spread across the gaming community with the release of Halo: Combat Evolved.

Now, over 20 years since «teabagging» began as a practice, some gamers are debating whether it should be considered a controversial action. Specifically, some believe that «teabagging» counts as sexual assault. To some, «teabagging» has been seen as a controversial act, and it was banned from a Killer Instinct tournament in 2017.

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The conversation was sparked on Discord, when one user joked about being a «serial offender» when it came to «teabagging.» Some found this joke to be unfunny and to be making light of a serious issue like sexual assault. Since screenshots of the Discord conversation broke out online, gamers all over social media have been weighing in with their thoughts. Some big names, like popular streamer MoistCr1TiKaL, have decided that «teabagging» does not count as sexual assault.

Others are firmly in the belief that the act should not be used in games and at the very least counts as sexual harassment, if not full assault. Still, «teabagging» is a practice that will likely remain prevalent in gaming. Even outside of video games, it seems that «teabagging» is considered more of a celebratory move than it is a