ABSTRACT
Ian Bates has become an Internet sensation and a role-model for online gaming “geeks.” Bates is an avid World of Warcraft player, the most popular online role-playing game in the world. Face-to-face social interactions are difficult for Bates because he has Asperger's syndrome. Bates has immersed himself in the fantasy world of World of Warcraft as a way to cope with being different, and has become an expert on even the smallest game details. At a gaming convention, Blizzcon, Bates questioned game designers about a character omitted from the beta version of a new game installment. The designers were unaware of this mistake and promised to fix the oversight. Bates gained Internet stardom when a YouTube video surfaced of his convention question. To geeks everywhere, Bates has become known as “The Red Shirt Guy,” a name created both as an inside joke for geeks and his appearance on YouTube wearing a red shirt. Bates' question was so popular and helpful to game designers that a World of Warcraft character, Wildhammer Fact Checker, was created in honor of Bates. YouTube volunteered to give Bates a share of online revenue, and Bates decided to donate the proceeds to an Asperger's syndrome foundation. Through online social media, Bates has turned two stigmatized identities, Asperger's syndrome and being a gaming geek, into a source of pride. Online, Bates has found the acceptance and social support he has lacked in face-to-face interactions.
