So, there’s totally a puppet who streams video games.
His name is BennyFits, and he’s your average blue monster (he didn’t exactly explain whether he was a “puppet” or a “muppet”). He started out playing on twitch.tv, the main site to livestream video games to millions of users. He plays a range of stuff from Diablo III to Overwatch and encourages his viewers to join him. He has over 10,000 followes on Twitch and his streams have a total of over 90,000 views. People love him.
Tonight Benny will join the Ovenwatch; An elite team that ensures that no cookie will ever burn and become inedible.
Dress accordingly.
— Benny Fits (@bennyfitstv) April 15, 2016
I’m friends with bennyfits I hope I can get him to play guilty gear
— joep (@joeypinoli) April 3, 2016
He streams three times a week from 8 (or 9) pm to 12 am, CST. He has moderators for his text chat and plays with both friends and viewers. He also talks with the people in his chat box — last night he talked with his audience of 100 people about their favorite donuts.
But instead of asking Benny about pastries, there was one question I really wanted to ask — how does he feel about the underrepresented puppet population within the online game streaming community? During a match of Overwatch, I bit the bullet and typed my question into the chat box. Although it is a very serious topic that may cause some controversy, I had to ask it. The plight of the puppet gamer has gone long unheard and I wanted to uncover the opinions of someone from that very specific minority.
Perhaps with my help, Benny can start a movement for puppet acceptance in the gaming community. No longer will puppets feel ostracized for being who they are. No longer will they get bashed in-game just because of the sound of their voice. No longer will they be called derogatory names — hand-blanket, or even the worst of all, hamper sock. (I apologize for such harsh language, but I feel the words are needed to open up the seriousness of the discussion).
After all, people can’t even seem to get over watching a puppet without the need for drugs. Can you believe it?
Last night I watched a puppet play Diablo 3. Thanks marijuana! http;//www.twitch.tv/bennyfits #bennyfits
— Ned Bronson (@evilned) March 3, 2016
Unfortunately, Benny wasn’t very interested in talking about the puppet community as a minority. Maybe he was ashamed of who he was, and didn’t want to bring attention to himself. Or maybe he didn’t want to start controversy in his chat. I can only assume the latter, since the only response to my question was from a random Twitch user, who asked: “What do you mean, ‘puppet?’”
But is Benny in the right to ignore this issue? Social media is an ever growing phenomenon, and the globalization of society has opened a lot of doors in terms of gearing towards acceptance of minorities. After the creation of the world wide web, the LGBT community has become more vocal through the internet — sure enough, social media has made headway in the LGBT rights movement. Similarly, the Muslim population of the world has the opportunity to introduce themselves to the United States more openly. Some states and communities only know this minority through the chaos of the terrorism portrayed in the news — until social media comes in, showing them different perspectives from all around the world. Why can’t the same thing be true for puppets?
But then again, why should the responsibility fall on Benny? Some would argue that he has a responsibility to, as a role model for all blue creatures out there. If he doesn’t stand up for his minority group, why should anyone else? Benny has the following. He has the tools, despite being largely underrepresented and grossly misunderstood in mainstream media (No, not all “muppets” act that way like on Sesame Street. Check your facts before believing uninformed stereotypes.) He has the power to be the change we need to see in the world.
On the other hand, why does it have to be Benny? Yes, he’s a gamer. A gamer who just happens to be a puppet. But so what? Just because he’s a blue creature doesn’t mean he has an obligation to push social change. That should be a personal choice, not something forced on him because of his popularity. Besides, if we obligate Benny to do something because of what he is, are we any different from the bigots?
Putting the big-picture discussion aside, Benny is still widely accepted despite his minority status. People love him.
Bennyfits is weirdly fun to watch.
— Sterby (@First_Sterling) March 3, 2016
And, of course, Benny loves us all, too.
Today Benny wants you to be the best. Reassemble the triforce. Get all the precursor orbs. Collect the chaos emeralds.
Be awesome.
— Benny Fits (@bennyfitstv) April 7, 2016