Complex sentence: Off-putting speech serves a function of discouraging outsiders to chan culture from browsing the forums; however, expressions of prejudice begun with ironic intent can merge into actual harassment like that seen in connection with Gamergate.
Split into simpler sentences: Off-putting speech serves a function of discouraging outsiders to chan culture from browsing the forums. However, expressions of prejudice begun with ironic intent can merge into actual harassment like that seen in connection with Gamergate.