I am ashamed!

[anjo banjo]

http://rlv.zcache.com/stupid_girl_tee_mug-p1687119662653064922lnjc_400.jpg


Today I came to a sad conclusion.
I've been lurking around various forums throughout the gaming community.
I couldn't imagine how bad things have gotten with the "female representation" within gaming.

I see so much anger and annoyance from my male gamer colleagues in which how my gender is being represented.
I've been saying this for years, gaming is genderless!

Females that play games are not a rarity whatsoever.
We've seen various gaming communities attempting to welcome female gamers to be more active in the politics of gaming and in my opinion, have failed miserably (I am talking about the bigger players, smaller communities have done so successfully). I've been trying to stay out of this entire gender conflict to the best of my ability, but I am becoming very tired of how me/my gender is being represented. I have under various occasions spoken out my distaste about various female clans/communities that have the wrong idea on how to incorporate said gender into the overall gaming community. I am just one person, one voice that honestly isn't being taken seriously on several occasions.

I have come up with ideas and suggestions on how to implement new female gaming enthusiasts into the gaming community, unfortunately it has all been in vain.
Right now as it is, to much emphasis is being put on a female being a female, rather then a gamer.

Since people who are supposedly representing my gender don't have time to read the opinions of the male/female of what they think about their current representation, then let me tell you. There is an utter distaste. On one side there are the females that are representing the female gender ONLY because they are payed to stand there and look "pretty". It is supposed to be an attempt to get more females to play. The only thing they are is eyecandy for the male audience. They have no idea what they are talking about most of the part. The only thing they know is the brand they are trying to sell, which they do miserably.

The other side are those who sit in a high position in the community, making utter idiots out of themselves. Claiming girl power and how girls are so much better then men. I am all for female power but it doesn't give you respect from the gaming community if that is all you base your debate on. What does is your gaming portfolio, how you present yourself, how you act towards your audience and how you present your knowledge in set topics. I can sit here, scream female power at the top of my lungs and slap my female comrades on their butt cheeks, it wont give me ANY respect by my male comrades (or respectable female gamers).

The female clans/communities, esp within XBOX community, grab new female gamers, give them a private forum in which to keep them safe. Safe from what you ask? Well, safe from the rest of the community. You see, fragile females such as myself cannot stand the harassment that occurs. So instead of incorporating them, giving them strength to deal with the overall community that you've created, you tell them how bad the overall community is. It's easy to control frightened people. You claim that you do give them strength and sister hood, how come they and YOU are the laughingstock of the gaming community beyond your own forums? You people are a bad representatives to my gender and I am NOT alone in this. I've seen testimonials from males and females alike. A lot of them are surprised that you guys keep going the way you are.

I am ashamed. Not because I am a woman, but because of you, people will associate my person along with yours.
Which means That I am either a brain dead barbie doll, or a stupid ass that yells girl power while not knowing the gaming industry outside my narrow mind.
I implore you all. Either leave your positions (which I know you won't because you either make good money, or you like being in a position of power where you spew crap out of your mouth about how females are poorly treated while grinding other female gamers next to you.)

I ask the gaming industry one thing. Bring us a female gamer, a real one. One that has had a passion for games since early childhood, someone who's variety in gameplay is equal to the intelligence in which can be competitive with our male counterparts. They are out there, doing what they love the most! Playing videogames and talking about them with great passion.

I don't want to read more threads about how the current representatives make complete asses of themselves. Have some dignity and present yourself in which this industry deserves, with professionalism and character.

Also, please don't give me the old debates of how females are harassed, All genders/sexualities and species are harassed, the strong ones stand up and can with intelligent conversation overcome any verbal abuse. This segregation must stop. It only gives females within gaming a bad name. If these woman in these respectable positions cannot act as the representatives females deserves, then leave. Make room for someone that does have a genuine interest in representing my gender without sounding like a complete moron and making a total ass out of themselves during events and interviews.

Also these types of group claim they have the majority on their side, thinking like them. Then please, make a search on google and have a look yourself how the REST OF THE WORLD feels outside your little controlled haven. There you will find the real opinions of people who do not support the representation we are stuck with


I will not voice my shame after this post, I have before and it never made any impact what so ever. I will just sit back, knowing that airheads are ruining the image of female gamers. If things won't change, I will seriously consider a sex change operation.


/Letter from a very disgusted gamer

[David2SLY]

Gaming as a whole, is immature. I don't care if you're white, black, male, female, short, tall, skinny or fat. If you can have a good time(without ruining others') and know what you are talking about, you have my respect. Annoys the shit out of me when someone gets put up on a pedestal just because they are different than the masses. Unfortunately the spotlight goes to people who do not deserve it. Everyone expects the world to take gaming seriously. Shit, I can't even take it seriously because of the quality of people that are out there.

Gaming is my hobby. Sure my opinions may sound biased at times, but my mind is open. Until we as a whole open our minds, there will never be a place like you wish for. Also Anjo, don't worry, the people that are worth your time know that those airheads aren't the standard, just the exception. /End Rant

[anjo banjo]

Gaming as a whole, is immature. I don't care if you're white, black, male, female, short, tall, skinny or fat. If you can have a good time(without ruining others') and know what you are talking about, you have my respect. Annoys the shit out of me when someone gets put up on a pedestal just because they are different than the masses. Unfortunately the spotlight goes to people who do not deserve it. Everyone expects the world to take gaming seriously. Shit, I can't even take it seriously because of the quality of people that are out there.

Gaming is my hobby. Sure my opinions may sound biased at times, but my mind is open. Until we as a whole open our minds, there will never be a place like you wish for. Also Anjo, don't worry, the people that are worth your time know that those airheads aren't the standard, just the exception. /End Rant

thank you David, its good to hear.

[LadyLuck34]

You are so much better than me at putting such thoughts into coherent words. Thank you! Many females claim dislike of your mentioned representations and stereotypes, while they represent it themselves.

I can only hope that one day I can qualify as a 'good' example of how women should be taking on this industry and its so far miserably failing (in general) communities.

You always make my day when I read your stuff.

[anjo banjo]

You are so much better than me at putting such thoughts into coherent words. Thank you! Many females claim dislike of your mentioned representations and stereotypes, while they represent it themselves.

I can only hope that one day I can qualify as a 'good' example of how women should be taking on this industry and its so far miserably failing (in general) communities.

You always make my day when I read your stuff.

thank you lady luck.

I believe that it's not always how you put the words together, but that you put the word out there. To let other woman know that they are not alone with their distaste of the current "online representation".

I believe that if you feel that something is wrong, bring it up, post it everywhere, let other people know!

Inspire strength to those who are afraid of getting bashed by the fanboys of these set groups. These woman don't choose to speak out, and those who do, get bashed by these groups.

So much for female support right?
Bash those who don't agree ;)
And bring up idiotic arguments such as "you're jealous! and immature!".

So lady luck, give them hell and let them know what is on your mind and I and miss Irie will always stand behind the truth :)

I

[miss_irie]

Well said Anna, I completely agree with you but of course, I'm not an airhead must be the reason why I view things differently. Till this day I am still amazed of the hypocrisy in these female's who claim that they are fighting to break the stereotype of the so-called lack of existence of female gamers. Even though statistics seem to proof the stereotype wrong, our presence, and the rest of the other females out there presence, seems to still not be enough for these ladies proof. So is it a fight to break a stereotype or a reason to get special treatment?

Funny there are claims of so much support for females but yet they bash on the booth babes who are also females. We all have an idea why booth babes are around; at least booth babes are not wearing a mask, claiming to fight a cause. But the best of the fight for female existence in gaming comes when you see sponsored marketing groups or the community groups who claim to be in the business of attracting more females to gaming or creating a safe haven for females. For the either one of these groups, are they really attracting more females? For the groups that are paid to break the stereotypes by advertising, anyone that has good common sense can see the true reason of their existence, at the end of day its purpose is just for marketing that specific company's product line, nothing new here, a lot of companies do the same. The only difference is they don’t hire individuals based on gender only and convert them into paid community members that interact with the gaming community, which is just for customer loyalty. For most of other groups that are in the business of creating a safe haven, brought by employees of the same companies that sell you their products, it is the same case. No company is going to drop cash for the simple matter of being noble to help break stereotypes, business is business and their purpose behind it, is to help keep their customers around. If this cause is claimed to be so pure and noble why is the effect so unpleasant? I have no doubt there are female groups out there fighting for a good cause but the one's who get exposure are not the right ones.

On somewhat similar note, I have kept this pretty much to myself the whole fight towards females needing more opportunities in development. Yes I appreciate that females are fighting for more diversity in development, since I am in that field. But I would say any legitimate programmer (listen ladies, notice how I said programmer only not "female programmer") would never want to get an opportunity to be part of a team just for the simple matter of being the "token" female programmer. This is more a case women who are fighting this cause with no clue what it takes to develop and they think that putting on a skirt and speaking about women rights will develop the next cutting edge game that will give more exposure to women in development and attract more women into gaming. There's a lot of time and dedication involved into learning how to develop, the last thing you want after all the hard work is recognition for what sex you are. And there has been many games that have been developed by man, a bit off topic but wasn’t Earle Haas (a man) who invented the tampon? I guess women really do know what we want.