"Girl Gamer Syndrome"

[museofdoom]

Has anyone else ever noticed how many girls lately seem to think they're a "special snowflake" just because they play video games? It's really prevalent on Facebook especially. Statuses like "Yes I'm a girl, and yes I play video games <3". Or "lol I'm such a nerd, playin COD text ittt." Seriously, do they expect guys to just jump all over them like the fact that they play video games makes them hot suddenly? I'm not a guy though, so I guess that's why I'm posting this. Thoughts?

 

[JET1971]

I think its an attention deficit issue. You still have guys who are "OMG! yer a girl and you are playing video games!!!!" plus that attitude was kinda big for quite a while and still can be. just ignore them "special snowflakes" when they go attention whoring.

 

[museofdoom]

I think its an attention deficit issue. You still have guys who are "OMG! yer a girl and you are playing video games!!!!".

This is true. I run into guys on xbox live who instantly send me friend requests and start hitting on me. It's pretty ridiculous haha.

 

[Veldt Falsetto]

I think it's still because it's an unheard of thing. To girl gamers I'm sure it's quite a common thing but to those who aren't girl gamers...well let's be fair, I've not spoken to many so...to some of us, they are "special snowflakes"...to those of us who haven't met any female gamers, meeting a female that shares a beloved hobby of yours is a special thing.

 

[museofdoom]

This is interesting, I've never really looked at this from a guy's perspective. I may just find the whole thing annoying because I am a girl. Although, sometimes I think girls that have "girl gamer syndrome" make the rest of us look bad. Like, I feel like I don't get taken as seriously when I play online and such because I'm a girl. Perhaps that's a different topic entirely though.

 

[Erttheking]

Only ever met one person like this. Don't wanna go into detail but it ended with me swearing a lot.

 

[museofdoom]

Only ever met one person like this. Don't wanna go into detail but it ended with me swearing a lot.

Oh jeez. Whatever the experience was, it was probably horridly unpleasant. You have my sympathies.

 

[Erttheking]

Only ever met one person like this. Don't wanna go into detail but it ended with me swearing a lot.

Oh jeez. Whatever the experience was, it was probably horridly unpleasant. You have my sympathies.

Yeah, wasn't exactly the "I'm a gamer girl so I'm hot" but there was a certain amount of...snobbishness. Basically there was a misunderstanding, an argument, the term "harassment" got thrown at me, I tried to apologize like a sap, got shot down, and got angry.

 

[Brawndo]

This is also very prevalent on dating sites. I remember one girl I went out with a few times had pictures of her on her profile posing with an Xbox controller and headset. I can't imagine any guy doing that on a dating site, but then again guys pose with guns and fish and cars a lot.

Seriously, do they expect guys to just jump all over them like the fact that they play video games makes them hot suddenly?

But they do, and that's the problem. Some girls who are attention-starved know this and take full advantage.

 

[museofdoom]

This is also very prevalent on dating sites.

Seriously, do they expect guys to just jump all over them like the fact that they play video games makes them hot suddenly?

But they do, and that's the problem. Some girls who are attention-starved know this and take full advantage.

Yeah, it's like they're screaming, "LOVE ME! Tell my how rare and awesome I am!!" Ugh.

 

[burningdragoon]

I'm sure the majority of the time it's just for some easy attention. Though I'd also assume that sometimes even when that's not the case it will seem like it is just because there is still a general perception that girls are not gamers.

 

[Drave]

there are some attention whores, sure. but a majority of what people here would refer to as "gamer girl attention whores" do and say the same sorts of things gamer guys do. they just get a lot more attention over it, and then get accused of being attention whores, usually by the very same people giving them that attention. it's like when people blame girls for their breasts, it's fucking nuts.

 

[museofdoom]

Though I'd also assume that sometimes even when that's not the case it will seem like it is just because there is still a general perception that girls are not gamers.

This is a very good point. Stereotyping is a pretty big issue in this.

 

[sunsetspawn]

Has anyone else ever noticed how many girls lately seem to think they're a "special snowflake" just because they play video games?

Actually, no, but I don't pay attention to much outside of my immediate circle. However, I have noticed that the ones that DO play videogames absolutely know that they are a special snowflake.

It's really prevalent on Facebook especially. Statuses like "Yes I'm a girl, and yes I play video games <3". Or "lol I'm such a nerd, playin COD text ittt." Seriously, do they expect guys to just jump all over them like the fact that they play video games makes them hot suddenly? I'm not a guy though, so I guess that's why I'm posting this. Thoughts?

You do not understand, as you are female. The girls and women that play videogames are a rare breed indeed, and they will absolutely be more attractive to all boys and men. All males play videogames, and any female that plays videogames immediately has serious bonding potential above all others. I assume that with each passing year this is becoming more common knowledge and it's actually being used to increase mate selection options and reproductive desirability.

The bottom line is that if you are "girl gamer" then you are infinitely more desirable than a non-gamer, even if your decreased rarity no longer makes you a "special snowflake."

 

[Zarkov]

From my humble experience, girls who play games either don't tell anybody unless they just "happen to find out" or they'll boast it for attention.

Just like there are girls who are humble about their looks, and there are some that act like whores.

Should they do it? Hell, I don't know. But what I do know is that they're looking for attention, and I personally don't like attention whores. But that's just my take.

EDIT: I should include that yes, a girl gamer is much more attractive than one who isn't. But the above comment still applies to this.

And as a side note, (from what I've heard) the girls that really want to fit into the gamer community never end up being able to like a guy could because of their gender.

And you know what? That really pisses me off. I keep hearing about girls getting harassed on Xbox Live and steam from the first inkling that they might have boobs. It's seriously annoying considering I do know someone that likes to play console games but can't play online and socialize with other people due to their gender. It's really sad, and really immature.

 

[museofdoom]

And as a side note, (from what I've heard) the girls that really want to fit into the gamer community never end up being able to like a guy could because of their gender.

And you know what? That really pisses me off. I keep hearing about girls getting harassed on Xbox Live and steam from the first inkling that they might have boobs. It's seriously annoying considering I do know someone that likes to play console games but can't play online and socialize with other people due to their gender. It's really sad, and really immature.

^THIS. I honestly haven't renewed my Xbox live account in ages because it's almost not worth it. Guys will either hit on me shamelessly, or they're asses. I once got booted from a game of scavenge in Left 4 dead 2 because of my gender. My team was losing, and they instantly booted me. What. The. Hell. And I wasn't doing horribly either, I was contributing more than some of the other players. I dislike people sometimes.

 

[museofdoom]

...All males play videogames...

What? No, not all men play video games. An overwhelming majority of the gaming population is male, and a huge amount of the population, especially among young adults, play video games, but definitely nothing near "all".

^^This. I've dated boys who didn't play video games. It was kinda awkward. "Wanna play COD?" "Nahh." "How about Mario Kart?" "No, that's stupid." "Umm Little Big Planet??" "I don't really play video games..." With people like this, I often wonder what on earth they do in their free time. Do they....go outside? D:

 

[Zarkov]

snip

^THIS. I honestly haven't renewed my Xbox live account in ages because it's almost not worth it. Guys will either hit on me shamelessly, or they're asses. I once got booted from a game of scavenge in Left 4 dead 2 because of my gender. My team was losing, and they instantly booted me. What. The. Hell. And I wasn't doing horribly either, I was contributing more than some of the other players. I dislike people sometimes.

Yeah, it really is tragic. And the patriarchy and the sexism that comes along with it in the gamer community is truly pitiful. I really feel sorry for the women out there that want game with other gamers (as not to be defined by sex) but end up by the curb due to their higher pitched voice and the lumps on their chest.

I mean, seriously, I would be pissed off if people booted me from a game and treated me differently based upon an arbitrary reason like gender. I don't know how you feel, museofdoom, but I can only imagine. And as much as it pisses me off, there's nothing I can do about it. Our society and the rarity that is the "girl-gamer" makes it this way, and that's nothing I or anyone else could really change.

Good luck.