Poll: Are "Gamer Girls" shooting themselves in the foot?

[Kermi]

My wife plays video games and she hates girls who play video games. The majority of them are self absorbed attention whores who usually suck at the game and go out of their way to get attention from guys. She has female friends on XBox Live too. These are the ones who are there to play the game, not flirt with boys and make a big deal out of how they're GIRLS. WHO PLAY VIDEO GAMES.
She has a number of male friends on XBox Live and one of them recently confessed that his girlfriend initially didn't approve of him playing MW2 or Halo with her on a regular basis until she found out she was already married... and I blame the wrong sort of gamer girl for that.

There's nothing wrong with girls playing video games. It's a great source of entertainment and I recommend it to anyone with the means. I just don't see why so many female gamers seek recognition for simply doing something millions of people do every day - that is, go online and play some games. I understand that video gaming was a male-dominated activity for a long time, and that for a long time female gamers were uncommon. There are still many men who persist with the "there's on girls on the internet" mentality which stems back to the days of web-based IRC chats when anyone called babygirl16 was definitely a 40 year old man with a bucket of KFC in one hand and his dick in the other.

The only reason I can think of for girl gamers feeling the need to make a big fuss about being girl gamers is that that they feel like they've surmounted some sort of obstacle to be there... which would make sense if it were something like earning the right to vote, or serve in the military.
Acting like it's a big deal to turn on your Xbox and log a few hours of Halo just gives me a low opinion of your capabilities as a human being, regardless of your gender.

 

[CoffeeScamp]

I suppose some might do it because as shes they dislike being referred to as he, and since most gamers are hes, by default any time a third person pronoun is needed, he will be used by default. To avoid that, drawing attention to the fact that they're a girl will get the appropriate she to be used.

This is usually the reason I point out that I'm female.. I hate being referred to as male.

If I'm using voice then it's obvious right away, but I tend to only use voice when I'm with friends already, and then I don't care about the few stray randoms and what they might say back.

I also hate the attention whores who use their sexuality as a free pass. They give us all a bad name.

 

[Girl With One Eye]

Have female gamers not been complaining and demanding change for years ever since they realised that gaming is full of sex craved males who will hit on them once they become aware of their gender? Yet this problem can be and often is solved by just resulting to the gender neutrallity which the internet offers. If you make a gamertag or profile called "Gravyandbiscuits" as an example no one will know or care what gender you are.

So my PSN name doesnt indicate my gender at all, but theres no disguising my voice on the mic. And why shouldn't I use a mic? Are females not entitled to the same gaming experience as males?

It's so stupid it hurts. Females campaign for equality in gaming because many of them want to be treated equally but instead alot of them go and create a "Girl's clubhouse" situation. When was the last time male gamers did that? (and not in a joking way. If you have any examples I'll take that statement back but I couldnt find any)

Ok yes some girls are like that. But what about the rest of us with the "yes I'm a girl and I play games, get over it" attitude? Not all of us are attention whores and I don't see why we should have to hide our gender. I don't think the problem lies in whether we hide our gender or not, but the reactions people have to it. If people were more mature about it, then it wouldn't be a problem.

So I ask you this. Are "Gamer gurls" shooting themselves in the foot? By that I mean they want equality but are going about it the wrong way.

I don't see why all of this is being put on girls who play games. If males can be open about their gender, why not females? It's not exactly fun when all you want to do is play and you are constantly harrased by guys asking for your number, or telling you that girls can't play games. I've personally never met any attention seeking "gamer girls" before and I assume that you're making a basic stereotype from a few experiences. Really I don't know why it even bothers or effects you so much.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

Honestly, why care? I feel this is a case of "Don't feed the trolls". That said, I support both girl and guy gamers, but why not just ignore the people that annoy you, girl or guy?
That's my 2 cents at least

 

[Tdc2182]

God I love it when they advertise themselves. It's like watching the schoolyard where all the guys are to nervous to do anything except ask for sex.

It's one of those things that you shouldn't care to much about. But when a guy calls you a kid who hasn't hit puberty yet, than you have every right to say so.

 

[Swarley]

I hate girl gamers that use the fact that they're female to get everyone to do what they want.

Ever play TF2 with a girl on the team using her mic? I guarantee 2-3 people will go medic in order to heal her, no matter what class she is.

Ever thought that those girls might just be using their mic in the same way everyone else is, to help along gameplay or make jokes etc? I nearly always have my mic on; we may have played together and I might be one of the girls you're talking about. It makes me sad to think that's your assumption. I don't want to be healed by morons who have better things to do. I just wanna play the game, help the team to win and have a bit of fun, just like everyone else on their mics.

See, after posting that I kind of saw this response coming. My second point is less about the girls themselves, but rather the unfortunate effect that your presence has on some people. Sorry for not clarifying, I have nothing against women using there mics to aid the team.

I hate girl gamers that use the fact that they're female to get everyone to do what they want.

Ever play TF2 with a girl on the team using her mic? I guarantee 2-3 people will go medic in order to heal her, no matter what class she is.

Seriously? Honest question...how often have you experienced this? Because I NEVER have. When I play TF2, most of the time there aren't even enough medics on my team (because seriously, no one seems to want to be medic, even when you need it, amirite??), and I ALWAYS play with my mic. I really think most of this "girls get special treatment" is imagined versus reality. Except in WoW. I'll admit, it happens all the time in WoW.

It may just be the servers I visit, but I would say 3/5 times it happens, and 1/5 people think its a 12 year old boy.

because seriously, no one seems to want to be medic, even when you need it, amirite??

But I always go medic! Though it's more since I got my medic mask, and the fact that I fancy myself to be a good medic.

 

[Shycte]

Not anymore then they do in real life.

See women want equality and all that but they aren't prepared to deal with the responsibility that comes with it. Like, no way men should have right to get 50 % of the parental leave.

Ofcourse this can't be said for all women, but to damn many still.

I beileve the universe can keep the balance pretty damn well by it's own.

Example, Jews killed Jesus, Jews got a holocaust.

[small]JUST KIDDING PEOPLE[/small]

 

[SnowdensOfYesteryear]

These women, in this case, are kindof putting THEMSELVES on a pedestal and whining about it. Everyone - EVERYONE - is harassed and fucked with on the internets/game channels. Just read some stories about CoD or Halo multiplayer ANYWHERE. EVERYONE GETS FUCKING BOTHERED. They just slightly different harassment and they're whiny about it. Actually, only a special few are calling it sexism, but those are mostly the "girl gamers."

Not to say girls can't be gamers. Most girls who consider themselves gamers, but not "Gamer Chicks," can kick my ass... in prettymuch every game... ever.

I'm not against either more realistic, 3-dimensonal and well-developed female characters, or females becoming gamers, but they are either, overplaying their sex (Okay, who wants to start up "GORGEOUS MALE GAMERS?" I'll be the chairman), or fucking whining about being attacked when this happens to EVERYONE.

...I'm not sexist.

 

[SNIPERFOX ft. Harry P.Ness]

your thinking of a GURL gamer. a gamer girl is just a female gamer. nothing special.

 

[Estocavio]

Kill them. KILL THEM ALL. BURN THEM ALIVE.

Ok, in all seriousness; Any female on the internet who tries to set themselves apart with gender are just attention seeking, and should be ignored.

 

[Divine Miss Bee]

we do want equality, but your statement that equality for the sexes can be achieved by keeping quiet about which gender we are is so backwards as to be medieval. i would like to be able to choose a username i like and not worry about how boys will react. i don't want to hide behind a smokescreen of gender-neutrality, and i feel that true equality is an state in which nobody will ask me to. i realize i'm just feeding a troll here, but your particular form of trolling is a hot button for me-girls are not going to go away just because you're sick of dealing with us, nor should you demand it.

 

[Jenova65]

Ah, it's been a while...... Another male generated 'girl gamer', thread on the escapist. Before I go off to yawn I will simply say - idiots come in all shapes and sizes. And it isn't how they behave that matters it is how you respond.... Don't rise to it, it will stop happening. True fact!

 

[Boba Frag]

"A Gamer Girl" or "Girl Gamer" as I'm sure a few of you know is a female gamer who seperates themselves from the gender-neutrallity that the anonymity of the internet and online gaming offers by advertising their gender. Despite the fact that no men seem to do this (well some do but it is a dig at girl gamers [footnote]http://steamcommunity.com/groups/menwhoplaygames[/footnote])

I didn't pick my name because I was poking fun at females who advertise their genders. It's just my name.

Yet this problem can be and often is solved by just resulting to the gender neutrallity which the internet offers.

Yeah, I shouldn't mention I'm black either. I tend to hear ****** a lot more that way. This is how we should solve racism! Just don't tell anyone I'm black -.-

It's so stupid it hurts. Females campaign for equality in gaming because many of them want to be treated equally but instead alot of them go and create a "Girl's clubhouse" situation. When was the last time male gamers did that? (and not in a joking way. If you have any examples I'll take that statement back but I couldnt find any)

So I ask you this. Are "Gamer gurls" shooting themselves in the foot? By that I mean they want equality but are going about it the wrong way.

Abso-friggin-lutely not. There is no excuse for acting like a total buffoon, even if the girl is cute or you have the anonymity of the internet to protect your creepy ass. YES girls who tease guys like the above example are kinda assholes, but this should in no way be used to say , as I believe you are here, that that kind of behavior is asking for all female gamers to be treated like shit. There's teasing back to girls who act like that, but guys go wayyyy too far, wayyy too often, just because they can, even if they're not "provoked".

So no. Just no.

I think that it's a mistake to assume that there's a concerted and well coordinated campaign by The Sisterhood here.
It seems like these "Gamer gurls" you mention are just attention seekers and trying to assert themselves by playing the fairer sex card.

Can't stand girls that behave in that manner, thankfully, I've not encountered probably any female gamers who act so childishly.

Also...

Mr.Shine?

Game of Thud later? The usual place

(Great to see another Pratchett fan around here!)

 

[Blimey]

"Girl gamers" cry and ***** about equality, then they go and tell everyone that they indeed are one of the mystical creatures known as a girl. Now I could be off-base with this, but all it seems is a attention-grab on their part. *shoots an evil look at Olivia Munn*

If girls want equality, then they should just play the damn game. And accept the fact that immature dipfucks everywhere will be a bastard to them the second they hear their voice over chat. Because everyone hears that 12-year-old bullshit, male or female.

 

[DazBurger]

So no. Just no.

Well said. (the whole thing, not just the snip.)

OT: I've discovered from this site that the most whiny, sensitive, thin skinned ethnic group is that of white guys. Every perceived inequality or unfair act garners threads with hundreds of irate responses. I thank God we haven't encountered any true injustices - say, loss of land, citizenship, or freedom, or we'd have drowned in our own tears by now.

So you are saying that no white group of people never have experienced injustice? :/

 

[Ildecia]

http://imageups.com/files/6/Girl_Gamers_by_FizTheAncient.png

'nuff said.

 

[Palademon]

All girls actually dont care about guys hiting on them unless the guy is ugly, which they wont be able to tell from a voice alone in most cases. They actually want to stick out and be noticed and hit on, to raise their self esteem.

 

[Flack]

Personally could not give a rats about the gender of the people im playing with, as long as they aren't pants-on-head retarded.