The Truth About Girl Gamers.

[Labyrinth]

The way I see it, I'm a gamer first, female second.

It's the term "girl gamer" that pisses me off. I'm not a girl, I'm a woman. I haven't been a girl for a while now. It's not exactly fair to call 40-year-old women 'girl gamers' for example, and there are a lot of women in their thirties and forties who game. Probably more the former. There's also an attached stereotype which I find annoying.

 

[Donbett1974]

They have penises aka girl gamers are a lie.

 

[Beartrucci]

I swear. At least half the female gamers on this site make a thread about female gamers within their first 50-100 posts.

Anyway, as for your question. Girl gamers are a plague on the gaming world. They whore it up for attention all the while claiming not to and then complain about how females are represented in games. The world would be far better off without them.

However. Gamers who just so happen to be girls are fine. Those who just game without feeling the need to draw attention to the fact. Even in a round about way such as this.
When I jump online, I do not want female gamers. I just want gamers. Whatever it is you are packing in your panties is best kept out of the conversation.

As for why guys make a fuss. Because A) They are sad pathetic losers and B) The girls force a fuss if one does not naturally occur.

You wrote it out far better than I think could even attempt to.

 

[siffty]

AHHHH A FEMALE

 

[AngloDoom]

The Truth About Girl Gamers

So, Fellow Escapees, this is my first time posting a thread, but I feel it will provide a valid insight into both your minds, and the ever long issue of girl gamers. I keep reading these articles such as "Riot Grrrls Wanted" and "235. Vaginophobia" on the escapist website, and I just really do wonder about the Myth of the Elusive Girl Gamer, and what people think about it.

Personally, every guy I meet, whether whilst gaming online, or in the real world, either think the fact that I'm a girl gamer is too good to be true, or just don't take me seriously. Maybe this fact causes fewer girls to play online. Or maybe the girls just aren't playing the same games as you, so you don't realise they are out there! Also, I know one of my female friends doesn't like using a mic online because people think she is a prepubescent boy :\ Also a lot of the girl gamers out there were probably introduced to it by their boyfriends. Just Saying. I just believe that there must be more girl gamers than guys believe there are, or who get given credit for.

The truth is, we are out there, but you probably won't notice us, because our gamertags aren't like "FluffyBunnyGirl" or "GirlPwnsYou" or whatever.. And I personally don't fit the girl gamer stereotype of Cooking Momma and Barbie Ponies, with Guitar Hero being a step up! I am an expert at guitar hero and play a range of Xbox 360 games from Left 4 Dead and Gears of War to Too Human and Fable. Hell, I've even spent 30 hours straight playing my Xbox like a deranged fool.

Basically what I wanna know is: why is there SUCH a fuss surrounding the topic of girl gamers; how elusive they are and such, and, girl gamers, I want your opinions on this because I know you know exactly what I mean.

I just really want to know what you guys think!

I must say, this come up almost every week in the forums and if you want answer you can search there. However, to keep things simple I'm going to sum it up shortly instead of a large article.

You say girl gamers often do not have gender-orientated names and do not use a mic while online. They are hiding the fact that they are female to save themselves from ridicule. As a result, I can say that I've had no indication of ever playing online with a girl gamer. I may have played with several, but by hiding it makes the odd, more outspoken, girl gamer seem like a true rarity.

If girls want to become more of a norm, they have to be thrown in the guy's faces. I want to log into Xbox Live and be greeted with "Shadowcat682" and "Abby_the_Great" and all the other names which indicate the fact that they are indeed female and are not terrified to be found-out. Yes, the online community will freak-out at first, but once this becomes a norm it will settle. If not, there's always the block/mute button.

((EDIT - After re-reading, I know people will ask why they have to draw attention to being a girl. I'm not asking that, but in chat-rooms, forums, and the similar, I frequently see names which make me realise they are, indeed, a girl. I never see that online and the OP makes me feel like it's some kind of fear to be caught-out.))

Yes, I probably will be surprised at the amount of girl gamers out there because, besides the handful I've seen in real-life, I've had no sign of female life out there.

 

[comadorcrack]

The way I see it, I'm a gamer first, female second.

It's the term "girl gamer" that pisses me off. I'm not a girl, I'm a woman. I haven't been a girl for a while now. It's not exactly fair to call 40-year-old women 'girl gamers' for example, and there are a lot of women in their thirties and forties who game. Probably more the former. There's also an attached stereotype which I find annoying.

Would You Rather Game Girl?

That way you can feel like an inane super heroin at the same time

 

[Soulgaunt]

something about girl gamers or something..... Xbox 360..... Left 4 Dead......

All I care is if you're capable of saving my ass from zombies, speaking of which, is there a user group for L4D1 or 2 on 360?

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

Well, to tell you the truth, the girl gamer isn't really that uncommon. I was in BlockBuster the other day, and saw a gamer couple, just looking at them was somewhat magical, I was somehow surprised and convinced that the concept was nothing more but myth, then I saw them, so I guess there is still hope for me. I have three girls on my friend list on XBL. One of them is ae86gamer as you know her on The Escapist, then two girls from my school. I was actually stunned at the games they played. I joined them on Left 4 Dead 2 and they were awesome. It's nice to know that not all gamers are like me, people who hole themselves up in their bedroom trying to avoid contact with parents as his friends never call him.

I also have to agree with the statement made above, that as long as girls don't whore out the attention online, they're fine. I like having the old casual game with a girl, it is sometimes really funny. Like when I was playing Team Deathmatch on MW2 with AE, I had a laugh. I keep thinking about that gamer couple now, they were so 'uncool' together, I want some of that!

Edit: Also, the thing about the mic not being used is true. In my experience, you'll get shouted at by stoners on MW2 either way, especially if you're in a clan like me, but on games like Halo? My God girls get harassed on that in a bad fasion. That could possibly be sexual frustration from the vast majority of pre-teens who play the game though.

 

[Nick Bounty]

Why is this always a topic?. There is no such thing as an "exclusive girl gamer" everyone plays games for their own reasons. Yes, the majority are guys but surely not event he most airheaded of males would be arrogant in assuming that there are no girls whatsoever who can play games at the same or higher levels.

When you are playing a game the main focus is to have fun, not to argue if your teammate or opponent has a penis or not. Those that do make a big deal out of it are just seeking attention, it's simple as that. I see girl gamers everyday, do I feel the need to pause and go "woah, you're a chick!" every time I see one?. No, it's insane.

Everyone should just stick to gaming and not commenting about one another.

 

[mattseffect]

I don't trust a lot of gamer girls. The ones that I know personally in real life (though I love them to death) tend to do it for the attention. Since 95% of the time they more or less receive it as well, (from other gamer guys) whether it be in the form of in game items/currency in MMO's, or attention in RL.

 

[SpAc3man]

Girl gamers are awesome. Got to know a few through CS. I recently taught my gf how to play CS and im going to move onto something more complex sometime soon

 

[Unmitigated Hatred]

blah blah blah I obviously have not and never will see a womans vagina in real life.

Having different sex organs than you doesn't make them magical. Just annoying.

The Truth About Girl Gamers:

They exist and are useless.

 

[soundoflights]

Hmmm its not that I don't take girl gamers seriously I just don't take anyone seriously until they give me a reason to. Really I don't care if your male, female, horse, dog, narwhal w/e. The only way you get my attention in the game is with skill. However I do tend to avoid girl gamers on my team because they tend to distract other male gamers.

 

[kingcom]

I dont understand this whole "nerd" stereotype. Ive never met anyone who acts remotely like that dispite many being hardcore gamers. Is the rest of the world just so far extreme?

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

As much as I would like to just ignore this thread, you do realize by making it you're giving the notion that "girl gamers are different" more attention right? Anyways as far as I'm concerned noone on the internet has a gender and anyone who gives a shit about girl gamers online is retarded. Though I will say this, it IS cool to find a girl in real life who plays videogames because when you spend all day playing call of duty instead of spending time with her she'll understand... or you'll be able to do both at the same time which is an added bonus.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

blah blah blah I obviously have not and never will see a womans vagina in real life.

Having different sex organs than you doesn't make them magical. Just annoying.

The Truth About Girl Gamers:

They exist and are useless.

Wow, how very ignorant. I said the premise of a gaming couple was magical, not girls/women. They're only people. Now I'll excuse you for not reading my post properly, because I'm in a good mood, but let that be a lesson to you. I am also only 14, and have no intention of seeing a girl's vagina until I'm done with my studies.

To elaborate on my point, to avoid anyone else make this douche's mistake, I just think to myself that I'd like to be myself around my girlfriend without her going "all he does is play games...why isn't he sociable" whatever, it'd be cool to play a game with my girlfriend, then we say what we like about it and have good discussions.

In fact, I'm rather offended by you Mr Unmitigated. You shall go on my ignore, you sir, are the first to ever do that.

 

[ultimateownage]

I know quite a few girl gamers and I find them more fun to play with, they never take the thing too seriously and I've never met one who's an arsehole.

 

[AngloDoom]

blah blah blah I obviously have not and never will see a womans vagina in real life.

Having different sex organs than you doesn't make them magical. Just annoying.

The Truth About Girl Gamers:

They exist and are useless.

Wow, how very ignorant. I said the premise of a gaming couple was magical, not girls/women. They're only people. Now I'll excuse you for not reading my post properly, because I'm in a good mood, but let that be a lesson to you. I am also only 14, and have no intention of seeing a girl's vagina until I'm done with my studies.

To elaborate on my point, to avoid anyone else make this douche's mistake, I just think to myself that I'd like to be myself around my girlfriend without her going "all he does is play games...why isn't he sociable" whatever, it'd be cool to play a game with my girlfriend, then we say what we like about it and have good discussions.

In fact, I'm rather offended by you Mr Unmitigated. You shall go on my ignore, you sir, are the first to ever do that.

I've quoted you simply because you made a very good reply, very skillfully done, and you just slew a troll.

I am also only 14, and have no intention of seeing a girl's vagina until I'm done with my studies.

This part, particularly, was a gem. Thank you so much for that.

 

[Unmitigated Hatred]

I am self righteous and in middle school, a combination of literally the worst things in the universe.

Having a girl around that plays video games with you is also not magical. Oogling over women because they can hold an Xbox controller in their dainty little hands ensures the rest of us look like mouth breathing basement dwellers. A girl that holds a common interest with you (e.g. Gaming) should be nice, but calling "gamer couples", whatever the hell that is supposed to mean, is nice and healthy, but also normal. Couples should have common interests. Thus I reiterate my previous statement: Vagina's don't make people different, and the more you put girl gamers on some sort of magical pedestal, the further you kneecap the female gender and the worst you make us look.