cleverlymadeup said:
if you really want to make a change then do it yourself instead of complaining that someone else should do it and i suggest you start here [http://www.amazon.com/Art-Computer-Programming-Volumes-Boxed/dp/0201485419/]
I think I'd like to reinforce this particular quote from cleverymadeup as Spitefire175 has already done. To be honest, I am absolutely astounded at the length to which this thread has driven without the following being addressed: an awful lot of articles on the Escapist are written by outside contributors on a pitch/submission basis, and this process can be looked up on the site.
Why is this relevant to the discussion? Simply because, while there may very well have been a chance for the Escapist to feature an article on this particular subset of homosexuality in female gamers, maybe there just weren't any good ones to pick from - or maybe there weren't any at all.
It would be an all together different situation to discuss if the Escapist had replied to a submission and outright refused portrayal due to the subject matter. I very much doubt this would occur however, as the Escapist has already proven itself open in a variety of topics (such as this very issue) and the fact there have been no righteous complaints on the forums from these hypothetical contributors. Such a tragedy would raise hell, and rightly so.
Possibly one of the most likely circumstances is that there simply was not an article written at all with this subset in mind. What is the reasoning? It happens. As one contributor stated earlier in this thread, and I am quoting loosely from memory, he didn't feel comfortable examining this angle due to not having any experience himself. Would you prefer that an article was featured on the subject but it was poorly written and did not represent the things you wanted put across?
There are people that do have the experience(they remain a literal minority), but are they also talented writers that can churn out material entertaining enough to make the main Escapist issues? No doubt these people exist, but are they also gamers and interested in investing time into something like this instead of putting brilliant skills like that into making money and campaigning for awareness in areas where it would do most good? How many of this particular subset are even aware of the Escapist's existence?
Not that I'm saying writing an article here would be a bad choice or wouldn't in any way help with general awareness in communities, just that it sounds a little unlikely given all the factors. Heck, maybe someone 'did' write an article but intends to submit it for a later issue? Or maybe someone with the capability and the experience simply didn't feel like writing one because they didn't personally see it working.
All of this (and quite a bit more) all makes for very unpredictable submissions, no doubt. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has also noticed that sometimes the articles are only vaguely related to the issue title. I wouldn't like to be the guy that sorts through all these and has to dash people's hopes or pick-and-choose who would feature from a selection of good-quality pieces. In short though, people will write what they want to and the Escapist will present what they wish to of it - you just have to have faith in them, and mine at least has been rewarded by enduring quality from update to update.
If you don't like it that way, the best way forward then, is to correct it yourself. Make a spectacularly composed article on this subject (and by the sounds of it you look to have more than enough motivation and experience), submit it to one of the relevant and upcoming issues, and make a difference for all the people that share the same views as you. You might be surprised. All I, and - by the looks of things - a few others know in this thread, is that complaining simply won't change anything about it. This pertains also to any other 'Why isn't 'XYZ' featured?' questions that may crop up. Nothing ever changed by ignoring it, but equally, nothing ever happened as a result without someone doing something about it.
Do yourself this favour and at least give it a try, or if you're not confident in your writing ability, practice to get better, or find someone that is and would be willing to do it in your place. Everyone, and not just this subset, could benefit from taking more action on their personal beliefs in such a constructive and useful medium as the Escapist presents us. Goodluck however you decide to proceed.
Regards,
MultiMasky
