What's your opinion on "flirty" female video game show hosts?

[Rastrelly]

Yeah, it's another "women and video games" topic, so sue me!

Anyway, it's probably news to no one that both dudes and woman host video game shows on the internet. A few of the female hosts though, seem to be trying using their gender to their advantage. Counting on the idea that the majority of people who are watching video game shows are male, they get "flirty" i.e they wear lot-cut tops and are all made up. Even our very own Lisa Foiles blows a kiss to the viewer at the end of her videos.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't mean this in a "woman are taking advantage of us men by cheating their way to success using their feminine whiles!", since I would expect most of us guys don't have the brain of a horny chimpanzee. But since the configuration of your genitals doesn't impact how good of a video game show host you can be, this gets me to wondering: why do some female hosts feel the need to flirt with the camera?

Now, I don't think that the girls who do this are "fake gamer girls" who don't know what they're talking about and are just doing it for the attention. Lisa clearly knows what she's talking about, and she has great on-camera charisma. I've actually yet to see a female video game show host who clearly has no idea what she's talking about. If you know your stuff, are a top-notch host AND you're also smokin' that's win freakin' win right there.

But when I see a new female host who is all dolled up on front of the camera, with her funbags trying to make a break for freedom, a few assumptions inadvertently come to mind and none of them positive:
1) "Is she using her charms are a crutch because she's not confident in in the quality of her work?"
2) "Does she think I'll watch her show just because she's showing some skin? Does she think I'm some stupid fourteen year old boy?"

I'm not saying female hosts should only appear on camera in a burqa, but I think for me personally, trying to add to to a show's appeal by adding sexy hurts more than it helps. Having said that, Jim really ought to spice up The Jimquisition, maybe with a nice Chippendale costume

Anyway, what's your opinion on female video game show hosts who flirt it up for the camera?

Don't see any problem at all. And you miss an option (3): "She thinks MORE people will possibly watch her show because she's showing some skin". For, you see, while guys indeed don't have "the brain of a horny chimpanzee", majority of 'em will tend to appreciate of two otherwise equal objects the one that is sexier. Subconsciously.

So, I have no problems at all with any sorts of hosts doing whatever they want in front of camera until they break any criminal laws.

 

[ZZoMBiE13]

Flirty is fine. Pandering is not. As long as the person (male or female) is genuine and not ill-at-ease in front of the camera, I'm more interested in the content than the host.

Seriously, a persons looks are typically the least interesting thing about them. Pretty, Ugly, Thin, Fat, I don't really care if you have something to say or something to teach. But if you're just a pretty face and you act like that earns you something (again, male or female), then my only reply is to not return for more of said content.

 

[Right Hook]

I'm more bothered by the incredibly fake smiles you see in a lot of thumbnails (e.g. Lisa Foils, that lady from Escapist News Now). Seriously, it's bloody creepy!

I agree, I think people look horrible in frozen images, especially when they aren't expressing genuine emotion. Most men don't even put themselves in the thumbnail and if they do, it is usually just a shot of them looking natural or serious.

I don't care if hosts are flirty, I don't care if someone bases an entire career off of that behavior, if I don't like it I'll tune out. Not much of an issue for me.

 

[BarkBarker]

I generally think it is either A)They are trying to catch the eyes of the viewers, the same way people make misleading thumbnails on youtube, or B) Some people are obsessed with being in front of a camera, they love being watched and "Strutting their stuff" when people are watching, maybe they aren't doing it for anyone other than their own personal enjoyment of looking back at the film and saying DAMN DO I LOOK GOOD.

 

[prpshrt]

EXACTLY what I can assume that most people think it is. To get your attention. It's what they do in other industries as well and I don't think they should be condemned. They're trying to get views and they're just doing what works best in any other industries.

 

[CleverCover]

Hasn't this been a case since the beginning of game shows? When you're on tv/youtube/camera and have the possibility to be viewed by millions of people, girls and guys add a touch of makeup and prepare their hair.

 

[Tanakh]

1) "Is she using her charms are a crutch because she's not confident in in the quality of her work?"
2) "Does she think I'll watch her show just because she's showing some skin? Does she think I'm some stupid fourteen year old boy?"

Are you kidding? It just works!

1) Wait what? That would be like saying having better production is because someone is not confident in his work. Just as a nice background, good music or being good at the videogame, it's just a way to rise viewers and revenue.

2) A cute host being flirty cares not whether you watch her or not, at all. She knows it will raise the viewers, get her more money and make her work easier filling time with this sort of content; honestly I would be surprised if she ever thought something along the lines you posted.

OT: Seems like a valid tactic.

 

[Varrdy]

If they want to be flirty / tart themselves up, let them. If they don't it doesn't really matter to me and it shouldn't to anyone, really. Sadly, a lot of people would complain if a girl did appear dressed like Duane Dibbley's sister (Dawn Dibbley? Dianne Dibbley? Whatever...)- which is sad but true.

I don't really mind how they act / look so long as they make it entertaining / interesting. Lisa Foiles might blow a kiss to the camera but she also is not afraid to act like a goof or be self-deprecating. I'd say she's in it for the laughs (and a few quid) and I just consider it a bonus that I personally find her attractive. Maybe her blowing a kiss to the camera is just her way of showing her love and appreciation to those who watch her videos.

Also, I watch a lot of ZP and Angry Joe despite fancying neither but they're funny and engaging in their own way so it's all good.

I'm more aggravated by powerful women warriors in games, comics, cartoons and films all being shown wearing (for example) a chainmail bra and panties, even in battle. I don't mind it if it's appropriate (like a pin-up) but in battle, let them at least have a chance! It's one reason why I like Skyrim - some of the female non-armour clothing can be alluring (Tavern clothes) but at least the armour looks like it is actually for protection and not wank-fodder!

At the end of the day, as others point out, it sells. Is this a sad reflection on humanity? Probably but I don't think it's a massive issue in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Andy Shandy]

I can see why people might be annoyed by them, but I personally couldn't care so long as they aren't there solely because of their boobs. For example, Lisa Foiles (since she's the person people seem to be picking for this) is certainly attractive, but I enjoy the show because her show is simply fun on a site full to the brim with content full of very sarcastic and cynical people. I like simple fun occasionally. And she does know her stuff too, which always helps.

 

[Hagi]

For me personally it depends highly on just how they're flirting.

Whilst I haven't watched many of such shows at all, so not sure how widespread this is, what I did notice in those that featured flirty females is that they really don't give the impression that they're flirting because they themselves enjoy doing so.

Instead the impression I get is rather self-conscious and slightly forced. Which really doesn't give me much enjoyment to watch, rather it makes me feel a tad like a creep and just makes me regard the host in question as somewhat weak-willed for not saying no to something she doesn't seem comfortable with.

I've also seen flirty female hosts who do so with obvious confidence and, more importantly, enjoyment. I'm completely fine with watching that, she's having fun and I'm perfectly willing to join in ( as much as you can watching a show anyway... ).

 

[Simonism451]

As someone who doesn't really watch "videogame shows" in which you actually see the hosts, since I get most of my gaming news from reading and watching trailers, as well as being generally turned off by "scarecams" in LPs, I'm probably not the person to ask. But since this is the internet, I know that my opinion matters anyway.
So here we go: I like attractive and/or sexy people, what I don't like is the obvious feeling of being pandered to (I do however like being pandered to without noticing it) but what I count as the one and what as the other is obviously highly subjective. However, blowing a kiss at the internet kinda weirds me out, even if it's a genuine gesture.

 

[Thedutchjelle]

I'm more bothered by the incredibly fake smiles you see in a lot of thumbnails (e.g. Lisa Foils, that lady from Escapist News Now). Seriously, it's bloody creepy!

This. I found those pictures so.. unsettling that I just don't watch the shows. That, and I doubt they got anything interesting I watch Jims stuff, that's about it. Extra Credits has been gone for a while, as has Reel Physics and Doraleous.

 

[A Weakgeek]

I don't like them, because watching them makes me feel like im manipulated. Kinda like I feel uneasy listening to a bald guy wearing a leather jacket talk about immigration policies.

Its a bit shallow of me, but the woman would need to be a rhetorical genious for me to be able to ignore the titilation.

 

[sheah1]

Considering I flirt with pretty much anyone at any given chance I'd have to be one hell of a hypocrite to say I have a problem with them.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

Like any host of any show - guy or girl - I really don't give a crap what they look like - unless the looks are completely distracting (like wearing a dildo shaped hat or fringe on every inch of cloth on their body or spangles that are throwing light into the camera that blinds me, etc) - I care about what they are saying and that's pretty much it. This is especially true for Internet programs, as I'm usually browsing in another window while I listen to a video about information rather than watching it the whole time.

 

[Weaver]

I don't like them generally as it feels like pandering to people instead of just making good content. I'm not a sexually deprived 13 year old, so please don't act like I'm going to buy into the act, or that it will make me like your show more.

I remember I made a comment on Lisa Foiles as such when the very, very first Top 5 came out and basically broke the comment section with it. I don't think I've ever received more replies than with that