General Discussion

Originally posted by girlgeek

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

I play MMORPGs like this. If you are in the game, the default is you are male, regardless of what toon you are playing.

Apparently you haven't read the latest studies on how MANY women now play online games, have you?

If I find you for a fact taht you are female, like hear your voice in voice chat, then the default is you are either A. Married, or B. 300 pounds. 

Well, chances are...you're wrong a LOT of the time then.  But THIS perfect example of male prejudicial bullshit, is why a lot of women won't even TELL you they are women.  If you HAPPEN to be in the same guild with them, is the only way you'll know, a good deal of the time.  

If I'm looking for a date, it's not going to be in an MMORPG.

On THAT much, I will certainly agree with you, because we all know that most men that play MMOs are fat, ugly, middle-aged beer-bellied slobs that live at home with Mommy and Daddy and don't have a job, that have never touched a real woman in their lives.  /rolls eyes 

STEREOTYPES are IGNORANT. 

(Ihmotepp, you would be seriously SHOCKED if you knew some of my son's female friends that play MMOs, single, in their 20s, and quite lovely, beautiful women, and you would definitely reconsider your attitudes.)  But I agree that looking for dates online....is idiotic at best....just not for the same stereotypical prejudicial reasons that YOU think so.

When I play a character, generally like to play a male character because I want to interact with other players in the game as a male.

However, like most males I do enjoy playing a female toon in games if it's nice to look at. The example already given is playing Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. I'd rather look at Lara's ass than Leroy's ass.

Occaisionally I am tempted to roll up a female toon in an MMORPG, like City of Heroes. They look nice.

 

Too much generalization here. If i show you mine and other pictures of my female guild mates you will think twice before generalizing female gamers. TRUST ME

oh course they get treated better.  its because many of the vocal majority are losers without girlfriends and have little hope of getting one.

as for the guild example.  my guild goes nuts when our leaders log on (one of which is female) and we all greet those who say hi when they log on.  no one is treated any differently due to their sex.

I roll about 50/50 male/female toons.

Frankly, the reason I roll a female toon is because I spend so much time staring at the backside of my toon that I prefer having a better view...

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Originally posted by Ihmotepp

 
Cool. What's your a/s/l? Are you hawt? What are you wearing now?

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Now that reminds me..

prote evans > hi i need a bit of help m8
Kyle Caldrel > A/S/L
prote evans > 17/m/uk
prote evans > u???
Kyle Caldrel > Agent/System/Level

There are a few other differences between female/male players and its skewed against males.

Ive seen people play male avatars pretty badly sometimes (tank, dps etc) and people would say "man, you suck.. you can't even hold hate"- or "you suck at controlling your dps aggro" blah blah blah.  As it was a male character words werent minced.

Later when it was found out it was a real live actual female, all of a sudden people put kid gloves on and were scared to criticize anymore. Everyone would make allowances after that, as if being a female was an excuse for her bad play or being a female now didn't warrant a "you suck" comment. But if it was a dude, people felt they had the right to say hurtful things cause it was a guy and he can 'take it'. If the guy complained, now guess what they call him? People simply did not want to upset a real female.

Is that what they call reverse sexism?

So ladies, its not always that you get the short end with the wrong attention. Sometimes you get a LOT of slack a male gamer simply will not get because the men know you are not "carrying a pair."

Originally posted by popinjay

There are a few other differences between female/male players and its skewed against males.

Ive seen people play male avatars pretty badly sometimes (tank, dps etc) and people would say "man, you suck.. you can't even hold hate"- or "you suck at controlling your dps aggro" blah blah blah.  As it was a male character words werent minced.

Later when it was found out it was a real live actual female, all of a sudden people put kid gloves on and were scared to criticize anymore. Everyone would make allowances after that, as if being a female was an excuse for her bad play or being a female now didn't warrant a "you suck" comment. But if it was a dude, people felt they had the right to say hurtful things cause it was a guy and he can 'take it'. If the guy complained, now guess what they call him? People simply did not want to upset a real female.

Is that what they call reverse sexism?

In my opinion, that's just rude people being rude, but yes....I think that does have the ring of sexism to it.  Men are expected to have "a pair" and be able to "take it," and women, like you said, are often treated with kid gloves.  MY opinion on this is that ALL people, whether male OR female, should be treated decently and with respect.  But we're expecting a game population that is made up, to a great degree, of young people that often can't look past their own navel, and hide behind the anonymity of the internet, so they feel no remorse for just being asses to whomever they want, WHENever they want.

Sexism, probably so..."reverse" or not.  Immature rudeness....definitely.

So ladies, its not always that you get the short end with the wrong attention. Sometimes you get a LOT of slack a male gamer simply will not get because the men know you are not "carrying a pair."

 But see, Hun...that's sexist too, to a degree.  If we could all just learn to extend others some common courtesies and treat everyone decently....it wouldn't even be an issue.  Attaching a "gender factor" to it on EITHER the side of the "male or female fence"...is sexist.  Gamers are all....gamers.  Some are very skilled, others are not, and some fall somewhere in between, and those facts, have more to do with experience in gaming itself, than with the gender of the individual involved.

I think I can safely say it depends on how said female character acts, and that it doesn't matter if they are female or male in real life.

I've been playing WoW and a few other MMO's for years, and I was popular when I talked a lot and did a lot of things with everyone, but now that I play moderately and that I don't socialize as much I'm only friends with a few people, and no one is really clamoring around me anymore.

I see plenty of males who are extremely popular (male or female avatar) probably more than women. My boyfriend for example plays a lot more than I, and helps a lot of people and is so popular that when I play his character for even a second I'm bombarded with tells and people are constantly greeting me wherever I go. All of the most popular people on our server (known by most people that is) are also male.

I also see people who are women in real life, but mostly male in real life, that make female avatars and act sexually and flirty I guess you could say around lots of male players. I've called out a lot of these players and they do recieve gifts, special treatment, and other things I hear, but then again most of them have wieners in real life.

In closing I'll say that treatment mainly depends on the player no matter what their avatar is... the only thing you get extra with a female character is being asked more than often if you are really a girl in real life, or people assuming you are a guy or girl playing a female character (I don't think many people assume male avatars are played by girls ) 

You make good points for rational thinking Girlgeek. Good to see someone post something worth reading.

Although, tongue and cheek, this problem will probably never go away until we hear guys openly bawling when their feelings get smashed or gals cussing like a sailor and laying the smackdown on bad players.  J/K