PAX & allies

[brigid]

So I'm a gamer, which is no surprise to anyone ever. Pax East was this weekend and I was sad that I couldn't go and see my friends since I'm on the wrong coast for these sorts of things, but then I remembered all the rapey transphobic misogynistic stuff that PA has not been held accountable for and felt super conflicted. I went to the first PAX and

Comments

[fudjo]

I hadn't been inclined to go to PAX mostly because it it didn't seem like the kind of convention that would interest me, but I used to read Penny Arcade regularly. After the dickwolves thing and after the anti-trans comments, I've been and will continue to be completely opposed to going and I've stopped reading Penny Arcade entirely. If I want to support the efforts of my friends in the industry, there are myriad other options and other communities. I can buy their games. I can go to other conventions. I can playtest their games. I can sponsor their kickstarters. Oh, and everyone should support Anita Sarkeesian: http://www.feministfrequency.com/

[xaotica]

Yeah, I stopped reading penny arcade and would've considered going to PAX but am not interested anymore. The "rape is a joke" thing that started the whole incident is something that I found lame but unsurprising. But there's a difference between making a lame joke where you meant no harm and are just ignorant vs responding with anger at the very thought that some gamers have had different life experiences (including being raped in the real world, or having a different view of gender / sexuality, etc) That's beyond teenage boy humor and into the realm of "get out of our club, we don't want your kind here."

I don't feel like a diversity panel really addresses people who just want to be viewed as a individual who's a respected part of the group vs a special snowflake weirdo. The gamers I know in real life (including teenage and 20something young men) don't have the attitude that those jokes couldn't possibly hurt anyone.

There is http://www.gaymerx.com in SF... I haven't been but I <3

[brigid]

there are a couple gaming conventions out there that seem like sound alternatives to PAX (gaymerx looks awesome) but people don't seem aware of them or want to pretend it's either PAX or getting passes to E3 to justify going vs not going. PAX doesn't have to be the end all be all of gaming cons, but it will be as long as we let it be and as long as they make all the shitty comments they want about various demographics without getting any real backlash.

and it sucks because, yeah, the way they act on social media speaks far more about their real ideals and their real views on their female/rape survivor/trans audience than throwing up a diversity up or a unisex bathroom does. because yeah, after years of hearing about how hilarious the dickwolves are, i totally want to share a bathroom with some dude who might feel that way, or i totally want to stand off by myself at the diversity hub trying to make a difference to an indifferent audience. completely makes sense

[brigid]

see PAX is something that is totally in my wheelhouse. i love gaming and i'm far more onto the console/pc end of things, so it seems like it would be great. i didn't love the first PAX East but that was mostly due to logistical errors on the venue's part than on PAX, so I was curious about seeing it at the world trade center but then i moved so that didn't happen.

so it's frustrating because on one hand that is a culture that i very much relate to, on the other hand it's a culture that isn't inclusive and welcoming to women and i don't see that changing either by going or by not going. the one thing i do know is that currently i don't feel like giving rapey misogynist transphobics my money

[brigid]

they have an anti harassment policy in place but apparently there is some whole case going on where a volunteer sexually assaulted another volunteer and PA is doing all they can do hide that under the proverbial carpet. I also have a hard time seeing PAX and PA as separate entities since the money all goes to the same account in the end, and they did encourage the whole dickwolves thing which was solely going to happen at PAX East last year

[catkick]

I read about the Dickwolves history on Tumblr towards its end. Two things it taught me: Penny Arcade guys using monikers such as 'rapedtosleep' are sociopaths and I've always believed many online gamers are. Second: That the legends are true. Nerd boys really don't know about and are scared of girls Period. Despite what 19 years in the Mi fandom community has tried to show me otherwise.

My response to the Dickwolves: Animals in this society belong in two places. One: In a cage or Two: on my plate. So are you my pet or my food?

[brigid]

i hope i am a non sociopathic online gamer

[catkick]

Not all gamers are sociopaths or basement dwellers (not the same thing either) but I've known enough gamers to see plenty of both.

I even lost my best friends to online gaming. I had a group of girlfriends and it was great. then they all got into Everquest and only wanted to be friends with those in their guild I had no interest in online gaming. I got cut out of the group.

but watching them throw up on themselves and keep playing (at 500 pounds) or the hideous example with the tampons.....it was creepy