Being a woman in geek culture

[Stella_Omega]

Thanks KP! Hopefully I see you out there one day. I am definitely a "con"vert. Can't wait for the next one. Far too tired to write anything profound about the experience right now but I can state that I did not have even one bad experience all the gender interaction I had and saw was respectful, professional, and fucking fun--and I interacted with a LOT of people.

I loved that during his Hugo Award speech John Picacio made a point of stating how disappointed he was with his state's treatment of women (he's Texan) and talked about the need for real gender equality.

Also, many Hugo winners last night were women!

@Noor - Paul Cornell was the host of the Hugos and he was AWESOME!! I can see why you like him.

Sooo sleepy. One more flight. One bus ride home tomorrow, and then it will be truly "over".

I'm hearing glowing hours all over the place! So glad you were there and had such a great time!

 

[Loverskitten]

From George Takei's FB

 

[desertslave]

Not only am I a geekette, but I'm an old geekette by most standards. I started D&D in high school in the 70s, continued through college, joined the SCA (a whole different flavor of geek), hung with young hackers and friends throughout the 80s, have a long-term love of science fiction and fantasy that led me to on & off volunteering at several PhilCons. Oh, and started playing M:TG with the original set. Now I nurture my son, who plays Pokemon and has run his own league.

I've honestly never encountered any hostility or dismissiveness among friends or acquaintances. I think it might have helped that I was curvy, friendly and not dismissive of the geek boys in return. Come to think of it, I've rarely dated outside this particular sub-species. When I have, it was always short-lived.

Likely my experiences are different because most of them were an entire generation ago. My son's friends seem to appreciate my knowledge and experience. I haven't heard tell of too many of the same issues among his groups, either.

This seems to be the right place to ask for a moment (or three) of silence for the great Fred Pohl, who passed onward yesterday. I got to meet him at a few PhilCons, and he was delightful to talk with (to a girl!), as well as being one of my favorite authors.

 

[Stella_Omega]

This seems to be the right place to ask for a moment (or three) of silence for the great Fred Pohl, who passed onward yesterday.

 

[TheLM]

I think this is a good contender for "dumbest drive-by comment in the thread"?

Dumb is what I do... Lame humor is my vice, over cigarettes, alcohol and mmorpgs.

 

[Stella_Omega]

From George Takei's FB

That is amazing work, too.

 

[satindesire]

From George Takei's FB

Poetic Justice FTW!

This seems to be the right place to ask for a moment (or three) of silence for the great Fred Pohl, who passed onward yesterday. I got to meet him at a few PhilCons, and he was delightful to talk with (to a girl!), as well as being one of my favorite authors.

A terrible loss to the Sci-Fi community. ;_;

 

[Noor]

IN Stella's above post...

The comments make reference to "*real gamer/comicbook nerd* males" which is interesting. I guess I am lucky, I usually just get "you go to cons? COOL!"

 

[desertslave]

IN Stella's above post...

The comments make reference to "*real gamer/comicbook nerd* males" which is interesting. I guess I am lucky, I usually just get "you go to cons? COOL!"

I've never been a comic reader, that's the one aspect of the Great World of Geekdom I haven't visited. I've gotten some rolled eyes (and given some in return) over it. I figure the one perk is that I can watch the Marvel movies and not have the same outrage over differing plot points or characterizations. I just roll with the flick as-is. Books to film, of course, often give me sufficient outrage to sympathize with said unhappy comic fans.

 

[Stella_Omega]

IN Stella's above post...

The comments make reference to "*real gamer/comicbook nerd* males" which is interesting. I guess I am lucky, I usually just get "you go to cons? COOL!"

I'm sure the lady got a similar reaction in person. But that wasn't the point of the reaction posts.

 

[Recidiva]

I'm playing the Final Fantasy XIV online game that released last week. It is a beautiful thing. I was searching for another picture, but I came across this. Gotta love a gender nonspecific Sephiroth, not that he wasn't already. Go you guys:

About FF XIV's character creation:

“Having Square Enix on-board this early has allowed us to influence their development cycle in the longer term. In order to realize our vision of global oriented gaming, Square Enix will be making Final Fantasy XIV more accessible to gamers of all races, genders and sexualities. In the past PlayStation and RPG fans indicated confusion at what gender the protagonists belonged to, that is why we suggested they implement transvestite leads and that will be the main attraction. We really support the creative vision and help them to achieve it. Something unique like that must be easier to come out of our group, then perhaps with other publishers.”

 

[satindesire]

Feel better soon!

I ATE TODAY! I can't believe it, I'm getting better!

 

[Recidiva]

I ATE TODAY! I can't believe it, I'm getting better!

Yaaay! Baby bites!

 

[Noor]

Not only am I a geekette, but I'm an old geekette by most standards. I started D&D in high school in the 70s, continued through college, joined the SCA (a whole different flavor of geek), hung with young hackers and friends throughout the 80s, have a long-term love of science fiction and fantasy that led me to on & off volunteering at several PhilCons. Oh, and started playing M:TG with the original set. Now I nurture my son, who plays Pokemon and has run his own league.

I've honestly never encountered any hostility or dismissiveness among friends or acquaintances. I think it might have helped that I was curvy, friendly and not dismissive of the geek boys in return. Come to think of it, I've rarely dated outside this particular sub-species. When I have, it was always short-lived.

Likely my experiences are different because most of them were an entire generation ago. My son's friends seem to appreciate my knowledge and experience. I haven't heard tell of too many of the same issues among his groups, either.

This seems to be the right place to ask for a moment (or three) of silence for the great Fred Pohl, who passed onward yesterday. I got to meet him at a few PhilCons, and he was delightful to talk with (to a girl!), as well as being one of my favorite authors.

SCA during high school here too! Dating outsiders is interesting Sometimes you think they are outsiders only to find they are closet geeks

 

[KoPilot]

Some downright disappointing geeky news:

http://io9.com/dc-wont-allow-batwomans-gay-marriage-to-be-depicted-1257106266

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/09/penny-arcade-expo-dickwolves/

 

[Noor]

Some downright disappointing geeky news:

http://io9.com/dc-wont-allow-batwomans-gay-marriage-to-be-depicted-1257106266

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/09/penny-arcade-expo-dickwolves/

We have to put our money and our support where our mouth is. I found the second article particular disturbing because several women said they did not feel comfortable selling there but did it for the money and exposure. The only way things change is if we stand our ground regardless even if it costs us money.

 

[KoPilot]

We have to put our money and our support where our mouth is. I found the second article particular disturbing because several women said they did not feel comfortable selling there but did it for the money and exposure. The only way things change is if we stand our ground regardless even if it costs us money.

I dunno. Not everyone can afford to be Stevie Wonder, especially not in any indie industry where folks are legit trying to pay bills with their work. If not going to PAX is such a game-killer (pun intended I guess), is it that much more progressive for that to be a barrier to entry for women developers and designers? If 10% of the female indie game makers wind up leaving the industry because they can no longer support themselves by trying to get around PAX, is that honestly a step in the right direction?

I think for the ones that can't afford to leave, who don't have enough dollars to vote with, they have to do what they can with the hand they've been given.

As for me, I sure as hell ain't ever going now. Which is a shame, because I was going to be very close to it once I moved and was somewhat interested in going.

 

[Noor]

"I regret the follow up strip, I regret making the merchandise, I regret pulling the merchandise and I regret being such an ***hole on twitter to people who were upset. I don’t think any of those things were good ideas. If we had just stopped with the strip and moved on, the Dickwolf never would have become what it is today. Which is a joke at the expense of rape victims or a symbol of the dismissal of people who have suffered a sexual assault."

 

[warmsoul2013]

very interesting

 

[Stella_Omega]

"I regret the follow up strip, I regret making the merchandise, I regret pulling the merchandise and I regret being such an ***hole on twitter to people who were upset. I don’t think any of those things were good ideas. If we had just stopped with the strip and moved on, the Dickwolf never would have become what it is today. Which is a joke at the expense of rape victims or a symbol of the dismissal of people who have suffered a sexual assault."

Also, dickwolf is a rallying cry for that bane of free enterprise, the consumer's refusal to buy what he's selling.

Lesson learned? "Don't be a complete douche where everyone can see you..."

Which is not the same thing as "don't be a douche."

 

[KoPilot]

"I regret the follow up strip, I regret making the merchandise, I regret pulling the merchandise and I regret being such an ***hole on twitter to people who were upset. I don’t think any of those things were good ideas. If we had just stopped with the strip and moved on, the Dickwolf never would have become what it is today. Which is a joke at the expense of rape victims or a symbol of the dismissal of people who have suffered a sexual assault."

Yeah, it's a good first step.

Now to get them to distance themselves from the voluminous mounds of threats their fanbase is often eager to dish out.

And yeah, reconciling the deep-seated shitstainery with all the objectively good stuff PAX has done will be awkward. I guess it should realistically be a lot less awkward than reconciling Apple's manufacturing ethics with the quality of its products, though, for instance.

 

[Recidiva]

Daughter just got me my new Av, she got a T-shirt with it and I was covetous.

As to business practices being unfair to women, I think that's been true of many ventures when people try to break into a certain area. I know that women's participation and willingness to play, and dispelling the myth that it's only "boys" has made a real impact on gaming and cons and culture.

Vote with your wallet and with your feet. Go toward the good, head away from the bad, but do be involved, or you can't have any impact at all.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Yeah, it's a good first step.

Now to get them to distance themselves from the voluminous mounds of threats their fanbase is often eager to dish out.

And yeah, reconciling the deep-seated shitstainery with all the objectively good stuff PAX has done will be awkward. I guess it should realistically be a lot less awkward than reconciling Apple's manufacturing ethics with the quality of its products, though, for instance.

They need to tell them "shut the fuck up, you're being offensive. To a whole lot of other people, including me, your hero."

Andrew Hussie has done that, and so has John Scalzi.

 

[MissVianne]

Ohh this thread makes me smile! I live in a house with three huge geek/gaming nerd boys who sometimes like to put me down when I try to engage them in conversation about games, sci fi and tech, I know I don't have to prove myself to anybody but really!

 

[Recidiva]

Ohh this thread makes me smile! I live in a house with three huge geek/gaming nerd boys who sometimes like to put me down when I try to engage them in conversation about games, sci fi and tech, I know I don't have to prove myself to anybody but really!

I'm a proud gamer mom. My daughter just got a job in a gaming lab at her grad school campus, on grant money.

Now my son hopes she'll hook him up with a job.