Support NeoGAF

[SmokyDave]

Higher percentage of big breasted women?

That's the secret to enjoying any venue in my experience.

 

[Paskil]

This thread is seriously fucking with my head. I know that LGBTQ values have a long way to go at being accepted norms, even in the supposedly "accepting" countries but Christ, the slooooow progress can be super depressing sometimes. I wish I could be alive around five generations from now (assuming there is not some huge cultural collapse) to see to how great of an extent things like homophobia, racism, sexism, and other isms still exist in the world.

To all the people fighting the good fight in this thread, keep on keeping on!

 

[Grakl]

I seriously hope they have other types of gamer conventions after this. Gangster Gamer Convention in New Jersey, Farmer Gamer Convention in Kansas, Stoner Gamer convention in Amsterdam etc. This has the potential to be huge.

The stupidity of some comments in this thread exceeds my expectations. Good shit, dismissing discrimination so easily. /s

 

[Stumpokapow]

I seriously hope they have other types of gamer conventions after this. Gangster Gamer Convention in New Jersey, Farmer Gamer Convention in Kansas, Stoner Gamer convention in Amsterdam etc. This has the potential to be huge.

Well I guess what I'd say is:

1) All of those things sound great to me. Certainly if an earnest group of people in the weed+gaming community wanted to create a safe space for like-minded individuals, or the farmer+gaming community or the Quebecois+gaming community or the Aboriginal American+gaming community or the Latino+indie dev, that'd be great! I know you meant it as a joke (hopefully a funny light-hearted one and not a glib dismissal), but it sounds like a seriously good idea to me. I'd attend any of the cons you mentioned and any of the ones I'm mentioning here. Progress!

2) I'm not sure any of those groups face open hostility in the gaming industry or community, although certainly all three groups are not well portrayed in games. I'm also not so sure that "gangster" is as deep of a facet of someone's identity as maybe their sexual orientation is. And it comes off as maybe a little insensitive to people who are hurt or marginalized because of their identity when we kind of pretend that identity is all felt on the same level. Like it would be callous to say something like "I know what it's like to be a minority, I'm left-handed" or "I know what it's like to be a minority, I don't like rap music and all the kids at school did". It also comes off as myopic, the way maybe "I know what it's like to lose a loved one, my goldfish died" comes off if it's being said by someone who isn't 8 to someone who just lost their wife. But of course even things that are relatively less deeply held parts of a person's identity can be strongly felt or subject to discrimination--identity is intersectional, of course! so those people need and deserve safe spaces too.

3) I think maybe people from New Jersey would not be super happy at the stereotype that they're all gangsters (there's also kind of an ethnic undercurrent too, because really you're talking about an Italian stereotype). While it's true that there was organized crime in Atlantic City, and while it's true that San Francisco is known to be a gay-friendly city, I think maybe drawing the connection is a little rude to both groups. Also, Dutch people smoke significantly less pot than Americans, and Dutch pot laws have been tightened substantially in the last decade so it's kinda a little tired.

 

[Saint Francis]

Don't you think that in life, people who are gay run into situations that make them feel hurt, hated, alienated, physically threatened, or second-class citizens? That's why there are LBGT groups and events. To give them a safe space where they can be sure that stuff doesn't happen. These events are not closed--you can attend, provided you are a friend of the values of the organization organizing them.

It's like any other minority organization. They don't have jewish groups to hate you for your religion, they have jewish groups to have a safe space filled with friends. They don't have black history month to argue that white people suck and contribute nothing, they have black history month to call attention to some of the contributions of people of colour that went unnoticed. They don't have take back to the night to make men feel threatened, they have take back the night so that women don't have to be threatened.

The reason why I made the first post is that I'm mindboggled anyone would make a post like your first post. You have gay friends? No shit. Everyone on earth has gay friends. And it's because you have gay friends that you should momentarily stop and say "Wait a minute, what if I'm reading this the wrong way?". And ask them. Ask them what it's like to live their life. And listen to them. There's plenty of people with black friends who cross the road when they see a stranger who is a person of colour, it doesn't mean their logic becomes bulletproof because they couldn't possibly racist. Racism, homophobia, and sexism aren't cartoon villains tying people to train tracks, they're mostly very banal and everyday, they're all the small ways that we marginalize others.

Even if you're a nice guy who is friendly to everyone and makes a lot of friends and considers himself empathetic, that doesn't mean you understand in any way the minority experience.

A gay olympics exists because, although the Olympics is intended to be inclusive, there are many ways where it and all other form of sport fall short. We're seeing a wide and systemic movement in American professional sport--by the way, there are literally 0 openly gay players in most American leagues, and fewer than a dozen in all of them; either you can conclude that gays suck at sports, or you can conclude that athletes don't feel comfortable coming out--to try to fight back against the homophobia, homophobic epithets, and cruelty hurled at gays. That amateur sport would want the same sort of safe space, especially and most importantly in light of the fact that the Olympics is taking place in an openly homophobic country that is rapidly backsliding and tacitly encouraging violence against gays, is not a surprise or an exclusion.

You are welcome to join your brothers and sisters in pride. Pride about who they are. Pride about who everyone can be. Mutual love and respect, humanity, and true empathy. Those are the values that drive Gay Olympics, Pride Week, GAYMERX, and every other safe space carved out for minorities anyway.

And that's why "Boy, those minorities sure are uppity? Won't they shut up about how bad they've got it?" comes off as cruel and inconsiderate.



Because when they hold a video game convention, Johnny CoD shows up and calls them faggots because they look the wrong way or because they aren't playing enough or just because. Because they want to wear what they want to wear, be who they are, and act the way they are, without worrying about how their identity bothers people. Because they want to have their husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, and friends there with them without getting sideways glances, rude stares, or heckled.

And if you're saying "Yes, but I'd never call somebody a faggot! That's so mean!" then why don't you go to GAYMERX, have a good time being around likeminded kind people, and not worry about the fact that you're a straight man standing under a rainbow banner. You're not unwelcome. You're not segregated. Go where you please. It doesn't make you less straight. It doesn't make it less OK to be straight. You are who you are. No one minds one bit.

P.S. When you do attend, and there's a panel about gay characters in gaming, please don't show up so you can say "There aren't many gay characters because <most people aren't gay / gaming is a business and it should cater to the majority / who would want to play as a gay character / authors shouldn't be forced to be fake diverse / who cares you can have gay sex in BioWare games so what are you even complaining about?>". Have an open mind. These are people speaking their heart about the pain they feel on a daily basis. They want you to be kind and to care and to empathize. They don't want you to remind them why they don't open their mouth to begin with.

Best Post In This Thread: well reasoned & kindly informative.

Stumpokapow wins the internet today! : )

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

I'm straight, but I'm pretty sure I'd rather attend a gay orientated games convention. Is it still bigotry if I'm positively stereotyping? Probably.

I tend to enjoy gay clubs more than straight clubs too. Better vibe, I find.

Anyway, seems like a good idea, hope everyone had a blast.


A welcome escape from heteronormativity at its most negative, I'd assume.

This is such a welcome point of view. Catering to a more niche interest =/= separatist. As a gay dude, I don't ever want people to feel like LGBT-oriented events are exclusionary or unwelcoming.

 

[User 73706]

To be fair, meeting up can lead to dating. I doubt he meant hooking up = sex, more hooking up = dating. At least, that's how I took it.

I get that it's a social event and common interests are a good icebreaker (plus I mean hell, it's already SanFran), but that's the kind of shit that just screams "all gays are promiscuous" to me. With GAF you can never tell if it's a simple observation or a militant neo-Redditor just barfing ignorance all over the walls.

The one instance where I'd be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt is if they're naive enough to think hooking up can be something other than sex in such a general context.

 

[Platy]

This minority tak made me think that it really needs a feminist convention to talk more openly about how gaming culture is MALE oriented before even being straight, white or cisgender oriented.

Also intersectionality would welcome other talks about the straight, white and cisgender part as well.

So when's the black, mexican, or indian gamer convention for other minorities?

/justsaying

I am pretty sure there are LOTS of gaming conventions on India and Mexico =P

 

[Grakl]

I get that it's a social event and common interests are a good icebreaker (plus I mean hell, it's already SanFran), but that's the kind of shit that just screams "all gays are promiscuous" to me. With GAF you can never tell if it's a simple observation or a militant neo-Redditor just barfing ignorance all over the walls.

The one instance where I'd be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt is if they're naive enough to think hooking up can be something other than sex in such a general context.

True. That's what I'm leaning toward because I'm hoping it's just that. It's hard to tell.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

I get that it's a social event and common interests are a good icebreaker (plus I mean hell, it's already SanFran), but that's the kind of shit that just screams "all gays are promiscuous" to me. With GAF you can never tell if it's a simple observation or a militant neo-Redditor just barfing ignorance all over the walls.

The one instance where I'd be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt is if they're naive enough to think hooking up can be something other than sex in such a general context.

Not to go against what you're saying, but I don't see why "hooking up" is not a valid appeal of events like these. I'm gay, and I like that such events usually have ratios that are in my favor. I'm definitely a "gotta date you a while before anything happens" kind of guy, but if other dudes wanna cut-to-the-chase and romp around, I don't see why anyone should look down upon them. It's not my business.

So when's the black, mexican, or indian gamer convention for other minorities?

/justsaying

Whenever those groups wanna throw a convention for themselves? No matter how specific these events may be, so long as everyone's welcome, I don't see what's the problem.

 

[Grakl]

Not to go against what you're saying, but I don't see why "hooking up" is not a valid appeal of events like these. I'm gay, and I like that such events usually have ratios that are in my favor. I'm definitely a "gotta date you a while before anything happens" kind of guy, but if other dudes wanna cut-to-the-chase and romp around, I don't see why anyone should look down upon them. It's not my business

Just going to quote him again:

but that's the kind of shit that just screams "all gays are promiscuous" to me.

That's why. A comment like what he's referring to can just be promoting stereotypes.

 

[patrickthehedgehog]

Wait, people are upset/confused as to why this would exist? It's just an event for gay nerds to meet other gay nerds with themes, activities/panels catering more to gay interests. It's not about excluding anyone out, (I'm sure everyone is welcome to attend), and it's not a jab at other events "not being gay-friendly" or anything.

Also, places like these are nice for single geeky gays who are dating around, cause the ratio is usually in their favor. While everyone is absolutely welcome to attend, chances are as a gay dude you're not gonna accidentally hit on a straight-guy which is usually just awkward for everyone involved.

Exactly. Being super into games and being gay is like the hot combo of lonely death. Games are rarely made with people like me in mind and in the gay community there don't seem to be that many people into games enough to go to something like PAX. This creates a nice cross section of two parts of my life that are important to me.

It's also about visibility. Hi, we're fucking here and we play games too. I don't always want to play a character that is 100% straight. I don't mind it, but every form of fucking media I've grown up with in my entire life is almost always targeted at me, as a male, assuming I'm attracted to women and that plays deeper into games than you would imagine. It can be fun to immerse yourself in a character or an environment within a game, but the moment I'm supposed to play along with the chasing after a love interest sub-plot I'm at risk for losing all immersion because that isn't part of my life at all.

Please note that I can always ignore this stuff and enjoy the game anyway, but it leads to something being missing or left out. It's the same reason that non white people go out of their way to go to the island in Animal Crossing daily to have their avatar represent their skin color. It's more fun to be part of the game.

I know this all might sound small and petty, but I swear to all of you this is an issue I've felt over and over in games. I love video games and I want to be included even if you do not realize that you always have been.

 

[Sblargh]

This is such a welcome point of view. Catering to a more niche interest =/= separatist. As a gay dude, I don't ever want people to feel like LGBT-oriented events are exclusionary or unwelcoming.

They're only exclusionary or unwelcoming to people who have a problem with them. I never met any gay community that gave straight people any kind of hard time or bad vibe.

When I was 18 on something, Brokeback Mountain was on the theaters and I had this opinion that "this movie doesn't have a reason to exist, it's just a regular love story with gay characters". So, I got drunk at this gay bar and said this to some guys there, who then kindly explained to me why was important that a movie like that existed.

See, if I'm on any kind of "straight-only" bar and, getting drunk, decide to say something that might be offensive straight people, there are good odds that a fight will break out or that people will feel the need to punch the opinion out of my face.

Again, as someone who is straight, I tend to feel a lot better in LGBT-friendly enviroments, because, at the end of the day, for a bunch of reasons, they tend to be human-being-friendly enviroments too. (not always, obviously, but in general)

 

[Stumpokapow]

Not to go against what you're saying, but I don't see why "hooking up" is not a valid appeal of events like these. I'm gay, and I like that such events usually have ratios that are in my favor. I'm definitely a "gotta date you a while before anything happens" kind of guy, but if other dudes wanna cut-to-the-chase and romp around, I don't see why anyone should look down upon them. It's not my business.

Honestly, that's the key to understand a lot of minority events. It's about pushing back against the unfair effect that stereotyping and judgment has, while simultaneously noting that it's absolutely okay to be who you are and that whatever those elements are that are judged are very valid.

You see that in drag competitions at gay events. It's 50% about saying "I'm fabulous! I'm camp! I'm queer! I'm loud! I'm a bitch! Deal with it!" and receiving supportive feedback to that attitude, and it's 50% about saying "but don't reduce me to that, because I'm so much more, and so are all the other gay men and women here, and they're allowed to have nothing to do with this, enjoy it casually, or be full-time drag professionals, and all of those choices are valid and welcome."

 

[kittens]

This minority tak made me think that it really needs a feminist convention to talk more openly about how gaming culture is MALE oriented before even being straight, white or cisgender oriented.

I'd recommend checking out the two presentations linked here from GDC. And there's some cool panels, etc. on Youtube if you know what to search for. Thankfully this is something that's happening more and more. I want more video game conferences talking about feminism and more feminist conferences talking about video games.

 

[AhmazingArab]

Is this post real?

What do you mean? I don't see anything wrong with any particular group of people gathering to enjoy gaming.

 

[Grakl]

What do you mean? I don't see anything wrong with any particular group of people gathering to enjoy gaming.

The post he's quoting is sarcastic and meant to put down the idea of a convention for minorities.

 

[Platy]

I'd recommend checking out the two presentations linked here from GDC. And there's some cool panels, etc. on Youtube if you know what to search for. Thankfully this is something that's happening more and more. I want more video game conferences talking about feminism and more feminist conferences talking about video games.

I know those ones ... and exactly because it is happening more and more that I think that we reached the point of "lets make some convention ABOUT this"

In the same way that pax already had LGBT panels and now .. this ! =D

 

[Sblargh]

I know those ones ... and exactly because it is happening more and more that I think that we reached the point of "lets make some convention ABOUT this"

In the same way that pax already had LGBT panels and now .. this ! =D

This convention was kickstarted I believe. I would donate to your feminist convention kickstart just to go to Campinas and hug you and say I'm sorry for being an asshole to you one day at the Brazil thread.

 

[kittens]

Whenever those groups wanna throw a convention for themselves? No matter how specific these events may be, so long as everyone's welcome, I don't see what's the problem.

I think it's important to also affirm and validate the need for exclusionary events. Like, as a man, I totally get that sometimes women need to have space away from men in order to be safe, open, candid, etc. As a cisgender man, I know the same is true for some trans events.

It's nice to have open, totally inclusive events, but closed events are important, too.

Big Disclaimer: this does not apply to people in privileged positions. Like, if you're a white able-bodied hetero cis guy like me, you need to make your events welcoming and inclusive for everyone. We don't get to close our events in the name of "safe space".

I know those ones ... and exactly because it is happening more and more that I think that we reached the point of "lets make some convention ABOUT this"

In the same way that pax already had LGBT panels and now .. this ! =D

Totally. There's also the Queerness and Games Conference happening in October in Berkeley, CA.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Just going to quote him again:



That's why. A comment like what he's referring to can just be promoting stereotypes.

Fear of stereotypes shouldn't dictate your behavior. Just live how you wanna freaking live.

I think it's important to also affirm and validate the need for exclusionary events. Like, as a man, I totally get that sometimes women need to have space away from men in order to be safe, open, candid, etc. As a cisgender man, I know the same is true for some trans events.

It's nice to have open, totally inclusive events, but closed events are important, too.

Big Disclaimer: this does not apply to people in privileged positions. Like, if you're a white able-bodied hetero cis guy like me, you need to make your events welcoming and inclusive for everyone. We don't get to close our events in the name of "safe space".

This is a good point.

 

[Grakl]

Fear of stereotypes shouldn't dictate your behavior. Just live how you wanna freaking live.

I think you misunderstand me. I don't mean that it's not OK to go to an event like that to hookup. I'm just repeating the person I quoted, who stated that assuming people go to events like this solely to hookup is stereotyping that gay people are promiscuous and only go to things like this for sex, which is obviously bad.

 

[User 73706]

Not to go against what you're saying, but I don't see why "hooking up" is not a valid appeal of events like these. I'm gay, and I like that such events usually have ratios that are in my favor. I'm definitely a "gotta date you a while before anything happens" kind of guy, but if other dudes wanna cut-to-the-chase and romp around, I don't see why anyone should look down upon them. It's not my business.



Whenever those groups wanna throw a convention for themselves? No matter how specific these events may be, so long as everyone's welcome, I don't see what's the problem.

I'm bi myself and spend more time being a slut than I'd like to admit, it's just the idea of the stereotype itself, like Grakl said. I don't mind if people do go there with the intention of finding someone, but to think that's going to be at the forefront of everyone's intentions because it's a gay con is just ridiculous.

 

[moozoom]

Some very stupid and uninformed comments in this very thread validate the existence of this event... and Gaf is a gay friendly forum, so I shudder to think how this is talked about in other places.

There are times when you are fed up with being called names on xbox live, and when you want to meet some people with shared interests that won't be judgemental of your sexual preferences.

Not every gay person who also happen to be a gamer lives in a big city where it's easier to find like-minded people, more tolerant friends, or simply a boyfriend/girlfriend.

When I was younger and felt very lonely, I would have loved to go to such a "gaymer event" which is probably less political and sexually charged than a real gay pride parade. This would probably have helped me to accept myself sooner and maybe find some friends to talk to. ( I'm speaking about a time without internet, forums and dating apps on smartphones )

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

I think you misunderstand me. I don't mean that it's not OK to go to an event like that to hookup. I'm just repeating the person I quoted, who stated that assuming people go to events like this solely to hookup is stereotyping that gay people are promiscuous and only go to things like this for sex, which is obviously bad.

Ah, yeah misconstrued what you were trying to say. Sorry 'bout that.

I'm bi myself and spend more time being a slut than I'd like to admit, it's just the idea of the stereotype itself, like Grakl said. I don't mind if people do go there with the intention of finding someone, but to think that's going to be at the forefront of everyone's intentions because it's a gay con is just ridiculous.

Fair enough.

 

[LOCK]

I see no problem in having a convention more open to a certain group of people. However, we should make strides at other conventions, especially the larger more important ones, to establish ourselves as a subset, help fight stereotypes, and continue to integrate ourselves into the "traditional" industry. Only way to really instigate further change and acceptance.

 

[Hedge]

Not every gay person who also happen to be a gamer lives in a big city where it's easier to find like-minded people

Exactly. Isn't that also the purpose of this forum? To gather likeminded people. People might say "well isn't that also exclusive of non-gamers". Well, they're free to join.

The convention is just yet another sub-group of people seeking like-minded individuals to discuss passions and make friends. I'm a member of few gay-friendly guilds in a lot of games for the exact reason as not to have thrown slurs and what not after me by some random player.

It's not always easy feeling isolated in the world, and if there's a convention of people to help bring out some of those isolated individuals - then I don't see the harm at all.

 

[kittens]

I see no problem in having a convention more open to a certain group of people. However, we should make strides at other conventions, especially the larger more important ones, to establish ourselves as a subset, help fight stereotypes, and continue to integrate ourselves into the "traditional" industry. Only way to really instigate further change and acceptance.

Yeah, but events like these aren't always about increasing visibility or forging a path into mainstream culture. Sometimes they're just about being around people like you, creating community and solidarity.

 

[User 73706]

Yeah, but events like these aren't always about increasing visibility or forging a path into mainstream culture. Sometimes they're just about being around people like you, creating community and solidarity.

I get what you're saying, but deliberately going isolative with it seems like a bad idea given how infantile the concept still is to the public eye.

 

[Waylon Drums]

Between this and the Jimquisition from yesterday, I think I've hit my quota of ignorant internet comments for the month.

 

[LOCK]

Yeah, but events like these aren't always about increasing visibility or forging a path into mainstream culture. Sometimes they're just about being around people like you, creating community and solidarity.

Which is why I see no problem with this. My point, as I'm gay, is that I know some gay people who seclude themselves away from general society at any chance they get. Yes their choice, but I envision a future where this shouldn't be necessary and I feel the only way to do that is to be more open.

My fear is that this becomes accepted as the "gay" convention. It opens excuses to ignore a group of people at other conventions and doesn't facilitate change. I do think the current stance of operations at this new convention is acceptable.

 

[Lambtron]

. I want more video game conferences talking about feminism and more feminist conferences talking about video games.

My wife and I were just talking about this last week. We both love going to cons. We both enjoy them a ton. But there's absolutely a need for something like this. I told her we should start one up, but we kinda live in the middle of nowhere now... Maybe after we move.

There's also the Queerness and Games Conference happening in October in Berkeley, CA.

I seriously need to live on the west coast.

 

[Pyronite]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised about people's reactions to this, but c'mon guys. You really can't see why a gay gamer might want to have a convention that is geared towards them?

This.

 

[Monocle]

Don't you think that in life, people who are gay run into situations that make them feel hurt, hated, alienated, physically threatened, or second-class citizens? That's why there are LBGT groups and events. To give them a safe space where they can be sure that stuff doesn't happen. These events are not closed--you can attend, provided you are a friend of the values of the organization organizing them.

It's like any other minority organization. They don't have jewish groups to hate you for your religion, they have jewish groups to have a safe space filled with friends. They don't have black history month to argue that white people suck and contribute nothing, they have black history month to call attention to some of the contributions of people of colour that went unnoticed. They don't have take back to the night to make men feel threatened, they have take back the night so that women don't have to be threatened.

The reason why I made the first post is that I'm mindboggled anyone would make a post like your first post. You have gay friends? No shit. Everyone on earth has gay friends. And it's because you have gay friends that you should momentarily stop and say "Wait a minute, what if I'm reading this the wrong way?". And ask them. Ask them what it's like to live their life. And listen to them. There's plenty of people with black friends who cross the road when they see a stranger who is a person of colour, it doesn't mean their logic becomes bulletproof because they couldn't possibly racist. Racism, homophobia, and sexism aren't cartoon villains tying people to train tracks, they're mostly very banal and everyday, they're all the small ways that we marginalize others.

Even if you're a nice guy who is friendly to everyone and makes a lot of friends and considers himself empathetic, that doesn't mean you understand in any way the minority experience.

A gay olympics exists because, although the Olympics is intended to be inclusive, there are many ways where it and all other form of sport fall short. We're seeing a wide and systemic movement in American professional sport--by the way, there are literally 0 openly gay players in most American leagues, and fewer than a dozen in all of them; either you can conclude that gays suck at sports, or you can conclude that athletes don't feel comfortable coming out--to try to fight back against the homophobia, homophobic epithets, and cruelty hurled at gays. That amateur sport would want the same sort of safe space, especially and most importantly in light of the fact that the Olympics is taking place in an openly homophobic country that is rapidly backsliding and tacitly encouraging violence against gays, is not a surprise or an exclusion.

You are welcome to join your brothers and sisters in pride. Pride about who they are. Pride about who everyone can be. Mutual love and respect, humanity, and true empathy. Those are the values that drive Gay Olympics, Pride Week, GAYMERX, and every other safe space carved out for minorities anyway.

And that's why "Boy, those minorities sure are uppity? Won't they shut up about how bad they've got it?" comes off as cruel and inconsiderate.



Because when they hold a video game convention, Johnny CoD shows up and calls them faggots because they look the wrong way or because they aren't playing enough or just because. Because they want to wear what they want to wear, be who they are, and act the way they are, without worrying about how their identity bothers people. Because they want to have their husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, and friends there with them without getting sideways glances, rude stares, or heckled.

And if you're saying "Yes, but I'd never call somebody a faggot! That's so mean!" then why don't you go to GAYMERX, have a good time being around likeminded kind people, and not worry about the fact that you're a straight man standing under a rainbow banner. You're not unwelcome. You're not segregated. Go where you please. It doesn't make you less straight. It doesn't make it less OK to be straight. You are who you are. No one minds one bit.

P.S. When you do attend, and there's a panel about gay characters in gaming, please don't show up so you can say "There aren't many gay characters because <most people aren't gay / gaming is a business and it should cater to the majority / who would want to play as a gay character / authors shouldn't be forced to be fake diverse / who cares you can have gay sex in BioWare games so what are you even complaining about?>". Have an open mind. These are people speaking their heart about the pain they feel on a daily basis. They want you to be kind and to care and to empathize. They don't want you to remind them why they don't open their mouth to begin with.

This post is full of good sense and humanity. Beautiful.

 

[TurnipFritters]

I think it's cool that folks here are taking the time to educate and explain the reasoning behind the event (although "We don't have to justify why we're having a party" would have also been an acceptable response)

 

[RayMaker]

Why stop here, next they will be black,white,lesbian,Christian,Muslim,Scientology only gaming shows.

 

[RayMaker]

of course not, it's a pretty transparent dismissal

It seemed more like a slightly sarcastic suggestion.

 

[freenudemacusers]

Why stop here, next they will be black,white,lesbian,Christian,Muslim,Scientology only gaming shows.

the hits keep coming

It seemed more like a slightly sarcastic suggestion.

how would you classify the above?

 

[RawkHawk2010]

I seriously hope they have other types of gamer conventions after this. Gangster Gamer Convention in New Jersey, Farmer Gamer Convention in Kansas, Stoner Gamer convention in Amsterdam etc. This has the potential to be huge.

I'd go to a farmer gamer convention.

 

[RayMaker]

the hits keep coming


how would you classify the above?

Mine was a more obvious sarcastic remark to try and show the ludicrously of the idea of a gay or any gaming convention with attendees that compromise of a certain group of people that some parts of society deem outcasts,not normal,inferior, or just plain wrong.

 

[patrickthehedgehog]

Mine was a more obvious sarcastic remark to try and show the ludicrously of the idea of a gay or any gaming convention with attendees that compromise of a certain group of people that some parts of society deem outcasts,not normal,inferior, or just plain wrong.

fucking please

 

[RayMaker]

fucking please

I guess you think its a good idea then?

 

[Orayn]

Why stop here, next they will be black,white,lesbian,Christian,Muslim,Scientology only gaming shows.

This isn't a gay-only show, but feel free to ignore that. I'm enjoying the meltdown.

 

[freenudemacusers]

Mine was a more obvious sarcastic remark to try and show the ludicrously of the idea of a gay or any gaming convention with attendees that compromise of a certain group of people that some parts of society deem outcasts,not normal,inferior, or just plain wrong.

wait, what?

edit: more specifically, how did you write the first part and then finish with the second part.

 

[patrickthehedgehog]

I guess you think its a good idea then?

To be clear, you think this convention is a bad idea, right?

edit: Of course I think it's a good idea. Why on Earth would anyone think otherwise? Ignorant people's knee-jerk reactions to this convention existing are really unbearable. Where's your empathy? Are you this short sighted as a human being?

 

[Palette Swap]

Mine was a more obvious sarcastic remark to try and show the ludicrously of the idea of a gay or any gaming convention with attendees that compromise of a certain group of people that some parts of society deem outcasts,not normal,inferior, or just plain wrong.

I must be dense but what would be so ludicrous about these?

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Mine was a more obvious sarcastic remark to try and show the ludicrously of the idea of a gay or any gaming convention with attendees that compromise of a certain group of people that some parts of society deem outcasts,not normal,inferior, or just plain wrong.

Nah, yours was either a really, really bad attempt at sarcasm, or was not sarcasm but you felt compelled to cover your ace.

 

[Frodo]

I want to hug Stumpokapow.

 

[RomanceDawn]

After reading through everything from everyone I can see now why something like this is necessary. My personal experience is certainly clouded by just living where I live. I usually go to 3 conventions a year in California(E3, Comicon, Anime Expo) and I suppose I figured gaming conventions and the like were a haven for every nerdy person no matter what specific minority they belonged to. I guess my image of everyone in the same space together is a little more rosy than some eSport tourney. I just thought gaming conventions were the default place for minorities and outcasts to mingle because of the mutual interest.

But when I really think about it my experience is probably really one sided since I'm usually in some Nintendo specific zone where kids and man children alike are trading Pokemon round the clock and 99% of the people there are running around in Mario and Luigi hats. Not to say that Nintendo people don't act like morons, because they certainly do, especially during the Smash Bros tournies I've visited but maybe the younger audience that usually surrounds Nintendo's events keeps the older knuckle heads in check a bit.

 

[SmokyDave]

I'd go to a farmer gamer convention.

Me too, it'd be full of hoes.