Feminism in the bemani community?

[Αng]

So. I'm kind of a noob to the forums, bear with me if this has been discussed already.

I'm not all that involved with the gaming community. I've played DDR in the arcade for years, but I always sort of kept to myself. Other than that I don't do much gaming beyond a couple of computer games. It's only since I started posting here on bemanistyle a few weeks ago that I've had much interaction with the gaming community in general, and the bemani community specifically.

And, well, I'm kind of disappointed. It seems like girl gamers are still just a novelty to most people. Like an older thread on the DDR board that I accidentally resurrected (didn't realize how old it was when I replied and bumped it) about why there aren't more female DDRers... the general consensus seemed to be that there should be more, not because it's great to have gender equality and all that, but mostly because it would be hot. I've seen similar threads when I used to lurk on the DDRfreak forums a bit, and it just kinda weirds me out. I posted saying as much, but it didn't really get a reaction... just more people talking about how it would be hot.

So I'm interested in hearing some more female opinions on this. Other girl gamers, have you noticed what I'm talking about? What are your thoughts on it? Does it bother you? How do you react to it?

(This isn't even getting into the use of the word "rape" in the gaming community. I don't feel like fighting an entirely losing battle. )

[ZAEN]

You've put too much thought into this, not in a bad way. I'll expand on this later.

EXPANSION: It just seems like that the term "girl gamer" comes with ridiculous baggage much like any term or label. Punk, Emo, Goth, Raver, Gamer, Metal head, Bro, Kandy Kid, all these names come with a ridiculous amount of ridiculous assumptions, and being that the gaming community is usually a rather immature and deprived one (you mentioned DDRfreak), I'd be terrified for any subjectively attractive girl to come out and say "yes I an a girl gamer". The feedback and backlash would be terrifying.

My advice is to focus more on your individuality instead. Being a "girl gamer" will carry such a hefty burden. I mean coming outright and saying I AM A GIRL GAMER sounds like a plea for attention rather than a bold and noble statement. Just be yourself.

Also mandatory "are you attractive"?

REVENGE OF EDIT:

(This isn't even getting into the use of the word "rape" in the gaming community. I don't feel like fighting an entirely losing battle. )

I'm not sure what you're implying by this. I don't know if you're trying to stereotypically identify the word "rape" with women, that's uh kind of fucked up.

[kannazuki]

Originally Posted by ibnerd2005

It seems like girl gamers are still just a novelty to most people.

I concur. Which is why I never tell people my gender unless asked since I personally find the term 'girl gamer' sexist and that label is somehow attached to you automatically if you like video games and you're a girl. There's nothing wrong with saying you're just a plain 'gamer'.

My experience with this is that I wasn't taken seriously because I was a girl and I liked video games and actively pursued them since it was apparently 'bizzare'. I've got a sizable collection of games (A guy at a GameStop said that my collection was better than his, when I was buying used copies of Megaman X4/5/6 there one time.) and I'm okay at most games. I really just want to play my video games and have decent discussions on them, dammit, not be asked whether I'm single or not or whether I find Riku from Kingdom Hearts hot or something ridiculous like that. :/

[fellatius]

I think the main reason they are treated as such a novelty is because they are indeed so rare (sorry girls :-/) but obviously they are no different than guy gamers except for the fact that they have breasts and a vagina as opposed to a penis

I can't explain why people hit on gamer girls excessively, it's probably just because you can say "I have a gamer girlfriend" or whatever

[ZAEN]

Originally Posted by Valex

I think the main reason they are treated as such a novelty is because they are indeed so rare (sorry girls :-/) but obviously they are no different than guy gamers except for the fact that they have breasts and a vagina as opposed to a penis

I can't explain why people hit on gamer girls excessively, it's probably just because you can say "I have a gamer girlfriend" or whatever

It's common ground and it feeds desperation.

Also most girl gamers who bitch about being a novelty usually act like a fucking novelty.

[MidnightRecession]

Expecting enlightened, thoughtful comments regarding the merits of female presence in the gaming community is asking a bit too much when most of said community has never been within ten feet of an actual GIIIIRRRRRLLLLL.

Just saying!

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by Valex

I think the main reason they are treated as such a novelty is because they are indeed so rare

This all comes down to what you call a "gamer girl". If you are referring to is a girl that spends her life on video games, talking on the internet, and dating losers, yes, they are rare. If you are referring to normal girls who happen to play video games in their spare time, they are not that rare at all. I think the fact was proven that there is a specific difference between girls who play DDR and "DDR girls" when I saw what the DDR forum mentioned about DDR girls being rare. They need to come to my arcade because Im willing to say half the people who play are female.

Originally Posted by Valex

I can't explain why people hit on gamer girls excessively, it's probably just because you can say "I have a gamer girlfriend" or whatever

Call me out on this, but I think its because they think that since they play video games, they actually stand a chance since they probably have low standards obviously a bad stereotype but thats probably what it is...I also want to mention that the "DDR Girls" down here have a well known history of being easier to lay than a blanket...

Originally Posted by Zane

Also most girl gamers who bitch about being a novelty usually act like a fucking novelty.

Ohhhh how true this is...

[ZAEN]

Originally Posted by Dark

Call me out on this, but I think its because they think that since they play video games, they actually stand a chance since they probably have low standards obviously a bad stereotype but thats probably what it is...

Stereotypes have to be based off of something.

[Elegance of /flex]

Originally Posted by ibnerd2005

And, well, I'm kind of disappointed. It seems like girl gamers are still just a novelty to most people. Like an older thread on the DDR board that I accidentally resurrected (didn't realize how old it was when I replied and bumped it) about why there aren't more female DDRers.

More girls aren't gamers because girls don't have a history of gaming. It wasn't considered as feminine to play Mario as it is playing with dolls and shit. I'm not saying that it's right, I'm saying that's how it is. Society is shunning it less and less as time goes on, just like with most other non traditional things.

Originally Posted by ibnerd2005

the general consensus seemed to be that there should be more, not because it's great to have gender equality and all that, but mostly because it would be hot. I've seen similar threads when I used to lurk on the DDRfreak forums a bit, and it just kinda weirds me out. I posted saying as much, but it didn't really get a reaction... just more people talking about how it would be hot.

Male or female, sex is largely on our minds. It drives us, of course we're going to want similarities with mates. Plus when you have something in common with someone, it makes you feel like they're on your level.

Originally Posted by ibnerd2005

(This isn't even getting into the use of the word "rape" in the gaming community. I don't feel like fighting an entirely losing battle. )

Since when are people subtle? What's more demeaning than rape? Theres always going to be humor in tragedy regardless of whether it's tasteful or agreeable.

[ZAEN]

Originally Posted by Happy Industries

I am ready to fuck.

Fixed it for ya.

[Juli]

I think the obbsession with gamer girls is stupid, but not because what guys do, but because most girls that call themselves that think they are SOOO superior and soooo cool, when really they just get fat heads because gross losers hit on them often.

Also, I have yet to meet a gamer girl I like. I like Ruri, that's as close as it gets (I've never 'gamed' with her and i don't think she care about games too much, she's just on the internet).

Also, as of late two new girls showed up on the SW ddr forum on ddrfreak and really reaffirmed why I HATE girs that proclaim their sexuality. One of them is just, like, 16 years old and bubbly and vapid sounding, the other one made herself sound like a complete dumbasses, saying things like she doesn't play ddr around guy because they are just better than them, and thinking that girls need their own brackets in tournaments of guys would just beat them. One of the few photos she's posted was her in some creepy 'schoolgirl' (like the naughty kind) costume on a ddr pad. She also made a lovely comment that equated to 'men are all rapists'. She backpedaled on everything she said and called everyone that called her on shit mean.

I hates women.

edit: oh yea, I just remembered another thing. It seems that a lot of total dogs will decide to become 'gamers', especially for things like ddr which already holds a decent attraction as a 'girly' game, because they know from teh interbutt that GIRL GAMERS ARE SO HOTZ ad think they can score some skinny guy boyfriend. I dislike that a lot. Play it if you want you know, but don't turn into some fat-headed girl (liek above) and think you are super hot/popular.

[phuzion]

Honestly, you shouldn't be chasing girls just because they play DDR. Go to a fucking high-school party and pick up chicks there. Seriously. I'm not saying that arcades are a horrible place to meet people, but honestly, if I wanted to meet someone I have a chance of holding a relationship with, I'd prefer to meet that person in a different scenario than pumping quarters into machines and doing didder or too dee ecks.

Basically, what I'm saying is this: If your criteria for "hooking up" with a girl (take that as you will) are looks and that she can smash arrows, then you just might want to re-evaluate your ideas of what a good person are. Because a hottie that smashes arrows to the millisecond could still cheat on you, give you gonoherpacyphilaids, or break your heart otherwise.

[/relationship advice from Phuzion]

[ruri]

even though it was complimentary, don't bring me up in these kinds of threads.


ps love you too juli :*

[KaWaIIxneKO]

I sorta agree. I'm a girl gamer and everyone treats me like i'm an alien if they find out. Except for on mass multiplayers. I think that's the reason i like them so much. But on games where you can't tell gender, when people find out i'm a girl, they're all like "WOAH!" It's really annoying. Poeple gotta get used to the fact that yes, girls do play games. I'd really like it if that happened.

PS. ....You guys are sick! There are girls who would read this Thread (such as me).

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by >>aNiMeAdDiCtEd<<

PS. ....You guys are sick! There are girls who would read this Thread (such as me).

What the hell are you talking about?