A letter in Dragon Magazine

[Darth K'Trava]

Not true. She also said she was a cheerleader, or at least, to paraphrase, "I look more like a cheerleader than a gamer so the gamers don't take me seriously." Which was called, and rightly so, as a pathetic pay-attention-to-me gesture.

It's about as bad as a girl we had at work one time who gloated to a group of elderly, crude male customers (regulars so I knew some of their mindsets..) that she made more money being a prostitute than at work... ANOTHER customer found offense and complained, costing her her job. She also gloated about forging checks.... Definitely an attention-hog demanding attention.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

I have noticed in my one gaming group that us girls are treated a little different by some of the male players.

For example no matter what style character we play we are never allowed to be the face of the group. I gurantee one of us could play a paladin with tons of charisma but the half orc barbarian would end up being the face.

In other groups I have not seen this. I have noticed the younger the players the less likely is this to be a problem.

We haven't had that problem. It's usually one or two people, the more assertive of the group. But it isn't a male-only thing to be the "face" of the party.

I was once in a gaming group consisting of mostly women. 6 or 7 people.

The game was odd, because sex and having children seemed to be a big part of their game. With the guys I gamed with before we NEVER had characters with children.

The only comments about sex came from one married couple in our group. Their characters usually end up together before it's all said and done in a campaign. But none have had children nor any talk of any.

 

[Aeson]

ok we know some men act strangely towards women in games and some don't. How anout you ladies? Do you act differently in the company of men?

 

[Darth K'Trava]

I never noticed women being treated differently thats why created the thread. I wanted to see if it happened.

I'm seeing the response to "girls in gaming" threads I guess I can see where their coming from.

As far as at a con, usually I don't get different treatment. Although I did have a gripe at an RPGA Living Force game where I was forced to make a character, on the spot, when I didn't have a clue about some of the different stuff they have in SW that's not in D&D. I reamed my friend a new one about the crappy treatment I got. His only excuse was that we were late (His fault as he kept chatting with people instead of paying attention to the time). It wasn't until I'd gotten to the table when I found out I couldn't use a pre-gen character; he'd given me 4 to choose from. Makes me hate the RPGA for their thrice-bedamned attitude towards a newbie who was wanting to try out SW gaming.. I've had more help from other DMs than this [bleep]hole of a DM in that game!

Edit: I was the only female at that table and wasn't really welcomed there at all. I guess the boys couldn't make their crude little jokes with me around... didn't stop my friend who, as a Jedi, made a comment about the wookiee taking a dump on a bad guy who was standing under him...

I'll just stick with either gaming with friends or non-RPGA gaming for now on. Less BS, MORE FUN!

 

[Darth K'Trava]

ok we know some men act strangely towards women in games and some don't. How anout you ladies? Do you act differently in the company of men?

Nope. I'm a crass, crude, nutty person. Just like the guys.

But why should I act differently around them? I just act like I always do. If they don't like it, oh, well... I'm there to have fun.

 

[Aeson]

I'm the same way in real life as I am online or in a game. I lurk for awhile then I become comfortable then stick my foot in my mouth and be an a$$.

Actually for some reason I can be more charming and funny but still an a$$ online and in RL. go figure.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Not to mention not being nice.

Well, if memory serves you accused me of "wanting all women to be whores", so how surprised could you be?


The fact that there was no comment in the thread (or anywhere I'm aware of) kind of leaves you out in the cold as far as taking anyone to task for "not being nice" doesn't it?

My response to your slander was this

 

[Crothian]

TB has a long memory, the only thing longer then his memory are his grudges.

That being said, I've been gaming wioth women for over 15 years now and I've seen them treated fine and not fine. I try to treat them like one of the guys but its hard when they don't want to be one of the guys. I've had some that act differently and then complain that I treat them differently. But after gaming with lots of differnt people of all sorts of gender I have learned that the problem isn't with gender, its with the individuals. There are males that act horrible and frankly need slapped aside the head and told how to behave. And there are females that need to be told the same thing. Its a fringe hobby this gaming, and it attracts some wonkers to it.

 

[Aeson]

TB have you gamed with any women? How did the group act? Differently?

 

[Teflon Billy]

I try to treat them like one of the guys but its hard when they don't want to be one of the guys. I've had some that act differently and then complain that I treat them differently. But after gaming with lots of differnt people of all sorts of gender I have learned that the problem isn't with gender, its with the individuals. There are males that act horrible and frankly need slapped aside the head and told how to behave. And there are females that need to be told the same thing. Its a fringe hobby this gaming, and it attracts some wonkers to it.

That'a about where we are as well, the women we currently game with are pretty hardcore abuot gaming. We've had more than one player (of both genders) join up becasue we are, well, fun people...but they lacked any desire to play beyond kibbitzing and catching up.

Only one of them actually "got into" the game, and she remains.

The two guys and the other girl are long gone. Still socialize with them, they just don't get invited to the weekly game.