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Message: <blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 565667" data-attributes="member: 812">The "social issues" that plague some gamers are unfortunate in some ways, and of course they're great things in others.It's great that people are able to follow their happiness to such a degree that they can dress how they like, talk how they like, and even find groups of people who dress and talk like they so they can feel part of a community. I'm someone who's fairly constrained by social niceties so I'm always impressed with people who just don't care and aren't afraid to show it. Good for them.On the other hand, when people get so wrapped up in "being themselves" that they fail to recognize the effect they're having on other people, that's unfortunate. When they behave in intimidating fashions or make other people uncomfortable or frightened, that's bad.Of course, everyone has their own comfort zones and one person's stalking may be another person's charming devotion. Part of being a grown-up is learning to recognize and respect other people's boundaries.Having said all that, I lived in Tokyo for a good many years and am unsurprised that women encounter stalking behaviour at gaming conventions. Every single woman I ever knew in Japan encountered similar behaviour. Every one. They'd either been flashed or groped in public or followed. Many had had men break into their homes (usually to steal their underwear).When I say every single woman I knew, I honestly mean every single one. Both Japanese and foreign. I asked them all, once I started to realise how widespread it was. So I don't know that this indicates anything very specific about the gaming culture of Japan.And, I wonder how many women in, say North America would not have the same experiences. Perhaps less of the flashing and getting groped on the bus, but I bet lots of women have had to deal with inappropriate attention that went further than was entirely comfortable. It just gets expressed differently here.Wow, I'm sure in a rambly mood today, aren't I? Anyway, it's possible to get very caught up in cultural differences (whether gaming groups or national groups or whatever) -- even when those differences may be smaller than we suppose. The differences between Japan and the US are probably less than the similarities.The differences between the US and Canada, now... THERE'S a cultural gap.</blockquote>

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