Girls in games (split)

[baghead_jackson]

EDIT: now that I'm a bit more alert..

Absolutely disgusting and I'm just so ashamed that I'm a man and that most men in the world are just like this entitled ass.

Umm.. what? Not to delve into this point too hard, however, the actions of one person (or of people of a particular demographic of person) who shares only 1 thing in common with you should never make you ashamed to be something. The idea that this one person is a representation of all things male and masculine and you're somehow an anomaly is wrong. And here's why:

'Hi I'm adding you as a friend because you're a girl, I'm not creepy, but I'd be in the kitchen for our future relationship'

Not arguing with the creepiness, however, we don't know who this person is or what his personality is like. All we know is that he doesn't do well with women, and comes off far too strong and awkward. Could this be his fault? Sure, but it could also be his upbringing and events in his life that sparked a fear of approaching women (leading to social retardation).

'Dear "Females"

Ps. I am going to act like a dick to cabinet I will act like an asshole and put you in my trophy cabinet'

No complaints here, though this could be blamed on the fact that maybe he, as a person, doesn't know how to interact with people (obviously). He could be an entitled prick, but he could also just be a socially awkward virgin who had no real male figure in his life to show him what being a man is. Either way, there's more than just male chauvinism at work.

And most men defend this opinion.

Um.. no? I don't know what men you've spoken to, but I rarely if ever see people defend this opinion outside of the internet.. which is populated by social rejects. Sure, guys say things like "treat em mean to keep em keen", but all that means is to not prioritize a woman when attempting to seduce one and to show some balls when faced with a shit test. I'd go off on a limb and say that most women find it unattractive when a man puts their pursuits before his own, especially when they're first interacting (ever hear a woman swooning over "driven" men? That's what they mean; their man pays attention to her but doesn't let anything get in his way of achieving what he wants). The only thing is when these socially awkward people read this advice they go overboard with it and think that the best way to attract a lady is to treat them like absolute shit instead of just maybe not responding to her messages every once in awhile and keeping yourself busy which, for some reason, gives the image of mysteriousness and a goal drive attitude.

Take it from me, a person who most would consider a misogynistic asshole, none of my friends (or myself) condone that kind of behaviour and not many men outside of the internet and various websites that are known for bronies actually support this kind of behaviour, which is why most people call them "social retards".


Which brings me to my own theory of hyper sexual female characters: It's what social anxiety virgins want. Look at fan service in anime and the invention of hentai, or fan service in certain videogames, then look at the fans of them. Bronies exist and "marry" their favourite characters/masturbate to them. People masturbate to Hentai all the time or their favourite anime characters (see: ZoneTAN). Hell, in Japan there's an epidemic(?) of young men refusing to sleep with women and would rather a virtual wife. These kinds of people I feel have more of an impact on the way female characters are illustrated than what people give credit to, and tackling the issues of why these kids are so introverted and self-isolating + socially awkward would be one way of changing the way women are illustrated in video games.

I know that when I play games I'm not drooling over a girl's tits since, y'know, it's a fucking CGI render, and I feel that men who don't fall under the category of basement-dwelling super fan don't either.

That's just my theory though, and I could very well be wrong. I've just noticed that the personalities of super fans is something that is very over-looked in conversations pertaining to this.

This point pretty much sums it up.

The issue of overly sexualised female characters is no different to male characters. Women are portrayed as weak and/or overly sexed up, flashing titties and ass and the like. The argument stems from the fact that it is not only an untrue portrayal of women but that it also adds to the problem.

Honestly, i'm not going to pretend that i know women who play video games or even the sorts of women that play video games, but i can agree that the accusations against female characterization in games is true. But the same problem is present within male characters and this is where my problem stems from with the debate.

Now i don't know many Men who play games enough to bother entering this debate, but i know the ones that would 95% of the time could only dream of looking like or behaving like one of the male antagonists in some of these games. Men are forced to play as Men with bulging muscles, often topless or some-such nonsense, that objectify men in the exact same way and reinforce the same messages as the female equivalent.

As for creepy Xbox live guy, the fact is that the internet gives a lot of socially inept people the confidence to say a lot of stupid shit. He wont be shot down or given the disgusted looks that he fears over Xbox Live, whereas in person the fear of which would likely have crippled him into not saying anything at all. Games havent influenced him to act this way its just how he acts.

 

[coyotecraft]

an untrue portrayal of woman.

Iconoclasm. An opposition and destruction of iconography. I can understand it from a religious point of view; shunning the use of images of God, Prophets, Saints. See: Islamic art history. Basically, you're not suppose to worship icons because they aren't accurate representations of God or whatever.

The issue of how women are portrayed in media is basically the same thing. Which I think is stupid. Because it's not the imagery that's the problem; it's the interpretation.

 

[Sauk]

None of what I'm about to say really ties into the conversation above, however, I was thinking back on what people say about the Sheik/Zelda "trope" in which the minute Sheik turns into Zelda she is captured because damsel in distress.

I've never really understood that viewpoint. From the point of view of the designers, in my opinion, making Sheik a woman then trying to make the big reveal shocking would be a bad move since, again in my opinion, there would already be suspicion of Sheik being Zelda (what with the tits and blonde hair and taking on the role of a Sheikah). Another thing is that Ganondorf was already looking for Zelda, and with Zelda in the disguise of a man, made Ganondorf's task of finding the 7th and most powerful sage that much harder. So when she made her big reveal and got captured, it's only because of her immense power and not because she was a woman; She revealed herself ffs, and he was already trying to find her. I may be misunderstanding this point that people make, but it seems to follow this formula: Recognize a man for his value (Link is the Hero who brings the sages together) and it is a compliment; Recognize a female for her value (Zelda is the most powerful sage and is the one who will banish Ganondorf, motivating him to capture her to prevent his fate) and it is objectification.

I may be missing some bigger picture, but to me it seems as though people are seriously grasping at straws to try and prove a point meanwhile forgetting that the straws they grasp hold up an entire structure.