- If you were to ask my wife, she will admit to having a few author crushs (i.e. she is in love with their writing). Although I've never said it before, I feel the same way about the writing of Leigh Alexander.
- The latest knowledge bomb that she's dropped on us appears over at Gamasutra. In it, she argues that it is all well and good that everyone is now talking about the problem of sexism in the games industry, but we need to do more. Leigh believes that all of these bloggers talking back and forth could turn the discussion into an echo chamber without having an effect of the community at large. Without getting the development community involved, all of this talk could be for naught.
- As this discussion has gone on, I've been wondering a very similar thing. I think we all agree that sexism is a bad thing and this is the time to get it out of our games and our culture. But our agreement is not to do it. The people in charge have to be persuaded that it is the right thing for them as well.
- I don't have a lot of power as a blogger-slash-consumer. All I can do it shout loudly and not buy their games. That second part kind of bums me out because I'd like to buy some like Tera. And Lollipop Chainsaw looks hilarious, no matter how bad a game it might be. But in good conscience, I can't support that any more. And I can keep talking about the issue until the right people are listening.
- Sure, those of us in this corner of the internet might be enlightened enough to know sexism when we see it. It's no longer enough for us to keep our heads down just because we're not contributing to the problem. It's time for us to speak up and make sure that everyone knows that this is not okay.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Read Lately: Opinion: In the sexism discussion, let's look at game culture by Leigh Alexander
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Thanks for linking this article, I had missed it before.
ReplyDeleteit's funny, in the first post I ever dedicated to the subject of sexism in gaming culture and geekery, this was my exact bottom line - so, what now? what are YOU going to do about it? I don't often revisit this topic on my blog, although it is very present for me and I support those bloggers who do (far better than I could); there's a point for me though when I stop following the debates which often become circular and feel like "exercises in debating skills", usually in the comment sections.
mind, I'm not saying that writing about it isn't important, but I am lacking an application, I miss things taking another step from there. so what I try to do myself is to actually live those words, live by example and be vocal where I actually detect sexism around me in my every-day life. blog discussions are just the beginning.
It is definitely an issue. I agree with you that we have the obligation to do whatever is in our ability to do. But we shouldn't beat ourselves up if the reach of our power. Affect those you can.
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