On Gaymers and Cons Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 . . . 23 NEXT | |
It took me at least three looks to notice that the guy in the last panel isn't wearing any pants. Honestly, I've asked the "why do they want their own con" question myself. Mostly because I don't know what one would do at a gay con that one wouldn't do at a regular con. Then again, I've never actually been to a con. If the point is to fit in... then fair enough I guess. That's certainly a desire I can relate to. | |
In fairness, I was genuinely asking that question too, until I remembered if I had a penny for every time somone said something homophobic online I'd be richer than Bill Gates. | |
The 'segregation' argument from people baffles me. I mean, if you're going to look at it like that, surely gay pride parades/celebrations, or LGBT rights groups, or even university groups, of which I am involved in, would all also come under the same blanket. It's nice to see that at least some people get it, its about fitting in, and to not have to worry about people treating you differently. | |
Last time I checked, gay shaolin monks didn't need their own temples and gay women didn't need their own bathrooms. The whole idea seems a little more gay than gamer to me, in more ways than one.
He's not the only one in that picture with pipe between his legs! | |
only this time they wont feel too arkward to ask a straight person since this convention means they are (most likely) all gay. or they want to smack talk on how much of a stud nathan drake is. or they just want to raise attention on how gay people do.... things just like straight people do. hard to believe, eh? i have mixed feeling about this since it kind of has a sexual apartheid vibe to it, that will just cause more outcry how outcast some people feel in society. | |
This. Another thing I thought about was that are there even enough "gaymers" that 1) particularly want this sort of thing and 2) live densely enough to make this a big event? I don't imagine one would be willing to drive 500 miles just to get to a gaming convention specifically aimed at their sexuality. Unless gaming conventions are REALLY homphobic events, I really don't see much point in this.
Exactly. How does sexuality affect behavior at a gaming convention? | |
What exactly would you have at a gay gamer convention that would be different to any other gamer convention or is it just got a gaudy stereotypical colour palate and gives you the comfortable feeling that everyone around you can relate because not only are they gamers but they are also gay? | |
For once I have to agree with Arakasi, labeling people as "dishonest bigots" for asking a genuine question is not really helpful to the LGBT movement, I think the expression you'll attract more bees with honey than with vinegar is relevant here. Even when countering those who genuinely do have anti-gay views, insulting the opposition generally leads to them entrenching their position further and being less amendable to change. | |
Imagine Xbox live in person. I kid. Xbox live is probably friendlier. Hilarity of my jokes aside, why do you care if they have a gaymer con? Need or not, they want it and since these thing exist entirely to satisfy want there is one. | |
At the gaycon make sure they use are using condoms and lube.................. *leaves the room* | |
I would appreciate it if you didn't refer to gaymers as "things" :P | |
Gonna have to believe you, since I've never been to one. Doesn't really affect me one way or another whether they have a gaymer con or not. The idea just seemed a little odd. | |
Well, that's just the point: Attempting to understand the desire for such an event. After all, sexuality and gaming are not things that appear excessively connected at first glance. It's especially important to ask the question in case the answer is 'because gaymers don't feel comfortable at regular conventions.' If it's just something that happens because hey, why not, then we can just move on, but quite a few of us nerd types would like to be able to take pride in our culture being one of the most welcoming to everybody, and if it isn't, we'd like to know that. | |
Have you spent 8 seconds or more on Xbox Live? There is your answer As much as I love the gaming community, there is a very vocal & persistent subsection of our community that is extremely homophobic. The vast majority of us are not, but we all know it's there If they wanna start a game convention where people aren't yelling "faggot" every other moment, have at it. I can certainly see why | |
He didn't, he referred to conventions as "things". And speaking as a bisexual guy with a boyfriend, I guess a Gaymer-con just sounds... Nice. I don't have much experience with conventions so I can't really say that they're hostile environments in general, but I suppose it's just slightly easier to relax in a situation that is more specifically tailored to you. Even if that tailoring is irrelevant to the main subject matter. I'm just neutral on the matter. I'm not campaigning for a Gaymer-con, but I think "Because it would be nice for us" is a good enough reason to have one. | |
To be honest I had that question on my mind briefly, because I've only been to a couple of anime conventions about a decade ago and no gaming conventions. Those anime conventions were very welcoming (if very weird) places - I find it hard to to think that gay anime fans have any trouble fitting in. But then I am also a DoTA player, and DoTA is a game for hardcore gamers - just the sort who would attend conventions. If the sampling of "quality gamers" I've seen there is any indication, the whole idea of a gaymer con makes a lot more sense. | |
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Because old bean there is a wide streak of both Homophobia and misogyny in gaming culture. Shit just look at anything like tropes vs women in game furore for a premium example of exactly what is wrong with gamer culture. | |
Ok, everyone, important question time: Is this Con banning non-gay people from attending? (Answer: NO) If the gay culture is not your thing, then give the convention a pass. All these complaints almost feel like people are afraid that having too many conventions will somehow deplete the non-renewable convention resource! (Hint: it won't, you can have a theoretical infinite number of conventions with infinite themes, given enough geek critical mass) Discussing whether there is a need for this convention or not is exactly the same thing detractors of videogames or comics argue regarding those conventions. Just because you don't get it, it doesn't mean it's worthless. | |
I got it, it was funny. | |
Ugh Really? Have you all ever played any game ... ever. I'm gay and even just walked around a convention, the number of times you hear the Fa* bomb used as an insult is staggering. Or hoards of teeny boppers walking around saying how gay something is when they don't like it makes you pretty damn uncomfortable. These events aren't openly homophobic, and in reality many of the paying saying things like the Fa* bomb and or any other gay derogatory term don't understand that it's not OK to so. But there's a passive homophobia there -- using a term like calling someone a fa* (if you didn't notice, I hate that word above all others), you imply that there's something wrong with being gay, that makes that person less than human. I won't get into all the rhetorical happenings here and logical steps to get there, but the implication is there. To be able to go to an event about gaming -- a past time I love, that I dedicate almost all of my free time too, and not have to worry about feeling put down, belittled or anything just from overhearing conversation about people who 1) don't know any better or 2) Don't care about how the words they use impact those around them, is awesome. That's why a gaymercon is important. You don't have to want to go to it to make it a valuable, and needed event. | |
1: Personal insults on the forum will get you warned and/or banned. 2: You might want to reread what I wrote. There's two kinds people here; Those who are asking genuine questions, and those are asking in bad-faith. The comic is aimed at the latter group. | |
Well, isn't the entire point of conventions to go to a big hall filled to the brim with like-minded people? If the subgroup of asexual gamers who like to cosplay koopa's suddenly becomes large enough to feasibly fill a convention hall, then good on them, they'll have lots in common to yap about. Still would say today's strip is a bit douchy though, even if it clarifies there is a massive group it's aimed at, yet shouldn't be hitting. | |
Dear Mr Carter I would like it if you would NOT use such comments such as the following "steeped in that luxurious ignorance particular to white teenagers". | |
The thing about prejudices is that they tend to be invisible (or at least appear significantly more minor) when you are not among the group the prejudice is against. Bits of Homophobia which are obvious to gays (As mentioned above, the prevalence of the word 'fag' as a generic slur) are not always obvious to straight gamers who just don't consider such things. By asking that question, it becomes possible to progress from 'Is there a problem with gaming culture?' to 'What, specifically, is wrong with gaming culture?' It's impossible to fix a problem if a large portion of the people responsible are unaware (Or simply are unaware that people actually care) that there's a problem. | |
A gaming convention aimed specifically at gay people seems as pointless as one aimed at, I dunno, red-heads. Neither element is any more or less relevant to gaming in general. I don't see why people feel the need to segregate themselves toward or away from any one group. If anything, I'd actually be quite sad if gay people shunned (see, how do I term "normal" conventions now? "straight" conventions? ridiculous) run-of-the-mill conventions in favour of their own. Just one less group within what is normally a very inclusive whole. The last convention I attended (it was a comic / anime one, not a gamer con) had a brilliant stand with a huge rainbow flag draped over it and the proprietor was a splendidly camp and enthusiastic fellow. He sold yaoi, it transpired. Lots and lots of yaoi. I had a great time chatting to him (and embarrassing my female friend - who had not heard of yaoi - by asking the guy for increasingly hardcore material for her as "the regular stuff isn't strong enough [for her]" and he laughed along and kept digging out more of his favourite stuff as her face got redder and redder). If these events become segregated, the just won't be as good as they are now. So, this is me saying: "Please LGBT people, don't leave us and don't invent a need that (in my experience) doesn't exist - we love sharing these big spaces for conventions with you.". | |
1. I felt as if you were attacking my viewpoint by calling me a dick, and so I replied in kind. If that gets me a warning, so be it.
I honestly would not go to a game con to fit in, I would go for the gaming. I know for a fact I wouldn't fit in, not because of my sexual orientation or anything like that, for other reasons that aren't really relevant. One does not need to be homosexual to be alienated, and I also fail to see how sexual orientation even comes up that often during a gaming convention. As for the comic by itself, if it can be interpreted in a particularly negative way without having read the explanation below it, you're not doing a very good job in my opinion. If it is meant to represent your view, it should at least try to include some of the explanation below. Edit:
Comes off as both racist and ageist at once. | |
While you are correct in everything you say, for every one of us who thinks like that there are ten that would write them off with a "lol fags" | |
Ok, let me give you an analogy. You are in a room with your friends and the group is entirely male. You tend to wind up speaking and acting a certain way - maybe you swear a little more, maybe you care less about farting, maybe you bring up hot girls a little more than you would if there were a girl present. It's a subtle shift in behavior that isn't a big deal in and of itself, but it makes you more comfortable because you don't feel like you have to pay extra attention to what you say and how you say it. (Same thing is true in reverse, by the way - women change how they talk and behave when a man is in the group.) If that analogy doesn't work for you, you can use any people who make you fundamentally monitor how you behave - your parents, teachers, coworkers, whatever. Point is, it's not so much about existing cons being rampantly homophobic (though sure, sometimes that happens), but rather creating an environment where you don't have to worry about that at all. You walk through the door more able to be comfortably you, expressing all aspects of your personality. Sexuality informs many aspects of our life, big and small - everything from the clothes we wear to the entertainment we like to the kind of character we want to talk about to the cosplay we admire. No, it's not like attendees would necessarily be WOOO I'M GAYYYYYY the entire time they're at the show, but they wouldn't have to worry about getting uncomfortable looks when they mention their same-sex partner, or getting stared at if they held hands as they perused artist's alley. Plenty of gaymers have wonderful experiences at cons, but I love the idea of GaymerCon. A place where people can feel safe as welcome as they celebrate their geekitude? Fantastic! | |
Fine high minded thinking. Which naturally means that the very people that need to ask the question to see it never will. Hence the want for things like geek girl con and gaymer con. | |
Though I've never been to a convention I really can't see the sexual discrimination being bad at a gamer con. I'd also think that if you were you'd probably be thrown out very quickly by the convention organisers who wouldn't want a reputation of being a homophobic venue. Sorry but I feel this sexual orientation segregation is going too far into all aspects of life where it isn't actually relevant. I'd be tempted to turn up to a gamer con, then a gaymer con to truly see if there's a big difference though I couldn't help but feel discriminated against by the latter just because I have a different sexual preference when the convention should be focusing more on games. I find that there's too many homosexual movements that are acting like the world owes them for being gay and people should stop and respect them for it. Why, your gay, so what? the big deal is? Wow so people insult you because of it, lots of people insult others for being different, that's their problem and highlights their flaws, not yours. | |
<3 Susan | |
Wait, that was a joke? And... I didn't get it...
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On Gaymers and Cons
Don't be that guy.
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