I am from Mars
One of the reasons I like to write blogs is that it enables me to try grasp the individual snippets of thought and opinion as they intermittently trigger in my mind, analyse them, filter them and attempt to formulate them to a piece of text that explains what I actually feel on the matter.
The thoughts are like pieces of the puzzle floating incoherently around in my head, and writing them down brings them together to form the overall picture. I might think I know what the picture is, but until I actually put the pieces together, I can't be sure.
Over the last couple of days it seems the issues around females and gaming have surfaced again which has sent the puzzle pieces into over drive, so I want to write a blog on the subject. However this is where it gets tricky, see I don't have boobs (actually, bad example (Its relaxed muscle!)). What I mean is, I'm not female and Im not sure I fully understand the problem. I don't mean to say its invalid, I literately mean I don't think I understand and maybe its not even 100% possible for a bloke to do so? I want to try though.
I've touched on the subject in general (here and here (which should give you some insight into my current mindset)) but I want to try and write something specifically on females and gaming. I want to get "the issue" straight in my head first though. I'm well versed on the points that have been brought up and Im not completely stupid* so I think I understand the nature of the complaints.
The way I see it there are three issues here (again, correct me if you feel differently) all probably connected. Firstly there is the portrayal of female characters in games, then there is the treatment/attitude towards women gamers (online for example) and most recently, the treatment of women working in the industry. I don't know how I put myself in the shoes of a female gamer though? The only way I can think to do it is to ask "what do women want?". What I mean by that is how, in your eyes do you envision the industry changing? I'm looking for low level, exact examples here if possible.
Some extra questions
1. What do you think of Lara Croft as a character?
2.Do you think women are verbally attacked online more than any other demographic?
3.The games industry is said to be male dominated (I have no stats) do you agree and if so, why do you think that is?
*opinion
1 Like There was a South Park where Stan tried to understand how it felt to be the subject of racism. These efforts annoyed Token (a black kid) until Stan realised that he would never understand what it was like and in accepting this Token relaxed and they moved on. This issue is kind of like that. Basically South Park can solve many of our questions in life.
You have my responses on your blog. But I think if you want this to be an editorial you will have to give the title some context.
@wavey_gravey cool, think I am just going to write the blog :) I've been reading lots of feminist blogs and looking at those hashtags. The trouble is, they highlight problems, but never really mention solutions. My blog will show my perspective anyway.
