Open response to "25 Invisible Benefits of Gaming While Male"
It's interesting to find a source of information where known faces and even prominent voices read off predetermined bullet points from a checklist that they played no part in creating.
It's depressing when said checklist was created by one of the most ignorant people in "gaming academia" today -- one who has decided long ago that their statements alone are gospel, needing not any resources or citations backing up their claims.
Academia has a word for such people: flunkies.
Nonetheless, one can still challenge even the most unfounded of claims, whether or not they're based solely on personal conviction and passion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E47-FMmMLy0
1. Women can choose to "remain oblivious," as well. That's not a male-specific attribute. Also...prove said harassment please.
2. Ironically, several sources (publications) have openly proclaimed that gaming is "not a male space," so this statement essentially has no real merit whatsoever. Even so...prove it. Show evidence of a significant body claiming games "aren't for women."
3. Again, prove it. The burden is on you to show blatant evidence that women and only women must fear their personal information falling into the wrong hands. I'm fairly confident that men have/will have many of the same concerns. (Also, what's this have to do with gaming? This is an internet issue, in general).
4. No real argument here. However, this is a silly idea that is often dismissed in most gaming "circles." If you've ever been a member of an online clan or guild, you would know that gender hardly plays a part in who is allowed to join. Again, prove that this is overwhelming.
5. People have already accused the maker of this very video of this. Again, prove that there is an overwhelming number who believe women only game for attention.
6. This is bullshit. Women have been a part of online (and print) gaming journalism for decades. Nonetheless, this is not a "privilege." Just because Whitey McWhiterson has a platform, he does not speak on my behalf, nor does he by default share my opinions, interests, or beliefs. I know, it's crazy to think white males aren't likeminded, but it's the truth.
7. Prove that this is a problem for women in conventions. If you do not have overwhelming evidence that women are groped, harassed, or catcalled at places like E3 (seriously, who would go to E3 to do this?), then the problem is not overwhelming as it's propped up to be.
8. Wait...two points ago, you made the assumption that white males "represent" me in gaming media. Which is it? Do white bloggers speak for my gender/race or don't they?
9. Again...prove it. If I can find female gamers who've never had their gender thrown back at them, you should be able to, as well. My guess is you ignore those ones.
10. Actually, it will. The thing about a competitive environment is that mind games are often played in the attempt to assert oneself over contestants. Any personal quality or trait that a hot-headed player learns of you can and often will be used as a way to get under your skin, break your morale, etc. This is why "prove it" is important with these statements.
11. What about being male makes people unable to dismiss one's argument based solely on their "tone of voice"? This happens all the time, irregardless of gender. Prove that the tonal fallacy is used against women more than men.
12. If your personal taste in games carries the fear that you fit into some sort of stereotypical "non-gamer," many would argue that that's a personal issue of insecurity and in no way relevant to a greater issue. If it is, again, prove it. Nonetheless, if you're more worried about what others will think of you rather than your ability to enjoy the hobby on your own, I'd argue you're doing it wrong.
13. Here's a thought: Prove that Gamestop employees actually assume such a thing. It's tough, I know, but if you're going to negatively generalize an entire element of the gaming market, you better have some shit to back it up. Good luck.
14. How is this a problem? A privilege, sure, but this goes without saying. If a group of male friends and I decide to make a game, chances are it will be of our own interests. Larger studios wouldn't be an exception.
15. And? This statement is based solely off of the misinformation that female characters are not only rare in games (incorrect), they only adhere to a specific list of traits and attributes. All characters do -- some negative, some boringly predictable, some pretty cool.
16. No, you will not ALWAYS have the choice to play as a male. This is where doing your research is important (also not blatantly reciting a statement from someone who does not do their research).
17. Again, this is not a gaming problem. This is an internet problem. Assuming that the former can be addressed before the latter is just plain idiotic.
18. You PROBABLY never think about hiding your identity? What the Christly fuck kind of passive point is that?
19. RELATIVELY sure? This is the oddest method of allowing room for error that I've ever seen. Is this because nothing is being used to back up these claims? Damn...
20. No, other qualities will be used as an insult...because people know they very well might hurt your feelings. That's how insults work. Since it's common knowledge (thanks to you lot) that women are sensitive about...being women, it will be used in an assertive way to jinx their capabilities. This is nothing new.
21. No, people will only speculate on the size of your dick. I'm starting to wonder if these people have ever actually played an online game before. Keywork: online. And is there really an issue of men asking women their cup size? Again, prove it.
22. "Generally..." Come on...
23. "I can be pretty sure..." This is just getting lazy. Are we really excusing these occurrences happening to anyone other than women simply because they don't happen as much? I thought we were talking about privilege here.
24. Eh...wrong. I consider this video VERY self-serving on the part of the one who created it -- considering how this is the only career he's ever known or ever will know (he's certainly not going to be an artist of any kind). And no, none of you are "more credible" just for being men. The skeptical mind would beckon evidence from you in the same way that I have. And considering how there are plenty of skeptics out there...
25. Oh...ohohohaha...HAHAHAHAH!!!! Yeah, obviously.
This video fails miserably to provide any sort of intellectual insight into not only the game industry, but the gaming hobby as well. These are nothing more than commonly recycled statements that have yet seen any hard data backing them up...but they sure do have a lot of emotion attached to them. That can be the basis of their purpose: emotion.
But being upset about something does not make it true, nor does it make it a problem or "privilege." Just because I (or any male) is not upset about something does not make it a privilege. It just means we have thicker skin regarding the subject. Also, we wait for credible evidence.
The problem with "invisible benefits" is that it takes quite the imagination to picture them. I suppose that's another thing we can blame gaming for.
FYI: Before you say "Why don'y YOU prove it," the onus is not on me. It's on the original claim.
Also, the maker of this video is a complete moron. There, I said it. I don't even have to look far to prove it! :D
FYI #2: This dumb video lightly acknowledged that men receive abuse online as well, but it's "not about their gender."
How does that make it any more acceptable? Honestly, how does a racial slur somehow pale in comparison to a gendered insult? Quantify that.
Because, as it stands, that's nothing more than personal bias. Just because someone retains a particular trait, that does not make their abuse any worse or more considerable.
You fail miserably at being the sort of caring individuals you hope to appear as.