[ZiggyD]

Recently I was approached by Doji and a few members of Team Legion Gaming to write up an article on a topic that is close to their hearts, racism/sexism/homophobia and general hate within the Starcraft 2 community. This is a heavy topic so I was nervous but I agreed to do a write up as It's something I consider extremely important.

My main goal with this article is not to tell people what is right or wrong but simply to promote thought and discussion on the topic within the community.

Here is the article on LearningSC2.com.

My reason for sharing this here is that SEA is a community that is just starting to get it's international footing. As such every thing that our community members do forms the early opinion of us in the international mindset. Remember that for every community leader/streamer/caster that throws around racism/sexism etc there are a dozen, a hundred or even a thousand people behind them that think it's normal and perfectly acceptable.

Here is the Reddit link (Shared by Doji) if you would like to pop in and comment and upvote/downvote to get some more discussion going!

I'd love to hear your thoughts positive or negative. Discussion is the only way forward, the worst thing you can do is just not think about it.

Quick Comments

	VoxMSI.Rogue:	XD yay Ziggy <3 I always love your writing broski!!!
	Apth:	Nice.
	xGKingdelete:
	NOM:	Glad this was done. Need more chicks in sc2.
	Nemo:	Great article ZiggyD
	nirvAnA:	nice OP, nice article. awesome stuff ziggy :)
	Thoth:

[nGenLight]

I think you'd have much higher success if you went to the internet cafes in Bankstown, to find the CS players to do this peice. Hopefully bringing along Jim "The Zealot on a Bus" Diddy with you will help you!

Quick Comments

PiG:

lol!

[ZiggyD]

Originally Posted by xGKingLight

I think you'd have much higher success if you went to the internet cafes in Bankstown, to find the CS players to do this peice. Hopefully bringing along Jim "The Zealot on a Bus" Diddy with you will help you!

Is this a post in the wrong thread or am I missing something? x-D

[Baldie]

Great read and well written.

Always a fragile area to write what you want without making people feel bad or wrong.

[ZiggyD]

Originally Posted by Baldie

Great read and well written.

Always a fragile area to write what you want without making people feel bad or wrong.

Yeah, I was very nervous that I wouldn't get this right. Thankfully AuRora, Doji and many others liked it so I'm happy!

The truth is it's not something that you can simply 'fix' or even discuss in one article. It will take many years to make a permanent change but just getting the ball rolling is satisfying for me for now.

[iM tgun]

Originally Posted by xgkinglight

hopefully bringing along jim "the zealot on a bus" diddy with you will help you!

oh god i cant stop laughing **** you ray

[nGenLight]

Sorry just an injoke, what I'm trying to say you'd have much more success if you went after the CS scene if you want to write abt normalisation of sexism, racism etc.

Will definitely read when I have a chance, thanx for the share!

Quick Comments

ZiggyD:

Ah I see! The fighting game community is like that also.

[Security]

The thing is, people only find things offensive because they still consider it to be different, If EVERYONE did not care about what makes someone different and then put a negative spin on it, you wouldn't have racism/sexism/homophobia.

Unfortunately, there are always going to be people that will be negative and/or complain, sometimes for the pure fact of having to be negative or whiny about something, not that they genuinely believe it to be offensive.

TL;DR: Whiners will be whiners.

[Apth]

I think it's important to remember that a lot of the 'racism/homophobia/sexism' that goes on during streams or ladder matches isn't intended to be discriminatory, just insulting.

The problem with asking people to tone down the racism/etc/etc is that people who hop on the ladder and call their opponents n***ers won't necessarily consider their own behaviour as racist - they're not intending to be racist, they're just trying to be insulting.

Telling people not to be dickheads isn't going to happen - the perceived anonymity that the internet provides means that the social and moral checks and balances in play in regular social situations often don't pop up online.

IMO, it's more important to discourage the language people are using, rather than the intent behind it. People who are genuinely racist assholes aren't going to listen regardless; people who are just assholes might be content calling people fuckmuppets instead of n***ers.

Quick Comments

	Maynarde:	Stealing "fuckmuppet" from you
	syfCabracan:	If only I managed claim fuckmuppet before Maynarde...
	FvRphoneheha:	Yesh, alot of people aren't intending to be racist/sexist/homophobic, but perpetuate it anyway.
	SLCN.Kez:	omg I would love to be called a fuckmuppet LOL

[PiG]

NA ladder is disgusting. Every time I go there I'm surprised by how retarded the comments you get after every second game are. Dunno if it's as bad on eu and elsewhere.

But yeah, angry kids are angry kids.

Btw yeah I definitely agree with the idea of trying to change the culture but for some reason the really pitiful behaviour of players like Idra and Destiny is actually looked up to by some. I get why people like to see them rage and abuse people, that's just like why people watch reality tv, it's drama. But why people look up to it I don't know. The number of Idra fanboys who try to emulate his behaviour are just...erk.

Quick Comments

ToRSpartaz:

Exactly dude.

[VoxMSI.Rogue]

Yeah I think this is why I love the SEA community so much. I played one game on NA yesterday and the way I was spoken to by my opponent made me log off and back into SEA so I could play without being messaged constant abuse about how girls shouldn't play games and how im a bitch etc etc.

Whether a word is meant to be racist/sexist etc or meant to be insulting doesn't matter. There are plenty of ways to insult or BM people without lowering yourself to being racist/sexist/discriminatory. At the end of the day you gotta take what people say pretty lightly, unless they are harassing you on a regular basis and just shrug it off knowing its going to clearly affect their game being in that mindset.

I guess we have it pretty damn lucky that not only is this behaviour frowned upon in the SC2 community, but also that it is discussed and those who do continue to discriminate are effectively ousted by the community entirely.

I just wish people could embrace how awesome it is to have all sorts of people playing this game regardless of their ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, I have met amazing people and learned so much about others lives from this game and community and it has made me realise how much I want to travel and experience different cultures and ways of life.

Dear people of SEA, I love you for being a welcoming, tight knit community who support each other and don't stand for any bullshit, it really really does make this game so sooooo much more amazing

Quick Comments

	Security:	It's k :P
	Maynarde:	<3 you too baby gurl
	ROOTPetraeus:	:]
	Bash:
	NOM:	NA makes me want to take a massive dump.
	FaDeKerrigan:
	ZiggyD:
	x5_dot:
	Nemo:	<3

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by TARogue

Yeah I think this is why I love the SEA community so much. I played one game on NA yesterday and the way I was spoken to by my opponent made me log off and back into SEA so I could play without being messaged constant abuse about how girls shouldn't play games and how im a bitch etc etc.

Retards like that guy are why there are not enough girls out there that accept the fact some guys enjoy playing video games even though they are out of high school, let alone actually enjoy them to the level that they may even enjoy watching something like GSL in the evening rather than regular tv/sports.

Don't change for them rogue. .

Quick Comments

VoxMSI.Rogue:

<3 =^_^= <3

[NOM]

This is the main reason why most chicks don't play seriously or admit they play it.

I'm just lucky that my experiences haven't been so bad (i don't really play on NA, only practice matches and i don't bother talking to the other players).

I'm fine if guys make sexist jokes if i know them, but it pisses me off when strangers are like.
"Why are you here, you don't belong here?"
"Why arn't you in the kitchen"
"Play girly games like Sims"
"Women are hopeless at SC2"
"As if you play games for fun, you do it for the mass cock"
"OMG YOU PLAY GAMES I WANT TO MARRY YOU"
"TITS OR GTFO"
"DO YOU PLAY NAKED?!"

.... you get the idea.

Quick Comments

	nGenLight:	my ex played SIMS LOL
	Asrathiel:	Hey Sims is fun too :p

[ToRSpartaz]

Originally Posted by NOM

"TITS OR GTFO"

Probably out of context, but is it weird if I am getting these comments? O.o

Quick Comments

	ROOTPetraeus:	not at all ;)
	SLCN.NXZ:	takes full credit for spartaz feeling arkward about this

[faithHunter]

I used to write "sup ******" as a joke on the public SC2 chat as a joke...I'm gonna stop now. Don't wanna promote racism.

But well, those racism comments that people make are usually flames that people make when they lose a match. They just find something from you to make fun from and use it to flame you. For example, if they know that you're a chick, they'll call you a "bi***". It's a good thing that someone has stood up against racism in Starcraft 2 before it became a major problem though.

Might I add, that on QuanticFlo's stream, some of her viewers made jokes that are sexually harassing Flo. Not sure if that counts as racism or not, but might as well point that out.

Quick Comments

ZiggyD:

[FvRphoneheha]

Have to agree with Apth. A lot of people are so used to calling others "faggots, bitches, ******" as a way of asserting their authority over their opponent. If you asked them, a large amount would say "Oh no, I'm not racist/sexist/homophobic, it's all just in fun man", or "It's just a game, I wouldn't say that stuff in real life". What they don't realise is that by saying it, they make these sorts of insults commonplace and everyday. Even if the people they say it to are 'man enough' to take it, by spreading the language they make it more likely to be used in truly offensive/harmful ways.

We saw all the drama with Orb using the word '******', and it causing him to lose his job with EG. Even Alex Garfield said he didn't believe Orb was racist himself, but he stated that he found the use of such language unacceptable. I feel that's the right way to progress. We have to understand that even if we mean no harm, using such slurs can unintentionally cause us to be perpetuators of hate. And we don't want that, SEA's way too nice

[syfCabracan]

I was playing teamfortress 2 once and this was a conversation that came up

BF: XXX is my gf so be nice.
Random : Why is she playing a video game? she should be chained to the oven.
GF: There's a computer in our bedroom and I'm pretty enough to be chained to the bed.

The guy shouldn't have said stuff like that to someone he didn't know but I thought the GF's response was just priceless.

[Edit] Faithunter that is sexism

Quick Comments

fray`Alpha:

lol pretty awesome come back indeed :)

[fray`Alpha]

I got 2 things to say about it when it comes to racism on the internet.

The first one comes from my name, Ali. This is short for Alistair (my name,) I usually go by Al, but in SC u need to have at least 3 characters so I put in the 'i' since a decent number of ppl call me that already.
Since day 1 of playing SC2 with this name, I constantly get harassed by opponents and Allies (back when i did random 2v2) alike, for being Arab Sh*t, for being a terrorist, being told to go back to the desert. I am white and i still find the things people to say to be completely disgusting to be said to any one. the amazing thing is how often then not, it is said at the START of a game. completely unprovoked racism. I cant stand it.

The 2nd thing I wanted to say comes about from my younger brother, who just started playing xbox live (I know its not sc and its console but general theme of racism on the internet still applys). Me my brothers, my mother and a couple family friends all went out the other day for a big group breakfast, we are all talking and joking having a fun time talking about a whole range of things. my side of the table were talking about gaming, and my brother said "I always tell my friends (on xbox) to not worry cause I never get upset about loosing, cause i know it could be worse, I could be Mexican." the whole table went silent. My little brother is by NO means a racist. But thought as long as he explained to every one at the table that he was just kidding that it made it totally appropriate to say things like that at a meal. Tthe point im trying to make is what people have said here. joking about it online starts to make it more socially acceptable to joke about it else where, especaily when there could be younger people involved who can't decide what is right and wrong as easily.

point is I hate the racism at times.. sorry for the wall of text
/rant

Quick Comments

	ZiggyD:	I hate that you have to go through that :(
	PiG:
	Zealo:	♥
	nirvAnA:	thanks for sharing thowse two stories
	NvRossi:
	Nemo:	Thanks for sharing
	NOM:

[Maynarde]

People have already threatened to "do things" with my dreads when they meet me ...

... Terrible things.

I don't think there's enough shampoo in the world to fix it either T_T

In all seriousness, great write up Ziggy I love the content you provide the community.

Quick Comments

	raycey:	Make me laugh out loud why don't you just. In all seriousness, those dreads gonna get it yo ;)
	nirvAnA:	im gonna make u look like ninja

[ZiggyD]

Wow, thanks for all the interesting comments and stories! The overall tone here is very different from that of the people who responded on Reddit, which I kind of expected. At least I am promoting discussion! And it's quite interesting to see people rationalize away things they consider normal (a lot of comments I have gotten are very much in line with what this article is about).

Thank you all so much for reading, commenting and for thinking.

[raycey]

Reading Rogue's and NOM's stories gives me more reason not to play the game. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

Quick Comments

Maynarde:

Don't lump SEA in with those NA dogs!

[VoxMSI.Rogue]

Originally Posted by raycey

Reading Rogue's and NOM's stories gives me more reason not to play the game. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

nuuuuuuu

To be honest, every time someone says something derogatory about my gender and gaming, it inspires me to get even better, just so i can hit them again on ladder and ******* kick their ass!

[raycey]

Originally Posted by TARogue

nuuuuuuu

To be honest, every time someone says something derogatory about my gender and gaming, it inspires me to get even better, just so i can hit them again on ladder and ******* kick their ass!

I'm a rage quitter anyway, at least in other games, just ask Dox. Not sure I'd do much good for the female reputation.

Also I can get pretty heated and find it very easy to direct my anger at anyone but myself. Reckon it's best I stay away from this game. For everyone's sake.

[x5_dot]

Originally Posted by raycey

Reading Rogue's and NOM's stories gives me more reason not to play the game. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

Aww don't be too disheartened - unless you never intended to play anyway :P.

I've never experienced anything on their level. It is probably because I haven't played as much as them, but the comments I've had so far are more on the line of "wow, you're a girl and you play starcraft? i don't see many girls here". The people I've played are more in awe of my womanly presence than hating on me. Why? Not sure. Maybe bronze/silver players don't care so much. Maybe because I start each game with a "glhf ". Who knows...

Quick Comments

	VoxMSI.Rogue:	Manner dot is manner, also, they know PiG will hunt them down and gore them!
	raycey:	^^ What she said
	ZiggyD:	That sort of positive sexism can cause it's own problems. At least it not as directly hurtful as being called an 'x'.

[iM yang]

I get a lot of shit for being fake-asian, it's pretty depressing at times...

Actually in every game but SC2 I get called every asian derogatory name in the book, still makes me sad that people can be that mean.. Also happens on NA ladder sometimes

Quick Comments

	PiG:	Senor yang!
	nirvAnA:	lol!! Senor Chang!
	TCPLemminks:	yANG sama

[SLCN.Kez]

I don't get how people know someone is a girl when they play them?
A few people have thought I was a girl since my name is kez *short for Kerry, which unfortunately does happen generally be a girls name*, but eh.

I'm your typical white dude so I dont particularly know whats its like to be a minority but since I've been playing games my entire life on just about every competitive game there is I think people just need to grow a thicker skin? If anyone thinks sc2 is a harsh community they really should see what its like to play CS or dota/hon, now those are some really mean communities lol. Sc2 is pretty tame in my eyes, at least on sea and the relative low amount of games I play on NA.

Nor do I particularly think destiny is a "badboy" of sc2. If you actually listen to him he makes up logical well thought arguments generally in a well mannered way, and nor does he believe what he says is racist and his main argument is the same as everyone elses that people shouldnt take offense to language just because it may once have had racial connotations.



Lastly my $0.02 on the matter; If people keep making such a huge deal about whats racist/sexist/homophobic then that kinda only segregates them more? It's acknowledging that they are indeed different and should be treated differently and people need to watch what they say so intently as not to offend them because they're different ya know? Whilst I do agree that it's not nice when people do say these things and it might offend them and like I stated previously I have no idea whats it's like to be a minority, but people are going to be mean regardless of what ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender you are. The words they choose are simply the formality of it. If you were fat they would say shut up fat ass, if you had glasses they would say shut up 4 eyes etc, the only difference of course being that fat people or people with glasses weren't tormented/enslaved etc for hundreds of years because of this but eh, I feel like im going off topic and now just bringing up random points but hopefully people got something from it? lol >.<

*edit*
Oh I have one more point totally contradicting all my points above! People are obviously going to take offense to anything you say regardless of how you think the language should be interpreted, So if you're a community member don't "take a dumb ****** risk" (LOL I COULDNT HELP IT IM SORRY) and say anything that is going to offend someone and then try to justify it by bringing up the points I mentioned above. It's just not worth offending so many people for the sake of the principle of being able to say this stuff.

Quick Comments

VoxMSI.Rogue:

im tagged as femFxRogue on NA.. kinda gives it away

[FvRScrewby]

Originally Posted by kez

I'm your typical white dude so I dont particularly know whats its like to be a minority but since I've been playing games my entire life on just about every competitive game there is I think people just need to grow a thicker skin? If anyone thinks sc2 is a harsh community they really should see what its like to play CS or dota/hon, now those are some really mean communities lol. Sc2 is pretty tame in my eyes, at least on sea and the relative low amount of games I play on NA.

I don't think we should justify or at least downplay the use of some words by comparing SC with the FPS, FIghting and MOBA communities. IMO it's similar to justifying or demanding the people not to complain about the corruption in Brazil because it's worse in Zimbabwe. Just because they have it worse doesn't mean we should just harden up.

Quick Comments

	ZiggyD:	That's an interesting comparison I hadn't thought of!
	SLCN.Kez:	Was merely something to point out, irrespective of my overall argument
	Asrathiel:	Agreed entirely

[VoxMSI.Rogue]

Pretty sure anyone who has ever watched my stream can verify I am an angry ******, I rage quit pretty hard sometimes Candy, but usually because I am angry at myself for doing something wrong, not so much because of my opponent. Raging is fine, infact, i am pretty sure most the people who bother watching my stream watch for the rage

[x5_dot]

Originally Posted by kez

I don't get how people know someone is a girl when they play them?

my sc2 picture thingy is of a girl... kinda gives it away also

Originally Posted by TARogue

Pretty sure anyone who has ever watched my stream can verify I am an angry ******

lol this is an understatement :P I ragequit too. Mostly because I believe my opponent does not deserve my gg.

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by dot89

my sc2 picture thingy is of a girl... kinda gives it away also

I know guys who use a female portrait...

I try not to assume anything online... :/

Quick Comments

	SLCN.Kez:	agreed!
	x5_dot:	lol
	neon:	I use that reporter chick or the queen! both female. best.
	fray`Alpha:	I use Selendis

[SLCN.Kez]

My portrait was a picture of a black man I never copped anything ahahah >.<

[VoxMSI.Rogue]

I have a certain male friend who only uses the pic of Hall and calls her Sam like she is his imaginary girlfriend or something... -____________________________________________-

[raycey]

Ah well, guess I'll just have to go back to the excuse of not playing because I prefer console to PC. Don't hate me! In my defence, PC-exclusives are missing out

[Asrathiel]

So many things I could say in here... don't want a giant wall of text

So I'll just bring up one point. I hate hate HATE seeing the word 'rape' used so casually in the way it is in gaming. It makes me incredibly uncomfortable. Now I haven't been raped (sexually assulted, yes, but not raped) so I can only imagine how a woman who actually had gone though that trauma might feel seeing that word so casually tossed around, or even said to her on ladder...

And people wonder why there aren't more girls in gaming.

Quick Comments

	raycey:	I thoroughly agree, I dispise it so very much
	Nemo:	I Agree too
	NOM:	Same here :)

[ZiggyD]

Originally Posted by Asrathiel

So many things I could say in here... don't want a giant wall of text

So I'll just bring up one point. I hate hate HATE seeing the word 'rape' used so casually in the way it is in gaming. It makes me incredibly uncomfortable. Now I haven't been raped (sexually assulted, yes, but not raped) so I can only imagine how a woman who actually had gone though that trauma might feel seeing that word so casually tossed around, or even said to her on ladder...

And people wonder why there aren't more girls in gaming.

Me too. Not only is it super inappropriate it shows the user's poor grasp on the English language such that they can't find a better adjective to describe a victory/defeat. (Crushed, obliterated, destroyed?)

As for your mention about the lack of girls in gaming I actually did some research on that. It stems from a perceived lack of fit when females look at themselves in comparison to gamer culture. Obviously that lack of fit is reinforced by the normalization of offensive language/behaviour. Here is an interesting article on the subject by Mare Shepard.

[SLCN.Kez]

Originally Posted by Asrathiel

So many things I could say in here... don't want a giant wall of text

So I'll just bring up one point. I hate hate HATE seeing the word 'rape' used so casually in the way it is in gaming. It makes me incredibly uncomfortable. Now I haven't been raped (sexually assulted, yes, but not raped) so I can only imagine how a woman who actually had gone though that trauma might feel seeing that word so casually tossed around, or even said to her on ladder...

And people wonder why there aren't more girls in gaming.

I hardly think this is the reason why there aren't more girls in gaming

[Asrathiel]

Originally Posted by ZiggyD

As for your mention about the lack of girls in gaming I actually did some research on that. It stems from a perceived lack of fit. Obviously that lack of fit is reinforced by the normalization of offensive language/behaviour.

Oh, totally. It starts when girls are tiny and continues on... thse things are for girls, these things are for boys. Although it's much more accepted for girls to do 'boy things' than it is for boys to do 'girl things'. Luckily my parents didn't give a shit, and I played with He-Man toys, my little ponies, dinosaurs etc... both 'girl things' and 'boy things'. I'd be interested to find out the proportion of women who game or are involved in other traditionally male activities (female tradies, for instance) also had parents who didn't force them into gender stereotypes.

Originally Posted by kez

I hardly think this is the reason why there aren't more girls in gaming

It contributes. It can be a super unfriendly, uncomfortable environment for women to be in.

Quick Comments

x5_dot:

100% agree. Girls wear pink, boys wear blue mentality. God forbid you do anything out of the norm!

[x5_dot]

Originally Posted by dot89

*ZiggyD: *
That sort of positive sexism can cause it's own problems. At least it not as directly hurtful as being called an 'x'.

I will gladly take that kind of sexism over being called a derogatory name any day. Having grown up playing cricket, traditionally a male sport, it is really encouraging when people of both genders say "hey you play cricket? that's awesome" as opposed to "you play cricket? isn't that for boys?" or "girls can't play cricket" or "you play cricket, you must be a lesbian"

[raycey]

Originally Posted by Asrathiel

It contributes. It can be a super unfriendly, uncomfortable environment for women to be in.

So true. There are so many things I hate to see and so much that others say Dox refuses to share with me. He admits it's an environment that has yet to be truly fitting for female presence. Not to say there aren't those who are the exception, just not enough.

[Zealo]

as a white male,i get death threats about 1 out of every 10 games i play on NA.

i think there's more retards using whatever insult they think might stick than actual discrimination.

[Asrathiel]

Originally Posted by Zealo

i think there's more retards using whatever insult they think might stick than actual discrimination.

Yeah, but it's normalising the language. If (random example) a gay man is insulted in a game using the same words that he heard used while his friend was being bashed, that's gonna be pretty damn hurtful, even if the person saying it isn't homophobic. It's not the intent behind it that's generally the problem, it's that this language is seen as fine and acceptable.

[ZiggyD]

Originally Posted by Asrathiel

Yeah, but it's normalising the language. If (random example) a gay man is insulted in a game using the same words that he heard used while his friend was being bashed, that's gonna be pretty damn hurtful, even if the person saying it isn't homophobic. It's not the intent behind it that's generally the problem, it's that this language is seen as fine and acceptable.

I think a good test is to think whether you would say the same thing in the outside world. Often the answer is "no" because it isn't considered normal there.

Quick Comments

Asrathiel:

Or, would you go say it to a person's face in an offline tournament?

[Apth]

Originally Posted by Asrathiel

Yeah, but it's normalising the language. If (random example) a gay man is insulted in a game using the same words that he heard used while his friend was being bashed, that's gonna be pretty damn hurtful, even if the person saying it isn't homophobic. It's not the intent behind it that's generally the problem, it's that this language is seen as fine and acceptable.

Incoming wall of text. There will be no tldr.

I think the point being made there - and this is me being presumptuous - is that there are (likely) very few people out there who are making an effort to be homophobes or racists. Most people are just dickheads.

And you're quite right, regardless of intent the language is being allowed common usage, which is a problem - but it's a problem that should be dealt with in context, ie efforts directed at the language alone, not efforts to make gaming communities less homophobic or racist.

I've deliberately left sexism out of my spiel there, because I think it's likely that there are swathes of nerds out there who are genuinely sexist, be it maliciously or no, and I think that's largely due to the social stigma attached to gaming.

Although it's changed a lot in recent years, and continues to change as console gaming becomes heavily mainstream, being a proper nerd still has negative social connotations, which has resulted in a lot of gamers bottling up anxiety and frustration at being borderline outcasts. Yes I'm making generalisations, yes there will be exceptions, but I think the assertion that being a nerd gets you teased at school is reasonably acceptable.

Similar to how bullies tend to get aggressive because there is some form of oppression or negative influence in their lives, many nerds will use sexism as an outlet for all that pent-up discontent generated from years of being mocked etc.

To summarise the sexism thing a bit, most sexist nerds will be a product of their social environment, and the social conditions conducive to producing sexist nerd-assholes are already dwindling as nerd-dom shifts from entirely left of field to an acceptable social label.

Apologies for giant rant of death. You are encouraged to pick my argument to pieces and throw it at me.

Quick Comments

	SLCN.Kez:	Couldnt agree with you more, even wrote my own thread on it ages ago hehe
	Maynarde:	Excellent post
	ZiggyD:	Pretty spot on Apth, well read and well written.

[Fourby]

People should stop calling other people "dicks/cockehead etc" too.

It implies that a penis is a bad thing, which it isnt. This type of sexism must stop.




On a serious note, this writing was awesome, and props to ziggy for putting this up

Quick Comments

	iM yang:	what about dicklu
	SLCN.Kez:	I thought calling someone a dick was a compliment since dicks are obviously better than vaginas iTroll
	Zealo:

[Thoth]

Great article Ziggy good on you for writing about the issue!