Super Fantastic Poll 5: 2% Body Fat

[jiisu]

Females. You've seen them. There are rumors that some of you out there on the interweb are infact female yourself. No matter. This topic is transgender... or crossgender... Anyway... Women have been represented in all forms of media from tv to books to video games. Is it correct for the media to represent all female characters as thin and beautiful? Why are most leading female characters scantily clad or horrendously underequipped when fighting demons (Buffy), hunting for treasure (Lara Croft), or battling night elves and orcs (chick from the cover of EverQuest)? You'll notice the two female characters we've shown you from the human side are melee type characters and they certainly aren't baring their all. The only characters that can be considered scantily clad are the two Algar concepts we've shown which technically don't even fit the bill since they're humanoid in nature but have considerably supernatural abilities. Why is everyone so hung up on the idea that a female must be exposed in order to be strong and talented?

*tosses the gauntlet and runs*

[Mister Matt]

i think its a ploy by the gaming companies to put hot girls that are in almost nothing on covers for fans to buy the game like tomb raider or EQ.

and how do you do polls?

[Lorens_Gurl21]

This is a SUPER good topic. As a girl myself I constantly feel pressured by the media to be their idea of perfect. The perfect waist, perfect hair, etc. It is really ridiculous, and it's really sad that a lot of girls I go to school with push themselves to the extreme to achieve "perfection." I've learned to be comfortable with my body, and take the imperfections and put them in a new light. So I'm not a size 0, and I don't wear clothes that scream "Look at me I'm easy." It's really shallow for a lot of guys to think that sex is everything when I and so many other girls have so much more to offer than that.

[Stiler]

I'm a male myself, but as some females I know that dabble in mmo's from EQ to WoW, I think it's one aspect they aren't excatly happy with.

IMO In Kaos War i'm glad it's looking like the females are bein treated the same as the males when it comes to clothing/armour that looks logical.

Bikini-chain mail armour and such just looks out of place and imo it's gave a stigmata to female toons in games.

Though it has helped generally point out who the men-who-play-women in mmo's can be, when you see them wearing the skimpiest of clothing and going around shouting sex chat and /dancing in front of everybody...that's about 99.9% of the time a male playing a female.

[neuvena]

/rolls eyes

[jiisu]

/rolls eyes


Why for the rolling of eyes?

[a chewy rock]

Though it has helped generally point out who the men-who-play-women in mmo's can be, when you see them wearing the skimpiest of clothing and going around shouting sex chat and /dancing in front of everybody...that's about 99.9% of the time a male playing a female.




That is most likely not 99.9% but rather 100%. And I'm a male.

[Lorens_Gurl21]

Well that is just pathetic and disgusting.

[jiisu]

Sad thing is I've actually known guys who do that. What do you think is the motivation for a man to portray himself as a woman only to degrade them? What drives these people to the depths of such depravity?

[Lorens_Gurl21]

Males who portray themselves as women are most likely 30 year old men still living with their mothers who could only dream of fulfilling their fantasies with the type of women they choose to portray. I find it pathetic and insulting on many levels.

[Raziel]

Males who portray themselves as women are most likely 30 year old men still living with their mothers who could only dream of fulfilling their fantasies with the type of women they choose to portray. I find it pathetic and insulting on many levels.


lmfao. I've known 40+ year olds on WoW who play female characters.

I just think they like staring at some pixel parts! :D

I'm a guy and always play a male character.

I just think it's a little strange to me. 0_o

[Lorens_Gurl21]

I've known 40+ year olds on WoW who play female characters.


Now that is just disgusting. :P

[hanstin]

I've known 40+ year olds on WoW who play female characters.


Now that is just disgusting. :P

no what you did to that boi is disgusting :P

[Lorens_Gurl21]

I've known 40+ year olds on WoW who play female characters.


Now that is just disgusting. :P

no what you did to that boi is disgusting :P


I have to admit I don't know what you're referring to. Though I'm pretty sure that whatever it is doesn't need to be on these forums.

[hanstin]

correctly portrayed in all facets of media. Sex Sells!
thats what i chose for :P

[Lorens_Gurl21]

correctly portrayed in all facets of media. Sex Sells!
thats what i chose for :P


Good for you. :P

[hanstin]

correctly portrayed in all facets of media. Sex Sells!
thats what i chose for :P


Good for you. :P

ZOMG SPAMMOR BANN PLX

[jiisu]

I don't really enjoy having a spam war in a thread I started to discuss a very real issue in the media world, hanstin. Cady, you're only egging him on by even responding to any comment he makes. I find it very disrepectful that this feud is being played out in a dev team member's thread. Let's learn from this so it doesn't happen again. :)

There are alot of guys who make female characters because they do indeed like staring at the parts. There are, however, men who make female character's on role playing server's as well. Are they falling into the same stereotype of ridiculing the opposite sex or do any of you feel that they are truly exploring the female dynamic of existence in a virtual world?

[a chewy rock]

I don't really enjoy having a spam war in a thread I started to discuss a very real issue in the media world, hanstin. Cady, you're only egging him on by even responding to any comment he makes. I find it very disrepectful that this feud is being played out in a dev team member's thread. Let's learn from this so it doesn't happen again. :)



Ya.. every thread new thread, and old ones with new posts, for the last few days has been a back-and-forth arguement/pointless conversation between Cady and hanstin. It's getting kind of annoying. I get on to see if anything new has been posted and I look at the unread topics only to see that each new post is only some pointless addition to a pointless off-topic subject started to gain more posts. And even later if someone looks at your profile and sees that Cady has 5641 posts, it doesn't mean anything because if you look at them they are all nonsense. Same with hanstin.

A lot of these threads could have gone somewhere but they have all recently been flooded with your back-and-forth responses to the point where I don't really care to bother looking at them if I see that the last poster was Cady or hanstin. JUST STOP!!!
>:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

[Lorens_Gurl21]

I've already apologized so I'm going to do it again. I'm sorry. Hanstin and I have also made our own thread so we'll be having our "chit chat" own our own personal thread to avoid any more disruption. Not to mention the fact that we're no longer "fighting."

As for the actual topic of this thread, there is a possibility that some men may use their characters to explore the female point of view. It is probably very rare for this to be the actual reason.

[jiisu]

Well I've let my feelings be known to both parties, so on with the topic. ;D

[neuvena]

Sorry bout the rolling of the eyes but imo a question like this is just below talking politics and religion on forums. As I would like to stay neutral in this all I would like to say is sex DOES sell wether its scantily clad women or men. Is it right? Whos to say? The majority of gamers are men. What is the majority going to want to see? Is it possible to appeal to what men want to see while keeping it clean? Yes. Will you have less customers if the female avatars are fully clothed? Probably not. Do females who play female toons choose to dress their toons in next to nothing? Sometimes. Why? Sex sells and/or attention. Do males who play male toons choose to dress their toons in next to nothing? Sometimes. Why? Cause its funny and/or attention. ;D However you decide to allow players to choose to dress their avatars I don't think will be the wrong decission.

[neuvena]

As for the actual topic of this thread, there is a possibility that some men may use their characters to explore the female point of view. It is probably very rare for this to be the actual reason.


A while back I made a female crafter who I played for only about 5 months. Her name was D-arcy Wretzky. D'arcy Wretzky was the bassist for the Smashing Pumpkins. My main crafter is Byli Corgan and I also have Jayms Iha (both with spelling variations are also members of the Smashing Pumpkins). The name of my business in game is Smashing Industries. Nothing perverted about that :) (Just a little pchycotic)

[Lorens_Gurl21]

LOL.  True Enough.  And I love Smashing Pumpkins!  ;D

[jiisu]

Sorry bout the rolling of the eyes but imo a question like this is just below talking politics and religion on forums. As I would like to stay neutral in this all I would like to say is sex DOES sell wether its scantily clad women or men. Is it right? Whos to say? The majority of gamers are men. What is the majority going to want to see? Is it possible to appeal to what men want to see while keeping it clean? Yes. Will you have less customers if the female avatars are fully clothed? Probably not. Do females who play female toons choose to dress their toons in next to nothing? Sometimes. Why? Sex sells and/or attention. Do males who play male toons choose to dress their toons in next to nothing? Sometimes. Why? Cause its funny and/or attention. ;D However you decide to allow players to choose to dress their avatars I don't think will be the wrong decission.


I'm not questioning the decision of the player to dress their avatar. I am questioning the ethics behind objectifying women in gaming. When men find out there's a girl playing a game with them, they either get hostile and use it against them or they act very nicely to them for some ulterior motive. I've seen it a million times and it's a hideous practice. Sure, there is something aluring about female gamers since most females care more about their wardrobe rather than what demo is on FilePlanet, but does that give any male gamer the right to batter them with questions and claim they aren't really female in the first place? Back in my Counter-Stike days, this was common practice when a player admitted their gender. What gives them the right to treat people in such a way?

Sex does sell, and that's sad. We're trying to forge a new path for people who realize the injustice that exists and create a community for PEOPLE, not guys. Everyone is welcome here regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, or what have you. That's how it should be, not how it is. It's an unfortunate truth to have to say, but that's not to say we can't do something about it. Wouldn't you agree?

[neuvena]

Sorry bout the rolling of the eyes but imo a question like this is just below talking politics and religion on forums. As I would like to stay neutral in this all I would like to say is sex DOES sell wether its scantily clad women or men. Is it right? Whos to say? The majority of gamers are men. What is the majority going to want to see? Is it possible to appeal to what men want to see while keeping it clean? Yes. Will you have less customers if the female avatars are fully clothed? Probably not. Do females who play female toons choose to dress their toons in next to nothing? Sometimes. Why? Sex sells and/or attention. Do males who play male toons choose to dress their toons in next to nothing? Sometimes. Why? Cause its funny and/or attention. ;D However you decide to allow players to choose to dress their avatars I don't think will be the wrong decission.


I'm not questioning the decision of the player to dress their avatar. I am questioning the ethics behind objectifying women in gaming. When men find out there's a girl playing a game with them, they either get hostile and use it against them or they act very nicely to them for some ulterior motive. I've seen it a million times and it's a hideous practice. Sure, there is something aluring about female gamers since most females care more about their wardrobe rather than what demo is on FilePlanet, but does that give any male gamer the right to batter them with questions and claim they aren't really female in the first place? Back in my Counter-Stike days, this was common practice when a player admitted their gender. What gives them the right to treat people in such a way? Unfortunately I think the problematic people you are refering to here don't know how to interact with the opposite sex in real life nevermind a video game. There isn't much you can do about that unless you get them out of their parents basement and into reality.

Sex does sell, and that's sad. We're trying to forge a new path for people who realize the injustice that exists and create a community for PEOPLE, not guys. Everyone is welcome here regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, or what have you. That's how it should be, not how it is. It's an unfortunate truth to have to say, but that's not to say we can't do something about it. Wouldn't you agree? I agree completely but I don't believe those things should be brought into the game to start. When things of that nature are brought into the virtual world that is when problems arrise. Speaking for myself I'd rather not know who you plan on voting for or what god you worship. I just want to know if the 2, 5, 20 of us can take out this mob reguarless of gender.

[jiisu]

Unfortunately I think the problematic people you are refering to here don't know how to interact with the opposite sex in real life nevermind a video game. There isn't much you can do about that unless you get them out of their parents basement and into reality.


I agree, but to a point. Education is a key element to getting people to understand that injustice. We're trying to educate people in the realm of tolerance and acceptance. I know it's corny, but the statement "No question is a stupid question" is something everyone should say and believe. Everyone deserves the respect of having their opinions respected and accepted as their opinion. To take offense to an opinion is to not respect it. There are a portion of men who still feel that a women's opinion, especially in such a male dominated area as gaming, is not entirely valid. That is ignorant and unacceptable in general, but of course here especially.


I agree completely but I don't believe those things should be brought into the game to start. When things of that nature are brought into the virtual world that is when problems arrise. Speaking for myself I'd rather not know who you plan on voting for or what god you worship. I just want to know if the 2, 5, 20 of us can take out this mob reguarless of gender.


That is your right. By the looks of it, even if someone did voice those thoughts you wouldn't chastise them for doing so. And that's a step in the right direction. Not saying something is better than saying something hurtful or disrespectful in that respect. If more people had our views on this issue, there would be alot more people playing games online right now and much fewer parents outcrying against gaming in general for those few bad seeds.

[Darthorious]

Well here's my whole take on the idea,

I like the women in game looking atractive but,

I think it's really stupid they go out half dressed like you mentioned before and say swing a sword at something while their but and boobs are exsposed now from a PvP standpoint you could take advantage of that with all the teeny hornballs that PvP in games but in all reality why would a woman go out to battle under armored so to speak?

Sure for roleplay value in games it's nice to have dress-up clothes and such (and I better specify after reading the whole thread I'm not talking about CS) but in battle I'm sorry last thing I want to see is my female toon getting her but chopped off lol...

I'm a guy but learned real quick by playing a female toon in online games you don't have to deal with near as many teeny want to be 133tz who call everyone but their mother noobs after they win and whine when they die. But at the same time I don't always get to ware the armour in the same cool fashion that the male toons do.

Plus one other thing to consider if your old enough to remember the original Metroid when Samus removes the helmet after finishing the game and we were OMG it's a girl!

Imagine doing a party with a main tank all decked out and performing the job as if it was as easy as eating ice cream on a hot summer day, then going somewhere after the huge battle to chill out with the party for a while and the tank poping off the helmet only for the party to realize it's a female. In my book that would be quite awsome.

[hanstin]

because this is about females etc

22.5:1 is the forum board ratio of male female :-\

[jiisu]

Well why dont you go spam on some girl gamer boards then. Get them interested hanstin!!! :-p

[Lorens_Gurl21]

Well why dont you go spam on some girl gamer boards then. Get them interested hanstin!!! :-p


LOL. He needs to learn some flirting skills first. All girls fall for a good flirt. ;D

[Raziel]

Or a guy with a nice car!! :D

:o

:-X

[hanstin]

Well why dont you go spam on some girl gamer boards then. Get them interested hanstin!!! :-p


LOL. He needs to learn some flirting skills first. All girls fall for a good flirt. ;D

pfff well i got my ub0r 1337 skills i dont want to show em to ya ur not worth it :P

[Lorens_Gurl21]

Well why dont you go spam on some girl gamer boards then. Get them interested hanstin!!! :-p


LOL. He needs to learn some flirting skills first. All girls fall for a good flirt. ;D

pfff well i got my ub0r 1337 skills i dont want to show em to ya ur not worth it :P


*rolls eyes* You're so not my type anywayz.

[jiisu]

;) ;)

[MadLordOfMilk]

I actually tend to play female characters in a number of games... mostly because they look better. I'm not referring to sexually, I just mean the female characters actually generally tend to look better in my opinion. Plus, they're often not as bulky as the male characters, so it seems a lot more fitting for me to have a thin female character than a guy who looks like he lifts weights daily when I'm making, say, a Ranger or something :) As for sex appeal, sure it sells, but it can also turn people away.

[Immortal Slayer]

I actually tend to play female characters in a number of games... mostly because they look better. I'm not referring to sexually, I just mean the female characters actually generally tend to look better in my opinion. Plus, they're often not as bulky as the male characters, so it seems a lot more fitting for me to have a thin female character than a guy who looks like he lifts weights daily when I'm making, say, a Ranger or something :) As for sex appeal, sure it sells, but it can also turn people away.

Yep pretty much the same reason here. Female characters just tend to look better. Frankly, I'm not gonna apologise for being a male and actually having a 'preference' to playing female chars. Usually I make my characer sex choices by doing the following:

If I'm making a melee class, I'm going to make a male.
If I'm making a ranged class, I'm going to make a female.

Somehow they just 'fit' into those roles well. Anyways, its my opinion. Everyone to their own right?

As for the '2% fat' look, well that kind of applies to males too. All of em have flawless 6pack abs and perfectly chiselled muscles. So its only fair we get size 10 scantily clad women!

[a chewy rock]

I tend to choose a female for rangers or the spell casters more often then males too.