Posted December 16, 2014
low rated
HGiles: The really big goals of feminism - voting, owning property and not being it - are met. Much like the big goals of the civil rights movement - voting, equal protection by law - were met. But there are still huge issues.
StingingVelvet: Not taking sides here, but one big issue with modern feminism is most women don't agree on what the goals are. My wife talks about this a lot. One feminist will tell you women should cover up and not be sexualized, another wants the right to wear whatever she wants wherever she wants. One woman wants pornography banned for exploiting lower income women, another wants prostitution legalized because what a woman does with her body should be her business. There's no clear message on a lot of these issues. The same thing seems to be happening in media criticism. For example a lot of "SJWs" are pushing for a female Doctor Who but my wife hates the idea, she thinks of him as a male character and doesn't get why that should change. Similarly I know a lot of girls who enjoy seeing sexy female characters in games, or make their own sexy protagonist when given the chance, because sexy is fun sometimes.
The internet gives a loud bullhorn to anyone who wants it. This results in niche opinions sounding like social movements, even if they aren't. It also pressures journalists to listen to every opinion equally, even if they're not actually shared by many people. All of this (lacking a clear message, every message getting airplay) is a big factor in the current debate and the frustrations of people on both sides.
For one thing, there's growing awareness of the really troubling levels of sexual assault and old boys clubs in some professions.
HGiles: And GGers definitely broke the bounds of decency first with stalking and doxxing.
That's the real problem of GG. Of course people who are attacked and threatened will react badly. GGers started that mess, and now it's very hard to have a genuine discourse. GGers tainted the whole issue of games journalism with misogyny and irrational hatred. The whole issue is set back.
TwilightBard: Proof please, because I have HEARD about this stalking and doxxing anytime someone wants to easily dismiss Gamergate, but no one's actually been able to give me proof, just empty accusations. That's the real problem of GG. Of course people who are attacked and threatened will react badly. GGers started that mess, and now it's very hard to have a genuine discourse. GGers tainted the whole issue of games journalism with misogyny and irrational hatred. The whole issue is set back.
Post edited December 16, 2014 by HGiles