Jimquisition: Fake Nerd Girls

[Rheinmetall]

I believe that fake nerd girls exist only in the context of games advertisment and games marketing in general. I don't think I have ever met an ordinary female gamer in real life, not even a faker I would say.

Meh, even that rings hollow, I mean if they truly did not care about video games why would they be doing this as a job. I don't see how putting up with mealy-mouthed jack-offs that constantly treat them with open belligerence could be born from anything other than a labor of love.

I'm sure there are female gamers, but not as many as they want us to believe. And from the few cases of female gamers I have known and talked to via the internet, they are nowhere near the male gamer standard, in terms of skills, devotion, knowledge and taste about games.

 

[Gunjester]

If we're going to tackle problems between Nerds and Non-Nerds, this isn't a priority.
One of the biggest problems with the nerd community is how hostile it can be to new-joining outsiders, especially online, which leads to the creation of 'Nerds in Denial'.

My girlfriend is one such person, as she went through high-school with preppy party-animals, she kept her interest in fantasy, sci-fi and anime under-wraps for fear of ridicule. It wasn't until she graduated and started dating me she realized how nerdy me and her friends really were(I guess they showed their true colours after grad too), and that it's totally normal to be, especially with Hollywood's new fascination with Nerd Culture. My dad is also one, he's from South America and was a punk-rocker, but also a Star Wars, LOTR, and Trek fan. However he rejects nerd culture and even me and my brothers' interests because they're "weird" or "pointless" in his mind.

Maybe Fake Nerd Girls are girls who want to join the Nerd community and just don't know how? Maybe they're sick and tired of being seen as an object or just a trophy and they came to us in search of smart men who can take them seriously. Now if that is true, even for a fraction of them, that means all these people angry at them for not having vast knowledge are letting them down on that front. We shouldn't focus on shaming Fake Nerd Girls and outsiders for not being nerdy enough, we should focus on drawing them in and bolstering our ranks, so by creating bigger fan-bases for what we love, we can see better-funded, more frequent instalments in the future.

 

[raven47172]

I have never had a problem with fake nerd girls nor do I see why people do. If they are willing to wear skimpy clothing to get attention I am okay with that. It does not detract from the enjoyment I get from playing games or going to cons.

 

[Loethlin]

I don't know about you, but I feel these whole conversations that took place in this thread are going in circles, and are just as annoying, as shown here:


Now, I don't doubt that there are some attention seekers, of both sexes, but I think that what would really sort the issue out for us is approaching it with some relaxed attitude, humor and common sense.
Being a geek, nerd, a gamer, what have you, is not some elite club you must pass tests to join. Demanding people meet your arbitrary standards is like taking revenge on all the jocks that made fun of you in high school, effectively turning you into a bully yourself.
On the other hand, there are some people who clearly are annoying phonies. So you really can use that common sense and just remove yourself from their vicinity.
Look, it's not that hard, being reasonable.
And honestly... "sexy ladies are harshing my juju!" ..? Don't you have bigger problems, especially on cons? Like.... which panel to attend, for example?

 

[Orekoya]

I believe that fake nerd girls exist only in the context of games advertisment and games marketing in general. I don't think I have ever met an ordinary female gamer in real life, not even a faker I would say.

Meh, even that rings hollow, I mean if they truly did not care about video games why would they be doing this as a job. I don't see how putting up with mealy-mouthed jack-offs that constantly treat them with open belligerence could be born from anything other than a labor of love.

I'm sure there are female gamers, but not as many as they want us to believe. And from the few cases of female gamers I have known and talked to via the internet, they are nowhere near the male gamer standard, in terms of skills, devotion, knowledge and taste about games.

What sort of horrible conspiracy theory is this? 'they want us to believe.' This just sounds so contrived. What possible advantage is there behind this thought process? I mean what is the motive behind them wanting us to believe they are game nerds because I gotta say speaking from personal experience with this style of treatment, I don't see the benefit of choosing to be ostracized and berated when the alternatives seem so much easier.

Also what are the standards? What even sets these standards? Because I have never been asked to meet them to prove I was one in all my years of being a male nerd and nobody has ever had any problem accepting my submission of being one.

 

[jdogtwodolla]

Nobody likes a known faker unless it's specifically for their faking and quite a lot of people in today's world dislike liars. In essence, that's kind of what these people are.

But this is really not a big issue or an issue at all.

 

[Matthewmagic]

1. It is a porn site you tool. If you can't tell the difference between people trying too trick you and people trying to get you too pay them money

1. Sop exactly like some fake gamers then.

2. Yeah the more you tell me about this the less I believe you. First off since when are fighting games televised.

2. Since 2010 in the united states, a lot earlier in Korea & China. The fact that you didn't know this makes me really wonder about your other so called geek credentials. I know this & i'm neither American, nor have any interest in fighting games.

Secondly since when do television executives not screen their contestants.

3.When they are live... Or when its a contest.

Third, since when is anything that happens on television not scripted.

4.When there is some sort of sports event, or competition like a televised game tournament.

3. Yes, it is porn. and yes it does matter.

5.No it really doesn't. The existance of fake gamers has been demonstrably showcased now. You can no longer deny they exist. Further statements to the contrary are the equiviliant of a creationist making arguments for the grand canyon being created in 12 seconds during noahs flood.

4. Buddy I have bad news. This is where you get sexist. I was going to try avoiding using that word but you went there and now I'm calling you on it.

6. An that would be an appeal to motive. When all else fails & you run out of arguments, call the other person a sexist/racist so they'll stop arguing. Sorry mate, doesn't work with me. There was nothing sexist in that statement.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltau5f2fAK1r51bw9o1_500.jpg SO is he a fake gamer because he combined sex appeal and cosplay.

7. /facepalm. You really keep on missing that one important statement i keep on making: There is nothing wrong with being attractive, its only when one becomes a sexual commodity over being a consumer does it become an issue.

How do you know these people even exist have you spoken too someone who doesn't know their characters? Are you sure they where not hired? Or dragged along by their friends becuase they needed a pink power ranger?

8. Because as i've stated a half dozen times now, if someone is at a con in a costume & they don't know who they are cosplaying as because they've been dragged along, no one gets bent out of shape because they've been geek checked. Because the genuinely ignorant say "i have no idea." An at that point geeks generally stop caring. Its the people who pretend to have a knowledge set beyond what they actually have that piss people off.

I still don't believe this happens, if a girl shows up in cosplay just to be sexy and stand by a booth or something, I get that. That is what we adults call jobs.

9. No its what adults call a waste of resources.

But there are better places to seek sexual atention than cons,

10. Actually no. A con is a great hunting ground: Little in the way of competition until recently, full of cashed up beta-males (so rejection chances are lower & the ability to control any grabby males by proxy is astronomical); the false economy of the appearance of everyone wanting said trendies as a sexual commodity, increases the worth of possessing such a person both sexually & emotionally.

Essentially its a huge pay off, for very little in the way of expenditure. Also adding in the anonymous nature of hotel rooms for international conventions & it beats out the bar scene hands down.

and frankly it is egocentric of you too think that just because a girl is dressed in "slutty" cosplay (hint: most female cosplay is slutty, after all it was designed by men) she wants your attention.

Two things.

First, all cosplay is about attention. I've said this a couple of times now, but it really is true. Cosplayers do not to the gardening, washing up, or shopping while wearing those costumes, because there is no one around to appreciate them, to give them attention. Thats not a bad thing, but it becomes a bad thing when one moves from consumer themselves, to sexual commodity.

Secondly, the majority of costumes are actually hand designed by the women wearing them. So by definition not designed by men. An at this point i am again wondering about your actual gekk credentials, that you don't know this.

5. No at about age 23 you can recognize this shit for what it is.

No actually, most people don't. Age doesn't make you less of a target to confidence tricksters.

6. it is against the law to go naked. No one forces you to play games.

Way to toally miss the point mate. The point is that a passing awareness of a thing does not make geekdom.

1. No those are called "Performers". What would make someone a legitimate "Fake gamer girl" would be someone whom with their friends claims to be a geek. Who when you ask them, says they are a gamer. But never actually partakes in these events. Whining about models, and porn stars doesn't make anyone "fake" it makes them employed. By your definition everyone in the service industry is a "fake" something or other. Hell I faked being a nice guy when I was a server. Hope the "Nice" culture doesn't get wind of it.

2.No, I live in the US. I have skyped too a few members of the Gamers Paradise club at my college about this, and none of us have ever heard of such a thing being broadcast on television. We only have one real gaming channel, G4tv, and we all agree it is shit. It is possible that such a thing appears on spike. Upon checking my channel listings and wikipedia, and can confirm nothing of this nature has been shown on television in the states or canada. So go ahead and geek check me if you like considering that you don't know what you are talking about.

Actually no, what makes you think you have the right too geek check anyone? This concept concerns me a little. Is it a short test covering a wide array of geeky topics, or is it one piece of esoteric knowledge you can hold over someones head. There is no ID card for this sort of thing.

3. Even in our contests and live events people are screened for abilities. They do it with american Idol, survivor, and Major league football. They would be smart enough to do it here. Asuming they where dumb enough to think american gamers wanted to watch other people play games. There is a reason MLG has never taken off here, except with the dick bags that participate. We would rather be playing the game than watching someone else do it.

4. Even here the announcers have a script they stick too when the games are getting dull. Talking about this person sports jargon or that persons recent injury. (to be honest I can't follow it, I only know this too be true because of my journalism class).

5. This is like calling Robert Pattinson a fake vampire. Or calling Hugh Laurie (Or David Tennant if you prefer) a fake doctor. You know there is a difference between performance and the real world, yet are pointing too performance art and calling it a reality.

6. No, you are still wrong for all the same reasons. What makes you sexist is that if a girl dresses like a sexy anime character, you have to geek check her. If a man dresses like a sexy anime character, he probably just works out. You want too geek check people who don't fit into your specific idea of what a geek should be, and you have spent quite a bit telling me that women in cosplay need to pass a "Geek check" do not fit this idea. It would have been pandering too call you a nazi because of you "Papers Please" approach to geek culture. While it doesn't make you a Nazi, I've made my views on the whole "Geek check" thing explored above.

7&8. I'd make a joke about geek checking you here, but it is just too obvious. Okay geek culture does have an array of strong women, they are a minority but let's face it. Laura Croft, Bayonetta, Trish (DMC), Tifa the list goes on. Sex is (and has always been) a commodity in the entertainment industry, and in video games in particular since they could fine a way to represent tits and give you panty shots during the victory music (Selphie...).

As far as your real examples go, these are hired models, used to sell you games. No different then a booth babe. I know a few cosplayers and they seem too fall into two categories. 1. The hyper fan someone who cosplays for themselves. 2. The extrovert, the people that go as the power rangers or something similar most notable for going in a group. I have never met a cosplayer who didn't know anything about their own character, except in the group case where they just needed someone to fill out a team.

9. (Veiw this as an addendum too the above) Sex sells, everyone knows it. You can turn your nose up and say you are better than it, but the person who is selling isn't better than making money, it is kinda what they are there for.

Honestly I'm sick of this. As I said in my original post elitist. You think every cosplayer dressed slutty designed their own costume ignoring the fact that the costumes are based on character designs done by men for men. You do not understand that when payed money women will act a certain way to sell you things, just as a server would. You don't understand that the world doesn't revolve around you. No one goes to a con for you. You don't get too geek check people because you can not possibly be a perfect geek Possessing omniscience over everything ever considered slightly "geeky".

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Spoiler: Run guys run! Before it's too la...

matthew_lane told us why didn't we listen....WHYYYYYYY *falls to knees*

 

[UltraPic]

space saving

You never came across anyone who started a new hobby and just jumped in head first and wouldn't shut up about it despite a huge lack of knowledge on the subject, if anything it's a great thing to see such enthusiasm so why burn bridges.

 

[Rheinmetall]

I believe that fake nerd girls exist only in the context of games advertisment and games marketing in general. I don't think I have ever met an ordinary female gamer in real life, not even a faker I would say.

Meh, even that rings hollow, I mean if they truly did not care about video games why would they be doing this as a job. I don't see how putting up with mealy-mouthed jack-offs that constantly treat them with open belligerence could be born from anything other than a labor of love.

I'm sure there are female gamers, but not as many as they want us to believe. And from the few cases of female gamers I have known and talked to via the internet, they are nowhere near the male gamer standard, in terms of skills, devotion, knowledge and taste about games.

What sort of horrible conspiracy theory is this? 'they want us to believe.' This just sounds so contrived. What possible advantage is there behind this thought process? I mean what is the motive behind them wanting us to believe they are game nerds because I gotta say speaking from personal experience with this style of treatment, I don't see the benefit of choosing to be ostracized and berated when the alternatives seem so much easier.

Also what are the standards? What even sets these standards? Because I have never been asked to meet them to prove I was one in all my years of being a male nerd and nobody has ever had any problem accepting my submission of being one.

I believe that we have a communication problem, and I'm mostly responsible for this since English is not my first language.

Forget about "they want us to believe", I didn't mean that there is a conspiracy, I was speaking with terms of a general impression that is around, according to which female gamers is supposedly a noticeable group. I simply can't see that. Female gamers are like 3% of the total gamers' number. And don't ask me if I have proof for what I say, they might be 7%, or 11%, is it okay? The point is that based on my experience and perception, I think they are few in number.

Now to the question why one would want to masquerade as a gamer and go through all this, I'm covered by the explanation that Jim Sterling gives, that they seek attention of the male audience. This attention basically means two things: Firstly they enjoy the narcissistic feeling that boys are fantasizing about them, and secondly opportunities for promotion, either it's just views on Youtube, or careers in games industry. Also fake gamers don't "go through" anything. It's all for the show. They don't really play that much, neither they love video games, that's why Jim calls them fake gamers.

About the "standards", I didn't mean that there are any standards set by some global gaming organization. Male gamers' standards as I understand them is that boys-gamers usually play a lot and with passion, and they develop skills in certain games that they love. A few male gamers even become exceptional in what they are doing, with extraordinary records. Girls don't show that devotion. For example, I haven't ever watched a speedrun video on YouTube posted by a female gamer. And speedruns are in my opinion the biggest proof of someone's proficiency in a game. I haven't even read a walkthough guide submitted by a female gamer. Is it just coincidense? Why do you think this is happening, if not because of the different approach in video games between the two genders? I made the mistake to name it "standards", you call it as you think.