Dexter S. Bateman said:
The fact that the 'geek world' still almost collectively hyperventilates whenever any sort of female or feminist issues raised in relation to geek culture demonstrates why such an article is relevant and, frankly, needed. It's not just about the outright loonies harassing Anita Sarkeesian - it's about all the ones who spread the rumours, and went out of their way to discredit her in an ad hominem fashion; it's about the fact that for some reason there's a huge number of geeks who feel threatened when people want to take away or merely criticise their 'right' to ogle booth babes; it's the diseased and viral notions of the nice guy/friend zone that plague these communities and fora; it's the fact that women criticising geek culture for being male-centric are made out to desire nothing more than the complete reformation of geek culture into a Sex and the City knockoff where Samantha wears glasses; it's the peddling of sexist stereotypes as memes and punchlines unto themselves. And all of that is just a part of when dealing with geek culture's attitudes toward women. The culture's even more prohibitive towards the concerns of other minorities, primarily for the reason that they're not even able to get on the wider agenda most of the time.
No THIS is my problem. The Nice guy friend zone thing is a thing. SO is the criticism against it. You wanna get laid go get laid don't pine and resent some girl as an object you consider a friend who's turned you down. Find someone who shares your interests and aims doing otherwise is unproductive and creepy (note the exemplary ubernerd Urkel DID get a girlfriend... or two aside from Laura later)
And I get the backlash with women told/forced to settle and insulted for their badboy sex fantasies... except they ARE dumb same as the badgirl and the manic pixie dream girl and trust me that gets NO lack of criticism. And holy hell are they not without effects (Sephiroth, just Sephiroth, also fujoshi baiting in Shonen manga)
The assumption the women are here now (that in and of itself is a STUPID assessment) so time to change up so we accomodate what they want or we're just retrograde IS exposure to the bad old high school days and a sign this isn't equality this is takeover.
Feminists keep claiming amongst themselvestheir thing is about "opening dialogues to improve equality in relation to gender" Reactions like the above, Anita Sarkeesian, reporting harassment after the con to your followers from the buffer of a weblog as the fault of the con is NOT an opening to a discussion its a move to dominate one and gain social power to crobar your will.
Naturally this is apparent and male nerds hate it often due to the fact their manhood, morals, adulthood, and so on are questioned as a whole during the process. Plus that whole they are often not only not guilty of any wrongdoing but doing the right thing.
Don't want to be reacted to hostily? Don't be hostile.
Oh wait its 20xx and anger is the new social justice stance? Great, see where that gets you when there is NO relationship investment and you seek dominance and not parity. And stop it with the accusation just being in nerd presence is like rape risk while walking around in lingerie, selling spanking paddles, and wearing "glomp me" signs. Stop acting like cosplay is this amazing thing inherent to your right as a woman and any foul comments to it sexism. Report assholes to security and move the fuck on with your life. Stop assuming the world is yours to command by default as you feel you are attractive and offended. Or at least accept that such female people being seen to for their well being, needs, and satisfaction is not some rare alien part of the culture, mainstream or geek, but rather integrated and that's why the "raging" social justice warrior schtick is even tolerated from the "oppressed" women who suffer in nerd spaces.
We are TRAINED to run to the defence of woman who cries and ostracize the offender. Especially if that offender is already unattractive or disliked or you include the implicit moral approval or further association as reward for compliance.
But no in the feminist criticism of the world Scotsboro doesn't happen as part of a nasty trend because then rape apologists, amirite. All sexual harassment is so critical it must be stamped out (like overhearing a dongle joke in a private conversation). That all violence even tangential to women equal domestic abuse (Xbox One demo of Killer Instinct look LOOK at the assault of that controller on the female gamer's hands. And that man trash talking her as she kinda wishes this embarassing performance was over. It LOOKS like they are a man and a woman playing a game one winning the other losing... badly but he's really just totally sexually assaulting her. Oh she's winning the next round ... whatevs) Men who don't have parity with others and denied male privilege over women (often considered to be equal or only able to support them by said woman's own judgement, funny that) until career success or otherwise in their twenties (meaning they had to prove themselves to be respected as thought default, just as a part of growing up YES and so not that same as actual inherent prejudice and discrimination of women, homosexuals, and other-you-don't-graduate-college-or-turn-26-and-suddenly-this-is-not-a-distinguishable-trait-anymore-groups but it
is comparable use that as an in) are in on The Patriarchy. Yep we just met this morning across from the Gay Agenda, atop -naturally - the Feminist Hive Mind, and are planning a meeting with all the termforBlackMenwhoembodythedifferentpartsofculture to trade for more rap songs that make women degrade themselves (Operation Princess no longer working thanks to the oh-so-original Merida with her frizzy hair and freckles who is defying her betrothal at the last minute) in turn for Assualting the TerroristIslam but we're afraid our ZionistOverlords will object. Patriarchy is like center of gravity in truth, a gross simplification not fit for engineering work and like opening with "White People" at a racial tolerance mixer. Your vagina has been an advantage as much as a target and men as a whole are not out to just get you or have plotted your downfall. Women at least joined in. So if I NEVER hear the word brought up outside of Gender Studies it will be too soon.
The conversation isn't going to happen because it isn't one Its a demand to fulfill a request from women with the inherent confidence the only negotiation that has to happen is they requested it and they are right to do so. So YES, anyone is going to exercise their right to shut it down as not only does it not affect them but they are, get this, acting entitled with their Female Privilege, know this will say this in their space and lie about it when confronted.
All that said. There ARE ways to open a discussion but holy hell it doesn't involve reacting to things as if actually harmful. OR morally condemning those you want to see to your needs (never works with anyone I want things from why does SJWs expect different? Their inherent moral superiority they lose it even if it were true)
One way is the article linked to. I don't know if gay culture as a whole is like this or just the specific slice the man interacted with. but he shared his reflections, specific experiences, noted it as a trend, pointed out its causes, and asked the right questions. I'm more inclined to consider how women are treated around me AND how to handle harassment I see happening in my vicinity and to what degree by his article than the escapist ones.
