If I were to describe my experience gaming online it would be as complicated as the math problem with the two trains heading in opposite directions, going different speeds and arriving at different destinations. Itâs a multistep answer, but an answer nonetheless.
I have been playing video games since I was very young. My gaming career started with Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 playing Mario games side by side with my guy relatives and friends. So, Iâm used to being a minority and pretending to ignore gross, weird and often sexist comments. In fact, I often donât notice it because it happens so often, and the people who usually say them are single, immature and they usually arenât very good at video games.
I currently am a proud owner of a PlayStation4 and Xbox 360. I also do a little PC gaming, but usually itâs CIV5 and me yelling at computers invading my territories. When people find out that Iâm a girl gamer, I never know what to expect. I never straight out tell people online because I find it invasive. However, when someone says my actual name, or I start laughing, itâs kind of obvious that I am girl. Oh, well. Iâll live.
Anyway, here are the types of guys I meet while gaming online. This is obviously generalized but most males fit somewhere below.
The Nonbelievers
These people are usually the ones that ask if Iâm a girl and then bombard me with âAre you sure?â, âNo, you sound like youâre 12â and âThereâs no way youâre a girlâ. These are also the people that are between ages 13 to 19 and are usually the hardest to convince. Eventually, I say, âWhat teenage boy admits that heâs a girlâ which is usually met with âtrue, true, alright, youâre a girlâ. This truly brings tears to my eyes because I was able to make someone see who was blind for so long. I can really tell he has changed because he usually says beautiful things to me such as âYou know, youâre not bad for a girlâ. Thank you, DankBalz69.
The âI Donât Want to be Sexistâ Lads
These people are probably my favorite to talk to because it feels like they think they are going to trigger me or Iâm going to get offended by what they are going to say next. They think they are doing me a favor by prefacing me. They also say that they arenât trying to be sexist right after they learn I am a female. Also, many of their comments arenât sexist. They are just plain stupid, random or sometimes entertaining.
They say things like, âWomen have a higher chance of getting raped because they have a really strong lower body strength while men have more upper body strength.â I never said they made any sense. Other phrases include, âWow, you are actually really normal and funny compared the crazy sexists out thereâ and my personal favorite âIâm not trying to be sexist, but when women have their periods I think there should be a âjailâ type place where they just go and wait until their periods are over.â
There you have it. A jail for women just for being women. I love it. Canât wait, until he runs for mayor. He did end it with ââŠagain, not trying to be sexist or mean, but it could be a mandatory spa or something.â So, he clearly wasnât trying to be sexist. They will often send you friend requests and then invite you everyday for the rest of your life to join them in a game.
The Boyfriends and Husbands
These are often time the greatest people to game with. The demographic is usually 24 years old and up with nothing rude to say. When they find out Iâm a girl they usually say âOh, cool!â or âniceâ or âItâs refreshing to have a girl on here.â Some say they have been trying to get their wives or girlfriends to play and even ask my opinion of games that are couple friendly. Some even suggest double date gaming! I have noticed when their significant others hear that another female is playing they usually grab the mic and demand and that they play. You meet people like that occasionally, so I enjoy the time we get to play together.
The Bad, the Rude and the Lonely
These guys are the immature lonely gamers that behave like animals as soon as they hear a girl online. Their insults are only funny to them and they are the ones that get reported. These are the people who are drunk at 2 p.m. and donât shower for weeks. Their primary goal is to break records or beat games. They view themselves as the high and mighty, even though they usually have the lowest self-esteem. Their comments are usually degrading and resentful. Plenty of âmake me sandwichâ, âthatâs what she saidâ and other crude and inappropriate suggestive comments. My best advice to avoiding them is blocking them, muting the microphone and most importantly, reporting them. Getting into an argument is what they look for so I would recommend against it.
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The Bodyguards
These are the guys that if anyone tries to insult you or harass you in the game, they guys defend your honor. Letâs say if player one team kills you, these guys will in return kill player one every round so he doesnât get to play. Some are more vocal and say things like âDude, I wouldnât be talkingâ or just starts swearing back and puts player 1 into place. They then apologize and say, âHeâs a jerk and he ruins the fun.â The best Bodyguards are the one that stand up for you even when you donât feel attacked or donât even realize what was said. They will also friend you in the game, but you will probably never play with them again. A good amount of gamers that fit here have a history in serving in the military and they are usually very down to earth.
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The Simple Gamers
Most people you will meet do not care what gender is playing. They are there to play the game and thatâs it. They want to talk about the game and not gender politics. These people are also nice to play with because they try to include everyone in their team. Often, Simple Gamers stick together. So, if you come across one, he will probably introduce you to the rest of the Simple Games in the team.
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There is only a small amount of people, you will meet, that will make the game unpleasant. As a girl who has been gaming for years, I have a group of people that I play with and it gets bigger and bigger the more I play. Fortunately, the gaming world is so diverse, that it really comes down to you to have fun. Sooner or later you wonât pay attention to the people that arenât pleasant. Donât be afraid to try a game that has a stereotypical to all male or all female demographic. A girl can have as much fun playing Call of Duty as any guy. You should game for you, and not for anyone else. Good luck and happy gaming!
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