15 Questions about #Gamergate



THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT BATTLE OF HISTORY!

 I'm hoping that by the time I publish this, it's subject matter will no longer exist. I'm sort of a late adopter, and I mostly sat out of the whole ruckus of Gamergate.

From the beginning I had my doubts. I couldn't muster any anger about some lady doing some sex things to some people from some sites  I didn't even frequent. I haven't had a console in roughly 4 years. Money problems is all.  And really, the whole thing where there where so many accussations and counter accusations...I wrote like 3 articles about it I never posted because it hardly felt right. Even the one I did post kind of makes me feel a little stupid, in retrospect.

But in that time I also watched. Gamergate was not about the pretty blond lady who made a text game, or the lady dressed as a sultry lumberjack, it's members said. They claimed that the media had them figured all wrong, and if we only listened. 

But if I don't assume Gamergate is about what it absolutely looks like it's about, by all the evidence and, frankly with most of it's supporters replies on Facebook (it rhymes with Shmarassment of Shwomen, and Shmear of Shmeminism), then I have to ask a question or 15 of them. Speak now, Gators. I will listen.

15. Why don't you harass men more?

I mean, yeah, not ALL the Gamergators or whatever, threaten women with death and rape. Some threaten some men, too. But...there's a disproportionate amount of hate towards females, who, like Leigh Alexander, aren't even being extreme: they're just disavowing the harassment.

This threats make you look bad and sexist. You should be equal opportunity harassers and harass some men. It's not like there's a shortage of men that disagree with your opinions.

People of all genders and creeds agree that Gamergate is just a bunch of idiots from 4Chan out to spook women for laughts. Won't you prove them wrong?


14. What are you gonna do when games grow up?

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The Public Domain Calculator!

A million dollars if you guess what the background image got started as.

Trying to find out when stuff becomes public domain is a hassle. You pull out your calculator and add 95 years or whatever....it's boring.

But not anymore, thanks to the Public Domain Calculator!

The PDC is a niftly little shareware I created, which does all the hard work for you. Just imput the work's first date of publishing and you can finally know when Batarangs, Baby Got Back, or Monkey Island become public domain!

What's the use? What's NOT the use! If you know which day Superman becomes public domain, well, you could create a derivative work now and just schedule it to self release in that future date, cashing in without even knowing it! It's amaaaaaziiiing!

My intuitive software checks the actual date, and lets you know if your work is, as of now, public domain. It also lets you check if under the previous law it would have  been public domain, so you can see what you're missing.  Try it today, and don't forget to fight for your right to a healthy public domain!

*Laws are ever subject to change, and may not apply where you live. I take no responsibility for any legal wrongdoing made under the advise of the PDC.

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Eat this! A rant.

Both feature nude women who won't take your meat unless you pay...

When I was younger, I was a fairly picky eater. I would not eat a single bean of most kinds, which, being Puertorican means i threw away roughly half of every plate I ever recieved.

As I grew up, I came to see that whatever food was being offered to me was the result of hard work and sacrifice from my parents, or a blessing that other children in the world would be thankfull for.  That the nutrition this terrible tasting treats brought me was the only difference between me, and someone who's DEAD right now.

At this point, the idea of eating solely vegetables, was something I would shun forever.

See, my earlier years where in a rural-ish area (where Val Verde's gonna be) in my grandparent's house, so I knew exactly what  that chicken drumstick looks like  before it arrives in the plate. In fact, I actively wanted to see the process, but my Grandma(get well, Granny!Jehova este contigo!) would not let me, feeling i was too sensible.

My sister, however, was not born into such an enviroment, this is one of the reasons I think shaped her desition to become a non meat eater(not entirely sure ifi t's veganism of vegetarianism). Thanks to cool rich white people like Paul McCartney and Onision, my sister won't even eat food that was NEAR meat. I wish she was more mature about this. Which is why I am venting. I feel if done right, the whole Vegan thing can  at least partially work, but if done wrong it can go very badly.

Now before I start the rant, let me just say that I get it. I don't agree with it, but I get it. You want to be good to "something" or someone or anything and there's much, much suffering int he world. So you take up a thing in hopes you can silence that little voice at night asking if you are good or bad. I know that's why I took up the faith.

And I don't mind what other people eat, or what they eat it for, as long as it doesn't affect me.

That said, it's stupid.

Perhaps I can interest you in THEEZ NUTS!

Stupid, stupid, stupid. And I need to break down how stupid it is. I will do that now.



Let me put it in the form of a question: Are we equal, superior, or inferior to other animals in value?

Let's say your answer is equal. We are equal in value, and thus have the same rights.That means there is such a thing as universal life rights. How far does it extend? Slugs? Amoeba? Protozoa?

Oh, you know how this ends!

So let's roll with it. Every being has a right to live. So what are you gonna do about THIS guy?

He's clearly violating the Moose's right to existence. But how are you going to stop him without violating his rights to existence? Are you gonna put in animal jail? What about animals that aren't omnivores, like lions and houscats? What are you going to feed them in order for them not to die? What are we gonna do about slave maker ants? If we're all equal, how come it's just us who have to be responsible to other species? If animals have our same rights as us, but none of the responsibilities, that means we're not equal. We're INFERIOR.

You know what foxes eat? Hint: it's not tofu, Noob Saibot.

"But" you interject, "we're not living in the wild anymore! Our meat comes from giant meat processing plants that are (all, at same time) cruel and evil and they cut the cow here, and throw the chicken there and stuff. We don't need to eat meat!".

They savages! I get all nutirents I need from dried wood!

You see, the problem I have with this thinking is twofold. First, YOU'RE not living in the wild. More than half of the population of the world doesn't have access to  supermarkets, let alone soy milk. Also, you're not living in the wild RIGHT NOW. It's entirely possible that tomorrow an earthquake or a tsunami or global disaster could change what you have access to. During the great depression people made food out of things you wouldn't even look at as food today, and that was less than 100 years ago. If you're a vegetarian that's fine,but don't judge, because your diet could suddenly change to boot leather and your own words faster than you think. You're a Vegan because of the same industrialization and advancements that allow the rest of us to dine on dead animals.

EVERY ANIMAL IS PUPPIES DON'T KILL THE PUPPIES.

Second, by worrying about individual chickens possibly getting their gibs cut off, you are forgetting that we're running out of  other species. We grow those chickens specifically to kill and eat them. We have plenty. But once the polar bear is gone, there ain't gonna be no more fuckin' polar bears.

I mean, the polar bears could probably use some of them chicken wings. So it seems to me people concerned with animals should look at the bigger picture. Pick the worthwhile battles. But I guess it's harder to fund a trip to Africa to help stop illegal poaching than to fund a trip to Grampa Nuggets Chicken farm to grief and film a lot.

"But what have you done? At least P.E.T.A. is doing something, unlike you!"

I guess a vegan diet is high in CONDESCENDIUM.

Is that what you're thinking? I have bad news.

Let's say you wake up in the morning, have a "cruelty free" breakfast, put on a clean shirt and pants, head out with your friends in your car hang out,smoke a joint and buy some candy and an IPhone, and go see "The Cove" on cinemas. You return home, and you jerk off to some porn. At least you did something, right?

A great hero to animals and an activist.

But let's read between the lines.


Let's say you wake up in the morning(because your ancestors gutted their enemies), have a "cruelty free" breakfast(that underpaid, illegal inmigrants toiled under the sun for), put on a clean shirt and pants(That a child in China's getting less than 1 cent for making), head out with your friends in your car(That supports the oil business. Nuff said) hang out, smoke a joint(and thus support thousands of murders by the drug cartels) and buy some candy(bought cheaply thanks to fucking indentured slaves) and an IPhone(That a child in China's getting less than 1 cent for making), and go see "The Cove" on cinemas. You return home, and you jerk off to some porn(and thus indirectly support the illegal kidnapping and rape of many people across the world by supporting the existence of porn).

An evil asshole who supports war, torture, murder, slavery and poverty.

See, you did SOMETHING, but in balance, is it really a real something? On the one hand, yes, 2.5 chickens did not die for your nourishment today, but on the other hand you supported war and slavery and rape. OUCH. If faced with a literal choice of supporting slavery or killing and eating a chicken, would this be your choice?

And don't we all "do something?" that doesn't make us saints, or make our actions excusable. I helped my neighbor with her son's projects for school, free of charge multiple times. See, I did do something. Can I act like a manhole whenever someone else don't do it?

This are the nuts I offered you earlier. Are you still interested in this nuts?

I know you feel bad that bad stuff has to happen for you to be where you are. But understand that some of us see life differently. We place a value on animals life and existence, but much like animals, our own species takes priority. We aren't that different, in that sense. In fact, in that sense, we're actually a little better. In the end all life ends, and all matter is consumed eventually.

So go on. Be a Vegan or Vegeta or Raditz or what have you. Just remember that the point is to be less of an asshole, not asshole for something in particular.

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5 female characters your girl could look up to(but you won't let her)

Grrr power!

Look, mom, we know what your thinking: Your girl can't grow up a self-respecting female in a world ruled by the patriarchy. And geek world...is one of those worlds.

More than half of all geek products are created by, approved by, and for the consumption of, men. And more than half of it is done without any heart at all, so it's no wonder there isn't exactly a thriving supply of such materials geared for, or even considering the possibility young girl could enjoy them.

There are such, but as you can read in my article, there is a force that tries to shoot down even those that get out. That force, is you, mom.

So while the next five characters could find their way to you girl's heart, you won't let her because they aren't JUST right. So tighten your flannel pants and put down the scissors, mom. It's 5 female characters that your girl would like, if you wern't so busy making her watch LMN movies and reminding her men suck.

5)Wordgirl
Never heard, huh? It's because Wordgirl is a children's show on PBS. It features a young girl from the planet Lexicon who in her spare time becomes Wordgirl, a pint sized Super heroine with a penchant for correct vocabulary, while maintaining a secret identity as Becky Botsford, a mild mannered bookworm adoptive child . This show is awesome, as written by some of the Saturday Night Live scribes. And no, the learning doesn't get in the way of the fun, Mr "I can't be caught dead watching a PBS cartoon".
Why your girl could look up to her:
Wordgirl is the female superheroine you always ask for, but who's comics you never read. Independent, smart, sarcastic, and strong but not in a "I'm always kicking men in the balls, I'm so empowered" way. Wordgirl defeast most villains without help from any other characters, except for her space monkey sidekick, Capt Huggy Face. I mean, he's a MALE monkey, but still.

Why You won't let her:

Because Wordgirl's weakness is cutesy, 'girly stuff', like cute cats, and a show ominously called "The Pretty Princess and Sparkling Pony Power Hour" . "What?" You'll ask." Can't she like more "scratched knees" activities(aside from punching robots)?"

He's probably saying a sexist joke about how many women it takes to stop a meteor.

Also, Wordgirl adopts a 'friendly' approach towards some of her male foes(Dr Two Brains, The Butcher) but not as much with her female rogues(the awesome Lady Redundant Woman and Granny May). There's a special place in hell for women who like some men better than some women.

This is not related. I just like this picture.

4)T. Bonne

T. Bonne is a pirate and rogue from the Megaman Legends series, who has also ha her own game and cameos elsewhere. She's part of a family of pirates. I didn't make that too far into Legends, but I know she builts robots and other machines to perform her devious tasks, which include thievery.

A face worthy of a most wanted list.

Why your girl could look up to her:

She is 15-16 year old genious, and mostly clasilly dressed too.
Bolted, metal panties over pants. That's some symbolism right there!

T Bonne is one of those few Megaman characters that get their own game, and that's badass.
Why You won't let her:

Because of her secret crush with phallic symbol-armed Megaman Volnutt.You know what they say about big feet? Well, that can't possibly apply here.

Not only is she in love with a man, but a man who is willing to shoot her laser blasts in the face? Gurl, that's wack!

3)Mitsuko(Bloody Roar)
If she's a smart fighter, she becomes a cerebral boar!

Bloody Roar is a fighting game where humans turn into muta-animals halfway into the match. Don't ask why. Mitsuko is one of the game's less prolific characters(because of the patriarchy!), a big old Japanese woman in overalls whose transformation is a boar.
Why your girl could look up to her:
She's huge and unseemly and dressed in overalls. She's not attractive to your average man. Turning into a boar just seals the deal: she's a lesbian. The only kind of woman that isn't weak, by femi-standards.
Why You won't let her:
Because it turns out, she's not a lesbian. She's just looking for her daughter. Oh, no, traditional family! It BUUURNS! Goddess help us!

Also, she turns into a fucking boar. That's just stupid, no matter your gender. Boars suck.

2)Amanda "The Wall" Waller Rule 34 exception.

Amanda is not actually the main heroine most of the time, which is amazing, what with being a black, overweight female comic book character. What she IS most of the time, is a handler for various teams in the D.C. universe. She would also be in the Supermax film and the Suicide Squad film, if those where ever going to be done.
Why your girl could look up to her:
Amanda Waller is the most bad ass motherfucking burocrat the world has ever seen. She will do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission. I've seen the bitch stare down Superman.

Seriously I LOOKED. NO HENTAI OF AMANDA WALLER EXISTS!

Seriously, she is mostly known for running the team "The Suicide Squad", which coerces villains into doing missions for the Governmate agency Checkmate, and occasionally jettisons them into another planet to die. While it doesn't usually have the most powerfull villains in it's unconstitutional employ, it still takes some balls to bark orders to insane, murderous villains that never tired of being punched by Flash.

From Left to Right: Guy who BROKE BATMAN, Amanda Waller, Guy who tried to shoot at Batman, Monster who could crush Amanda Waller whenever he wanted.

If Amanda Waller lived in the world of Pokemon, she could be a master in seconds, and already be commanding armies of Mews to kill take down all all the Team Rocket Cells. Not only does she have to convince Psychos that can shoot laser out their armpits to fight other psychos, but she has to coordinate those psychos so they don't fail the mission, even though they are expendable(well, it's called the Suicide Squad, and not because it was created by Albert Suicide).

Why You won't let her:
Well, exactly what makes her so good! Amanda Waller is not without emotions or conflicts, but most the time, if the order is to pull the trigger, she will. Well, she won't, but she'll order someone to do it. She's kind of amoral when it comes to work. And work is getting Deathstroke to work with Poison Ivy in some third World Country.

Don't test her pimp hand, bitches!

With female characters, that kinda amorality doesn't make you look like a conflicted antihero. It makes you a look like bitch. Just don't tell her that, cause she'll send the Weather Wizard after you!

If berating counted as a Superpower...

But can you blame her for being straightforward? She's probably had to read pages upon pages of documentation about how some guy punched reality out of whack or how Supergirl was really an earth-born angel instead of a liquid metal being from another dimension or Superman's Cousin. She's got a job, orders, and the willingness to execute them. Which I guess means she isn't empowered.

1)Lara CroftFlatchested was the big breasted of the PSX era

Well, maybe you've spent too much time watching Rachel Maddow on MSNBC if you don't know, but Lara Croft is the lead and protagonist of a games series called Tomb Raider. She's a millionaire adventurer and treasure seeker. An expert marks(wo?)man and a mountain climber. She is...the most interesting woman in the world.
Why your girl could look up to her:

If your girl ever grows up to be a millionaire, she could do worse than trying to imitate Lara Croft. Say what you will about her, she's a strong, resilient character who doesn't constantly need a man to save her, or even a love interest. Always looking for fun, not by shopping, but by looking for the Holy Grail and punching alligators in the process.

She was also played by Angelina Jolie in the films.

Why You won't let her:
She's got breasts.Big ones too. And as we all know, things that are atractive to men are anatema to being strong, independent or even a feminist. Men suck, so of course, the more like a man a woman looks, the more independent and strong willed she is. Right?


Now that's a woman right there! I don't mean the empire making, millionaire, socially concious one, either! She's got breasts too!

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Almost doesn't count?

Yeah, but why does the bear get's top billing. SEXIST!

The story: A woman sends a letter requesting Pixar do a movie about a self-reliable young girl who isn't a princess.

The reaction:

The Reaction to the reaction.

The reaction to the reaction to the reaction to the request.

And now for my piece.

I can get behind the Idea of more female lead action-adventure movies. But it comes a point looking back when one seriously wonders "what is exactly necessary for a female character to be widely accepted by women?

Sure, sensible voices might say "a female character that is interesting, smart, and independent". They might cite, Mulan, Ripley. Maybe Lara Croft or Alice from Resident Evil. Or maybe even Pixar's lead in their upcoming "The Bear and the Bow".

Kameo, having her faerie period.

But does apparently don't count. Mulan was co-opted into the Disney Princess marketing branch, which immediately destroys any redeeming quality her character and her adventures might have had. And even if Pixar has output some interesting, multidimensional female characters, and are already planning a future female lead flick, it doesn't count because she's aprincess. Never mind she comply witht he rest of the characteristics in the letter, which I assume was written with the knoweledge before hand. It's like "sure, you haven't been terrible to women and are already planning something which could be good. Pfft, big deal. Why's she a princess. "

But what about Lara Croft and Alice? What about Selene, from Underworld? WHat about Ripley? Well, aparently a female character can't also be pretty, good looking, or sexy. The character might have more depth than any character, but if she's pretty, then any personal traits go directly to the garbage bin.

A pink car? Sculpted body? This is comepletely sexist. I'm going back to Flavor of Love reruns.

It's at this point thet tha logic gets a bit fuzzy. Women want a female character they can identify with, which is not pretty, not a princess, is not sexually atractive in any way. But then they say than men should be able to relate to a character who is a woman. So, is this a game of "how much like me is the character?" or do you want a character that is both a woman and interesting? Because at the end of the day most of action/ adventure movie characters are only partly relatable, but mostly over the top charicatures and generalazations/stereotypes. I don't relate to a scruffy asshole like Dr House, or a corrupt cop from Shield, or even a rough around the edges good guy like Wolverine because I am those things. It's because, at the core the audience understands, or thinks to understand, the character's plight.

In the next scene she wields twin Uzis while flipping in midair.

I am not saying that you shouldn't request for more female leads. Request away! All I am saying is that when you do get those characters, do not find little things to discard them. I'm not telling you to love RE's Alice, or that Chun Li in this year's movie was enough. But treasure the ones that have been. If a princess is gonna be the brave, independent(but anachronical?) soul that will show a girl there is more to life than shopping and boys, then don't be judgemental. It's not all gonna be Million Dollar Babies or Girlfights. But since when are all movies directed at men any more accurate about them, huh?

I also recognize that I am taking multiple opinions from mutliple people. There is no product universally liked. But downplaying female characters over the little stuff only ensures that good character's get overlooked while Lifetime movie channel and Twilight laugh at you all the way to the bank. Good female characters are few and far between. Don't let them go. Don't discourage them.

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