When last I wrote dear readers, I spoke of the difficulties of being a female in the comic world and the pride that all of the heroes of the former outcasts finding their way to the light. Today, I need to talk about something else, something that hits just as hard and close. So many people don't realize and today it seems to be making a comeback. This beast seems to be rearing it's ugly head once again. Today, I won't even start with our heroine today as this is completely a confession and something many I know have dealt with.
As a female gamer, geek and freak it has always been a bit of a rough road. I have had to claw and prove myself the whole way through. People informing me I can't be a gamer, because I'm a girl. Asking me, oh, are you playing because your boyfriend does? Or the other side of the coin, "Oh look it's a girl, I need to hit on her!" Making me feel harassed and like a piece of meat. Many of the people who in the past I thought were interested in me, for me, turned out to be interested only to be with a gamer girl, and when they got to know the real me, my intensity as a person or my eclectic interests caused things to end, quite abruptly or people would try to change me.
You would think that a group filled with what in the past has been seen as societies outcasts would be happy to accept new people, regardless of gender, race, orientation or religion into their midst with open arms. I am here to tell you, that many of us have spent way more of our lives "proving themselves worthy" than we should have.
Yes, there has been a rise in the geek and gaming community in the recent years. However, these issues still persist. I know, we are all human and in that fallible. But seeing this happening still, makes me both sad and angry. It makes me want to speak out and do something about it. It makes me wish that this community which I have grown to be so comfortable in and such a part of my life would be able to evolve above this as it wasn't too long ago that people were ridiculed and rejected for being gamers, geeks or nerds and still are in many places and ways.
I know, that at this point in my life I am lucky enough to have found some exceptions to this way of thinking. I do have some amazing gamers and GMs in my life who are open minded and treat people with respect. But my point is, I shouldn't have had to. I feel like especially with everything that is going on in the world right now that we should be banding together, not continuing to have prejudices against others in our community.
I am also saying that we should stand up to those who would discriminate against people for these reasons as it is not okay. I'm not saying that if you get a weird vibe from someone or if you don't get along with someone you need to include them and make them a part of your life. Just don't discriminate for their gender, race, religion or anything that makes them different from you. As this is why we some of the horrible things going on in our world these days and I for one want to truly do something about it!
So stay tuned for next time dear readers, where our brave heroine may in fact be back to regale you with more stories that you may in fact relate to in your life.
