Regarding Fake Geek Girls

[Luke Jaconetti]

Mind where you put your emphasis when you use such a term:

 

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/01/16

 

 

[Shag]

Let me tell you ... the whole "fake geek girl" issue is crazy huge and inflammatory.  I got caught up in a discussion on this and was shocked by the strong emotions on both sides.

The Irredeemable "yet neutral on this issue" Shag

On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 9:37 AM, Luke Jaconetti <lja...@gmail.com> wrote:

Mind where you put your emphasis when you use such a term:

 

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/01/16

 

 

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[James Peluso]

Not to start a flame war but can someone explain to me what's going on?

Sent from my iPad

[Luke Jaconetti]

Jim, there was a big flap up a little while back when a comics creator made a series of statements about "fake geek girls" -- girls who cosplay in sexy costumes to attract the attention of men, but have no interest in the characters they are dressed as, and how these devious vixens are bad for the comics community.

This began a firestorm (sorry Shag but not a Firestorm) back and forth about the topic of "real geeks" versus "fake geeks" and sexism in the fandom and chauvinism and why people cosplay and so on and so forth.  It got to the point that every day brought some new condemnation from the female fanbase about how they are treated by the males, and then a counterattack by the men about how it's unfair to paint them with a broad brush, and then a sweeping series of apologies by the White Knights, and so on and so forth.

Tycho's statement to Gabe in the second panel is typical of the intelligentsia comic fan response to the issue, including the threat.  

[rave...@aol.com]

Neutral on every issue. So annoying. You can't possibly be neutral.

The Iredeemable "either afraid to say what he really thinks or hasn't thought about it" Shag

Hate this ivory tower bullshit. "My goodness, those people down there do seem to be emotional about this issue. How unusual to think and feel things. I must continue to observe them purely as a matter of scientific interest.

Don't bother chiming in with "I don't have an opinion" when you either A) must actually have one or B) are unwilling to spark a discussion to help yourself form an opinion 

Caw!

[Luke Jaconetti]

LOL.  That's awesome, Ravenface.  You sound like Zapp Brannigan dealing with The Neutral Planet!

"What makes a man go neutral?  At least with your enemies, you know where you stand!" 

"Go to Beige Alert.  If we don't make it, tell my wife I said 'hello.'" 

Heee!

[James Peluso]

How very Vulcan of Shag...

I remember this issue, I am with Shag! Can't we just all get along cosplayers and comic fans alike!

Sent from my iPad

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[Irredeemable Shag]

I like hot chics in costumes regardless of their interest in the source material. So I'm on the side of the cosplayers. 

I'm resentful of the girls who used to laugh and point at us now show up at Dragoncon dressed as Slave Leia because their boyfriends think Big Bang Theory is funny. 

Two opposite opinions. Cancel each other out and become neutral. Beige Alert. 

Shag

Sent from my iPhone

[rave...@aol.com]

Now this is content! Excellently put, especially the second opinion! 

I see now that you take pictures of both for the later task of separating out which is which!

Caw!

[rave...@aol.com]

I think "beige alert" is about to become a motto around here.

Well quoted, sir.

Caw!

[Jason Service]

I sometimes feel that I myself may be a sham-geek...

 

I used to read comics.  I still own comics, but it's only because they are somewhat valuable. I only play sports (specifically football) video games. I am not particularly interested in technology and the next tablet or smartphone or computer or apple bauble. I find Big Bang fantastic. dr who sucks. I can't understand the appeal of anime.

 

That being said, I currently participate in a tabletop (dice and pencil) RPG, I am a regular on a weekly (now every-other-week??) podcast, I read fantasy and sci-fi books, and met my favorite author R.A. Salvatore at D*C last year. I go to Dragon*Con and participate as a panel member on more than one panel every year. I met my best friend because of a RPG, in a comic shop.

 

So...who's job/right is it to tell me i am a geek or i need to turn in my D*C badge?

[Cary Preston]

There's more than one flavor at Baskin Robbins,but it's all ice cream...

[Edward Crosby]

Well put, Cary.

via Asus Eee Pad Transformer tablet

[Luke Jaconetti]

Serv's thoughts and Cary's analogy are ultimately the point. I always thought that the point of conventions (well, besides the OBVIOUS capitalism which I love so, so much) was a coming together of disparate members of the community who were fans of something.  And that at the con, it didn't matter your gender, race, religion, or anything else because we were all there to celebrate something we enjoyed (and spend money). 

[lauren castor]

hey it's not our fault men make all of the good female characters sexy & dress them in revealing clothing.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/theuniquegeek/-/flFC7GyGxCQJ.

[Jennifer Walker]

Elitist notions, us vs them, are just inherent in our makeup, which is why the Fake Geek Girl thing is an understandable reaction in a too-good-to-be-true sort of way. It's still annoying as hell as a woman involved in the comics and gaming industry, even at the periphery where I am. But, then, having to prove one's geekiness when it became an "acceptable" self-identifier instead of a societal label always struck me as a bit off.

This popped up in the feed reader today, it's an amusing look at the REAL threat of the fake geek girl:

http://www.themarysue.com/alarming-fake-geek-girl/

Jennifer "Scraps" Walker

The Helper Monkey Network
http://www.jenniferwalkeronline.com

[rave...@aol.com]

Has anyone pointed out that the people playing the Avengers have probably never read a comic in their lives?

Caw!

[Luke Jaconetti]

I'll grant you that for most of the cast, but Mark Ruffalo just LOOKS like a guy that read comics when was a kid.

 

I'm just sayin' is all!

[rave...@aol.com]

Heh, you're right there. That guy's curled up under the covers with a flashlight and "Who is Scorpio" for sure.

The original issue: "girls shouldn't dress like comic book characters they can't answer trivia questions about" is just misogyny borne of sexual frustration. I mention the Avengers, because they highlight the double standard. 

I haven't spent as much time doing the deep university-grant-sponsored social research Shag's been doing, but from the conversations I've seen on Jezebel, etc, they end up focusing (rightly) on the quick issues we've pointed out here. People can wear whatever they like, cons are a place to explore and connect, etc.

Caw!

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