Everyone, this has been a good thread so far with a lot of useful and thoughtful discussion. We've heard from a lot of voices and have been given a lot to think about. We also think it's valuable for members to listen to and engage each other about these issues that are important to our community.
We would like to keep this thread open, but if that's going to happen there needs to be less hostility than there has been in the last few pages. We understand that people are passionate, but nobody is going to gain anything from this discussion if it devolves into personal attacks and name calling. If you think someone is over the line, report them. Thank you.
There's been some talk lately about how the level of discourse on Era is unacceptable for a forum that claims to be "progressive". Setting aside the fact that this place can barely be considered progressive, I want to talk about the fact that while this is not new by any means, if men are noticing it too then it must be getting worse. Whether it's #MeToo threads, or that locked dumpster fire about a Pro CoD player dumping his girlfriend, or just any thread on women's issues, ever (females, anyone?) it's instantly met with a barrage of male defensiveness and misogyny. I had no idea the "please don't call women females" thread was going to blow up like it did, but apparently the idea of a woman politely requesting that men not refer to them in a demeaning way is unacceptable to some people on here. Let's not even go into what a mess gaming side is when you start talking about sexualised designs and feminism in gaming, or, god forbid, Anita Sarkeesian. The thread the other day asked why so many men lack empathy, and in instantly jumping to shout WOMEN TOO, the defensive dudes on here immaculately proved the OP's point: when it comes to women (and minorities), there is no empathy. We're silenced and shat on, unless we need to be conveniently trotted out to make a point, and then we're shoved back in the basement. Any discussion of the struggles we faced is turned around so that it somehow becomes our fault. And before people jump down my throat, I am not saying all men on here are like this. But enough are that it's a problem. I'm fucking tired of it. It needs to change.
This'll probably get locked off the bat, but oh well. Thanks for reading.
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