I think it's stupid. People who play opposite sex characters probably have gender conflict issues.
You must be the guy that's trying to hit on all the female avatars in the game.
I play a female character from time to time. So what??? I don't have gender conflict issues. Sometimes I want a little originality in my character. I also enjoy playing fighter types, so I like to play females in heavy armor with big weapons, its just a way to set my fighter apart from the 10000 male warriors running around.
I don't run around thinking woohoo I'm a girl. Apparantly these female avatars get you excited or someting. (They are only pixels)
I'm sorry if you found out that avatar was being controlled by a guy after you gave him all your stuff for free. Its not his fault you tried to court him in a pixelated world
I think most guys use the excuse that they would rather be looking at a females behind instead of a guys. However I've seen them also make female orcs and goblins as well so I've come to the conclusion that most he/she's in game are prolly on the verge of becomming bone smugglers in RL
Please tell me your first language isn't english, in spite of the listed hometown in the US. As to the poll, you need more options, this is an opinionated subject, with varying degrees of acceptance or rejection, yes or no doesn't cut it.
I agree. There are too many different requisites to this question to just select a yes or a no.
I know people say it all the time, but it really is true. It's a role playing game. Even if you don't Thee and Thou, it's still role playing. You don't have to be what you are in real life. You can be male, female, orc, some sort of furry (god forbid), human... you can choose any thing you like. Some one said, if you don't want people to know you IRL, don't discuss it... they're right, too. Talk about what ever you like, be what ever you like. In WoW you can even be some noodly faced thingy now, if you want. Although I prefer you don't. They really creep me out.
Its simple, people play games in two diffrent ways...
1. They play the game to be in the game. These type of people see their character as a representation of themselves. First person playing.
2. They play the game to experiance a story. These type of people see their character as a someone else, and watch them experiance the story. Third person playing.
"It is in your nature to do one thing correctly; Before me, you rightfully tremble. But, fear is not what you owe me. You owe me awe." ~Francis Dolarhyde
HMMM Just an FYI My wife plays a male char and I play a female.
Funny.
Remind me someone who was "hitting" on me in game once. I always play female toons (almost), and that person was actually a female playing a male toon who actually saw throught me, I guess I wasn't subtle enought. When I told him/her I was a guy and to just let's it go, the answer of: I know, I ain't a guy, that was freaky.
But as other say, it isn't a dating service! It is a place to play and have a good time. I don't say it would never...but I wouldn't do that on purpose...
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
Its simple, people play games in two diffrent ways...
1. They play the game to be in the game. These type of people see their character as a representation of themselves. First person playing.
2. They play the game to experiance a story. These type of people see their character as a someone else, and watch them experiance the story. Third person playing.
That is too simplistic.
3. They play the game to experience a story THROUGHT the eyes of someone else (regardless of the gender, the race or whatever else). Even if these peoples see their character as someone else, they actually put themselves in their shoes, completely while playing the game. Experiencing the story as a first person playing. These persons switch a lot between the HE/SHE and I, depending on the situation and if it is actually the player talking, the character talking, the player talking of the character, or the player talking throught the character.
And I am sure there are others. Going nuts on these players would be like going nuts on someone playing a serial killer (we all do play serial killers btw if we get to max level in any MMO). Most players don't considers themselves serial killers even if they play in a first person...
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
Hmm, I thought my post would evoke even more criticism. I used blunt language intentionally to demonstrate how easy it is to touch a nerve on a subject like this. I didn't attack anyone personally, I simply stated an opinion. And yet a few used it as an occasion to attack me. If I had said it within a game, I probably would have been ostracized. Sad. No hard feelings folks.
I didn't attack anyone personally, I simply stated an opinion.
most attacks are opinions, let me give you an example "It's my opinion that anyone who likes cars are prolly all little ______ing ______ers who can't stop ______ing with ____s." fill in those words with whatever foul or blunt languages you want, it's an opinion.
and yes you did, you attacked anybody who plays opposite genders in games....
that was a kind of funny experiment you went for though, not sure what it was trying to prove, but you managed to get some people upset... gratz?you discovered basic human social concepts? not to insult a large group of people without expecting negative feedback?
I said "personally". Personally means singling somone out. I didn't do that. And yet it didn't prevent me from being singled out. If someone had said, "I think people who think that people who play opposite sex avatars are stupid," that would have been an indirect attack on me. Big deal. It would have been pretty petty of me to get all upset and start leveling accusations at that person because I would be showing that the statement got to me even though I wasn't mentioned by name. It wasn't my goal to upset anyone, I simply wanted to see how people would react. Sorry if I upset anyone...sticks and stones.
I play character , not myself in roleplaying game. Especially if female models look good
Problem is that , many stupid kids today , dont know nothing about roleplaying - And when they see female toon , thay think they are talking to woman. It is creepy
So now i am down with stupids , and play males only
"Before this battle is over all the world will know that few...stood against many." - King Leonidas
In singel player rpg I pick the gender i feel suits the kind of char im making. If im maikning an evil and spider likeing drow cleric in NW2 then its gona be a woman. If im making a numbskull dogooder jedi guardian in KOTOR 2 im going to make him a man But unfortanaly that is not always the case in mmo rpg. I get so tierd of boys runing up to me and trying to pick me up, and when i tell them im not intrested I get called things that often are of a rather unplesant nature. When I play a woman char I nead to use the /ignore funktion much more then when playing a man. It has gone so far that I seriusly have hade thoughts of joining a guild that have only RL women in them. But luckely all men/boys are not without brains So I have not gone to that extream yet. But I sometimes makes male chars when I whant to play a woman char so that I dont nead to deal with the drool patrol But as often as I can stand it I continue tring to roleplay my chars and their genders after what gives me the best game experiens and what lets me rolplay the char the way I want, even in the often "unfriendly" mmo games. But games desperatly neads a "dont hit on me" funktion But this diskusion have given me an idee, the next time someone hits on me im going to /shout "IM A MAN LEAVE ME ALONE" And to explain more about the subjekt of using your gender to get unfair percs ingame, I have never and will never abuse my women chars to get a guy/boy/man to give me money, items or help by flirting with him. I have talked with others that say they are rl women and most of us agree that as far as we know, most of the times the female char that "flirts" to get things are irl MEN! I have talked with firends in games about the fact that its the "fake" women that gets the tings but the real ones that gets to pay for it. Think about it, it it strange that men are better at scaming other men by pretending to be "sexxy hot girl69" then a real woman? Who do you think understands what makes men start drooling, a man or a woman? I have and will rolplay romances in games, but before starting down that road in a mmo I will be VERRY clear with the other player that this is a game romace and dose in no way reflect our fealings IRL. And if my char happens to be male and the woman char im to have the game romance with is controled by a man dosent mater to me, its a GAME. (Sorry for the rant, but this is something I feal strongly for)
There are really two types of "cross-avatars" you will come across in an MMO. One is simply a person who would rather look at an avatar of the opposite sex when they play. The other is a person who intentionally uses sex as a means of personal gain. The former I have no issue with at all; the latter, however, is dishonest.
I always play a female avatar even though I am a male in Real Life. I would rather look at a female when I play a MMO. If someone asks me my gender in Real Life, I tell them the truth. I have a good friend who is female in Real Life but always plays a male avatar. She, like me, prefers to look at a toon of the opposite sex. It is nothing more than a personal preference thing.
To me, it depends on the character I'm going for. Some seem to fit better as a female, while others seem made for males. It all just depends. Either way, I don't see a big deal. I'd have to be pretty insecure in my manhood to let playing a female avatar bother me.
Originally posted by AcidSerra There is the additional issue of members of the Transgendered community who ARE the opposite sex of what people have assigned them, but have a very difficult time getting people to understand this. In games they can pick an avatar that is femminine or masculine and not have to deal with whispered back-biting, rude stares, and people with a discriminatory chip on their shoulders.
Playing a toon of a different sex then ones self isnt doesnt have anything whatsoever to do with the transgender community. Things become a lot easier to understand if you stop thinking about peoples characters as avatars.
There are people who play games where character is self and people for whom character is someone else The traditional definition of an avatar is a representation or outgrowth of yourself. I suspect you view your characters as avatars or extensions of yourself, however not everyone views them this way. The precise definition of avatar you are using comes into play here though, but the use of the term avatar strongly suggests that your character is an extension of yourself.
People who play a toon of a different sex then their own almost never consider that toon to be a representation of themselves. Obviously many people simply view as a character they are role playing. Others think of it as a character they are watching similar to how you would view a character in a book you were reading or movie you were watching, which is something different from an avatar.
Since the non role players are viewing their toon as an external character they will feel no particular association with its sex. Instead they create characters they find interesting, and a great many people find the opposite sex interesting.
There are some other related tendencies that fall out of this. For example many people will only prefer a character of a different sex then their own if they can see that character. If they are playing a game that forces or encourages them to use a first person view where they are the character rather then an observer they will be far more likely to play a character of their own sex. They also tend to prefer 3rd person views in general, as putting themselves into this virtual world often holds no particular appeal.
Originally posted by Zerocyde You mean being an E-Transvestite? :P
Its simple, people play games in two diffrent ways...
1. They play the game to be in the game. These type of people see their character as a representation of themselves. First person playing. 2. They play the game to experiance a story. These type of people see their character as a someone else, and watch them experiance the story. Third person playing.
That is too simplistic.
3. They play the game to experience a story THROUGHT the eyes of someone else (regardless of the gender, the race or whatever else). Even if these peoples see their character as someone else, they actually put themselves in their shoes, completely while playing the game. Experiencing the story as a first person playing. These persons switch a lot between the HE/SHE and I, depending on the situation and if it is actually the player talking, the character talking, the player talking of the character, or the player talking throught the character.
Perhaps not 100% complete, but I wouldnt say its too simplistic.
Id simply call 3. role playing even if it isnt being done in a formal sense. Role play is of course a big reason why some people play these games, though I think we are seeing a smaller and smaller percentage of that type of player.
Comments
I play a female character from time to time. So what??? I don't have gender conflict issues. Sometimes I want a little originality in my character. I also enjoy playing fighter types, so I like to play females in heavy armor with big weapons, its just a way to set my fighter apart from the 10000 male warriors running around.
I don't run around thinking woohoo I'm a girl. Apparantly these female avatars get you excited or someting. (They are only pixels)
I'm sorry if you found out that avatar was being controlled by a guy after you gave him all your stuff for free. Its not his fault you tried to court him in a pixelated world
I agree. There are too many different requisites to this question to just select a yes or a no.
Its simple, people play games in two diffrent ways...
1. They play the game to be in the game. These type of people see their character as a representation of themselves. First person playing.
2. They play the game to experiance a story. These type of people see their character as a someone else, and watch them experiance the story. Third person playing.
"It is in your nature to do one thing correctly; Before me, you rightfully tremble. But, fear is not what you owe me. You owe me awe." ~Francis Dolarhyde
Like me, in Vanguard i play as a Chick.
In a game like wow, i wanted to be undead so er.. not a chick?
Undead girls.... i can picture boobs falling off. lol.
HMMM
Just an FYI
My wife plays a male char and I play a female.
IRL I play a female and she plays a male LOL.
Just kiddin
Why not I actually play both but seem to have a few more female char than male, I must have some problem that shrinks would love to analyze.
Bliss
Well, for me, it's just a game.
Some people might like to roleplay there characters. I myself keep my games In Game. If someone wants to play as a female, why not? It's just a game.
I myself have played females in some games, simply becauseI think the Male character Design is a little rough.
"Zindaihas 1/18/07 2:15:10 AM I think it's stupid. People who play opposite sex characters probably have gender conflict issues.
Trust me, people who thinks that people playing opposite sex characters have gender conflict issues, have the true gender conflict issues.
Spes Messis In Semine
Sorry, I replied beofre the edits.
Funny.
Remind me someone who was "hitting" on me in game once. I always play female toons (almost), and that person was actually a female playing a male toon who actually saw throught me, I guess I wasn't subtle enought. When I told him/her I was a guy and to just let's it go, the answer of: I know, I ain't a guy, that was freaky.
But as other say, it isn't a dating service! It is a place to play and have a good time. I don't say it would never...but I wouldn't do that on purpose...
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
Spes Messis In Semine
That is too simplistic.
3. They play the game to experience a story THROUGHT the eyes of someone else (regardless of the gender, the race or whatever else). Even if these peoples see their character as someone else, they actually put themselves in their shoes, completely while playing the game. Experiencing the story as a first person playing. These persons switch a lot between the HE/SHE and I, depending on the situation and if it is actually the player talking, the character talking, the player talking of the character, or the player talking throught the character.
And I am sure there are others. Going nuts on these players would be like going nuts on someone playing a serial killer (we all do play serial killers btw if we get to max level in any MMO). Most players don't considers themselves serial killers even if they play in a first person...
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
As long as they roleplay or tell the truth, im fine with it. It's their business, not mine
most attacks are opinions, let me give you an example "It's my opinion that anyone who likes cars are prolly all little ______ing ______ers who can't stop ______ing with ____s." fill in those words with whatever foul or blunt languages you want, it's an opinion.
and yes you did, you attacked anybody who plays opposite genders in games....
that was a kind of funny experiment you went for though, not sure what it was trying to prove, but you managed to get some people upset... gratz?you discovered basic human social concepts? not to insult a large group of people without expecting negative feedback?
I used to do it sometimes.
I play character , not myself in roleplaying game. Especially if female models look good
Problem is that , many stupid kids today , dont know nothing about roleplaying - And when they see female toon , thay think they are talking to woman. It is creepy
So now i am down with stupids , and play males only
"Before this battle is over all the world will know that few...stood against many." - King Leonidas
In singel player rpg I pick the gender i feel suits the kind of char im making.
So I have not gone to that extream yet.
If im maikning an evil and spider likeing drow cleric in NW2 then its gona be a woman.
If im making a numbskull dogooder jedi guardian in KOTOR 2 im going to make him a man
But unfortanaly that is not always the case in mmo rpg.
I get so tierd of boys runing up to me and trying to pick me up, and when i tell them im not intrested I get called things that often are of a rather unplesant nature.
When I play a woman char I nead to use the /ignore funktion much more then when playing a man.
It has gone so far that I seriusly have hade thoughts of joining a guild that have only RL women in them.
But luckely all men/boys are not without brains
But I sometimes makes male chars when I whant to play a woman char so that I dont nead to deal with the drool patrol
But as often as I can stand it I continue tring to roleplay my chars and their genders after what gives me the best game experiens and what lets me rolplay the char the way I want, even in the often "unfriendly" mmo games.
But games desperatly neads a "dont hit on me" funktion
But this diskusion have given me an idee, the next time someone hits on me im going to /shout "IM A MAN LEAVE ME ALONE"
And to explain more about the subjekt of using your gender to get unfair percs ingame,
I have never and will never abuse my women chars to get a guy/boy/man to give me money, items or help by flirting with him.
I have talked with others that say they are rl women and most of us agree that as far as we know, most of the times the female char that "flirts" to get things are irl MEN!
I have talked with firends in games about the fact that its the "fake" women that gets the tings but the real ones that gets to pay for it.
Think about it, it it strange that men are better at scaming other men by pretending to be "sexxy hot girl69" then a real woman?
Who do you think understands what makes men start drooling, a man or a woman?
I have and will rolplay romances in games, but before starting down that road in a mmo I will be VERRY clear with the other player that this is a game romace and dose in no way reflect our fealings IRL.
And if my char happens to be male and the woman char im to have the game romance with is controled by a man dosent mater to me, its a GAME.
(Sorry for the rant, but this is something I feal strongly for)
I always play a female avatar even though I am a male in Real Life. I would rather look at a female when I play a MMO. If someone asks me my gender in Real Life, I tell them the truth. I have a good friend who is female in Real Life but always plays a male avatar. She, like me, prefers to look at a toon of the opposite sex. It is nothing more than a personal preference thing.
~Synexis
Playing a toon of a different sex then ones self isnt doesnt have anything whatsoever to do with the transgender community. Things become a lot easier to understand if you stop thinking about peoples characters as avatars.
There are people who play games where character is self and people for whom character is someone else The traditional definition of an avatar is a representation or outgrowth of yourself. I suspect you view your characters as avatars or extensions of yourself, however not everyone views them this way. The precise definition of avatar you are using comes into play here though, but the use of the term avatar strongly suggests that your character is an extension of yourself.
People who play a toon of a different sex then their own almost never consider that toon to be a representation of themselves. Obviously many people simply view as a character they are role playing. Others think of it as a character they are watching similar to how you would view a character in a book you were reading or movie you were watching, which is something different from an avatar.
Since the non role players are viewing their toon as an external character they will feel no particular association with its sex. Instead they create characters they find interesting, and a great many people find the opposite sex interesting.
There are some other related tendencies that fall out of this. For example many people will only prefer a character of a different sex then their own if they can see that character. If they are playing a game that forces or encourages them to use a first person view where they are the character rather then an observer they will be far more likely to play a character of their own sex. They also tend to prefer 3rd person views in general, as putting themselves into this virtual world often holds no particular appeal.
I create plenty of female characters in City of Heroes.
That would only be a problem if you're looking to 'cyber' with me, and if you, you have a whole slew of issues you need to deal with.
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"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb." -- Batman
Id simply call 3. role playing even if it isnt being done in a formal sense. Role play is of course a big reason why some people play these games, though I think we are seeing a smaller and smaller percentage of that type of player.