Can you imagine someone coming up to you in a game and saying "Are you really an evil Orc in real life?". It's not the same thing at all.
The Lara Croft comparison doesn't work either for two reasons. Firstly, you don't interact with other people, and secondly, there isn't an option to play a male character.
Although I can't personally empathise with your decision to play as a girl "as a change", given that there are usually so many other ways you can customize your character without compromising your masculinity, I guess I'll have to accept that as the best reason anyone can give.
And yes, Jannes, I did read that article as a matter of fact, and here's what I say to that guy: There are more effective ways to promote the kind of conversational atmosphere you prefer in a game than lying about your gender. Examples being "I'm not into all that tough-guy crap" or "I'm looking for a more mature guild where everyone isn't out to prove what a big man they are" or "I don't really like to be forced into stereotypes. I hope that doesn't bother you". Ah! The magic of communication!
I'm not suggesting that guys who play as girls "want to be female", and I'm not suggesting they're gay (as if there's anything wrong with being gay anyway). Just enjoying the discussion, as always.
Yeah, you aren't saying that guys that play female characters are gay or want to be girls in real life, you're just saying that they're "compromising (their) masculinity".
The reason I would make a female character is if I thought the character would be cooler if it was female. I was making a character I planned on being a Bounty Hunter in SWG one day (didn't play it much though). I thought a female bounty hunter might be fun to play, cause I didn't see many of them. Am I comprimising my masculinity because I think a character might be more cool as a female?
I like to mix it up a bit. I have my wife play a male character and then I tell her what to do from behind. So, it's like I am playing a girl character in real life who is playing a male character in the game.
Originally posted by Knoxay Yeah, you aren't saying that guys that play female characters are gay or want to be girls in real life, you're just saying that they're "compromising (their) masculinity". The reason I would make a female character is if I thought the character would be cooler if it was female. I was making a character I planned on being a Bounty Hunter in SWG one day (didn't play it much though). I thought a female bounty hunter might be fun to play, cause I didn't see many of them. Am I comprimising my masculinity because I think a character might be more cool as a female?
mas·cu·lin·i·ty n. pl. mas·cu·lin·i·ties 1. The quality or condition of being masculine. 2. Something traditionally considered to be characteristic of a male
Let me spell it out for you:
If you're a male and you pretend to be a female in a computer, you are compromising your masculinity. As the above definition shows, masculinity does not mean "acting like a stereotypical male", it simply means "being a man".
If you want to make a female bounty hunter because you think it's cool, awesome dude - go for it!
I just like to know where I stand with people though. If I'm with a group of people in a game, I don't want to waste time thinking "which ones are really guys and which ones are really girls?". I don't want to form friendships, then somewhere down the line they say "actually I'm a girl/guy", leaving me questioning their morality. I mean if they're so relaxed with lying, what kind of person are they?
Jannes, isnt Zevenhuizen close to Moordrecht? When I was in Germany I had a friend that came from there. We stopped in that area a couple times on our way to various places. I think I recall going to a restraunt in that area called Borgo Antico, I think that was it. Flemmish quisine if I remember correctly.
I am a male in RL and have never played a female character. To me there is something really wrong with a male playing a female char, even more so one that roleplays. I can get into being a male troll or any other race, as its easy to envision my character through a males eyes. My RL friend likes to play females and I always tell him he has is doing nothing short of being a cyber-space transvestite. Too afraid to wear a dress in public, but eager from behind a computer screen. And he makes the claim he does it for items. There are some things I will not comprimise and cross-dressing on the internet to get some ingame items is one of them.
Originally posted by eeargy Originally posted by Knoxay Yeah, you aren't saying that guys that play female characters are gay or want to be girls in real life, you're just saying that they're "compromising (their) masculinity". The reason I would make a female character is if I thought the character would be cooler if it was female.� I was making a character I planned on being a Bounty Hunter in�SWG one day (didn't play it much though).� I thought a female bounty hunter might be fun to play, cause I didn't see many of them.� Am I comprimising my masculinity because I think a character might be more cool as a female?�
mas�cu�lin�i�ty n. pl. mas�cu�lin�i�ties 1. The quality or condition of being masculine. 2. Something traditionally considered to be characteristic of a male
Let me spell it out for you:
If you're a male and you pretend to be a female in a computer, you are compromising your masculinity. As the above definition shows, masculinity does not mean "acting like a stereotypical male", it simply means "being a man".
If you want to make a female bounty hunter because you think it's cool, awesome dude - go for it!
I just like to know where I stand with people though. If I'm with a group of people in a game, I don't want to waste time thinking "which ones are really guys and which ones are really girls?". I don't want to form friendships, then somewhere down the line they say "actually I'm a girl/guy", leaving me questioning their morality. I mean if they're so relaxed with lying, what kind of person are they?
eeargy, can you tell me that if you became friends with a guy in the game and started grouping with him for a long time and having lots of fun for many levels, then one day he suddenly told you he was actually a girl in real life, that you would condemn her for lying to you this whole time? Especially if the question of gender was never brought up before...
Think about that and honestly tell me that you still feel the same way. I have a little feeling that it only works one way for you.
eeargy, can you tell me that if you became friends with a guy in the game and started grouping with him for a long time and having lots of fun for many levels, then one day he suddenly told you he was actually a girl in real life, that you would condemn her for lying to you this whole time? Especially if the question of gender was never brought up before...Think about that and honestly tell me that you still feel the same way. I have a little feeling that it only works one way for you.
Can you tell me that if your girlfriend/partner suddenly told you she'd been sleeping with other men while you'd been together, that you wouldn't condemn her for deceiving you? I mean, you never asked her....
I guess the fundamental difference is that some people see characters in a MMOG as representation of the person playing them and others see them as just a character that someone is playing. If I play a character I'm not telling people that this is what I am in real life. It's not my fault that some people assume that because my character might be female that I'm female also. Men that play female characters aren't liars as long as they don't go around telling people that they're women in real life. The old argument of "I'm not a Troll in real life either" is a good example, but it's often just dismissed because, well, no one is a Troll in real life. But would I be a liar if I was white and my character was black, or if I was black and my character white?
I don't want to form friendships, then somewhere down the line they say "actually I'm a girl/guy", leaving me questioning their morality. I mean if they're so relaxed with lying, what kind of person are they?
so you mean that ogre i grouped with last night might not be a real ogre?
"Can you tell me that if your girlfriend/partner suddenly told you she'd been sleeping with other men while you'd been together, that you wouldn't condemn her for deceiving you? I mean, you never asked her...."
FYI i met my soulmate while playing Aheron's Call 2. We've been together for a year and a half and are planning on the big "M". So MMORPG's can be a good place to meet your significant other.
There are two options here for a guy playing a female character.
1. You roleplay in game. As long as you continue to roleplay as a female character in context with the game. Don't get out of character and start acting like a girl in IRL. Don't make relationships based on the fact that you are a girl IRL when it is not true. If someone asks if you are a girl IRL, stay in character and say "IRL, what are you talking about??" "What is IRL?". Stay in character. And efinitely don't start boy/girl relationships in game, even if it is in character.
2. You don't roleplay at all. You are a object in the game that is killing monsters and completeing quests. Don't act like a girl and don't let guys think you are a girl. If asked, tell them the truth.
Bottom line is, don't be deceptive about it. And definitely don't allow another guy to start hitting on you and start pretending to have a relationship with them.
Having said this, I do play female characters in game. I don't see anything wrong with it. I tend to also stay in character when I am playing a female. And if someone really really must know if I am a girl in IRL I tell them I am a guy. Or if some knucklehead starts hitting on me or something.
To me, the guys with problems are not the ones playing girl characters. It is the guys who will hit on a girl in the game. When there is no way in hell you know if the other person is a girl or not. Or who/what they are IRL.
Not that it's happened before but I totaly agree with Rhoklaw on this. And I realy like the point someone made about the black and white issue. It is very well thought out and a damn good point. There does seem to be an aweful lot of assumptions going on, and you know what they say about assumtion, "Its the mother of all fuck ups"
Originally posted by Aeryith FYI i met my soulmate while playing Aheron's Call 2. We've been together for a year and a half and are planning on the big "M". So MMORPG's can be a good place to meet your significant other.
Originally posted by Aeryith FYI i met my soulmate while playing Aheron's Call 2. We've been together for a year and a half and are planning on the big "M". So MMORPG's can be a good place to meet your significant other.
u prolly look like this after u sent out invitations to a cyber wedding...
Originally posted by Aeryith FYI i met my soulmate while playing Aheron's Call 2. We've been together for a year and a half and are planning on the big "M". So MMORPG's can be a good place to meet your significant other.
u prolly look like this after u sent out invitations to a cyber wedding...
LOL!!!
no game weddings yet... they're just as hard to plan as RL ones. LOL. but there will be an EQ2 wedding for sure. ^_^ Nothing like a big cat guy covered in fur getting hitched to a DE chick that comes up to his waist. (waiting on the height jokes)
Originally posted by Vineyard Not that it's happened before but I totaly agree with Rhoklaw on this. And I realy like the point someone made about the black and white issue. It is very well thought out and a damn good point. There does seem to be an aweful lot of assumptions going on, and you know what they say about assumtion, "Its the mother of all fuck ups"
At least, it would be a good point if the color of someones skin actually meant anything at all. It has as much relevancy to who the person is as the color of their hair or eyes does. Absolutely none.
I like playing girl characters because I like keeping fruitcakes like you on your toes every time you feel like asking a female character if you can cyber.
im a fruitcake for acting like myself? LOL!!! classic but no.. i dun date grls online...
so why dont u put on a dress and make me dinner.. while ur at it grab me a beer
Comments
Can you imagine someone coming up to you in a game and saying "Are you really an evil Orc in real life?". It's not the same thing at all.
The Lara Croft comparison doesn't work either for two reasons. Firstly, you don't interact with other people, and secondly, there isn't an option to play a male character.
Although I can't personally empathise with your decision to play as a girl "as a change", given that there are usually so many other ways you can customize your character without compromising your masculinity, I guess I'll have to accept that as the best reason anyone can give.
And yes, Jannes, I did read that article as a matter of fact, and here's what I say to that guy: There are more effective ways to promote the kind of conversational atmosphere you prefer in a game than lying about your gender. Examples being "I'm not into all that tough-guy crap" or "I'm looking for a more mature guild where everyone isn't out to prove what a big man they are" or "I don't really like to be forced into stereotypes. I hope that doesn't bother you". Ah! The magic of communication!
I'm not suggesting that guys who play as girls "want to be female", and I'm not suggesting they're gay (as if there's anything wrong with being gay anyway). Just enjoying the discussion, as always.
Yeah, you aren't saying that guys that play female characters are gay or want to be girls in real life, you're just saying that they're "compromising (their) masculinity".
The reason I would make a female character is if I thought the character would be cooler if it was female. I was making a character I planned on being a Bounty Hunter in SWG one day (didn't play it much though). I thought a female bounty hunter might be fun to play, cause I didn't see many of them. Am I comprimising my masculinity because I think a character might be more cool as a female?
Aye is a very good explanation. But i am a guy and play guy characters, because after all can any one see the "midget master of evil" as a girl?
Besides.... the last time a made a girl alt. my wife teased me for a month..........
Mortis- Midget Master of Evil
Chestell- Tree-humper of Doom
I like to mix it up a bit. I have my wife play a male character and then I tell her what to do from behind. So, it's like I am playing a girl character in real life who is playing a male character in the game.
It's completely wacky... I'm telling you!
mas·cu·lin·i·ty
n. pl. mas·cu·lin·i·ties
1. The quality or condition of being masculine.
2. Something traditionally considered to be characteristic of a male
Let me spell it out for you:
If you're a male and you pretend to be a female in a computer, you are compromising your masculinity. As the above definition shows, masculinity does not mean "acting like a stereotypical male", it simply means "being a man".
If you want to make a female bounty hunter because you think it's cool, awesome dude - go for it!
I just like to know where I stand with people though. If I'm with a group of people in a game, I don't want to waste time thinking "which ones are really guys and which ones are really girls?". I don't want to form friendships, then somewhere down the line they say "actually I'm a girl/guy", leaving me questioning their morality. I mean if they're so relaxed with lying, what kind of person are they?
Jannes, isnt Zevenhuizen close to Moordrecht? When I was in Germany I had a friend that came from there. We stopped in that area a couple times on our way to various places. I think I recall going to a restraunt in that area called Borgo Antico, I think that was it. Flemmish quisine if I remember correctly.
I am a male in RL and have never played a female character. To me there is something really wrong with a male playing a female char, even more so one that roleplays. I can get into being a male troll or any other race, as its easy to envision my character through a males eyes. My RL friend likes to play females and I always tell him he has is doing nothing short of being a cyber-space transvestite. Too afraid to wear a dress in public, but eager from behind a computer screen. And he makes the claim he does it for items. There are some things I will not comprimise and cross-dressing on the internet to get some ingame items is one of them.
mas�cu�lin�i�ty
n. pl. mas�cu�lin�i�ties
1. The quality or condition of being masculine.
2. Something traditionally considered to be characteristic of a male
Let me spell it out for you:
If you're a male and you pretend to be a female in a computer, you are compromising your masculinity. As the above definition shows, masculinity does not mean "acting like a stereotypical male", it simply means "being a man".
If you want to make a female bounty hunter because you think it's cool, awesome dude - go for it!
I just like to know where I stand with people though. If I'm with a group of people in a game, I don't want to waste time thinking "which ones are really guys and which ones are really girls?". I don't want to form friendships, then somewhere down the line they say "actually I'm a girl/guy", leaving me questioning their morality. I mean if they're so relaxed with lying, what kind of person are they?
eeargy, can you tell me that if you became friends with a guy in the game and started grouping with him for a long time and having lots of fun for many levels, then one day he suddenly told you he was actually a girl in real life, that you would condemn her for lying to you this whole time? Especially if the question of gender was never brought up before...
Think about that and honestly tell me that you still feel the same way. I have a little feeling that it only works one way for you.
Can you tell me that if your girlfriend/partner suddenly told you she'd been sleeping with other men while you'd been together, that you wouldn't condemn her for deceiving you? I mean, you never asked her....
"Can you tell me that if your girlfriend/partner suddenly told you she'd been sleeping with other men while you'd been together, that you wouldn't condemn her for deceiving you? I mean, you never asked her...."
Eh... that's a little extreme isn't it?
I don't play games to make friends. I play games to beat $hit down end of story.
Destroy Yourself , See Who Gives A FUC|{
It is a game. Get over it...
There are two options here for a guy playing a female character.
1. You roleplay in game. As long as you continue to roleplay as a female character in context with the game. Don't get out of character and start acting like a girl in IRL. Don't make relationships based on the fact that you are a girl IRL when it is not true. If someone asks if you are a girl IRL, stay in character and say "IRL, what are you talking about??" "What is IRL?". Stay in character. And efinitely don't start boy/girl relationships in game, even if it is in character.
2. You don't roleplay at all. You are a object in the game that is killing monsters and completeing quests. Don't act like a girl and don't let guys think you are a girl. If asked, tell them the truth.
Bottom line is, don't be deceptive about it. And definitely don't allow another guy to start hitting on you and start pretending to have a relationship with them.
Having said this, I do play female characters in game. I don't see anything wrong with it. I tend to also stay in character when I am playing a female. And if someone really really must know if I am a girl in IRL I tell them I am a guy. Or if some knucklehead starts hitting on me or something.
To me, the guys with problems are not the ones playing girl characters. It is the guys who will hit on a girl in the game. When there is no way in hell you know if the other person is a girl or not. Or who/what they are IRL.
One of many,
Rhojan
LMAO
nope.
LOL why would u pick a girl ?? that is weird dude... it makes me think u want to become a grl in real life
plus why would u role play as a grl?? unless u like gettin hit on by guys..
wut fruitcakes! LOL!!
ROFL!!!
yes, the deer are evil... they're all shifty eyed
u prolly look like this
after u sent out invitations to a cyber wedding...
LOL!!!
u prolly look like this
after u sent out invitations to a cyber wedding...
LOL!!!
no game weddings yet... they're just as hard to plan as RL ones. LOL. but there will be an EQ2 wedding for sure. ^_^ Nothing like a big cat guy covered in fur getting hitched to a DE chick that comes up to his waist. (waiting on the height jokes)
At least, it would be a good point if the color of someones skin actually meant anything at all. It has as much relevancy to who the person is as the color of their hair or eyes does. Absolutely none.
I like playing girl characters because I like keeping fruitcakes like you on your toes every time you feel like asking a female character if you can cyber.
im a fruitcake for acting like myself? LOL!!!
so why dont u put on a dress and make me dinner.. while ur at it grab me a beer
Guys who play females play WoW=Democrats
Guys who are manly play EQ2=Republicans
Women who support guys playing girls are lesbians in the making, they are the ones who will vote for Hillary Clinton come next election.