Home Gaming There is so much wrong with a Diversity Lounge

There is so much wrong with a Diversity Lounge

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Oh boy! The white knights and LGBT community are up in arms again in the gaming media, after leaked plans of the PAX Diversity Lounge were picked up by Indie Statik. PAX has led the way with their anti-booth babe stance and now they are opting to create a safe place at their convention for people to find out more about diversity.

They classify diversity as women, LGBTQ (when did Q get added?), people of colour, disabled people and those with mental health issues.

So pretty much everyone except white males. If you want the full break-down then check out these two images of the plan that PAX is putting into place, click to embiggen.

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Now I expected the usual band of feminists and LGBT (and sometimes Q?) people  to jump on this bandwagon and shout out from the rooftops about how great Penny Arcade are for not only acknowledging this side of the gaming industry but also for creating this place for them to feel safe at the convention.

But that’s not happened. In fact Penny Arcade are now being attacked for taking this stand.

“For instance, why can’t the entire PAX space be explicitly marked as a safe space? Why does it appear that this is going to be the only area where someone might not feel threatened because of their ‘biological gender?’”

“There are the added concerns about the “diversity specialists” on hand to teach people about diversity in the gaming industry. Who are they, and who is vetting them? Why have these individuals been chosen to specifically represent queer gamers or woman gamers, or gamers of color?”

That’s from the writer of the article itself but the comments are even better. First up we have Vince who doesn’t really seem to know his history that well.

“Apartheid but for gaming conventions?”

Dear Vince, the diverse people aren’t being forced into the Diversity Lounge nor are they barred from the main hall.

And then we get the white male defenders:

“So, as a straight white male, will I be able to get in? Is there gonna be a privilege check at the door, with genital inspection specialists on hand to judge whether I’m too cis to enter? I hope they provide a non-diversity lounge so people like me can have a place to not feel judged and excluded for not being diverse enough.”

But let’s leave all of that for now and go back in time to when I wrote about the Gaymercon that was planned in America to cater specifically for the diverse group that PAX is talking about. At that time I wrote

“How can you honestly expect the heterosexual world to treat you equally if you are going out of your way to separate yourselves from everyone else. It’s ludicrous, if you want to go to a gaming convention then go to E3, PAX, Gamescom or any other of the many that are going around.”

And in the comments and on Twitter I was called out for not understanding, not being empathetic and taking the typical privileged viewpoint. Yet now when PAX offers something specifically for them they are being shot down for segregation.

There is no winning with some people and I for one would love to see these Diversity Lounges shut down and for everyone in the gaming industry to just get on with their own lives.

I simply do not believe that our community is more abusive to anyone regarding their race, colour, religion or sexual preferences than any other community. In fact I think the gaming industry is leading the way in being open and accepting to everyone. Hell we even have games where people of colour and females are leading characters and people don’t bat an eyelid. 

Mass Effect allows you to be homosexual and besides Fox News no one else really cared. It’s nearly 2014 and in most, if not all, developed countries the idea of a woman being the boss, or people marrying over the colour line or people loving whoever they want is absolutely normal.

Yes you have some overly emotional people who never feel like they fit in but that’s never going to change. Some people just don’t feel comfortable in their own skin and that’s okay as well. We’re not going to force you to change and we accept you for whoever you choose to be.

Last Updated: December 19, 2013

43 Comments

  1. CodeName Tailgunner

    December 19, 2013 at 10:12

    Well said Gavin

    Reply

  2. Umar Bravely Default

    December 19, 2013 at 10:29

    I like going to diversity lounges , there’s this really nice one called Earth

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      December 19, 2013 at 10:32

      100% on the dot!

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 19, 2013 at 10:34

      Sometimes I think to myself Mars must be nice this time of year.

      Reply

  3. Matewis Jubilai

    December 19, 2013 at 10:33

    jeezlouize… why stop there? why not create separate ‘diversity’ servers for COD? might look something like this:

    Reply

    • Matewis Jubilai

      December 19, 2013 at 10:34

      oh man what have I done…

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      December 19, 2013 at 10:40

      That looks like my gym’s locker room. lol

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        December 19, 2013 at 10:45

        Wait.. you also go to the Turkish baths?

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 19, 2013 at 10:47

          The steam room. Thar be some gorillas in yonder mists!

          Reply

      • Matewis Jubilai

        December 19, 2013 at 11:10

        Perish the thought! I’ve seen things that cannot be unseen in gym locker rooms 😐
        I’d rather sweat up my car than shower in a gym ever again. I miss the steam room though 🙁 Sometimes I hover my head 50cm over boiling penne just to remind myself of it.
        Ok that last bit is not quite true but it is an excellent idea nonetheless – looks like I’m making pasta tonight…

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 19, 2013 at 11:18

          lol. After a while you just become immune to the guys advertising their junk.

          Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      December 19, 2013 at 10:43

      Yep.. that’s Call of Duty’s fanbase!

      Reply

      • Matewis Jubilai

        December 19, 2013 at 11:02

        lol

        Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 19, 2013 at 10:34

    I’ve never understood the concept behind calling yourself “type abc” gamer. What does it matter? Does your gender/sexual preference/etc define what kind of gamer you are? No, it doesn’t. You’re a gamer. I think when people label themselves that way they’re possibly doing more harm to themselves because they’re pigeon holing themselves into a smaller group and all the associated stereotypes that go with it. I understand the concept behind it & I’m not denying that there is discrimination, but how does what you are relate to what you’re doing – which is gaming.

    There’s just too much fear of causing offense & ease to taking offense that everyone walks around on egg shells. When you label yourself as part of a specific sub-group it’s very easy to perceive anything negative you experience as being directly related to the label you’ve assigned yourself, when in fact it may have nothing to do with it whatsoever.

    I was driving a while back & called someone a dickhead, my friend then pointed out the other driver was a women. So I paused for a second, then said “bitch.” Does that mean I was being a sexist or was the insult more gender-appropriate?

    Reply

    • Umar Bravely Default

      December 19, 2013 at 10:42

      Why do labels exist in the first place…Man is not defined by anything besides themselves. Is it that humans by nature fear that if there is nothing to label others and themselves by that they won’t have an identity? I honestly wish the same to happen as Gav. That everyone just move on and live their lives without the constant reminder that though we are different , we are all still the same, just human beings….

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        December 19, 2013 at 10:46

        Exactly. There are many people who can’t tolerate differences from what they consider the norm – which is to say, themselves. And I hate using the word tolerate or tolerance because another person shouldn’t have to be “tolerated” because they’re different from you, that’s just insulting.

        Reply

        • Umar Bravely Default

          December 19, 2013 at 10:53

          Dude, couldn’t agree more. So because you are different I have to be tolerant?I have to exhibit tolerance towards you? …. As if I can’t handle the fact that you’re different. People should not be tolerated, they should be loved, treated with kindness and respect, no matter who or what you are. Being different is not a reason to be indifferent towards that person….

          Reply

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            December 19, 2013 at 10:56

            Well said and if you can’t accept someone’s way of life then just carry on with your own. Don’t make a scene and simply accept the fact that not everyone has the same view as yourself.

  5. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    December 19, 2013 at 10:36

    I’ve always believed that you don’t teach people about diversity by walling it off and sticking it in a zoo. You do it by letting it mingle among the crowd. You won’t change people’s perceptions about others with this sort of endeavour, nor will you change the perception some men have of women by banning booth babes (i miss booth babes).

    PAX and their white-knighting just gets on my tits sometimes. I know they mean well, and would like to be seen as progressive, but this is not how you do it.

    Reply

    • Umar Bravely Default

      December 19, 2013 at 10:46

      Indeed. Why have a seperate area like this…I honestly dream of the day that everyone can just BE. Be whoever, whatever they want to be. That everyone get’s over all of this. They don’t need protection, they just need a lil bit of understanding

      Reply

  6. oVg

    December 19, 2013 at 10:38

    What about red heads?

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      December 19, 2013 at 10:39

      I think they’re specifically talking about human beings. 😛

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        December 19, 2013 at 10:46

        Oi! My wife’s a redhead! cc @disqus_CmSOeB7F9d:disqus

        Careful she doesn’t catch wind of this. She might steal your soul

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          December 19, 2013 at 10:46

          Don;t make eye contact with a redhead… they can take over your mind!!

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 19, 2013 at 10:48

            I fear it’s too late for him. We’ve lost another one!

        • oVg

          December 19, 2013 at 10:58

          You lucky vampire 😛

          Reply

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            December 19, 2013 at 11:06

            My wife’s way hotter 🙂

          • oVg

            December 19, 2013 at 11:27

            I do not believe you. Unless you are some millionaire who drives a Lambo.

            Cliffy B… is that you? Did you dye your wife’s hair again?

      • oVg

        December 19, 2013 at 10:49

        Silly Bi Peddle opposable thumb self aware sentient humanoids. Do they not know that they all crawled out of a bubbling cesspool in the middle of Pangea ?

        How is that for diversity? I am not racist, I just think all humans are one cell short of an amoeba.

        Red heads are evolution 😛

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 19, 2013 at 10:50

          So is this…

          Reply

          • oVg

            December 19, 2013 at 10:51

            WTF is that?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 19, 2013 at 10:52

            A blob fish 😀

          • oVg

            December 19, 2013 at 10:52

            How does it play games?

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            December 19, 2013 at 10:53

            It looks at the screen and automatically wins

          • oVg

            December 19, 2013 at 10:54

            WINNER

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            December 19, 2013 at 11:06

            Oh my glob! The resemblance is uncanny!

          • HvR

            December 19, 2013 at 10:53

            Kinect

  7. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 19, 2013 at 10:39

    Yes, having a separate “safe” areas for everyone except straight white males does sound really stupid. Maybe they should also make everyone wear a sign expressly stating their gender/sexual preference/race/etc just so nobody makes a mistake, then everything will be great.

    Reply

  8. Rags

    December 19, 2013 at 10:47

  9. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    December 19, 2013 at 10:47

    1) Make convention
    2) Open convention up for all
    3) indicate that no racism/sexism/etc will be tolerated at the event
    4) Everyone rocks up, has fun and doesn’t give a hoot what color, gender or sexual orientation you are. All they care about is what side of the CoD vs BF fence you are on.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      December 19, 2013 at 10:48

      Inderdaad.

      Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      December 19, 2013 at 10:59

      Absolutely, and if you’re being offensive to others, security takes you to the back, captures your details and escorts you out. If you’re a repeat offender, you get a lifetime ban.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        December 19, 2013 at 11:01

        Dude totally agreed! I’d be down with that. Call it 3 strikes or something? But then it must be unbiased because there are some people who lead (from my view of things) alternative lifestyles who get very aggro for no reason and pick fights so they can shout “Oh why always me. Always taken on for my lifestyle!”

        But yeah, agreed that repeat offenders get banned from events

        Reply

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