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[Krabardaf]

Kind of sad to see objectified women aren't even remotely embarrassing for some people.

But I didn't get what exactly happened in this particular party. Somebody would care to explain? Notch hired dancers for a party?
I would find that of bad taste, but so common it's kind of strange for this to be a big deal.

 

[marrec]

Kind of sad to see objectified women aren't even remotely embarrassing for some people.

All instances of sexual appreciation are not automatically objectification. Hiring a female dancer for a party is contextually appropriate and any objectification would be done on an individual basis.

 

[Seanspeed]

I know this is more of a rhetorical question. But personally, I'm not really a fan in theory of what I feel to be a forced interaction. I feel the same way about celebrity interaction in that it's hard for me to shake my innate cynicism and feeling bad for them that they are basically forced to pretend to want to talk to me.

Having said that, though, I would be lying if I acted as though I've never had an absolutely pleasant conversation with an attractive waitress or bartender, so I'm not condemning the efficacy of what they do or why attractive, personable people are hired.

I feel ya. A lot of these people genuinely do like to talk to people, though. Generally, these are people with a lot of self-confidence in social situations, which makes interacting with them usually fairly pleasant. I mean, I've had times when I went to Hooters or some place and our waitress would come up to us and be totally uninterested in what we were saying and you could tell it was forced and they weren't into it, but thats less common and a matter of either hiring the wrong person or maybe she was just having a bad day or something.

If I was a game developer going to Notch's GDC party, I would expect to go there to unwind and talk shop with like-minded compatriots. I would find the presence of women with no clue about game development paid to talk and flirt with me strange and slightly off-putting. Maybe I'm in the minority on this, given how popular booth babes still are in this day and age.

Nothing is stopping you from talking shop with others if thats what you want to do.

If a girl comes up to you and you dont feel like talking, just make it a short bit of small talk and be on your way.

 

[morningbus]

Maybe those dancers were also hired to port the PC version of Minecraft away from Java.

The 300/hr doesn't sound too ridiculous now, does it?

 

[dragonelite]

If I was a game developer going to Notch's GDC party, I would expect to go there to unwind and talk shop with like-minded compatriots. I would find the presence of women with no clue about game development paid to talk and flirt with me strange and slightly off-putting. Maybe I'm in the minority on this, given how popular booth babes still are in this day and age.

You would go to a party to talk about game development which you already had to do all day at GDC?

 

[Dilly]

Aren't you people human beings, goddamnit GAF!

Goddamnit.

 

[Seanspeed]

You would go to a party to talk about game development which you already had to do all day at GDC?

It would inevitably come up at some points, but yea, exactly. A lot of people are going to be there to relax, drink and shoot the shit, not talk about work.

 

[APF]

You would go to a party to talk about game development which you already had to do all day at GDC?

A lot of these conferences are really about networking and shooting ideas off of each other, so even in a social setting the topic is naturally focused on the work. Many people end up collaborating on code all throughout the night. Some folks actually enjoy their field! You can go to a club and not talk to other developers *at any time.*

 

[Blood Diamonds]

does Nintendo still have booth babes?

 

[pje122]

Why is GAF turning into this? So so sad.

 

[Grinchy]

Why is this a story? Has no one ever heard about the CCP parties?

I think the reason this is a story is because the one thing people like more than a rags-to-riches story is a rags-to-riches-to-rags story. Unsuccessful people desperately want to see other, more successful people fall for some ugly reason.

 

[spwolf]

i guess people are complaining those girls are paid too much? or what?

 

[Seanspeed]

A lot of these conferences are really about networking and shooting ideas off of each other, so even in a social setting the topic is naturally focused on the work. Many people end up collaborating on code all throughout the night. Some folks actually enjoy their field! You can go to a club and not talk to other developers *at any time.*

Just because you enjoy your field doesn't mean you cant put it aside for a few hours and just have some fun talking about other things with fellow like-minded people.

Talk about work if you want, but I guarantee thats not what everybody is there for. Did you see the pictures? Thats a proper party, not just a 'social event'.

 

[marrec]

Why is GAF turning into this? So so sad.

Ya guys?! Why is GAF turning into a discussion board? This is shit.

 

[APF]

Just because you enjoy your field doesn't mean you cant put it aside for a few hours and just have some fun talking about other things with fellow like-minded people.

Oh wait, what? Models?

 

[Lazy Man's Wallpaper]

Who gets invited to these VIP parties anyway?

Top men.

Top.

Men.

 

[dragonelite]

A lot of these conferences are really about networking and shooting ideas off of each other, so even in a social setting the topic is naturally focused on the work. Many people end up collaborating on code all throughout the night. Some folks actually enjoy their field! You can go to a club and not talk to other developers *at any time.*

I understand that i mean i like to talk all night about code hell me and friends do that a lot on whats app sharing ideas or solutions to problems.
These kind of party is not a place you're going to discuss code way to loud and to many distractions. I would go there to talk old friends how they have been or make new contacts ask for Facebook request/invite or their number.

Oh wait, what? Models?

They can also be gamers give a different perspective.
Or you could talk about other things like hooking up.

Spoiler

Then hear she was only interested because #$300/h

 

[POWERSPHERE]

So did any of these losers get laid or what?

 

[Broadbandito]

Was at the party. Half of S.F. was there. Party leaked in the city long ago. It was awesome.

 

[sibarraz]

I don't want to read the 12 pages, could someone summarize what happened at the party

 

[Seanspeed]

Oh wait, what? Models?

Dear god, follow the conversation please.

You were saying you would only want to talk about work. I'm saying that you can hang out with 'work people'(the like-minded individuals) and not just talk about work. Unless you're so boring that you cant talk about anything else, then there's no reason that you couldn't have a conversation with one of these girls about something. And like I said, if you really didn't want to talk to them, you dont have to.

That thread you're dangling on is starting to fray.

 

[dragonelite]

I don't want to read the 12 pages, could someone summarize what happened at the party

People saw girls.
People suspect said girls to be paid to be there.

 

[Seanspeed]

I don't want to read the 12 pages, could someone summarize what happened at the party

Everyone because unhuman.

 

[CHEEZMO™]

What's the problem?

 

[Uno Venova]

Man where is my cape.

 

[Teletraan1]

Welp, here goes:

This way of making money is not intellectually stimulating for a person. These women could be getting a degree/making a real career out of their lives; instead they have given in to society's vision of them in order to pay the bills. It makes that person come off as slutty and stupid, and that something as artificial as money can pay for her attention. It perpetuates stereotypes about an entire gender of people that have historically been mistreated by men. It makes women who aren't there to make money feel uncomfortable, and creates a hostile environment towards women in the games/tech industry. I'm against the notion of people being paid for their sexual attractiveness, yes.

I have met a few strippers who were just smart attractive women paying their way through college. They weren't sleazy whores who wanted to take you in the back. They were just stripping because the money was good and it was a way to pay for school. It was their choice, they weren't forced into it and if that is how they want to pay for college then more power to them.

 

[uncdeez]

This is just terrible, heterosexual males attending a party where women may or may not have been paid to dance. We need to blow up this misogynist industry up and start over again.




In all seriousness though, I love these types of threads. You know, the ones that are chock full of impotent rage over total non-events (like dongle-gate, elevator-gate, etc.). I wish I could roll this thread up, smoke it, and then suck up all the smoke like that sweet Denzel gif.

 

[XANDER CAGE]

the whole thing was a shit show. i had a rsvp invite. showed up around 9:30 and they said they were only letting in VIP guests because they are at fire code capacity. I walk down to the other side of the venue and there are 100 people in line at the door for "general admission" (isn't this an industry event?), and then look across the street there are another 300 in line. Just looking at the line you could tell that 99% of the people had no freaking clue what GDC was, just that skrillex was playing.

Ha. Didn't this exact thing happen with the Deadmau5 performance at the last Minecraft PAX party?

 

[cutmeamango]

Yep I think this is the end of the rabbit hole, but who knows?

We are ankle deep only, this can't be the end!

What would make me a little uncomfortable is to find out that the cute girl I was dancing with all night long was paid $300/hr to endure my presence.

That's not how it works (assuming you are not talking about escorts).

They pay the rate for a person to stay at the party (for 2 hours usually), to do what they would do for free... party. Why? Because attractive people and a perceptually "fun" party attracts more customers. They are not obliged to entertain or "endure" the patrons. They are party fodder. Of course, there are some calls for more specific purposes too, like when there is a "celebrity" in a vip area, so they "embelish" it to please the individual. But still, no "enduring".

If you are talking about escorts (or prostitutes), then you'd have a Cable Guy situation there. ;P
And they don't have to endure you either.

 

[patapuf]

If I was a game developer going to Notch's GDC party, I would expect to go there to unwind and talk shop with like-minded compatriots. I would find the presence of women with no clue about game development paid to talk and flirt with me strange and slightly off-putting. Maybe I'm in the minority on this, given how popular booth babes still are in this day and age.

the party:

 

[Grinchy]

I have met a few strippers who were just smart attractive women paying their way through college. They weren't sleazy whores who wanted to take you in the back. They were just stripping because the money was good and it was a way to pay for school. It was their choice, they weren't forced into it and if that is how they want to pay for college then more power to them.

And let's be honest for 2 seconds here. If roles were switched around, and good looking men always had the backup plan that they could dance for a shitload of money to help them achieve their goals, men would be doing it too. And they wouldn't give a fuck about it because it might even get them laid in the end.

But when a woman decides that dancing for a lot of money sounds like a good plan at the moment, a collective of keyboard knights rally behind them in an effort to protect those who aren't even asking for protection.

 

[JWong]

Those are some expensive strippers if they were banking 300 per

I'd pay more for this

 

[APF]

I understand that i mean i like to talk all night about code hell me and friends do that a lot on whats app sharing ideas or solutions to problems.
These kind of party is not a place you're going to discuss code way to loud and to many distractions. I would go there to talk old friends how they have been or make new contacts ask for Facebook request/invite or their number.

Yeah, from my understanding this seems more like a private party at a club for friends they happen to know who are either in the area or are at the conference, than an official corporate event.

Dear god, follow the conversation please.

You first.

You were saying you would only want to talk about work.

No, I said a lot of people *do* talk about work--not that they *only* talk about work--and that a lot of the appeal of these conferences is networking with people in the industry to talk about / collaborate on things in the industry, since you can talk to people outside of the industry literally every day of your life.

I'm saying that you can hang out with 'work people'(the like-minded individuals) and not just talk about work.

No shit! But the point is you can talk to people who have no clue about your industry *whenever you want* because it's not like there aren't clubs in the world / other people in the club.

 

[Dave Meltzer]

Kind of sad to see objectified women aren't even remotely embarrassing for some people.

If this story is true, they were making MAD BUCK from it. Do you think they gave a shit they were being "objectified"? It's a job

 

[Grinchy]

If this story is true, they were making MAD BUCK from it. Do you think they gave a shit they were being "objectified"? It's a job

I think I felt more objectified back when I worked at a grocery store for $5.05 an hour.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

Man some of you guys are wet fucking blankets. Its like you've never been to a club or huge party.

 

[spwolf]

If this story is true, they were making MAD BUCK from it. Do you think they gave a shit they were being "objectified"? It's a job

in gamer party, they are not being objectified, they are being glorified.
maybe that was the problem?

 

[Seanspeed]

No, I said a lot of people *do* talk about work--not that they *only* talk about work--and that a lot of the appeal of these conferences is networking with people in the industry to talk about / collaborate on things in the industry, since you can talk to people outside of the industry literally every day of your life.

This was a party, not a conference. Again, look at the pictures to get an idea of what we're talking about here.

No shit! But the point is you can talk to people who have no clue about your industry *whenever you want* because it's not like there aren't clubs in the world / other people in the club.

Have you ever gone out with workmates and not talked about work? Of course you could 'not talk about work' with other people, too, but its sometimes nice to have a bit of cameraderie and just shoot the shit with people you know.

 

[jonno394]

If a woman wants to show some flesh and flaunt her body to earn money, then she is well within her right to do so. It's not as if Notch or any other orgnasier forces these women to dance or act provocatively against their will, then slaps the cash in their face and chucks them out as their mascara runs down their faces.

 

[APF]

This was a party, not a conference. Again, look at the pictures to get an idea of what we're talking about here.

Follow the conversation please: "Yeah, from my understanding this seems more like a private party at a club for friends they happen to know who are either in the area or are at the conference, than an official corporate event."

Have you ever gone out with workmates and not talked about work?

Yes, that's why I said "no shit" the last time you essentially asked that question. Of course, I was originally responding to someone asking why people would talk about their field when they weren't at the conference proper.

Oh, I also don't need anyone to hire models to facilitate those conversations. Apparently you do?

 

[HyperBitHero]

Oh nooooooo

 

[Zoe]

If I was a game developer going to Notch's GDC party, I would expect to go there to unwind and talk shop with like-minded compatriots. I would find the presence of women with no clue about game development paid to talk and flirt with me strange and slightly off-putting. Maybe I'm in the minority on this, given how popular booth babes still are in this day and age.

Dude, this was a rave, not a happy hour.

 

[Huff]

Oh, I also don't need anyone to hire models to facilitate those conversations. Apparently you do?

for a party full of game developers and people in the industry?

yeah i'd hire women to talk to them

 

[Seanspeed]

Follow the conversation please: "Yeah, from my understanding this seems more like a private party at a club for friends they happen to know who are either in the area or are at the conference, than an official corporate event."

So if you understand that its a party, why do you keep taking the 'I would want to talk about work' angle?

Yes, that's why I said "no shit" the last time you essentially asked that question. Of course, I was originally responding to someone asking why people would talk about their field when they weren't at the conference proper.

Oh, I also didn't need anyone to hire models to facilitate that conversation. Apparently you do?

Apparently I do? Where did I say that?

I'm out. You're awful to argue with.

 

[rexor0717]

Yeah, this seems fine to me. Especially given the picture above, seems like he just wanted to balance out the gender ratio seeing as it was going to be predominantly male.

 

[dragonelite]

for a party full of game developers and people in the industry?

yeah i'd hire women to talk to them

Jep sausage fest are fun only for some time especially with males you don't know personally.

 

[Krabardaf]

If this story is true, they were making MAD BUCK from it. Do you think they gave a shit they were being "objectified"? It's a job

I don't blame them at all, I'm questioning the indifference some express to the fact these kind of job exists.

Been in a few VG conferences and that's just plain embarrassing. It makes me ashamed to be a part of this community. This is just so lame on every level, and both for the girls and the attendees.

All instances of sexual appreciation are not automatically objectification. Hiring a female dancer for a party is contextually appropriate and any objectification would be done on an individual basis.

No of course, but being hired only to be "appreciated" by lame guys too socially awkward to meet actual girls, that's pretty much objectification in my book.
I don't think it is appropriate to hire dancers at a party. You know, if your party don't suck people will dance for themselves.

 

[APF]

So if you understand that its a party, why do you keep taking the 'I would want to talk about work' angle?

I don't, that's a false characterization of what I'm saying. I was just responding to someone who asked why a person would want to do that, and you're arguing that shows an unreasonable work ethic or something along those lines.

I'm out. You're awful to argue with.

Because you don't even know what you're arguing, and I'm trying to tie the ends together to show how silly the divergent arguments are.

for a party full of game developers and people in the industry?

yeah i'd hire women to talk to them

Sounds like you've never been to an industry party.

 

[Delusibeta]

Searching for facts:

Does anyone know if this was something that Mojang put on or was it paid for by Notch himself? To me that's a pretty important distinction.

Seems to be a collaboration between Mojang and OWSLA and this lot. All of the gigs so far has consisted mainly of OWSLA folk, except for last year's PAX gig.

Also, before anyone asks, thread title is bullshite.

[Edit] Correction: seems to be mostly Mojang, since Justice was originally booked and had to cancel because US visas are awkward. Given that the Production Club specifies Minecraft as the client and not Mojang, I'd be inclined to say "mostly Notch".

 

[Kimawolf]

I don't blame them at all, I'm questioning the indifference some express to the fact these kind of job exists.

Been in a few VG conferences and that's just plain embarrassing. It makes me ashamed to be a part of this community. This is just so lame on every level, and both for the girls and the attendees.



No of course, but being hired only to be "appreciated" by lame guys too socially awkward to meet actual girls, that's pretty much objectification in my book.
I don't think it is appropriate to hire dancers at a party. You know, if your party don't suck people will dance for themselves.

You do know LOTS of clubs will hire girls to come in if they feel the balance is skewed too far into the man territory right? It's not lame and it's only embarrassing if you're feeling that way due to your own insecurities.

Wow, some of you act like you've never been to a rave/party or heard of clubs padding their dance floors with dancers to liven up the place, raise the energy level a bit.