Yeah, it was definitely disgusting. And if the woman wasn't Jennifer Lawrence, but a NeoGaf member, it would unquestionably be harassment.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Why is NeoGaf so predominantly male?
- Thread starter Valhelm
- Start date
- Status
Yeah, it was definitely disgusting. And if the woman wasn't Jennifer Lawrence, but a NeoGaf member, it would unquestionably be harassment.
Thanks for the link. I'm actually kind of surprised.
AdventureRacing
Member
That thread is incredible. The defense that they're just talking about her 'design' is even more ludicrous. Like the idea of creating a character who isn't good looking is bad design.
Vermillion
Banned
She does look odd (in comparison to other versions of Gordon that I've seen) - don't see what it has to do with looking hot.
Some people are specifically complaining that she isn't good looking enough.
I don't know if anyone is expecting decent designs out of the human characters in the Arkham games at this point anyways.
hey_monkey
Banned
Wait, is that really all based off one screen in which she appears to be in motion (gesture not complete, hair moving)?
wow.
wow.
AdventureRacing
Member
Vermillion
Banned
Ah. Dunno. Guess they're looking for a certain standard for certain characters. If they've always been attractive, fans usually expect that consistency. But female characters are usually created to be very attractive indiscriminately, with no one really average... So it becomes a bit of a great area for who would actually be more average...
Mm. Bruce looked decent from what I've seen of City.
Okay, that's a good point.
faceless007
Member
Boy, that thread sure has a lot of people questioning and criticizing a developer's artistic vision.
The point is, it's just another thread in which a woman (even if she's fake) is shown and it's all about whether she's good looking. And that's like only one of four screen shots that thread is about.
Devolution
Member
<3 you.
Vermillion
Banned
That's fair, but I believe that in the same situation if a favored male character was off, people would be complaining about that too. Goes for all character designs - TMNT Out of the Shadows was criticized because the turtles looked all sorts of fucked up.
This said, your greater point is not lost on me, particularly as some people commenting on the design are using language that they would not for a male character. At the same time, I don't believe that a criticism of character design alone should classify as problematic/sexist, especially in a place known for doing that.
This post has way too many words
User 100115
Banned
You win so many internets. Possibly all of them.
T
Transhuman
Unconfirmed Member
If "fat face" is a critique of character design, and not someone bemoaning not being able to masturbate to a screenshot of a videogame, we've come a long way.
The Librarian
Banned
^^In response to someone posting about Catwoman.
That thread is really, really off-putting with comments like these (and I only quoted a few).
Ha. If it were the other way around, I'd say it is likely that you wouldn't have any of these people complaining, and for anyone that brought up how sexualized she is there'd be as many people defending the design as there is complaining about it.
I remember EviLore, unless I'm misunderstanding him, told me this in regards to Quiet's design in MGS5:
This was from the thread about the Halo 4 designer critiquing Quiet's design in MGS5. I had asked what kind of situation justified Quiet's design, and that was his response. As I was the only girl posting in that thread at the time, it made me feel really, really uncomfortable, and almost made me not only not go back to the thread but stop posting on the website for a couple of days.
Hot Coldman
Banned
May I recommend the Don Jon thread, which was mostly "how fit is scarjo in dis film".
wat?
Exactly.
That's how she is supposed to/should look:
That's obviously female and not sexualized. The one in that screenshot really looks like a (fat) boy. And even if it was the (fat) son of commissioner gordon, at least I would have complained. It was really handled badly.
Yeah, for example this here:
Oh wait. It seems people are even criticizing those "fap material" "sexualized" character designs...
T
Transhuman
Unconfirmed Member
That's how she is supposed to/should look:
That's obviously female and not sexualized. The one in that screenshot really looks like a (fat) boy. And even if it was the (fat) son of commissioner gordon, at least I would have complained. It was really handled badly.
Because all girls have to look feminine in media. They should make that a rule. God for forbid there be different interpretations of characters over time, complete with visual changes.
Yeah, it's o.k that people hate a character because she's not sexualised enough, as long as a fraction of them think that some other characters are too sexualised. That's equality right there.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
And this is what a lot of us mean when we talk about sexism in entertainment media or in gaming: not that any one poster is specifically sexist or a "bad person" but that this culture still very much exists that judges female characters first and foremost by their appearance because female characters exist largely for visual consumption.
OH THE IRONY
Maybe she is actualy trans in this version ... and Gordon is actualy a transphobic parent and this is why he is yelling at her ! =O
...or she is just a cis girl with short hair =P
hey_monkey
Banned
Vermillion
Banned
I noted that (but I accidentally typed "female instead of "male," in the above quote, so my apologies for the confusion). I'm not defending those people - just the ones who aren't saying the sorts of things Dax quoted.
EDIT: To further clarify, I'm saying that comments related to character design of a female character aren't inherently bad, though I do understand that *some* comments are (again, those that Dax quoted).
Zen_Arcade
Banned
So is she going to end up in a wheelchair in the game or what?
The Artful Dodger
Member
It always seems weird to me that this "type of conversation" happens every so often.
People seem really astounded that chicks are playing them vidya games, or talking on here.
It's none of my business what Gender somebody is behind their computer screen unless they want to make that the topic of discussion because they feel comfortable enough talking to me, but it's their decision, really.
I feel for Ladies of GAF, they seem to have to do these explanations on the regular here. Shit must get old.
People seem really astounded that chicks are playing them vidya games, or talking on here.
It's none of my business what Gender somebody is behind their computer screen unless they want to make that the topic of discussion because they feel comfortable enough talking to me, but it's their decision, really.
I feel for Ladies of GAF, they seem to have to do these explanations on the regular here. Shit must get old.
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
Probably not, they'll most likely wait until a later game I would think.
So good.
TUROK
Member
In other threads dealing with similar subject matter, pointing out supposed hypocrisy by a large group of people is met by refutations pointing out that the people who hold one point of view aren't necessarily the same people who hold that seemingly contradictory point of view.
Here, it's "OMG SO FUCKING PWNNNNNT!!!"
Just gonna say that a lot of guys get into things because of other guys and that doesn't make their interest any less valid. Yeah, I got into playing Netrunner because my boyfriend likes it, but on the flip side, the only reason he's liked a superhero comic is because I introduced it to him. But no one's going around being like: "Dude, you only like Batwoman because of your girlfriend, you're not a real fan!"
Defensive? We're just calling you out on stuff. And here, let me call you out on something else: "Girls who are better than this" sounds utterly ridiculous.
User 100115
Banned
You say you aren't trying to marginalize females, and then go ahead and do that.
Everything about your post is very patronizing and defensive as well. YOU are the one making up excuses to explain why on earth women would game, and then drawing lines in the sand as a way to make them not actual gamers (Their boyfriends got them into it, it doesn't count!)
User 100115
Banned
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
Do you say this sort of shit to people of color? It makes sense that marginalized groups would have a chip on their shoulder.
Okay, dude. It's just a really clever joke.
The Librarian
Banned
The tumblr linked in that thread has a lot of pictures of some unhealthy girls. :/Devo, Pau and I tried. Didn't work so well. I ended up talking about Magic again
Everyone needs an introduction path, marketing may successfully make one but often times it's family, friends, or a significant other that does that, and that applies to everyone for all hobbies. I do imagine some may toy with games or certain games just because their significant other convinced them to give it a spin or it was just sitting there but make no lasting commitment, but just as well some really get into something that way.
Plus I seem to recall seeing a lot of anecdotes from guys too about only really getting into games in high school or college, so really it's kind of a typical age to get into it if you didn't have parents give you games/consoles or you managed to play a sibling's.
I don't see how those girls are somehow lesser (or not legit) than girls who got into gaming on their own or thinking Link is hot. This thing where you have to "prove" yourself is ridiculous.
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
Going all the way back to our youth, most men get into games through other men, too. You don't just get born and go "I LIKE GAMES." Your dad, older brother, friend, uncle, etc. gets you a game and you fucking love it. I don't understand why it's a big deal if this is also how a woman gets into it.
hey_monkey
Banned
A point that should probably be made more often.
Might have been another thread.
Hell, how many guys on this forum get into a game or show or book or comic because another guy introduced it to them? Guess they aren't real fans. I wish NeoGAF members were better than that.
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
I'm assuming it comes from the same place as how some men want virgins or people who have less than a certain amount of partners. Another man influencing or being in the life of your woman is unacceptable.
one of the hard to deal with bullshit problems that comes up is that even if you're in a group of like 10 people, just _one_ person needs to bring it up and makes you feel like an outsider. then you feel like you gotta prove it, and your performance sucks, you lose in a 1v1, and you feel like shit.
User 100115
Banned
Hell, how many guys on this forum get into a game or show or book or comic because another guy introduced it to them? Guess they aren't real fans. I wish NeoGAF members were better than that.
All those people I convinced to watch Sherlock. They aren't really fans, a girl got them into it.
Vermillion
Banned
Stereotype threat
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
Good thing I'll never watch Sherlock, Elementary for life.
- Status