This is a
set of snippets I took from some random nerd based group on Facebook that relate to the above image. I am highlighted in orange; the 4 grey
responses are 4 different people who didn’t like that I wasn’t biting on the
joke.
I would
like to reemphasize that I don’t think the nerd/geek community is particularly
healthy when it comes to discussions of relationships and gender equality. Just the fact that the original post has a “she”
instead of a “they” and uses the term “bro” illustrates that there is some kind
of nerd-exclusivity happening here.
I read on
twitter and certain corners of the internet about harassment in nerd/geek
communities related to women (especially cosplayers) who have to somehow prove
that they know something about nerd culture to not be treated like shit and
called “whore”. This is bad behavior and
should not be tolerated or encouraged.
I have talked about this (kind of) before, with the idea that I leaned hard into my
little eccentricities because I had been taught by media that I was the main
character of my own story and just had to wait for the narrative to catch up to
me and push me along. I just needed to
wear a distinctive hat and one day I would be the hero in some story I was not
yet aware of.
This is
obviously not the case.
I get the
impression, I have not done a study of any kind, that many nerds/geeks online
put up a front. They adopt the image of
something heroic, magical, or interesting because they themselves are not any
of those things. I see this behavior
aligning more with shitty behavior toward women, toward minorities, toward
anyone who isn’t a white male.
This
behavior happens so often that I am going to put an idea out there and see if
it feels true to your experience. “Alt-Right
or racist comments on things, but the Avatar being used is an anime character”. Do you have any memory of something like that
happening? Have you seen any mentions of
the word “whore” next to a picture of Dragonball Z’s Goku? Have you seen such comments next to other
nerd iconography, maybe a Bat symbol or Captain America’s shield?
I think a
lot of these people have lost sight of life.
They have even lost sight of what makes those characters and icons worth
being iconic. Superman is a character
all about having power and using it to do good.
Goku is a character that is all about doing one’s best and fighting
evil. I don’t think either of them would
want their face next to the “N-word”.
But I’m seeing it. And I don’t
like it.
Let us look
back at the original image.
Do you
think that the message behind these shows is about excluding people from your
life because of hobbies? (I guess “Attack
on Titan” could be about that I lost interest in that show immediately for
being shit.) Do you think Goku is the
type of person to ignore someone because they they didn’t share his interest in
cartoon shows?
Of course
not. Because Goku had more interests
than that, he went on adventures, trained his body, and went out and did
awesome things. All of these characters
did. Stop ignoring life because it
conflicts with your cartoon shows. Have
more interests. Beyond that, don’t be an
asshole about your hobbies and interests.
BEYOND THAT, JUST DON”T BE AN ASSHOLE.
And if you
think I am complaining about the hobby, or your love of the hobby, then I am
afraid you have missed the point.
______________________________
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