That is NOT Feminism

[weariest_river]

I've read a lot of rants about super-awesome characters who can never lose a fight.  I could personally rant for a good few hours about the same thing, but I won't.

Instead, I'll pick a little part of it that I've not yet seen addressed, but makes my blood boil.  I have no particular story for it, as it's happened to me so many times they've all run

Comments

[riotlounge]

But it's women like you (as it's always women, in my experience).

I'm having a tough time taking your point about empowerment and being a better feminist/understand feminism better with this.

[weariest_river]

It's a simple fact. Every time I've had this stunt pulled, it's always been another woman. Which I find adds insult to injury, personally.

I'm not saying men can't or haven't. I'm simply saying it's been MY experience to get the additional rage of having women commit this.

[riotlounge]

It's anecdotal evidence, and it doesn't make you look any better to make generalizations about women players AND determine what would actually happen in that scenario/what "real" women do. Don't you see that as a problematic opinion as well?

[weariest_river]

I simply gave examples, not saying it's the be-all-end-all. Really, I feel you're getting stuck on the tail-end, ranty part of the rant, not the guts.

The point is this: gender shouldn't dictate who wins a fight, at all.

So no. I didn't cover every possible iC reaction that a badass woman might have. I'm just saying it makes her no less badass to be beat by someone who happens to have both more skill and a penis.

[magedragonfire]

So let's match up two people of similar age and training and different (theoretical) gender.

Samus Aran vs Master Chief.

Who wins? According to you -

"A real badass of a woman would get her ass handed to her, and be humbled, but not broken."

Samus loses automatically?

[weariest_river]

I didn't say the woman loses automatically no more than the man loses automatically. I was pointing out when there were VAST differences between training/ability.

In that case, it's a tossup. Up to the players who wins. Could be a draw. Lots of things.

I was speaking specifically of the time when there is a VAST disparity in training/ability, but yet the woman MUST win, no matter what.

My point is that gender shouldn't matter in the fight at all, but skills and common sense.

[pig_catapult]

>>So let's match up two people of similar age and training and different (theoretical) gender.

The part I put in italics is where your scenario differs from the OP's. In the scenario given by the OP, Guy Character is both older and years more experienced than Gal Character.

[magedragonfire]

Yeah, okay, my logic failed a little, there. Should've taken a step back and thought that through before posting.

Still, the tone of this rant just rubs me the wrong way. OP points out some very valid things, but the language and attitude puts my hackles up.

[jlarinda]

This rant'd be a lot better without the many instances in which you link gender to genitalia, you know.

[weariest_river]

Oh, I know gender =/= sex. But that's kind of my point. Genitals shouldn't be a factor in a fight at all, unless someone is getting kicked in them. Neither gender/sex should get a "Free Wins for Life" card.

[weariest_river]

... I believe I am, then. Can you clarify?

[countsockula]

Gotta love pretty much everyone missing the point.

[weariest_river]

Thank you so much. *sighs* Didn't realize my RAWR moment at the end would make people think I feel all women should be in the kitchen, barefoot and naked! (Or something. I'm exaggerating.)

[yamikuronue]

As a frequent naked chef, I recommend an apron at the least, particularly when pan-frying or sauteeing. Oil splatters >.>

[weariest_river]

Ahah! XD Agreed. Although making cookies naked tends to be okay.

[olukemi]

Wow. I'm kind of stunned that most of the commenters so far have missed the giant, blinking, neon POINT. As a woman and an RPer of considerable experience, I agree with you 100%.

[weariest_river]

Thank you muchly! I'm rather surprised myself.

I'm a woman RPer myself, which is why it irritates me so much. I'd hope that a fellow woman would see I wasn't out to crush her character just because said character is female.

[olukemi]

It boggles the mind. But then, they probably went tl;dr and just focused on the end.

Exactly! It has nothing to do with hating on a character, but trying to be realistic.

[weariest_river]

Likely. Oh, well. I'm sorry they got needlessly offended. It was never my intention. Rant community, I figured having a ranty snap at the end would be understood.

Precisely! I feel it's a self-insert thing, most of the time. And those are always impossible to fight, no matter what the flavor.