Respect isn’t a zero sum game though. The more you give out, the more there is to go around. You wrote:

This is not a good argument. Because participation levels aren’t just a “cause,” and representation isn’t just an “effect.” If games were as welcoming to black women as they are to white men, there’d be more black female players.

Tangent away - I’m with you in both sentiment and helpless verbosity. And I hear you about the “no empathy” comment. This shit makes me mad. Sorry.

Ha - I’m not very with it, and if I am “with it” here and there, it’s clear to me that nobody cares. No points scored. Do you disagree with me about the topic (whether games should make it easy for people to play as women etc.) or just about how I said it? 

Alright, how about this: (1) I agree that people assuming the worst of each other based on assumptions, and then simplifying and exaggerating each others’ positions, is a big problem for any sort of constructive conversation on the internet; (2) I’m interested to hear that you’re a gay gamer, and I take the point that…

Your comment implies that you (and those who share your view) are persuadable given an adequate argument. I question that assumption. Ultimately the persuasiveness of any argument depends on how you value the fundamental thing being argued over.

you’re mad at me why?

at this point my only question is: what is your motivation for posting this reply? If you read the original article, you know that it’s not about trying to shut down “specific stories” it’s about the fact that women (50ish% of people) would like to be represented in more than 5-10% of games. If you read my post - the…

how would you define sexist?

Everything you’re saying is true. But the people who need to hear it just fuuuuuuuuuuuucking refuse. I’ve tried all kinds of approaches to talking w/ other commenters here about gender or race-bias in gaming: listening first; keeping things hyper-rational and citing data; letting things get emotional and appealing to…

Funny thing is, since I made that comment I stalled out on Sekiro, just shy of the bossfight with Owl, and for exactly the reasons cited by Natalie Degraffinried in her review. The bossfight experience starts to feel repetitive because there are so damn many of them (counting mini-bosses as well), each requiring a…

Agree.

I agree that White people do this, and (as implied) have done this historically to a degree that merits widespread, generalized anger, frustration and criticism. I also agree that Alison was not doing this. And we agree on the merits of Cardassian puns. So that’s three Agrees.

yes.

Wait so the banish-er was a short-term staff writer? Or can just anyone banish? You’re on pretty often - none of the revolving cast of 20somethings on staff has decided to legitimize you? (truth be told I don’t even know how it works. I think someone on staff has to follow you? I’m only legit on TheTakeout because…

Seems like I should watch this show. Meanwhile we should clearly start pushing a new show/podcast/webseries about life-lessons learned and shared in the greys....

I just now put together your nick w/ your avatar, and I like it. And like both of those characters. But I’d submit that technically speaking, the Ron Swanson of Westeros is probably the unrelentingly masculine miserablist Randyll Tarly, while the Onion Knight of Pawnee is probably the drily pragmatic, relentlessly…

I want to know about this very much

I’ve been preoccupied w/ how irritated that story made me since I read it. Missed the controversy in real time, and ditto - glad. But even hearing about it. Irrational desire to go through those peoples’ closets and kitchens and Instagram feeds and Spotify playlists and pull out every bead and textile and rhythm and…

The weeknight sheet-pan chicken with olives recipe she published in the Times the other day is fuckin’ delicious. And quick and easy. I want it now.