With all the good news about Marvel movies, DC movies, and minorities getting lead movies from both; as well as all the great new comics we’ve gotten, there have been some embarrassing news bites too.
I’m talking about the BatStamp-out and Gamergate here.
I’m not 100% I understand what Gamergate was/is, but it seems like an overblown clusterfuck that people are rightfully trying to move past. The basic premise though is that “True Gamers” are upset with the criticisms of the industry (the comic industry times 10,000) and trying to expose a scandal in retaliation. I’m going to boil it down to “OGs” not wanting their hobby to grow out of fear of change.
Something I really have to mention here is the disgusting campaign of harassing the women of Gamergate and those who agree with them. It is not ok to threaten women with rape and death because you disagree with them. Obviously a given, but these threats shouldn’t be swept under a rug. I felt I had to mention this aspect of Gamergate out of respect for the people who have suffered because of it.
A little while after, The Post Office unveiled some stamps with Batman’s likeness. Which caused “OG” Stamp collectors to accuse the Post Office of “prostituting” the noble art of stamp collecting to try to reel in young people. Things like this give me a migraine…
1) Batman has been on stamps for years, 2) Who the fuck still collects stamps, and 3) Why wouldn’t you want more people doing that?!
If there are any Stamp Collectors on the site, I’m not apologizing. This is a site about comic books, and I feel safe saying more people read comics than collect stamps (although I’m sure there’s overlap). Stamp collecting will almost certainly stop being a thing sooner than comics, what with email and people not caring about stamps anyway.
Aside from Gamergate, I feel that the Batstamp thing is pretty minor. The problem is it’s 2014, and people are being vindictive assholes proving right all the “mean people” in high school.
Comics, video games, and even Stamp collecting need more people coming in to keep it alive. I also don’t think scare tactics are enough either; we still fly in planes after 9/11, we still eat beef after Mad Cow disease, and we still buy stuff made in China despite how much of it is coated in lead. It’s almost like everyone has a little bit of Green Lantern in them.
With all the movies coming nonstop until 2020 (and shitty games that are going to go along with them, Thanks, Marvel!) comic sales could go up 1% or 10%. So far we haven’t seen much change already, but maybe a Captain Marvel or a Black Panther is what we need for a major expansion. Regardless, it would help if idiots stop raising ridiculous stories like this into the public eye. And I know that at most 6 months from now something else will happen, but I like to think every little bit adds up.
Where do you guys stand? Can you explain what Gamergate is? Do these stories I mentioned not really make an impact in the General Consciousness?
Nothing But Comics 
“Gamergate” another case of entitled assholes being to pussy to directly address very poignant criticism so they throw a temper tantrum
I’m actually glad that there is focus away from comics and comiccon in regards to this subject. Video gamers, athletes, ESPN, cheerleading! Fox News castors, life in general are all more sexist than most comic fans. Let’s shed some lite on other assholes for once. I mean shit how many women are in the senate? And has there ever been a president of the United States that is female (don’t answer that ).
Ha! ESPN’s Stephen A Smith has said some really dumb things lately in regards to domestic abuse. He admits that it’s wrong to strike a woman, BUT says women should “provoke” violence. Kinda surprised that dude still has a job. A week’s suspension seems like a light slap on the wrist for saying stupid shit like that.
*says women SHOULDN’T provoke violence…
Agreed. That issue is very personal to me as my Father did so much permanent damage to my mom with fists and steal tip boots. She didn’t provoke shit; and even if she did nobody deserves that hell. Luckily for me, my mom and my dog almost always stepped between us.
and Yes, Steven A is a moron.
Stephen A is such a fucktard & what’s worst is he’s the lesser of two evils between him & Bayless
Ya Bayless is a little weasley kind of guy. Personally I only like the two guys on Pardon the Interruption.
Lebotard & The Grantland Basketball hour for me
I mean voting and Senate seats are kind of their own thing. People get to vote for the people they want, and female candidates face an uphill battle there but it’s up to the voters. It’s not entirely about whose more qualified or how many women are in the Senate, its who gets the most votes. Who should be getting paid what, and who deserves to run companies on the other hand…
Well, women need to get more votes (and need to vote for other women). They cooperate better than men (fact) and the blow less shit up (fact). Men are ruled by their balls too often.
I feel like those two facts are more about circumstances than innate behavior but I agree. I try to vote based on experience, views, and what position they’re running for. I think most of the female candidates I “can” vote for in Ohio are either assitent level or no contest beuracrat jobs, of course I’m still researching for Tuesday and who to vote for in the House.
This stamp business sounds ridiculous. Batman’s on a stamp. Get over it or go fuck yourself. Stamps are for everybody, so who gives a shit.
Gamergate. So feminists criticizing the video game industry because … Why exactly? They want less cleavage in games? Less damsels in distress? Less violence toward (fictional) women in general?
I think it’s disgraceful to threaten people with rape or violence of any kind just because they disagree with you (unless we’re talking about one of those groups who think having sex with children should be legal. Castrate and kill all of those people), but I think attacking the gamer industry is a bad place to start, because it’s a reflection of society and pop culture. If you don’t like the art that the world is producing, don’t attack the artist or try to control their art, try to change the world so it’s reflection isn’t portrayed so darkly. I think if feminists don’t like games, comics, movies…whatever the case, then they should get involved with that business and change it from within. You can do more damage within the system than you can by just complaining about it.
Funny story; I showed the earliest story of Feminist criticism to a gamer friend of mine. We watched the video of the Critic go through her points, and he observed most of the games she used for examples were Japanese games. Which Americans have very little control over (besides dubbing, rating and distribution I’m assuming). I asked a feminist critic of comics why Manga was never mentioned; “Because Japan is a heavily male-dominated society”. NO. SHIT. Her reasoning was, I guess, because there are so many males in Japan that excuses any sexism you find in Manga. I think at that point I threw up my arms and got off my computer.
Oh? I thought gamergate was about Gamer guys talking down to Gamer girls. Similar to the “I know comics and girls don’t” vibe that most male comic fans supposedly embody. Like a boys club thing? Is there a club? Nobody invited me…
No, you’re right; I just described one of the things that led to Gamergate. One female critic, something Setrakasian; made a series of videos discussing sexism in gaming (in character design, depiction, story, and lack of female protagonists). I showed one of the early ones to a friend of mine and he had some interesting rebuttals. Her videos planted the seeds for Gamergate tho, no doubt.