Quote from: JimBobOz, in another threadtherpgsite's forums are very friendly to all sorts of approaches to gaming, but they are very unfriendly to women and homosexuals.

Do people agree or disagree?  Do we have female and/or gay members who feel less-than-completely-welcome around here?  If so, what can be done to make the site friendlier?

Certainly, I don't see many posters with obviously female handles.  And that has concerned me for a while.  I think part of the problem has to be the amount of local hostility towards some of the more traditionally girl-friendly games like the World of Darkness and LARPs.

I think it's abject nonsense from beginning to end.

I've not seen anything here to indicate sexism and anything to indicate homophobia, had I noticed it, I would have jumped on with huge hobnailed boots.

Like I said in the original thread this came from; the only people this place is specifically unfriendly toward is thin-skinned "sensitive" people.  Unless you're suggesting that Homosexuals or Women are more "sensitive" than straight men, more delicate, and will break easier from any kind of rough conversation, I don't think there's anything specifically unwelcoming to them.  I certainly think that a homosexual mainstream gamer who digs, say, Traveller, would feel more welcome here than a 100% straight heterosexual who loves universalis and thinks that the Forge is like the modern version of Beat Poets.

As for why we don't have too many women; well, the actual demographic for mainstream RPGs tends to be male.  When you're specifically dealing with real RPGs, it wouldn't be surprising that you'd have less female gamers.  Any woman who was tough enough and didn't expect special treatment or that moderation would be done on her behalf would be more than welcome to post here.

I guess it is possible that women are more "delicate", or believe that you need social control. Or, more likely, that's what they've been conditioned to think. In either case, I really don't care if we get women here or not. Any who want to come here and play by the same rules as everyone else is more than welcome; but I'm certainly not going to change anything to bring them in.

RPGpundit

In my experience, the kind of women who hang around on internet forums can mix it up with the boys the same as any other poster can.  In fact, on the forum I oversee my discipline problems are far more likely to be with women.

We've got nothing to worry about.

I haven't felt targeted, discriminated against, or singled-out due to my sexual orientation here.

If I did, I'd give the bastard what-for.  *shrug*

I've kind of wondered where the ladies are.

See, I dunno if any one of you is gay or not, and frankly I don't really think it matters -- I just kind of assumed some gay folks post here, but it's never come up that they're gay.  Okay, RedFox is, but I just read that and I think I knew, but I must've forgotten.  No offense, man, but  to me, it's not an issue.

Girls?  I'm not sure how we're unfriendly to women.  I know I'm not; I married one, after all, and one who games, at that.  

I guess I'm kind of dull and uncontroversial, then, because I just wanna talk games, trade tips, ask questions and goof off with whoever shows up.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!See, I dunno if any one of you is gay or not, and frankly I don't really think it matters -- I just kind of assumed some gay folks post here, but it's never come up that they're gay.  Okay, RedFox is, but I just read that and I think I knew, but I must've forgotten.  No offense, man, but  to me, it's not an issue.

Man, we homogays dream of having it not be an issue.    I'm not offended in the least.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!I guess I'm kind of dull and uncontroversial, then, because I just wanna talk games, trade tips, ask questions and goof off with whoever shows up.

Word.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!I guess I'm kind of dull and uncontroversial, then, because I just wanna talk games, trade tips, ask questions and goof off with whoever shows up.

That's my answer in a nutshell, and far better articulated at that.

Quote from: RPGPunditAs for why we don't have too many women; well, the actual demographic for mainstream RPGs tends to be male.  When you're specifically dealing with real RPGs, it wouldn't be surprising that you'd have less female gamers.

Roughly a third of all the roleplayers I've ever known have been female, but I'm quite frankly not sure why they don't frequent this site. It can't be an issue of "sensitivity" because most of them could probably hold their own even in an actual brawl (verbal or otherwise) better than I would.

In regards to discrimination, I've felt little of that on the basis of my sexual orientation. A little on the basis of race and religion, but none on sexual orientation.

As for the femal gamers... I can't say their minority status is so overwhelming in my experience. I know plenty. I taught a bunch how to play. But not seeing female gamers on forums is nothing new to me. I see more of those on blog sites than on forums. No idea why.

Well beejazz, I can speak for myself -- I don't care if you're a hot-pink My Little Pony who worships Ator the Mighty.  As long as you don't try to eat my brains or my loved ones' brains, I'm cool with you and anyone else who is not trying to eat my brains or my loved ones' brains.

'Cause you know about brain-eaters.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Well beejazz, I can speak for myself -- I don't care if you're a hot-pink My Little Pony who worships Ator the Mighty.  As long as you don't try to eat my brains or my loved ones' brains, I'm cool with you and anyone else who is not trying to eat my brains or my loved ones' brains.

'Cause you know about brain-eaters.

Aw, poo! And I woke up so hungry this morning!

There's noatloads of unfriendliness rolling around here, but I've never seen it directed at a woman or homosexual simply because they were a woman or homosexual. The closest I've seen was the discussion of whether Borgstrom is a transexual or not, and that was a bunch of people asking questions and one guy being a putz, not a lynching. Hell, the people that were actively lynching Borgstrom in another thread were quick to point out that it didn't matter in the slightest.

I think there is a lot of unfriendliness--but its kinda equally spread out against everyone. I know I won't talk about my religious beliefs HERE (or RPG.net much), because of my perception of ongoing bias. It simply isn't worth the effort to discuss it or bring it up (other than you know HERE *L*)

However, I want to talk about games--not the other stuff.  I could care less someones gender, sexual persuasion (as LONG as it involves consenting, sentient adults...I have great rage at people who abuse children.), and so on and so forth.

I don't see this site as being hostile to homosexuals.  My opinion is that one would only consider it hostile to homosexuals if they identified themselves by their sexuality first and who they are second or later.  And I think that's the core of the reason why it's an "issue" at RPGnet.  It was never really an issue before it was artificially made an issue.  Ironically, RPGnet is more open to attacks based on sexuality than any other forum I've ever been to.  

In fact, RPGnet's attitude about it is much more hypocritical than anywhere else I've ever seen.  If you are straight, your voice is actually less relevant.  Whereas I see no such distinction here.  I sincerely doubt that a homosexual would be told their words on RPGs mean nothing purely because of their sexuality.  (Although there has been one cry of "pedophilia" in order to discredit a poster)

I imagine a sexualized furry wouldn't be very comfortable here.  That's about it.