I think you got it. But it takes a lot of energy. So many things go towards minimizing women's presence in gaming, and on the board. I don't think it's possible to solve without more decisive banning. Reality: someone is silenced either way. You either make the board more welcoming for vulnerable people or you give 200 people the ability to come back next week "just asking questions" about whether, right at this very moment, women are going through linkedin to target a wealthy white guy for their false rape allegation. How many women want to stick around, seeing that kind of shit? You think we don't each know a dozen women who were raped and never reported it, and the one that did because the asshole filmed it didn't have a strong enough case? There is nothing to be gained here, and sanity to lose. I would hope there would eventually be a tipping point where enough women participating would shift the culture of the board. Even then, mods would have to decisively bail to keep afloat in the sewage of gaming culture. I don't know if most of the people in here are talking about American standards, but if someone were to walk into my workplace and say stuff I read on this forum, they'd get side-eyed and people would revise their opinion to "ignorant asshole". What this forum finds reasonable is a far cry from what's acceptable in real life.
I think this is obvious, but maybe it isn't to everyone: a lot of women members don't want to get into the trenches. Entering those discussions is like a protracted gish gallop against "just asking questions". Frankly, it's depressing, and it erodes my faith in humanity. I'd rather discuss gender issues with random people on the street. I don't have the fire or self-hatred required. They are all the same. I see them: designs for female characters, arena net, any trans thread, men and empathy... I open them and hope to be surprised and want to say something, but I will bail by page two. If someone has metrics concerning activity for people on this site who identify as women I would not be surprised to see a tendency to lurk. I'm grateful for those who have the energy to keep establishing super basic shit for the j.a.q.offs. I admire women who throw their hats in. We all have a mental timer until some chucklehead types that their girlfriend/wife agrees with him, in an attempt to invalidate women who actually posted.
Privileged men, though, they've got a stockpile of excuses as to why they are always the ones who matter. In gaming, straight white guys are the majority so everything should be for them... what? Straight white males are not the majority demographic group of the world? Well, they are the most 'core,' legitimate group that everyone should be trying to sell things to, and women aren't even interested anyway, they just want to play candy crush! What, the wii happened and women also play 'core' games and actually spend money on shit? Well, uh, that was a piece of junk, clearly it's not a 'core' device. But let's talk about artistic integrity. Men don't try to censor devs' artistic vision by insisting that male characters shouldn't be dressed like strippers. Clearly men are the patrons of ART and FREEDOM, not those jealous women who can't stand seeing t&a! Oh, wait, men kicked up some huge fuss about that final fantasy mobile game guy not wearing enough clothes and it was changed?
I think the basic answer to why some men don't develop empathy is simple. You don't develop a muscle you never have to use. Women go through a gauntlet of judgement every day. Understanding others' perspectives is a tool for self-preservation. There's always a reason that it's only men at the table. It's natural! Due to merit! It's market forces! Women should be making people, not money - and preferably male people! All evil came out of Pandora's vagoo! Eve ate the apple! You don't have souls!
There's always a reason for everyone else to be grateful for scraps. Resetera being the "most progressive" of gaming sites, that's definitely a scrap.
