Post by caseycohen on Oct 25, 2014 19:55:24 GMT -5
I noticed that there was a thread for the racist posts from Emoti-Con staff, but wasn't sure whether to make one for sexist posts.
And the fact that there needs to be two threads speaks volumes about the ethics of the convention as a whole.
Nik Harkins, Emoti-Con's Sponsorship and Vendor Coordinator, has made several posts that are concerning for anyone identifying as a feminist, or anyone identifying as female (which would be a lot of potential guests, seeing as you're trying to attract the 'Tumblr crowd').
He defended Gamergate by saying that
With the implicit implication that the multitude of women speaking out against Gamergate need to take personal accountability for the rape and death threats they receive. It’s not like it’s the fault of the people sending the threats - it's just those pesky women refusing to take personal accountability for their inability to remain sidelined in the gaming industry.
Presumably because the minorities speaking out about misogyny, racism and harassment in gaming are just "priviliged and discriminatory" or something.
The other thing that's concerning is how Emoti-Con apparently feel comfortable with employing people willing to downplay violence against women because
Can Emoti-Con please explain how these things aren't meant to concern anyone attending their event? Can Emoti-Con please explain why the continued existence of these people on staff is acceptable, either on a professional level or a personal level? Can Emoti-Con please explain why repeated questions regarding the personal safety and mental health of potential attendees (when faced with misogynistic bullshit like this) have gone unanswered?
And the fact that there needs to be two threads speaks volumes about the ethics of the convention as a whole.
Nik Harkins, Emoti-Con's Sponsorship and Vendor Coordinator, has made several posts that are concerning for anyone identifying as a feminist, or anyone identifying as female (which would be a lot of potential guests, seeing as you're trying to attract the 'Tumblr crowd').
He defended Gamergate by saying that
Honestly, most of the people GamerGate attacks are being pretty horrible… [and] publicizing death threats only encourages copycats, logic by which GamerGate’s opposition is causing more death threats to happen with their response. You don’t see them taking any personal accountability for that - it’s just GamerGate’s fault for sending the death threats to begin with. Anything to avoid acknowledging individuals.
With the implicit implication that the multitude of women speaking out against Gamergate need to take personal accountability for the rape and death threats they receive. It’s not like it’s the fault of the people sending the threats - it's just those pesky women refusing to take personal accountability for their inability to remain sidelined in the gaming industry.
GamerGate tends to push for things to be viewed in terms of people, whereas their opponents tend to push for things to be viewed in terms of groups, stereotypes and labels. Maybe this is intentionally malicious and they’re trying to cover up active wrongdoing, or maybe they just naturally think in a very privileged and discriminatory way. Whatever the case, just imagine how much smoother things would go if the industry at large shared GamerGate’s dedication to individual accountability.
Presumably because the minorities speaking out about misogyny, racism and harassment in gaming are just "priviliged and discriminatory" or something.
The other thing that's concerning is how Emoti-Con apparently feel comfortable with employing people willing to downplay violence against women because
You know what feminists are?
They’re that girl who suddenly starts crying her eyes out when a student she never spoke to dies and she starts screaming about what amazing friends they were and how much she loved them and makes that persons death all about her instead
They’re that girl who suddenly starts crying her eyes out when a student she never spoke to dies and she starts screaming about what amazing friends they were and how much she loved them and makes that persons death all about her instead
Can Emoti-Con please explain how these things aren't meant to concern anyone attending their event? Can Emoti-Con please explain why the continued existence of these people on staff is acceptable, either on a professional level or a personal level? Can Emoti-Con please explain why repeated questions regarding the personal safety and mental health of potential attendees (when faced with misogynistic bullshit like this) have gone unanswered?
