I don't talk about fandom stuff much here anymore, for no reason in particular other than I don't usually have much to say. But I've been reading a lot of Twitter, especially through the @xprojectrpg account, which has a lot of comics industry types friended (as a "here's some interesting links on the things we like" kind of thing) and I get to read a lot about what's going on.
Any way, back in July, there was a kerfuffle about
an article for CNN, complaining about the 'fake geek girl' phenomenon at conventions. From what I understand, there are some male fans who have issues with women in cosplay who "don't know anything about geekdom" and who take advantage of poor defenceless male nerds. How they take advantage, I'm not exactly sure, since it's not like they're marrying these guys for their money and there aren't reports of these women hurling themselves bodily on these poor guys and molesting them or taking their wallets.
There was a lot of back and forth, and John Scalzi
was awesome and eventually the whole thing simmered down.
(Note: Unlike just about every other article anywhere, I highly recommend reading the comments on Scalzi articles for intelligent and engaging debate that's correctly spelled and grammatical)Of course, nothing stays dead in fandom long, and this morning brought
a wonderfully vomitous (and slightly incoherent) piece where Tony Harris, comics artist, pretty much spouts the same argument, only with more douche. (the original post is on FB, which is tricky to get to from work, so I'm linking a repost. Also, I don't like adding to page views for douches). The truly awesome thing about Harris' post (apart from the fact it's barely legible), is that he spews his hatred not just at the evil conniving vixens who dress up as characters they don't know, spending huge amounts of money on the costume, Con fees, accommodation and travel, JUST TO GET ATTENTION!!!, but also at the sad, awkward and terminally-virginal nerdboys who will never have a shot with these, or any other women and thus are eternally tormented by their permanent boners of frustrated desire.
Wow, way to show your contempt for your audience there, Tony.
There's been a lot of response to this, on Twitter and on Tumblr (which I don't have, I've just been following Tweeted links), but my favourite is this: @geekgirldiva's
epic smackdown of Harris on her Tumblr.
Any way, my response is to this, as it was to Joe Peacock's rant last time, is, if you have issues with these faks geekgirls apparently just out for attention and free drinks, then
stop paying attention to them and buying them drinks. That goes to anyone who bitches about this. Stop asking them for photo opportunities, stop gawking at them, stop buying them meals and drinks. Just. STOP. If their intention is to get attention and a free ride, then cut that off at the knees and take away their reason for being there. If they're so contemptuous of fandom and they're spending all this money to stand in a corner being treated like everyone else, then they'll pretty much stop, right? If your logic is correct and that's what they're there for.
Otherwise, how about accepting that PEOPLE do things for all sorts of reasons, and unless you develop telepathy or - god forbid - actually have a conversation with them about why they're there and what they're doing, you don't get to assume motivation.