At first glance, you may not think of this site as one where we would care about reactions to critical analysis of media. We care very much, in fact, and feel it is necessary to take a moment to discuss the recent reactions to the latest in Anita Sarkeesian’s “Tropes Vs. Women in Video Games” series.
I’m sure you’ve seen commentary about it on other sites already, but we feel that it is important to point out that we are a part of the community she is speaking to. She has seen a similar reaction every time she has released a video…the idiots come out of the woodwork to attack her. It has also seemed to escalate with each new round. Case in point:
It’s also disheartening to see the narrow-minded attacks spread to the people who vocally support the work she is doing. The more prominent the figure, the greater the degree of those attacks…just look at Tim Schafer as an example. Perhaps most telling is the absence (or perhaps drowning out) of the infamous, “Not all men…” argument; it is completely bypassed in this case. The attempt is not to derail the discussion, but to stamp it out completely. Attempting to silence a viewpoint one disagrees with (especially without an attempt to understand the root of that viewpoint), is unacceptable behavior.
We support Anita Sarkeesian’s efforts to elevate the discussion of video games, and the wider effort of eliminating sexism in our respective industries. We also call on the community to be not passive observers when this kind of hateful behavior arises. That old line of Edmund Burke’s seems an apt reminder of our responsibility, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.“
With all due respect.
I just want to ask one simple question.
What is happening to Desinging Sound?
As far as I remember, several years ago, it was a great place where you could read a great articles from wise and talended people.
The hell, it was my FAVORITE site. A treasure, where you could find a priceless knowledge.
But then something happend. And DS become an average, mediocre (excuse me) place. A place with pitiful commercial “buy my library” posts.
And now we have to read THIS. A poor and miserable (but very representative from the point of modern YOUNG “society” view) example.
The example of absolute IRRESPONSIBILITY.
Please, explain me.
How a grown up man, could find a “courage?” to waste a time of other adult men, writing a post about a fight of schoolboys?
What can we expect futher, posts about “how to buy a pony?”
If you can’t find anything of value in the articles that have been populating the site over the last few months, then perhaps you’ve simply progressed to the point where you’re ready to share your wisdom and talent with the rest of the community. Feel free to submit your articles for consideration at any time.
And if you don’t take umbrage with the behavior of ADULTS (not just children) who are acting like school boys, and the effect that it has on people in industries attached to our own…because it is indicative of a broader problem…then perhaps your voice doesn’t belong in the community.
Sorry, out of ponies to sell at the moment.
I want a pony
>Please, explain me.
>How a grown up man, could find a “courage?” to waste a time of >other adult men, writing a post about a fight of schoolboys?
Simple. By not being a craven coward who want to bury their head in the sand rather than take a stand against this kind of vileness.
Congratulations on arguing to be part of the problem.
Why are you guys reporting on this? I thought Designing Sound had no political affiliation but instead was a site to teach the craft of sound design for media.
I’m confused as to how you see this as relating to politics, Jeshua. It’s important to be aware of things going on in the industries we as sound designers collaborate with, and this has been a growing issue of note within the games industry. If it affects an industry we work in, it affects us as well.
Don’t get confused that I disagreed with your message. I just figured this would be something I would have read (and preferred to have read) on the
kotaku.com website instead of Designing Sound. Also, by my use of political, and maybe my lack of a better word, I find that covering the social issues of our industry would be more in line with a news site. In the past, I always came here for reading up on techniques of other sound designers and reading about new sample libraries. Maybe you guys were covering these issues the whole time and I never realized.
There really is no “political” intent behind it. Ask a sound designer you know, who’s also a woman, how she feels about the whole situation. We don’t work in a vacuum, and we need to remind ourselves of that every once in a while.
I don’t think there’s any danger of Designing Sound turning into site focused on social issues. This seems like a valid story to me, and I appreciate Shaun bringing it to our attention.
Although I personally do have a difficult time adopting the “beeing a feminist” expression, I fully think her video series is a good example of what and how “men” do exploit women in a really tragic way. These are great examples of what is bad in our male dominated industry. And where men may stray without even thinking clearly.
I fully support her work and think it IS good that a forum like designing sound stands up for what is right and gives her the sites support.
I do seriously hope that that incredibly small Dobson character has nothing what so ever to do with our industry.
Is it political? Well while feminism may be seen as a political movement, treating folks very badly are just showing the existence of a duchebag as such and not a political thing in itself.
Those who argue that Designing sound shouldn’t deal with issues like this really need to get their hard hat on as they hopefully won’t be around in this business’s in the long run.
I hope to see more females participating here, and working in my field of work as they are sorely missed.
I don’t understand the response around this post.
It should be everybody’s work ethic to treat people with respect. It should be a part of professionalism you have as sound designer or film professional or any other professional.
As mention earlier – we don’t live in a vacuum, we live in a community.
I don’t see anything wrong, nor any danger that website dedicated to professional field promotes good work ethic and values, treating workmates, clients, gamers, audience, film makers and simply everyone – with respect.
What’s so wrong or mediocre in promoting good values?
And what is so wrong with ponies?
Nothing wrong with promoting an equal playing field for everyone in our industry. I just didn’t know that Designing Sound was tackling our social issues as well. Honestly, good on Shaun for bringing light to the inequalities of women in games.
P.S. I’m not quite sure about the angry pony man.
Thanks for this post Shaun. Being a female sound designer in the games industry, the past few weeks for me were filled with news that are quite frustrating/disheartening. I do see why it might seem a post out of place for this website, but I’m glad to see the situation is not being dismissed here but brought to others attention. Indeed we do not work/live in a vacuum. And pretending so and not showing support when it is so needed (in cases such as this one) is not gonna help anyone. So thanks again, much appreciated!
As recent events are a personal attack on several of “our own”. In quotation marks as currently the situation focuses on game developers but in general sense of creative professionals. And although not everybody on this site is a game developer, female, creative or professional. We are all one or more of those things. And thus connected. And therefor have a reason to look up and give pause.
Thank you entire designing sound team for all your efforts current, past and future. You represent us well.
At first, I was glad to read this, and supportive of your choice to showcase the issue. After reading the first comment (which almost seems as if it must have been a planted commentor), I’m feeling it is absolutely critical that you did. Learning cool tips and tricks is awesome. But bringing awareness to inequality in our professional community which impacts the lives of friends and colleagues, is actually far more important than short term creative ideas. Not only does this (hopefully) make men in the industry aware of how active sexism and objectification are still, but also shows women who may have had to deal with this sort of dismissive attitude that we as a community support them.
I agre with Shaun, sxa, Randy, ErikG, Martin S, Pinar and Anton.
We are in a constant process of constructing and shaping our industry. And in that sense, we must point out those things that we consider unacceptable or acceptable, wrong or right. Considering that the rules of our community and industry are built on consensus, it’s vital to express one’s views. We cannot turn a blind eye to this kind of abuse.
Many thanks to the DS team and as mentioned above, you represent us well.
Thanks for posting this Shaun! I’m a huge fan of Anita Sarkeesian’s work. I would take your call to action one step further – not only should we speak up when we see our female colleges being torn down, but we should be pro-active in recognizing and changing the behaviors that alienate women in the industry and actively help aspiring sound designers when we get the chance. Simply ‘not being a jerk’ isn’t enough to change the status quo.