So, I'm a huge webcomics nerd. I read dozens of them: Goblins, Girl Genius, OOTS, Girls with Slingshots, Questionable Content, Gunnerkrigg Court, Dumbing of Age, XKCD, The Meek, YAFGC, Lackadaisy, Sinfest, on and on. In addition to keeping up with all these, I'm always on the hunt for new stuff, and have a ginormous bookmark folder full of "to read" comics. Currently, I'm devouring Weregeek.
I'm also a huge geek in general - I love fantasy/sci-fi and gaming. So, I'm positively adoring Weregeek because it appeals to all of my dorky interests.
This morning, reading along in the Weregeek archives, I came across this strip. (If you can't see it, it's basically a four-panel comic strip in which one of the main characters has a fiery rant about a NYTimes article which posits that Game of Thrones couldn't possibly be of interest to women.) I love reading outraged comments to horrible articles, so of course I scrolled to the comments below the strip. And it was great! I'm reading through these, nodding and internally cheering at the snark, and then.
Some douchebag made a comment that perfectly exemplifies why I'm hesitant to join a local LARP, or do cosplay, or D&D, or any of the things that Weregeek is about that I would love to participate in.
By commenter rb:
too bad that (vacant) geek girls appealing to the eye in my circles are as rare as epic (or similar) grade loot in a newbie area. or way off age D=Seriously?
I read on, desperate to find among the people snarking that sexist article, someone also snarking that sexist comment. But he went completely ignored.
I'm not here to condemn people for not calling him out. I'm here to do it myself.
"rb", you are a misogynist (and ageist) asshole. You remind me rather strongly of Mike from Something*Positive. Before he started the superhero gig and actually became vaguely likeable.
Vacant is not synonymous with single. What on earth possessed you to use that term? It sounds like you think of single women as a parking spot that simply hasn't been taken yet. Which is obviously so wrongheaded, I can't even. You are the quintessential, entitled Nice Guy™. We are not here to be easy on your eyes. We are not here to be your potential romance.
We are here to do over-the-top roleplay of fantasy characters and go on epic quests.
