Female/Male Perspective on Gaming
Female/Male Perspective on why and the ethics of gamers playing an opposite sex avatar
The Male Perspective
Have you ever played an avatar of the opposite sex? A lot of people have, and enjoyed it. Some people don't really understand the whole thrill of playing the opposite gender characters, and that is fine too. Being able to pretend is a critical factor in playing in a fantasy world, especially in playing videogames like Ever quest.
I certainly do not have a problem with people playing the opposite sexed characters. I think it is a good way of experiencing gaming as a whole. I do have a problem of people trying to pawn themselves off as a male or female in real life when they are not the sex they say they are. I think that is deceitful and wrong. There is nothing worse than hitting on a girl who says she is a girl only to find out later that it was really a guy. Yuck.
If you are just in the game to have fun, (I think that is why we are all here) then enjoy yourself. Make that character that you have always wanted to, and try out new things. If you want to make that male or female character then do it, however don't be surprised if someone comes up and wants to chat with you, and thinks you are the same sex of the character that you are playing. This is another part of the gaming experience, but I would recommend that you just be truthful from the get go and tell that person who or what you really are.
There are a lot of reasons that a person might want to play the opposite gender in the game. There are those people who want to experience gaming from the other side. It gives them a chance to be a seen in a different light. Those people are like your role-players. They are the ones who actually get into the game, and try to really get into the game. Then you have the players who try to take all the advantage that their character can give them. These are the deceptive ones. They are the ones who for instance make a female character because people give them stuff, or flirt with other characters in attempt to manipulate them. I really do not like these players. There are also players who are board, and they need something else to do. They try to liven the game up for themselves by adding new elements to the game i.e. different gender. There are many more reasons, but these reasons are what I come across most of the time.
Being truthful will take care of most misunderstandings. It will not take care of all of them, but it will be better for everyone in the long run. The game is played but lonely and not lonely people alike. Some people are looking for new friends others couldn't care less, but I think it is always a good idea to take their feelings into consideration. Try to game by the golden rule "Treat others as you would like to be treated." and as Bill and Ted would say "Be Excellent to one another."
Thanks for reading this,
Aaron
The Female Perspective
So you're starting out your game, and you are deciding what you want to play. What is the deciding factor on what sex you play? Is it the curves of the female body, the manly feel of the male character, or is it an image you'd like to portray?
I think it all comes down to the person behind the keyboard. Some are self conscious, homophobic, or just feel that they are more comfortable playing a character that portrays their real life form. But it's the ones that play the opposite sex that we're talking about here. So what would motivate a man to play a woman avatar and a woman a man?
For the woman to play a man pc isn't all that odd. A lot of females that play roleplaying games, whether it be tabletop or video game, sometimes prefer to be a male character for several reasons.
1) The majority of the players in the game are bound to be men, and men sitting around with other men puts them at ease. They're more themselves when around other males then when they're around females. A lot of females prefer to just be around people when they drop the façade, so they will play a male character.
2) Just to try it out, see what it's like, or reap the benefits of the added strength of the of the male character.
3) They feel that they are more a "male" personality then a female
But why would men play a female? There are some of the similar reasons that I have seen. Some of them are just plain "yep. he's definitely male."
1) Here's the "yep. he's definitely male". They will use their perspective view and run around watching the female butt sway as she runs around.
2) The male enjoys being treated with special care, and find it easier to play the female. I've met a few men who prefer it a large part because they don't seem to have as much conflict with other players when expressing opinions or making jokes.
3) Just to stir things up a bit, be a different person, or hide behind a façade of the female.
4) To take advantage of the male players playing male characters in all letter of internet spawned falsehood.
The ethics? I think that anyone should play what they want, however I believe it is wrong to get to know someone, become friends with them, and have them still pretend to be something that they are not, especially when it is a male (playing a female) that is there trying to take advantage of another male player by coming on to them.
Now, there are ways around this though. Make it abundantly clear that you are a true role player. With every conversation you have, if you were to role play it then it goes beyond the "morals of dishonesty" and into the realm of well. role-playing.
Most people I've met that are in-game roleplayers, play their game 2 ways. On the outside and to most of the players that they come upon, they play straight role playing, staying anonymous and truly get into character, but a select few people that join in on the role-playing tend to become their buddies, and eventually get to really know who that person is. The real person. So again, no falsehoods when you get to know the person.
Happy Gaming,
Leonai_art
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