World of Warcraft®

Why is it that whenever a girl speaks on teamspeak, boys suddenly talk inappropriately and become flirtatious? Why is it that the top WoW guilds are mostly dominated by boys?

I think WoW needs to do something to shift the attitudes of a large number of its players who act absolutely repulsive and speak to girls with disrespect. I can't give examples, because a) it's disgusting and b) I'd be permanently banned, but I think boys, infact men (as many were over 18) talking about their private areas is absolutely inappropriate, and this is just a light example. They're not just saying crap, they're clearly purposely bragging about the size of their xyz because a girl is talking.

I have one friend who joined a raiding guild and was speaking tactics and every time she gave her input people started yelling vile things, this really irritates me. And this was a top guild who Blizzard supports and invites to their blizzcon, this really irritates me - why do they promote these people and their behaviour? it's appalling.

I really want to progress and raid but I am always held back, because whenever I try to join a decent guild I am required to speak, which is fine, until I have players begging for my instagram and personal info, then stalking me on the game and offering me gold - I do not want gold, I want to raid. If I do not accept these gifts I am called rude/ungreatful.If you do accept these gifts, they will literally not leave you alone and treat you like a slave - you literally can't win!

I hold WoW themselves partly accountable as I've reported sexual harassment (typed in game) and nothing has been done about it, the most was the player got a 3 hour ban, then they came back, this time they got hold of my skype (I was told I had to give this to have my guild interview previously) , they then threatened to kill me.

Please can we try and do something to shift the attitude and moderate this game to a higher standard? I think people need to understand that girls do play this game and that they must be treated with respect. Perhaps we could have a world event to celebrate international women's day, perhaps at your events, blizcon what ever you call them you could invite some top female players to act as role models, when I searched Blizzcon, all I saw was girls being cheered on wearing scandly clad costumes, which I find insulting!

Just because I don't want to go along with your stupid sexist views doesn't make me a b!tcher either, I just want to play this freaking game!

Girls are not taken seriously on this game and it does frustrate me, because it ruins the experience, it's like living in some backwards middle eastern country!

It is unfortunate that you've had these kinds of experiences. Going to try and answer some of the questions you've asked, or comment on your ideas:

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

Why is it that whenever a girl speaks on teamspeak, boys suddenly talk inappropriately and become flirtatious?

Depends on the age of the boy. Really young boys may not yet have had their dreams of actually dating a girl who plays games thoroughly crushed yet and have that naive belief something with come of it. Trust me, it wont, they'll learn that sooner or later.

Older guys probably do it for the laughs. Discretely tell them that you dislike it. If you say it on TS in front of everyone you have just told a bunch of random people how to piss you off. I trust i don't have to explain why this is a terrible idea.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

Why is it that the top WoW guilds are mostly dominated by boys?

Can't remember where i heard it, but isn't it something like 83% of the WoW population are male? Wouldn't surprise me if it were even higher.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

I think WoW needs to do something to shift the attitudes of a large number of its players who act absolutely repulsive and speak to girls with disrespect.

This seems doomed to failure in an environment of anonymity, and in a realm of common sense. It is neither blizzards place nor within their power to control how people treat each other in their game. Honestly i've found the vast majority of the playerbase to be enjoyable to talk to, or at least indifferent rather than openly hostile.

Also, nobody is obligated to speak to others with respect. It's just polite to do so.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

talking about their private areas is absolutely inappropriate, and this is just a light example. They're not just saying crap, they're clearly purposely bragging about the size of their xyz because a girl is talking.

Now, this section highlights two problems: 1. you seem to be a massive killjoy. Don't get me wrong i understand a single subject can become tiresome, but change the subject, don't try coming on the forums complaining about people doing it. 2. You're self obsessed. How do you know it's only because a girl is talking or present?

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

And this was a top guild who Blizzard supports and invites to their blizzcon, this really irritates me - why do they promote these people and their behaviour?

Because, as previously mentioned, it is neither blizzards place to pass moral judgement nor within their power to control what people say over voice communication programs blizzard does not own. They are there because it's good business. This is starting to sound more and more like you're one of those people who are determined to be offended and demand everything be changed to not offend you.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

whenever I try to join a decent guild I am required to speak

News for you, that doesn't make them decent guilds. Most guilds require you listen, but not speak. There's text chat in WoW anyway.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

until I have players begging for my instagram and personal info, then stalking me on the game and offering me gold

I have yet to meet any communication software that does not have some form of a "mute" or "block" function. In WoW itself it's called "Ignore". I suggest you use it when dealing with these people.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

I hold WoW themselves partly accountable as I've reported sexual harassment (typed in game) and nothing has been done about it

You what mate? Isn't it in the EULA that blizzard are not responsible for their players? With regards to the sexual harassment, you can't perform sexual harassment over text. It's debatable (at least from a technicality viewpoint) whether you can commit verbal harassment in WoW since it's text based.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

they then threatened to kill me.

If all the death threats over the internet had actually been carried out there wouldn't be a human race left. Nothing is going to happen with these kinds of threats. Also, if this was done over skype, it's microsofts problem, not blizzards.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

I think people need to understand that girls do play this game and that they must be treated with respect.

Where the hell are you finding these people that don't know girls play? Sure people joke about girls not playing but hey, people joke about everything. Also, the idea that "[women] must be treated with respect" is false as i explained earlier, and this further cements the idea that you are, in fact, a massive killjoy. If this hypothesis is true it would explain torrents of abuse thrown at you.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

Perhaps we could have a world event to celebrate international women's day

My god that sounds like a terribly dull world event, i hope you have more to back up that idea.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

when I searched Blizzcon, all I saw was girls being cheered on wearing scandly clad costumes, which I find insulting!

27/05/2015 00:18Posted by Kwl

Just because I don't want to go along with your stupid sexist views doesn't make me a b!tcher either, I just want to play this freaking game!

Killjoy confirmed.

27/05/2015 00:18Posted by Kwl

Girls are not taken seriously on this game and it does frustrate me, because it ruins the experience, it's like living in some backwards middle eastern country!

Who let you out of tumblr?! More seriously, that is quite the exageration.

EDIT: In terms of more helpful advice: Try looking for a more casual raiding guild, you might have to go through a few to find a good one. They tend to put more emphasis on the social experience than the raiding progress so you might find friendlier folk there.

Err, get lost with your trollbait / generalizations. Our raid team has 5 "girls" in it and they are treated with equal respect to all other people.

If your friend joined a guild like that maybe she should have researched it better to make sure she wasn't joining a group that hadn't reached puberty yet.

ah feminism has reached wow -_- cant you win them over with amazing personality or amazing numbers only have to run away to feministic attacks ? -_-

Just because I don't want to go along with your stupid sexist views doesn't make me a b!tcher either, I just want to play this freaking game! !

It's easier to just call someone stupid and sexist and expect, what, 19 other people to change their views just because you want them to, than to idk, maybe not be offended by anything and everything that isn't completely "trigger-safe"

Now don't get me wrong I think tolerance is nice and all that, but still you're playing a game where the majority of the playerbase are male, and it's really up to the guild master (or voicecomm server admin) to decide who opens his/her mouth and what comes out of it in the guild's voicecomm.

lol

27/05/2015 00:18Posted by Kwl

Girls are not taken seriously on this game and it does frustrate me,

Unless you talk about trade chat or random pugs, this is not true. Girls are taken seriously. However, whiny female dogs who can't shut up about girls not being noticed are not.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

I think boys, infact men (as many were over 18) talking about their private areas is absolutely inappropriate, and this is just a light example. They're not just saying crap, they're clearly purposely bragging about the size of their xyz because a girl is talking.

I think you are a tad too sensitive. I don't see anything wrong about this. I usually laugh it off (do note that I don't mean as an insulting laugh). You could always ask them stop. If they don't, move along and don't bother with them. And I'd say people who do this are just desperate for attention. Don't give them it and they'll stop.

There are mature players in WoW and that does include the male player base too. I have never been treated differently for being a girl in my raid team, aside from the joking "Inc Raven's actually a guy." style before I opened my mouth on mumble. Never bothered me. I'm not here to prove I'm a female nor to be respected as one, I'm here to play the game. If they don't want to believe then I don't give a flying flip about it.

You can ask people to stop saying things you think are inappropriate but I have to say, it'd do you good to learn to differentiate between banter and actually offensive remarks. Because there will always be banter and if you take everything as personal attack, you won't be getting far.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

Why is it that whenever a girl speaks on teamspeak, boys suddenly talk inappropriately and become flirtatious? Why is it that the top WoW guilds are mostly dominated by boys?

Sounds like your experiences really suck (and by the replies to OP that this is really a big problem). But to me, this is more a guild problem, not a WoW problem (I raid in a guild stuffed with girls, though it is very casual - no problems there).

Then another problem: You want to raid with top end players, mostly young males, of which many might have no other life than WoW (to be fair to the top end players, the harrassers are maybe 2 or 3 out of 20?). And then expect them to behave like normal people?

I'm not at all trying to justify ugly behaviour at all, but think about the realism what you ask, however justified it is. Those people are personally completely broken, but they are still fine top end raiders.

Sadly, I think your only options are to (1) keep searching for a decent guild on both respects, (2) develop a solid mental shield against that kind of crap (re-posting ridiculous comments in gchat etc.) and make an anonymous skype account.

jk trollbait thread lel

I usually just show them this gem, http://i.imgur.com/CcoJnKo.png

Hm, I've been playing WoW since 2007, been raiding, been a raid leader, guild mistress since 2008 and I can honestly say that your descrption is far far from mine expereince.

Firstly, if your guild members act the way you describe: change guild then. Secondly, yeah there is bad seeds out there, it is bound to happen. You can either let it get to you or just tell them to !@#$ and sod off and go on your self.

Frankly I would say a lot of females I met in game is tad sensitive them self. Humour that goes along the guys seems to offend some females and drama sessions gets started.

I see often in our guild chat how the male members adress and talk to eachother, in a banter kind of way. They are however very polite to females tho, almost so much it is quite obvious it is a bunch of very nice people afraid to hurt/cross the line towards females as they do to the male members.

As a RL I also only encounter problems when I have delt with female raiders who got (constructive) critic about their performance.

I can only suggest you change guild and wish you the best.

27/05/2015 00:16Posted by Kwl

I have one friend who joined a raiding guild and was speaking tactics and every time she gave her input people started yelling vile things, this really irritates me. And this was a top guild who Blizzard supports and invites to their blizzcon, this really irritates me - why do they promote these people and their behaviour? it's appalling.

Have you ever seen pictures of a Q&A of blizzcom? You should, then you can answer your own question. Some people in high end raiding guild have just no life outsiide of wow and probably no girl/ women ever talks to them irl. They just have no clue how to interact with them, so you get this kind of behaviour.

We have plenty of women in our raiding team who get treated equally. Please go back to tumblr OP.

Theres a simple solution to this.

Make your own group/requirements, and than you won't have any dudes treat like you experience.

27/05/2015 02:38Posted by Lilíith

ah feminism has reached wow -_- cant you win them over with amazing personality or amazing numbers only have to run away to feministic attacks ? -_-

I entirely understand what you are TRYING to say, but being a feminist myself as a male, stuff like this is kind of bull!@#$ to pull off and say.

Feminism whether you like it or not stands for equality, doesn't mean women are asking to be entitled to more then men, they are asking to be equally treated.

I know this thread is a bait but this %^-* does happened, luckily not around the people I know and play with.

Id like to point out one thing though, the part where OP says most top guilds are dominated by men, same argument goes for professional league of legends teams, same comments. But in wow several girls have been in the top guilds. Its just not as common as men because of the gaming among men is more common then females. Hence the difference in numbers.

Every guild that I've played with that has had female players have been respectful and would not tolerate harrasment. If your experience is different and you do not like it then you really should switch guilds, trying to reform players seems like a futile effort to be perfectly honest.

Report -> Ignore -> Gquit -> Move on.

-6/10 has been done before

Yes, looks like troll bait, but just in case it's not:

The first step is to self-define yourself as a woman, and a person, not as a "girl" and a victim.