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Destiny

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Edited by Shiloh Ivy: 8/3/2015 4:43:20 AM
117

Why the Dames of Destiny is a group based on sexism

Their mission is to create a stable, positive environment free from prejudice, persecution and sexism, things that are often found in the environment of gaming. This is nothing short of a noble cause. One that surely cannot be faulted. However, they exclude members from being part of this cause, simply for being males. This [i]is[/i] a form of sexism, shunning a particular group of people based on their sex. Even feminist accept males among their ranks, as long as they follow the rules. But with the dames, no matter how like minded the individual is, because he is a male, he will be turned away. This isn't fair. Why are we supporting an institution that is inherently sexist? Sexism: prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex. I'd argue that excluding someone from an group for no other good reason other than sex is in fact prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. If you cut out the "typically against women" part and you've got what the Dames are doing. Don't take this as a support of what the players in question did to them, it is wrong what they did. But we cannot say that their institution isn't sexist, because it is. And as such, we shouldn't promote them. The same way we wouldn't support a white only, black only or Muslim only clan. I'm not saying the clan should be disbanded, but as a [i]community[/i] we are suppose to be working together. When a clan excludes a certain group of people based on sex, I don't see how we can support such an infrastructure. A simple change that will make me retract this post is that the Dames accept men in their clan. Until then, it can be said they are a symbol for sexist institutions. Edit: To everyone proclaiming I'm ignorant. What am I to believe that a clan that doesn't accept a member that agrees with their ideology, supports the clan and an active player simply because he is a male, if not sexist? Edit 2: To put this in perspective for some of you: [spoiler]Jordan. Jordan is in his mid twenties. He works as a nurse having many females as coworkers. He has a wife and two daughters. Jordan plays Destiny everyday and saw the Dames in the weekly update. He wanted to join the Dames because he stood by their ideology, supported their cause and sincerely wanted to help make a safe environment for women in Destiny. He isn't allowed admission. Instead pointed to another clan like Reg did spongebob in the Salty Spittoon episode. Why? Not for anything rational or fair like he's inactive. A jerk. Or is known to be rude. [b]No, because he's a male.[/b] I ask you, is how Jordan was treated sound fair to you?[/spoiler] [spoiler]Jordan is a fictional character.[/spoiler] Edit 3: Taken directly from their interview in the weekly update some time ago: [quote]Whenever we receive a member request, we send a welcome message along with directions on how [b]to verify themselves as female. [i]Once verified[/i], they are officially welcomed into the Dames family![/b] [/quote] Just some proof that I'm not making this up that they don't accept male members. Not only do they ask it, they go so far as to verify female members. If such effort was put into screening, it wouldn't be a problem to accept male members who are like-minded. But they opted for a female only group that is a symbol of sexism. Edit 4: [b]I'm a male.[/b] Some of you think I'm trying to hide this. Edit 5: If you wish to know my motivation for making this post, I present it to you. I'm not trying to hide anything to the community. [spoiler]I'm a male who attends a university in Florida. Contrary to popular belief, I am not Jordan. Jordan is a fictional character. I made this post because one day I am for equality. Everyone should be treated equally. And the Dames support an infrastructure that is cohesive with a safe haven for women. I support this cause, it is a noble one. That is, until I learned they don't accept men. Now, I was offended at this, is was as if the Dames think a man is the underlying threat of a woman's gaming experience. And I'm not like that, my friends aren't like that and a good percentage of men aren't like that. Some argue, "Some men are like that, so the Danes exclude them." I say, if you exclude men from your group because some act like pigs, that's stereotyping. Which isn't a good thing. That thinking is what got Japanese Americans in concentration camps. Some argue "You don't plan on joining, why do you care?" Why did whites support blacks during the civil rights movement? Why are men feminist? Why didn't the "master race" support Hitler and his regime? [i]Because they saw the injustice.[/i] I'm not in this because I'm a predator or have some hidden agenda that results in harm to anyone, [b]I'm a simple man, pushing for what I think is right. [/b][/spoiler]

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  • Edited by ColNapalm: 8/2/2015 6:18:47 PM
    Your argument is inherently sound, researched, cited and well articulated, very nice job. I agree with you in principle though I also agree with Dames. I have a few questions and would value your input. If we accept that the premise of Dames is to create a clan free of sexist innuendo or discrimination - against women - I grant you that their charter or mission is sexist and hypocritical but - is their underlying mission any less valid or necessary? Equally, in the face of a rampantly sexist and abusive community, do Dames have an responsibility to screen membership that exceeds that of Bungies responsibility to police abusive behavior? Lastly, what direct harm is created by their association? Is business or access to content secretly being conducted behind the veil of their Clan's meetings? In the past, I belonged to a Men's Club and enjoyed the enviorment free of women or the influence they can trigger in men. There weren't stripper poles or wild orgies nor anything elict being conducted except fine meals and drink and sense of decorum that the general population can't muster. I understood and accepted however that they had to die in the face of rampant objections because business was indeed being conducted that women did not have access to. That business would continue to be held behind closed doors but gradually those venues included select (trusted) women once we removed the signs that forbade them all. Incidentally, Women's Clubs appeared almost immediately and they extolled the exclusivity of their access. Sexist as it may be, I didn't mind this either as women of like mind had a place and opportunity for association and weren't the exclusive venue for opportunity. Though I am feminist since birth, I do not want a world completely free of sexism. Women will never win an Olympic Gold in the 100m dash if competing against men. Universities will abandon much needed revenue if they are prevented from forming teams that aren't gender inclusive. Washrooms will become breeding grounds of abuse and violence f we open them to both sexes and we can humorously add here that many women admit that their bathrooms (and habits) are also more disgusting than Men's so, please - let's not. [b] To me, prejudice is not simply an act of exclusion but of lost opportunity or abuse.[/b] Dads of Destiny may very well enjoy the company of like minded, relaxed game play and mature conversation. If they aren't hurting anyone, spreading hate or feeding further discrimination, why limit their (Consitituional) right to associate freely? Again, I appreciate your post and its contribution to an enlightened discussion and I hope I have contributed appropriately.

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