Gender Equality

[Teddy]

What is gender equality?

Quite simply it is the concept " that men and women should receive equal treatment, unless there is a sound biological reason for different treatment". This can apply to many, many topics and areas around the world from politics, work places, and even games.

How this applies to Argonath.

We all know there is no limitation in a players ability to play as a female character, regardless if they are indeed a real female or not. This is the vision of Argonath and the realistic ability of roleplaying. You can roleplay what you want, when you want and how you want granted how you do it falls safely within the server rules and doesn't agitate the game play of others.

Where the problem is.

Regardless if your minds are able to accept it or not, we, as in Argonath and the internet do have legitimate females who play and they should feel equally comfortable to play here. There has been a number of instances in a past in which simple jokes have crossed the line of harassment, and cyber-bullying. This includes running up to random female players and constantly making sexual remarks, asking if they are really a girl, and many other inappropriate gestures.

No player should feel uncomfortable in the positions they choose to roleplay as. I personally have recently had a conversation with a female player stating she was debating just playing as a male character and using male name simply because of the consistent issues I mentioned earlier.

The point

Harassing someone you think is really a man, who is claiming to be or is really a female is unacceptable. Who gives an honest shit what the gender is of the person on the other side of the screen. We come here to have fun roleplaying, that has absolutely nothing to do with what is under the belt of the real person behind the screen.

Constantly making sexual remarks against female players is also unacceptable, unless in a RP manner in which they, or anyone else is comfortable. The server rules do designate to stay within certain boundaries, however if you feel like going there... so be it, be private and make sure the person you are RPing with is fully comfortable and knows where the RP is and is going.

The other side of the table

This chunk applies to the female players. We can not deny it has happened in the past and can, and most likely will happen again. Just because you are a woman in a crowd of pubescent males does not in anyway justify you special rewards, treatment, or any other advantage over any other player. You should not constantly ask for money, or try to exploit the fact you are a female player to gain some sort of advantage.. its just not right.

When does it become cyber-bullying

As has been stated by Argonath HQ before, any acts, intentions of, or behaviors of cyber-bullying will render immediate bans. It is important to ensure you are staying within the realm of "fun" and not crossing over to cyber-bullying, and harassment. The simple and realistic solution is to not attempt to treat or react to any female character with any personal bias, judgement, or attitude. The real answer is use common sense. If you were a woman, what would you find acceptable and what would you find unacceptable?

Reporting these cases

Again, this is mainly to the female players, or male players who are wishing to RP as female players. If you encounter any instances in which you personally feel uncomfortable, offended, or troubled due to sexual harassment, or even a sexual joke the first step you should do is PM the person who is doing it, and explain that you don't like it when they do whatever it is they are doing. If the behavior escalates, or continues do not ignore the situation. Contact administration, if you aren't comfortable reporting it using /report, or even privately to any admin online. Then do it via the forums to someone you trust. I myself am alyways open to helping anyone in cases of cyber-bullying, or harassment of any sort and will do anything in my immediate power to ensure something is done. It really doesn't matter who, just tell someone it is happening.

The bottom line

These behaviors and actions simply need to cease.

A fair warning

I will leave this unlocked, for discussions regarding the manner. If any post even remotely appears to cross an offensive line it will be removed without hesitation. This topic is of a serious manner, not a joke.

Thanks for understanding,
Teddy

[Leon.]

The amount of harassment female players get here is absolutely pathetic. I mean, it's just a female. You tend to see at least ONE every day... The fact that a female can't play here in peace is an issue that really can't be overlooked.

[Taylor_P]

The amount of new people that bug me when I do get on, Good times....

[Axison]

This was really needed, good job teddy.

[Marcel]

Great write-up Teddy, a firm statement was needed.

[eymas]

amen.

[Megamidget]

Players should take note of this and they should also understand that while this post is in the SAMP section of the forum it should be listened to no matter what part of the argonath you find yourself in

[Caesar.]

Awesome Teddy, i have watched some old posts in "Member Pics" topic and i saw much discussion about females i mean whats your problem they are just humans like others, some of them know well in informatics(PCs) so? Why you think its wierd that female plays PC? :o

[Petarda]

Never saw someone insulting a female player.

[Salmonella]

<wall of fancy font teletype text>

The art of making mountains out of molehills...

Could be said in one sentence, really;

If someone says they're a female, there's nothing you can do but respect their right to portray themselfs as females, regardless of whether or not it's the truth.

[Mashgash]

The art of making mountains out of molehills...

Could be said in one sentence, really;

If someone says they're a female, there's nothing you can do but respect their right to portray themselfs as females, regardless of whether or not it's the truth.

But if?
But how?
But why?
But then?
But..
But..

By writing one sentence you are just painting the right corner of the picture.
Teddy painted a whole picture.

Nicely written.

[Salmonella]

But if?
But how?
But why?
But then?
But..
But..

Uhhhh, random question words?

By writing one sentence you are just painting the right corner of the picture.
Teddy painted a whole picture.

Nicely written.

Teddy painted the entire picture but didn't stop there. He also painted the frame, the wall it hangs on, the room it hangs in, and the house it resides in.

That sentence is really all there is to say. Of course there's nothing wrong with a bit of elaboration, in fact, a topic can't exist without it, but this way the people this is targeted at (who are those not aware of the privacy policies) won't even bother to read more than ''Quite simply it is the concept " that men and women should receive equal treatment, unless there is a sound biological reason for different treatment". ''

And then, sadly, get bored by the vocabulary they simply don't possess. It's overdone so for those who (like me, honestly) didn't bother to read it all or got lost, once again:

If someone says they're a female, there's nothing you can do but respect their right to portray themselfs as females, regardless of whether or not it's the truth.

[Gandalf]

And while we are on the subject, I would like to extend this to homosexual players. We have from the beginning of our community had a share of players who are openly homosexual, and while in real life you may meet them less frequently as females, they should still be welcome equally in Argonath as any other.

[Marcel]

And while we are on the subject, I would like to extend this to homosexual players. We have from the beginning of our community had a share of players who are openly homosexual, and while in real life you may meet them less frequently as females, they should still be welcome equally in Argonath as any other.

It should be extended to everything, from race to language, we are all equals, which is one of the principles Argonath was founded on, and should always be.

[Mr. Goobii]

Nobody should feel that they got disadvantages/(advantages) because of gender, sexuality or dysfunctions of any grades.
Respect people equal and take it into consideration "in real life" too..