Peyton, over in John Seavey’s post about the Fake Geek Girl bullshit which I am glad he wrote because honestly at this point I just do not have the energy to engage with that bullshit for what feels like the tenth time, writes:
As a complete aside I also wanted to thank MGK, John Seavey, and Jim Smith for this site. As someone said upthread, it’s one of the few places, along with Scalzi’s Whatever, Evanier’s blog, and Jim Hines blog and a few others that, as a female nerd, feels safe and supportive.
I’m just gonna say that I feel very proud to have received this comment, since I decided quite some time ago (like, years) that this was going to be one of my primary goals for the site. As I get older1 I find myself getting more liberal rather than less, which is a pleasant thing to realize, and John and Jim and everybody else I’ve invited to the site were invited, at least in part, because I knew they had no truck with all of the bullshit that nerd-dom encourages in celebration of the straight white guy norm. And I say that as a white guy who mostly invited straight white guys, which happened mostly because whenever I’ve encouraged guest bloggers to apply, they are usually straight white guys.2
This really isn’t just about the blog, either, but what I do generally. I mean, I’ve said before that Al’Rashad is adapted from a screenplay I wrote about a dozen years ago, but the simple truth is that the comic is much better than the screenplay ever was. The big action beats are for the most part the same thus far, but:
– Originally Rayana was much less proactive as a character. Even then I wanted her to be kick-ass, but as written in the screenplay, she was not nearly at the nigh-Brainiac-Five level of intelligence and competence which she is at now, and she works, I think, so much better now than she did previously. Having Kahal be her personal engine of destruction adds a new twist to their relationship which I like quite a bit as well; I like that Kahal takes his lead from Rayana whenever it isn’t a “right now we fight desperately” moment.
– Apali was originally male, and moreover was not nearly so important to the story as she is now. Making her female actually broadened her quite a bit and let me do more with her. The fact that she has essentially been Rayana’s surrogate mother isn’t something I’ve explicitly written in a page yet, but I think it’s pretty obvious, and that simply wouldn’t work as well if she were male as she was originally.
– Also, Joro really should have been a girl, as I’ve written previously, but the ship sailed on that one. Sometimes you realize things too late.
– Finally, there’s one more major character aspect that hasn’t been revealed yet (and might not even be revealed in the first story arc) but to which I gave serious thought, then discussed it with Davinder, then discussed it further with a few people whose opinion I respect in order to make sure that it would work with what had been written already. I think when it gets revealed people will accuse me of pandering (as always happens in these instances), but again: it’s something that makes the overall story simply work better. This is because different races and genders and sexual orientations and all the rest: they’re not checkboxes you have to fill in to pass a test. To blatantly steal from Pratchett: they are all different metals, and alloys are stronger.
I’m drifting a bit here from my original point because I started talking about my comic (which you should all read and adore, of course), but to get back to it: it’s a damn shame that the internet needs places that are “safe and supportive” for female nerds and gay nerds and non-white nerds and all of the other nerds who are not typical nerds, because everybody should have the right to act like a goddamned overgrown child about some irrelevant piece of pop-culture if they so choose because that is what we are all doing, really. The question should not even have to be posed. More people who I can argue “but Superman would TOTALLY beat up Thor” with is always going to be a benefit. More people who will argue whether the Enterprise could blow up a Star Destroyer are always welcome.3 I really don’t care if they have tits or different amounts of melanin – I care that they have fresh perspectives and new ideas, because more ideas is always better.
But so long as those places are necessary, I am determined that my place will be one of those places. This is not an ironclad promise that I will always be perfectly enlightened, because we are all works in progress and nobody ever gets it right one hundred percent of the time. But I think it is important that I try.
Okay, soapbox mode over, and tomorrow if I have time I’ll write the essay about Wreck-It Ralph that lots of people have been demanding for some reason.
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I completely agree.
You’ve always been awesome and I’m glad to know you.
Yeah, I was actually the upthread commenter that Peyton was referring to–here and the Mark Does Stuff sites are the only places I frequent online where I’ve actually said flat-out that I’m female.
And I’ll repeat here what I said in that thread–one of the reasons that I’ll comment on this site is because MGK, Seavey, and others treat women like people first. And you know what? That totally Doesn’t Suck.
1) Galactica nukes Star Destroyer.
2) Jim Kirk delivers rousing speech to Galactica on how they’ve forgotten their “humanity” and need to “get their hands dirty”.
3) Crew abandons Galactica and sets it on autopilot into the nearest Sun, establishes agrarian society on nearby planet.
4) Enterprise launches photon torpedoes on agrarian society.
5) Enterprise wins.
Oh, and, much yay for MGK. 🙂
Oh, and this: http://youtu.be/6i35Zr2ECdk Since, well, it is hilarious and on topic!
Also, Terry McGinnis (Batman Beyond) v. Nightwing: discuss!
The fact that there is a need for “safe places” online for women/minorities/homosexuals is shameful. I would like to think the world isn’t actually as misogynistic/racist/homophobic as the Internet would lead me to believe, but I’m not sure if I have that faith in humanity anymore.
SO MUCH GLANCING OVER AT THE CUE CARDS
I also agree wholeheartedly with Peyton’s comment. There’s a lot of internet nerdery I would never get involved with commenting on, because maybe I forgot my nerd card today or whatever, and it’s nice to even think about worrying about getting called out for only know the album versions of Monty Python or some shit. Thank you for making a touchy-feely safe zone on the internet!
I’m going to add my voice to the groundswell of thanks here. You have a great site and it’s really, really nice to to have to duck the errant bit racist, homophobic or sexist shrapnel to enjoy it.
If only straight white guys are applying when you ask for guest bloggers, then you need to solicit diversity.
That is, if you really want to be supportive. Rather than speaking for the people who, for whatever reason, are not applying for a share of your bully pulpit, contact suitable people who are not straight white men and invite them explicitly. And not to blog about “diversity issues” but about whatever the hell they want to write about. Just like the straight white men.
I always read this blog, and I always enjoy coming here.
I did that the first two times I said “I would like some guestbloggers.” Specifically asking for ladies and writers of color got me a few (you will note Elizabeth Graham and Karen Whaley as alumni), but overwhelmingly, I got a lot of straight white guys.
I’ve also contacted several people who would qualify as “diverse” (okay, that sounds silly, but you know what I mean) who don’t have their own blogs for whatever reason and whose writing I like. Most notable of these was probably Andrew Wheeler, who’s now writing for ComicsAlliance.
So I have taken steps, is my point.
E., are you saying he should get some binders full of women? 😛
I’m a lurker but also wanted to voice my appreciation. This is one of the few places that I feel has been made a consistantly safe space for women, even moreso than some feminist blogs I follow, and I really appreciate that.
Just dittoing all the compliments here. I’ve always appreciated the reasonable tone here. It’s an excellent place for all.
Agree totally with your post and the ideals behind it. Not being a dick is so very, very easy that I have little to no sympathy for anyone who fails to even make the attempt. First try, then try harder. And if you fail, that’s down to you.
That said, a Star Destroyer would totally kick the Galactica’s arse. It has shields. It has swarms of TIE-fighters. It has a dangerous pointy nose. It is, in all respects, much superior to a Battlestar.
Silly person. (sticks out tongue)
I thought Jim Smith was the codename for America’s daring, highly-trained special mission force.
@Tony J
Yeah, but Galactica has Edward James Olmos. All he needs to do is glare menacingly at the Star Destroyer and it’s game over.
I’m one of many moderators on a nerd-centric forum, and one of the things that we’ve had to put a decent chunk of work and attention into, besides killing spam and general janitorial duties, is laying down clear ground rules and regulations concerning things like sexism, homophobia/transphobia, and the like. Something I’ve noticed is that for every guy who speaks up to claim we’re stifling discussion or forcing people to walk on eggshells for fear of being carted off by the Political Correctness police there’s invariably a gal or transperson who takes the time to mention that it’s these efforts that make them more comfortable participating there.
Also chiming in to say thanks for having such a great blog, and for not being a dick. 🙂
As a straight white guy with a dog (even more privileged!) I am also very happy about this site.
Not only is it an excellent example of a not-a-dick-about-stuff place on an internet absurdly short on such, it is almost always an excellent read that brings joy to my day, and the combination of the two of those things is frustratingly rare.
It actually never even occured to me to think of this as a safe space. It’s just “a blog I like reading because it’s well written and the comments are interesting.” So thanks for making communities like this on the internet seem normal. 🙂
I feel like there aren’t enough “Laverne”s. That’s a pretty good name, shouldn’t be dying out. Now we have terrible “new” names popping up like Baylen, Brylee, Ryker, Tyblee.. ugh people are terrible.
But not you MGK! You are cool and mostly smart!
Supergirl would TOTALLY beat up Thor.
True fact.
Faced with any Kryptonian, Thor would create a Mjolnir-vortex to transport them both to a red-sun planet. THEN VERILY BEGINST THE SMACKDOWN.
I wonder what the sun of Asgard would do to Kryptonians…
Noo…Thor wouldest be smitten by her, and verily would she kick him in the hammer. Then would the true battle commence.
And now I’m curious: MIB, what does your name stand for?
Nay, oh Unstoppable Gravy Express, for any Kryptonia worth hir salt would use their super-speed to rotate in the opposite direction to Mjølner* thus negating the spatio-temporal vortex.
* Mjølner is the real name of that hammer. True fact too. The other is for silly non-scandinavians who are not even aware that Thor’s got a beard.
@MonkeyWithTypewriter
“MIB” are actually my initials, post-marriage. (My husband and I took a new last name togehter when we got married.) I was debating whether to keep my given middle name and/or use my maiden name as a middle name–my husband pointed out that if I kept my given middle name, my new initials would be the same as Men In Black. 🙂
@MonkeyWithTypewriter
“MIB” is actually my initials, post-marriage. My husband and I took a new last name together when we got married, and he pointed out that if I kept my given middle name, my initials would be the same as Men In Black. 😉
Why do you ask?
Yikes! Sorry for the double post!
GEEZ MIB WAY TO RUIN THE SAFE SPACE
Mea maxima culpa!
Actually, you know, now that I think about it, I’m gonna go ahead and blame that on the triptophan. And the amaretto. (What, you mean not every family’s Thanksgiving tradition involves Amaretto Sours?)
A bit late to the party, but wanted to add my thanks. I’m usually a lurker, only commenting now and then, but I’m on here at least once a week. It’s one of the few blogs that I’ve found that covers so many of my interests, from the law to politics to comics to the occasional tv show. And I always know that I don’t have to be afraid to go into the comments because people who comment here are 99% of the time are smart, polite and insightful.
Being able to read your blog is a highlight to my week, and I appreciate all of the effort that you and your guest writers put into it.
No, I was thinking that since you’re a lady, it would be something like “Maid in Black” and was trying to figure it out. 🙂
It stands for “Made in Barsoom.” MIB is actually posting from Earth Theta, where God-Emperor Mitt Romney has outsourced most American manufacturing jobs to Mars.
I also want to add my thanks and appreciation for your site. Seeing a twenty-comment post where people argue politely over comics without anyone getting called gay or pussy or faggot is like watching Bigfoot hug a unicorn.
CRAP, Kai figured it out. Now I’m going to have to kill you all, so you don’t spread knowledge of Khal Romney’s invasion plans. You know how long that’s going to take to clean up??
@MonkeyWithTypewriter
I’m afraid using “MIB” is not actually that imaginative on my part–I was just looking for a handle that was both reflective of me (ie, something I could remember) and somewhat geeky.
And I have to say, getting called a lady made me smile; I get invited to a friend’s Man Weekend every year, along with my husband, because I drink, smoke, and curse more than my husband does. 🙂 (what can I say? The aunt I adored growing up made it clear she considered Marian Ravenwood a good role model.)
Then Kai, you know what you must do?
GET YOR ASS TO MAHS!
NO. Enterprise beats Star Destroyer. Galactica? PLEASE. However, Space Cruiser Yamato, provided she can line them up correctly, would take out all three.
Thor is magic, right? Kinda magic? Superman’s vulnerable to magic. Also, which Superman? Pre-Crisis/Post-Crisis/Electric Blue/ Movie Superman/ cartoon Superman? Whatever, it’s Thor, much as I hate to admit it.
Yeah, I dig this place. I’ve never bothered with nonsense sites filled with people insulting each other. Why do people do that, anyway? And I find this whole “fake geek girl” fooferaw to be EXTREMELY stupid. Why would you care if a woman dressed as Phoenix “has actually read the classic Claremont/Byrne stories that established her as a powerful character” or some nerd shit. And people here know their nerd shit so that’s nice. I’ve seen more informed commentary here than almost anywhere else.
Too much Dr. Who stuff, if I was pressed to criticize. AND BRING BACK WHO’S WHO!
I second the WHO’S WHO.
Also, needs more Rex in general.
PS: Superman is VULNERABLE to magic. However, this doesn’t mean that someone whose strength is magical in origin but still physical in nature. This was established at least as early as 1943 in ‘The Mummy Strikes’ where Superman pwns a shitload of mummies who are the magically reanimated guards of the dead pharaoh King Tush.
So there!
@Patrick
Re: the whole “fake geek girl” fooferaw, that is an excellent question. I mean, for example, you could make an argument for my younger sister being a “fake,” because she generally only gets into stuff when it hits mainstream pop culture (e.g., she had no interest in reading Game of Thrones until word broke that HBO was going to be making a series, at which point she asked me if it was worth picking up the books). But, on the other hand, she was the one who convinced me to read Harry Potter–which I had been turning my nose up at, in true geek fashion, for being too popular–and I ended up really enjoying it. And now that there’s a certain amount of geek culture in the mainstream, I can actually have conversations with my sister about stuff (as opposed to before, when she was only into sports, which I am not). (Plus, when she went to SDCC after it became cool [she lives in the area], she got me two art posters signed by Brian Froud for Christmas, because I love his stuff and never have time to go to cons anymore.)
tl;dr: the more people into geek culture, even if it’s only the “popular stuff,” the more people there are to talk with about this stuff. That’s a win, in my book.
Enterprise, Star Destroyer, Galactica, Yamato… the Heart of Gold saunters up, pushes the IID, all bets are off. (Though most likely the whole lot of them end up as some sort of odd space debris, which is then collected and sold on the black market by the crew of Serenity.)
Now let’s debate Thor v. Galactica!
Also, NOT ENOUGH DOCTOR WHO!! MORE DR. WHO!!
Star Destroyer would crush the Enterprise easily. Come on, people.
Hee hee…King Tush….
The Eleventh Doctor would so totally defeat the Reapers, “Oh look, they’re Daleks, but with tentacles. Someone’s been watching too much Japanese television.”
… what? 🙂
I, too, appreciate the tone and atmosphere of this site.
But I think that the correct sequence is that Galactica bravely faces down the larger star destroyer, finding itself badly outmatched in terms of damage-dealt-per-second. Just when all seems lost, three Cylon base ships jump in and carpet-bomb the ISD with nukes. Another thrilling plot twist that the Empire’s on the wrong side of.
For what it’s worth, MGK did actively solicit me on more than one occasion to write for him. As a queer, disabled, female single parent with experience of living in poverty — who is also a nerd — I have a few “diversity” checkmarks beside my name.
The thing is, a lot of us who fall into “diverse” categories? Also have WAY TOO MUCH shit going on in our lives to write as often as we’d like to.
Do I think MGK should regularly solicit posts from people who aren’t white dudes? Totally. Do I understand the complexities for the folks who are approached and turn him down? Yep.
I wouldn’t mind a Mightygodking/4th Letter crossover week, personally speaking.
@E. “If only straight white guys are applying when you ask for guest bloggers, then you need to solicit diversity.”
Perhaps we all need to manage our assumptions a bit. Let’s work to make the internet a safe zone for blog operators, too.
The yet-to-be-revealed character aspect that you thought people might view as pandering: did you mean King Alric being gay? http://mightygodking.com/al-rashad/comic/book-seven-page-twenty-one/
My second guess of anything that’s been written yet would be the Grygs being a matriarchy, but that’s not really an aspect of any main character’s character.