29 јул feminism-post-video-igr-pobed-ad-gdc-i-t-t-et-et-thow-thoursenshics-s-1

Feminism against video games: victory over GDC and what women think about it

The warriors of social justice (in English, the abbreviation SJW is generally accepted, and in Russian I think it is better to call them SS fighters) call people who are fighting with special zeal with an unfair attitude to Some Social groups, using all the means that the Internet and the modern American-Poosine society provide them with.

The use of the press to spread distorted (or even simply false) information, pressure on commercial and government organizations (either through the same press, or simply collecting an angry crowd of people), the threat of judicial lawsuits – as you can see the most extremely and unclean. And all this is the warriors of the SS, because it costs someone to even say something disapproving and we look above-accusations, press attacks, courts. More than one person has already lost his job.

However, this is only one half of the problem. The second half is that the “social justice” itself is what the same SS fighters consider to be fair. Their personal view of how the world order should be and what prevents this order to establish. And since in their perception today’s society is a continuous oppression and discrimination of women, color and LGBT,* justice for SS champions is a response to those who are not women, color and LGBT. In other words, white men-nursing men.

The struggle of the SS against representatives of this social group has long been going on and quite successfully (at least in the USA and Europe). But I want to tell you only one of the victories that was the deprivation of a reward from GDC Nolan Bushnella.

Nolan Bushnell is one of the founders of Atari. In the seventies, she was the flagship of the video game industry. What is there, Atari, right, created this industry and determined its guidelines for years to come.

Under the leadership of Bushnella, the first game consoles and games for them were developed. Including the ATARI 2600 gaming computer, which made home electronic entertainment truly massive. Programmers and engineers created all the conditions for productive creative work, the company reigned with a free and informal atmosphere, and everyone who proved their competence could count on respect and encouragement by the authorities. In short, everything in Atari contributed to the development and innovation (at least until the beginning of the eighties) in the field of computer games.

In any case, the merits of Nolan Bushnell to the Games Industry is difficult to overestimate. And therefore, no one was surprised that in January of this year, the leadership of Game Developers Conference (Games Developers Conference) decided to award him in the nomination of The Pioneer Award (industry pioneer) for his contribution to the development of computer games. Absolutely no one surprised. In addition to Brianna Wu, the famous feminists and developers of the Revolution 60 game for iOS.

Remember that the atmosphere in Atari was free and informal? So she was informal, up to the point that some meeting could be held right in a jacuzzi for a companion, and Bushnell himself could well appear in the office, putting on a T-shirt with the inscription “I like to fuck!“. Imagine? What is the horror for a woman who has to work in such conditions!

And after all, women really worked in Atari. A little true – then the electronics was a purely masculine occupation, but for Bushnella the abilities were important – therefore he was not shy about hiring women. Just as he did not hesitate to offer them to join him in a jacuzzi. And he used the names of the most beautiful of his workers as code names for prototypes of new consoles. What sexism!

In general, as a true feminist, Brianna Wu gathered a crowd of like-minded people and arranged a protest campaign (in social networks she received a hash-teg #NOTNOLAN-that is, Nenolan). Of course, they were supported by several Internet publications, like The Guardian and USA Today.

And in the end, GDC satisfied the requirements of Wu and her colleagues. The presentation of the award was canceled by Bushnell and the leadership of the Committee made an apology:

“The Committee for Control of the Awards“ Choosing Games Developers ”, voting for the choice of winners for each exhibition, decided this year not to issue a“ Pioneer Industry ”award after the community reaction. In their opinion, the choice of nominees should reflect the values ​​of today’s game industry and therefore this year the award will be given in honor of those whose voice from the past we will never hear.“

In short, you understood – Bushnell’s behavior by today’s standards was unacceptable and his reward could create a wrong message. Therefore, everything is canceled. It is worth noting, however, that Bushnell himself did not protest against such a decision and reacted to the loss of a reward philosophically. Even he apologized:

“I applaud GDC for their hardness in the https://genierichescasino.co.uk/ principles, especially in relation to how to behave with people at the workplace. And if the reward is the price that I need to pay for the whole industry to become more responsible and aware in this regard, I also applaud this decision. If my actions or the actions of my subordinates were offended or caused pain to anyone in our companies, I sincerely apologize.“

Well, what really could Nolan could answer? Do not protest, do not blame the feminists for what. After all, being a white man, and even natural, he is already a potential rapist.

Fortunately, among women who worked in Atari there were those who were not afraid to stand up for him.

Carol Kantor, who became the first marketer for the founded in 1972:

“… there was a lot that is considered unacceptable today, but then these things were only a reason for laughter, sometimes in a very bad taste, but were not considered sexual harassment or oppression of women at that time. They all helped us to join the team and enjoy the work.“

Elein Shirley, who worked on the assembly line of printed circuit boards:

“I worked at Atari from 73 to 99. I was there during Nolan. It was the seventies, we had fun. And as far as I know, no one did what I did not want to do. Atari had no hostility among workers. And GDC should have asked the women who really worked there at that time. I am for Nolan to be awarded a reward. And the next time the awards will be deprived of Bitles, Led Zeppelin or Who. It was another time.“

Loni Rider – coordinator for relations in Atari. Having worked in the company for several years later, she subsequently not only continued her career in the industry (the list of her achievements here is so large that I have to translate it), but also published several books, including about her work in Atari. By the way, she also became the founding and vice president of another company Bushnella Uwink. And here are the excerpts from her letter:

“This began with a 38-year-old super-feminist/gamachuseer from Massachussets, who ran for Congress and had not the most pleasant experience with the male part of the game community, which later began to be called a gamergate,

She used the #Metoo movement (the same violent crowd of feminists on Twitter – approx. Translator) and chose the moment of history about which she had no reliable information

Not a single complaint against Nolan or against the working atmosphere in Atari for that period ..

All on the basis of newspaper articles and interviews in magazines where Nolan and the rest talk about the working environment and culture that existed 40 years ago ..

The working environment, where everyone – both men and women – happily worked together and had fun together (or did not have fun – there was no pressure and no condemnation) … The environment that brought us strong friendship, sometimes weddings, “little Atarians”, business acquaintances and meetings with friends many years later ..
She left wonderful memories. And most of us the rest of our career sought to recreate the magic of the Camelot, where we were lucky enough to work.

Having made a thematic movement with his weapons, considering himself personally “offended” and dissatisfied with the environment that existed 40 years ago, the environment of which she did not take part that she had no idea about … and “hinted” that all we, who worked side by side with Nolan, Alkorn, Kinan, Bristow and the rest of the “Mahogany Row” were subjected to sexual attacks,humiliations and simply did not respected us of these masculine departments.

And on the basis of her political ambitions, personal beliefs and slander against a person who did not receive any complaints, she raised a large and unreasonable noise against Nolan – and the “Pioneer of the Industry” reward decided not to give out.

Atari was a large corporation with several departments … And I worked in the central office, talked with each department of the company, since this was part of my work on connections, safety and equipment … And I was chosen to represent a group of industrial design and slot machines, so I spent a lot of time in the engineering building (with that same jacuzzi), where there was the most insanity and fun.

From my position, having information about that time and work in Atari first -hand, I can say that all the accusations against Nolan completely distort his personality and his lifestyle, which did not harm anyone.

Nolan created a company that opened the doors to many women to the area where they were not accepted before – high technologies. Nolan never subjected anyone to discrimination and provided everyone with the opportunity to prove his viability and become part of Atari. Starting with rations of printed circuit boards, ending with an assembly of slot machines, from creating drawings and drawing illustrations to work in the assembly workshop.

For me personally, Nolan was a man whose word became decisive for my work in Atari-my first full-fledged work after college … And he continued to believe in me years later, we founded the code together in Los Angeles, where I became an “equivalent” vice president.

Nolan never judged suitable for gender work. His decisions were connected exclusively with skills, abilities and passion for work – and thanks to this attitude, we always sought to be at the height! We were connected with each other as a real team … like a real family.

Atari opened the way to glory to Carol Sho!
She wrote parts of the program nucleus for Atari 2600, responsible for the output of graphs. And she was the author and co-author of several games. Her River Raid is one of the very first scrolls.

For me, I am confident for many other women who are ready to join this dispute … And this feminaci, who wants to break into Congress, can believe that it provides “women in Atari” with a service, but in fact it brings only harm, presenting us as victims, which were not really there.

Personally, I am anger from her words and behavior … not only in relation to Nolan, but in relation to all of us – women from Atari.

We all were and remain to this day with strong and smart women … And not one “man” does not dare to use us (especially if it is important for him to continue the genus!).

My anger also causes the heartless and meaningless harm that Nancy caused (Nolan’s wife – approx. Translator) and their children and grandchildren.

And finally … without showing proper attention, but instead simply canceled its decision by the GDC did not harm not only Nolan, my atarians, but the truth itself.

In my message (the one that I brought above -. Translator) Nolan showed great generosity … I hope that the GDC will change his mind and correct his mistake, someday in the future.“

These are speeches from „oppressed and discriminated“. К сожалению никто их не послушал и будущее о котором говорила Ридер пока не наступило.