What's in a name? Right? Well, apparently a lot, when it comes to gaming that is.

I've played online video games for years. I've taken a bit of a break from it due to college, work, and life in general. But recently I decided to tear out an old online game and play some.

Well, of course, the very moment I join the game I am bombarded with "are you a girl?" "Are you hot?" "Do you have an IM?" I mean seriously it wasn't five seconds after joining that I received these questions. Now I wrote a blog about five months ago about this very thing, because I had gotten sick of it and was another reason I had stepped back from gaming. Well, I had pretty much forgotten about that part, but you can see how quickly I was reminded.

I recently made a new gaming purchase and decided to finally brake down and created a male alias, something I swore I'd never do because that is just weird. But the amount of respect you get is completely different.

It could have been the change of games, because the one I played a few nights ago is known for idiots. But at the same time it doesn't matter if it is Halo, Unreal Tournament, or some RPG game, the list goes on, it is impossible to go an entire night of gaming with out being ask, if not practically interrogated, on whether or not you are a girl, if you have a female name.

Last night on the other hand, under the male name, I was instantly treated as someone who knew what I was doing...even though I didn't, lol. Okay some things were just like any other game, but I didn't know where the locations were the player was spouting out, and other typical stuff you have to learn when you get a new game, but you get the picture.

So, I figure you have a few options. If you are a girl and like the attention of a bunch of idiots who are drunk, play games all day, and are probably still living in their parents' basement at the age 40, a female name is for you. If you are a girl and you are a good player and love beating up on those types, same thing, go for it. If you are a girl and just want to play with out some idiot hitting on you or otherwise just being a total jerk, go with a male name. If you are a really bored guy and want something to entertain you create a female name and enjoy many fun hours of messing with some idiots' minds :p

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LOL How true this is though. As sad as it seems it is all like oh wow true. I though have never experienced it game wise it happens outside of games too. I feel your pain girly.

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Are you... not a girl?

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Originally Posted by Blazing Tiger LOL How true this is though. As sad as it seems it is all like oh wow true. I though have never experienced it game wise it happens outside of games too. I feel your pain girly.

Yeah, sadly that's true too. The only times it bugs me is when it comes to jobs and gaming. It's suppose to be illegal around here to turn someone away for a job because of gender, but it happens alot, although I'm sure that works vise-versa as well. But yeah, I hate chatter while gaming to begin with, flirting on top of it all, yeah, it's just really annoying.

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Lol, you play Star Wars BFII eh? Maybe I should play you sometime lol.

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Originally Posted by NormaN Lol, you play Star Wars BFII eh? Maybe I should play you sometime lol.

If you would like to then sure, I'm always game :p lol

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Because, see, the name 'Huntress' implies that you're a female...

There are girls on the internet?

R U A GURL?1 If so, WIL YOU MARRRY ME?!!!

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HA HAA! Words! - Phil Sebben

In America! - Bandit Keith

*smacks Gerbil The Sinner and VX3000 on the back of the head*
Knock it off you two. It's that sort of behaviour why female gamers resort to using male alliases while gaming. That creates the effect that female gamers are a rarity. If there were less idiots acting like that they wouldn't have the need to.

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