UPDATE:*** I just saw this today on Facebook (thanks Anna!), about Anita Sarkeesian's Kickstarter Project "Tropes vs. Women in Video Games"which has also attracted a huge avalanche of hatred. Why is this happening now, and is it a new trend or more of the same thing that has happened throughout the history of the Internet? This is a great project and one that is desperately needed - if you were in any doubt about that you only need to read about what Ms Sarkeesian has had to put up with.***
So then, while I've been busy doing stuff* I've missed out on what can only be described as a avalanche of hate directed at a video posted this week. No, it didn't contain kittens, puppies or any cute animals being injured, and it didn't feature politics, elections or any kind of -ism. It was a light-hearted music video.
It is by a well-known and respected artist, and (apart from a heroic choice of eyeshadow) it is catchy, well-produced, interesting to watch and has some surprises in there, too. Try it, you might like it:
Haters going to hate?
YouTube comments...they can be the absolute pits. Seriously, any video that has more than 100 views is likely to attract a few mean-spirited comments, usually left by bored people wanting to get a rise out of the channel. This video, though, has attracted a massive amount of negative comments, and it seems to come from a variety of types: male gamers who hate the idea of 'girl gamers', female gamers who don't want to be stereotyped, gamers who feel that gamers are just gamers no matter what gender, people who hate country music, Artistic People Against Yellow Eyeshadow - and so on.
Many are just plain nasty, some are truly awful and some are threatening, borderline incitement.
Why do I say Felicia doesn't need defending?
Fans and friends have been quick to defend the video, and the people behind it. That is heartening and not surprising - people on the whole genuinely enjoy what she produces and are open to new directions (even country music). Felicia has done a very good job of setting out her thoughts on the subject, including the ideas behind the song and video.
For me, this sums up a lot of what I've always admired about Felicia:
"In all my years of championing gaming, I have ALWAYS avoided the title “Gamer Girl”. I always just said I’m a gamer, and left the gender unsaid. I don’t mean to disparage anyone who uses that title, to me, you change minds by being who you are, representing, and not pointing out you’re different from anyone else."
But I don't think Felicia needs to defend her work or herself because the majority of this attack is not really about either of those things. It seems to me that the comments section of this video quickly became a convenient arena to go over arguments that have been raging all over the Internet for years about geeks, fakes, gamers, women, girls, men, boys and what everyone's real place in all this is.
And I'm not even clear who the real haters are here. It's impossible to tell from looking at the commenters. I'm not sure it's even worth worrying about what the truth is because people who are willing to expend so much energy posting vicious comments have already lost the plot.
For my part, I thought the video was innocuous and the song catchy, and I was glad to see that so many people took the time to leave positive comments on YouTube and Twitter.
Take Aways for Creators
Sometimes people don't like what we do, and that's ok.
Sometimes nasty comments do not reflect the majority response to your work.
Even the most popular creators can face a barrage of negativity, the trick is to handle it in a mature and intelligent manner.
Read the well thought-out comments and ignore all the rest.
Don't use yellow eye shadow if you have a pale complexion. It drives people insane.
Xander called country music "...the music of pain..." for a reason.
Don't be afraid to support your fellow creators in their endeavours, and if you don't like what they do, find a way to express it that doesn't degenerate into name-calling hatred.
Everything happens
Hope you have a great weekend, Felicia, and get to take some time off soon!
*Stuff includes, but is not limited to: writing, editing, plotting, working PLUS preparing for eldest son's High School graduation tomorrow. How time flies...
Earlier this week Felicia Day announced that she would be hosting a TEN HOUR GOOGLE+ HANGOUT MARATHON to promote her new programmes on her new YouTube 'Geek and Sundry' channel. With a whole new stable of shows in the pipeline there is bound to be something for everyone. AND it's a fundraiser for charity, too.
11:00am – Introducing our charity: Best Friends Animal Society
11:20am – Sword & Laser Show interview with co-host Tom Merritt
11:40am – J!NX Tee-shirt Giveaway with the owners and creators
12:00pm – The Art of Web Series Panel: Featuring Kim Evey (The Guild), Tony V (Black Box TV), Wilson Cleveland (Leap Year), and Tina Cesa Ward (Anyone But Me)
1:00pm – LIVE Fan Art Contest! We want submissions from YOU – draw and win prizes based on chat votes!
1:40pm – Chat with Steve Dengler of MegaCynics (CHARITY SPONSOR)
2:00pm – Novel Writer’s Panel: “Creating Great Characters” with Patrick Rothfuss (Name of the Wind), John Scalzi (Old Man’s War), Amber Benson (Death’s Daughter)
3:00pm – YOMYOMF Chat with Kev Jumba
3:30pm – Dark Horse Motion Comics Chat with Erik Bruhwiler, Animator and Producer
4:30pm – LIVE DANCE BREAK and Fan Dance competition to Public domain songs!
5:00pm – “Romance in Video Games” chat with Dragon Age creator David Gaider
5:30pm – “Indie Video Games: How To” with Bastion creator Greg Kasavin
6:00pm - “Casual Games: Designing Good Ones” with PopCap producer Matthew Johnson (Bejeweled, Peggle)
6:30pm – E-Sports! Chat with Day[9]TV’s Sean Plott
7:00pm – Chris Hardwick talks Nerdist YouTube Channel
7:30pm – NASA Astronomers Chat with Carolyn Brinkworth and Robert Hurt
8:00pm – LIVE Crowd Source writing “Geek and Sundry”, the one hour buddy drama.
9:00pm – WORLD PREMIERE: The Guild cast members Sandeep Parikh & Robin Thorsen and more perform to the fan-written “Geek and Sundry”
9:30pm – FIRE SALE; Give away remaining Prizes
9:50pm – GRAND PRIZE Giveaway!!!
10:00pm – ANNOUNCE CHARITY FUNDRAISER TOTAL – GOODBYE!
Yes, it is April Fool's Day tomorrow but no, this isn't a joke. I mean, you can trust Felicia, can't you? She would never try and trick people*. With lots of audience participation built in, so many prizes to be won and a great line up I am curious to see how the Google servers hold up!
Hopefully the companion book to Horrible 2 is being prepped even now!
Yes, that headline wrote itself
Wow, it's finally 2012 on this blog - the first post this year?? How does that even happen? It's fitting that this is a summary post designed to bring you up to date on some special projects.
Dr Horrible 2 - out soon? Wired.com and many other outlets have reported that Joss has hinted that it is possible that the sequel to Dr Horrible might be filming soon. Hopefully. If scheduling can be worked out. That's great news and certainly something to look out for.
Geek and whatnow?
Kim and Felicia revealed all at Wondercon this weekend. Even more than their smooch at the IAWTV Awards this has fired people up into a frenzy of anticipation - revel in the geekiness:
The Flog! Just like the old days! Except in video form! Yay! :)
Husbands 2 Kickstarter off to a great start!
Did I mention I was on a panel with Jane Espenson last year....? Anyway, the hugely successful (and very funny) webseries has just started a funding round on Kickstarter for Season 2 and they are already well on the way to raising the needed $50,000. Good luck to Jane, Cheeks and the team - I'm sure they will raise way beyond the goal in no time at all. But don't leave it to chance. Help fund them now if you can!
Will Felicia Day be in your stocking this Christmas?
The answer is - with any luck! The Guild Season 5 DVD is out tomorrow, December 13th 2011, and you can order it from Amazon.com right now* It looks like it won't be available from Amazon.ca until March 13th 2012, so this will be the only way to get the DVD for now.
Try Before You Buy
If you haven't seen Season 5 yet, then why not take a look? Then go and order the DVD and make sure you have a very Guildie Christmas!
*This link takes you to Amazon using a referral code. That means that if you order via this link I get a little something back from Amazon. Thank you!
It's been a while since I posted but I couldn't not talk about the new trailer from 'The Cabin In The Woods'. Actually, I'm not even going to talk about it, because you should just watch it and then start speculating on your own. Because you don't need me to tell you that April 13th next year is going to feature a whole new level of cinematic fervour.
Spoiled for choice?
Titan Books have also announced details of the Visual Guide, which holds the secret to The Cabin...
"The details of the plot are a closely guarded secret, though Joss himself has described it as “a straight-up, balls-out, really terrifying horror movie,” adding,"it is not just a slasher in the woods. It's a little more complicated than that..."
All will be revealed in the Official Visual Companion, featuring in-depth interviews, the full screenplay by Whedon and Goddard, stunning production art, and hundreds of color photos!..."
The book is print on demand with an estimated delivery time of 21 days. That's an interesting way to do it but I'm not sure too many people are going to want the book before they've seen the film. I haven't tried to order it, so I can't be sure if it really is available now - is anyone going to order it so we can find out? And if it is truly out now (or in 21 days), how will we all avoid spoilers between now and then?
A web, taken on my iPhone last week. It's all connected.
It used to be just you and me...
...hanging out over here, me writing something terribly earnest about Joss, or The Guild, or Firefly, or something geeky, and you reading it and moving on. I've been a terrible host recently. I never write. I never call. I never send flowers...
In good company
Louis Gray (I value his opinion on most matters) wrote a post this week about how he hasn't blogged much recently. Louis now works for Google+ and is doing a fantastic job for them. It tweaked my conscience, and then today I had to look up when the IAWTV elections were, so I headed over here and realised how long it's been.
Gone, but not forgotten
Blogging here started me on a path that has taken me to many, many places I never thought I would go. Just over a week ago I sat next JANE ESPENSON on a panel about webseries at Geek Girl Con, after she accepted my invitation to share her experiences on her new series, HUSBANDS. On the panel were amazingly talented and passionate creators. If you had told me that would happen four years ago I would have made you a nice cup of tea to soothe your obviously over-worked imagination. I've written about Jane here because she has had such a huge impact on my life and writing. I didn't get to tell her that at the panel, but one day...
One day...
Dudes, I'm sorry for neglecting you. Seriously. This blog will never go away, even if I have to abandon it from time to time while life gets in the way. Don't forget I am all over the place and I love to hear from people. I usually respond pretty quickly and if I don't, give me a nudge. So come and find me if you ever want a natter:
