In July 2011, an organization called Powersgaming in Austin, Texas announced a launch party for a game called Battlefield 3. They declared that because they didn't want problems with misogyny, they were banning women from the LAN. This was the text of their first announcement:
- "Nothing ruins a good LAN party like uncomfortable guests or lots of tension, both of which can result from mixing immature, misogynistic male-gamers with female counterparts. Though we’ve done our best to avoid these situations in years past, we’ve certainly had our share of problems. As a result, we no longer allow women to attend this event.”
After receiving widespread criticism of the announcement, they changed the wording of their FAQ to say:
- "We actively discourage gamers from being the kind of mysogynistic jackwagons seen in the Reddit post, and such behavior should not be tolerated. Frankly, we don't like that kind of player either. So far as this event goes, it is an special event designed specifically for male gamers. Further, it is meant as a getaway designed to help said male contingent become better men both for themselves and for those who love us."
- and:
- Can I bring my g/f, or my kids, or my dog? Space is limited; also, we're trying to avoid distractions, and concentrate on gaming. Please leave your parents and your girlfriend at home. There are no pets, and no children allowed at this venue.
The Powersgaming organizers are listed as:
- Jordan "Jordo" Powers: Lead Server Admin / Webmaster
- Jason "InSaNeOG" Powers: Event Setup and Operations Manager
- Aaron "MadMax" Cowan: Rules and Protest Committee Chairperson
- James "pylorns" Foster: Marketing / Media Strategist
- Jared "mr3vil666" Janhsen: l337 Network Grand Poobah
An excellent critique of the PowersGamers announcements, by Jason W. Ellis, is here at Dynamic Subspace:
Sources:
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