Introducing Backdoors To VoIP Networks Makes Them More Secure?

What Do Sex Chats And Online Bingo Have In Common?

from the less-embarrassing dept

Thu, Aug 10th 2006 2:25pm — Mike Masnick

For years, we've heard stories about how guys playing various online multiplayer games often pretend to be female. In many cases, it's a gaming strategy -- using the theory that male players treat female players differently, and it gives the fake female players an advantage. However, when it comes to online bingo, it seems the excuse is a bit different. For male online bingo players, it's about avoiding embarrassment. Over the last few years, there's finally been a recognition that the video game market isn't just first person shooters played by young men. Instead, people have begun to recognize that the so-called "casual gaming" market is huge -- even if it's often referred to as the "bored housewife" market. However, that connotation has men playing under female names, so as to avoid questions about why they're playing "a girly game" like bingo.

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33 Comments

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BubbaLove, 10 Aug 2006 @ 2:47pm

You better believe if I played online bingo, my name would be Agnes... then again, you can't get much worse than BubbaLove... gotta get a new screen name...
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INIQuity68, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:02pm

I play bingo at times and with a name like mine, its pretty apparent I'm male, but what is there to be ashamed off? If anybody cares what people think of them no matter what they are playing, thats pretty pathetic.
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INIQuity68, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:03pm

Besides, if I were single, it'd be a good way to meet kadies.
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INIQuity68, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:03pm

ladies that is.
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Protoplasm, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:05pm

I like playing Battlefield 2 under the name of Margaret.

Of course my real name is Gertrude.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:06pm

Re: INIQuity 68
based on your name I would think your male, but have doubts that you would be in to the ladies. YAG.
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Monarch, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:11pm

I think the guys who play as female, have a full blown fantasy of being female. Who knows, maybe they are closet transvestites or even transsexuals who haven't come clean with themselves yet.
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Jim Day, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:17pm

I have to agree with INIQuity - someone who actually has the nerve to comment on or ridicule another person's choice of entertainment really needs to get a life.
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bluesubno.6, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:26pm

Or Vice Versa
I am a female, and whenever I game, I usually use a male name (my favorite being Derek Crow) so as not to attract the prepubescent males trying to "cyber" with me. It really worked well for me when I was a preteen myself, I could play Starcraft without getting harassed with messages. It's a good idea, really is.
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SexyMan, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:42pm

Re: Or Vice Versa
Hey bluesubno.6 Instant Message me for a little fun. BTW what are you wearing?
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:58pm

SexyMan- you were supposed to ask if she has pics...
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what? i have a name?! woots, 10 Aug 2006 @ 3:58pm

Re: Re: Or Vice Versa
LOL!! poor person..
i usely use my real name when playing games.. or my nick name.. with numbers for some one els took it >.
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what? i have a name!? woots, 10 Aug 2006 @ 4:00pm

Re: Re: Re: Or Vice Versa
weird not all of meh message was posted.. oh well
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booyah, 10 Aug 2006 @ 4:43pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Or Vice Versa
Not all of your message was posted because techdirt has a retard detector. It's pretty obvious by your spelling that you are retarded....therefore you were truncated.
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J.H, 10 Aug 2006 @ 5:58pm

Sex Chats And Online Bingo
Yeah, I know this game...
Except I usually pretend to be a man to avoid all the rude come ons from other male players.
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BunniPaws, 10 Aug 2006 @ 6:45pm

Or...
if you're going to be spending days looking at the ass end of a toon on a 3rd person 3D view, it might as well be a female's ass...
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ronde, 10 Aug 2006 @ 6:52pm

Playing games pretending to be a girl could be someone trying to get in touch with their feminine side. I mean girl names and playing games that are considered to be for girls could easily be a way to get in touch with the feminine side.
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Pat, 10 Aug 2006 @ 7:07pm

Topic for Springer
Maybe Dr Phil or Jerry could do a show on this?
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Sil_Ver.Dra_Gon, 10 Aug 2006 @ 7:19pm

Yeah...
wouldn't that be nice....then maybe it would be worth watching :P
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Aug 2006 @ 8:18pm

Re: Re: INIQuity 68
Based on your grammar, I'd think that you have a myspace page.
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Kratos, 10 Aug 2006 @ 8:43pm

My Motives
The only reason I use a female character for Guild Wars (Yes, I'm a perfectly straight 17 year-old male.) is because of a basic job class descrimination. The character I made is an Elementalist, a class usually associated with female characters. Granted, it is sexist to choose the gender of your character based on the pre-concieved idea of what jobs are reserved for what gender. However, it also presents the same scenario as described in the article above; MMORPG players who appear to be female will be treated differently by other players. Many male players will pass up the better items for a female player. Of course, when asked, I make it clear that there is a man behind the keyboard. ;P
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Aug 2006 @ 10:27pm

Re: Or...
Totally! I do this for Tiger Woods Golf!

Lara Croft was very successful for young men.
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fag boy, 11 Aug 2006 @ 1:45am

You're all queer.
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fag boy, 11 Aug 2006 @ 1:45am

You're all queer.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Aug 2006 @ 5:44am

It depends on perspective
If its a First person view, I play as my own sex (male).

But if I have to stare at the character for hours and hours of gameplay, I would MUCH rather look at a skinny little hotty things body than some strapping male.

I'm just not gay enough to want to play a guy.
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JaneWithersteen, 11 Aug 2006 @ 6:36am

uh-oh
Is this something I should be worried about?
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INIQuity68, 11 Aug 2006 @ 6:47am

Re: Re: Re: INIQuity 68
What does my name have anything to do with MySpace? No, I don't have a MySpace page nor do I even approve of the site. Making that comment of yours about my name just shows how immature YOU are.
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JaneWithersteen, 11 Aug 2006 @ 8:56am

double uh-oh
Now I am worried, 'cause I do have a MySpace page!
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ronniep, 11 Aug 2006 @ 9:00am

I do it all the time
I play online bingo @ bingodiner.com all the time. Yes, I pretend I am a woman (can't tell you my screen name - don't want my girls to find out). It's not just to avoid embarrassment. Some of the ladies in there are beyond bored. I've heard stories about webcam sex and stuff that would phreak you out. You should spent some time in the chat rooms at bingodiner.com it gets interesting...
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ti2d, 13 Aug 2006 @ 5:25pm

gaming
I personnally go for the girls in games the most, they tend to piss me off more
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Marvadot, 19 Aug 2006 @ 8:35pm

World of Warcraft
I am a real woman who plays WoW and I love the attention and flirtiness of male players.. I often get pretty flirty and bold back. But.. I wish I could figure out a way to tell who is really an adult and who is not! Since I can't tell, I never cross the line. I will say that most of the other female characters I've met in the game are actually males in real life. All of them reveal it to me though and act very male. I don't understand it.
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random hero, 27 Aug 2006 @ 6:14am

phukdis
I personally think the whole whos male or female thing along with cyber sex is joke. there is nothing too disturbing or revolting I won't say on the inter net. because your untracable and you can act as tough as you want and there nothing they can do about it. unless you're stupid and you give your adress out or masterbate on a web cam P.S. which my friend did - what a dumbass. plus 96% of the time people are on the computer they got one hand on the keyboard. matter of fact i'm stroken it right now to some slut nooooooooo i'm just joking ha ha he he ...............................well i got no point to this so fuck it.................................................................................................. ...............................................
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chelgood, 26 Oct 2007 @ 11:57am

Re:
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