Taleroth wrote...
I fully recognize that girl gamers are real. In fact, it was an e-girl gamer friend of mine that helped me get a job at a game development studio (that was promptly shut down 6 months after I was hired).
However, I actually know several guys who decieve other guys into thinking they're girls. I've been the first person to know the truth in a couple of cases. We've had big issues with this problem in a private community, because we become a tight nit group, we have get togethers and a few members have hooked up and gotten married (the person who helped me get the job was one such). Then there's the girls who actually are girls, but are lying about being married or something similar.
A lot of guys have reason to be skeptical.
Oh yeah, EVERYONE has reason to be skeptical, no doubt. But even years ago I was participating in an online MUD community and I'd have huge parties at my house and was surprised to see 50-100 people come from all over the country to meet their friends. I really enjoyed hosting those parties and it forever changed my view of the "average gamer."
Holy crap, there were tons of beautiful, beautiful people. All saying "Wow. And I thought I was just an exception...I can't believe how hot you all are. This is amazing."
Then we'd drink and play poker until all hours until people fell asleep and we started posing them in weird ways and taking pictures.
I pretty much don't trust what anyone says about themselves online. But I wouldn't tell someone they weren't something unless I had more than a stereotype to go on. It's just irrelevant pretty much until you at least make some sort of voice contact. Even then I know of people who have used their roommate or brother or whatever to seal the "ID." But I've made lots of friends online and met them.
But I've had this conversation when I profess to not really trust anybody's portrayal of themselves online until I can verify in some way.
Him: "But I just sent you a picture of my body part!"
Me: "Could be anybody's body part. And I didn't ask for that picture. Not that exact picture, surely."
Him: "What the hell is it going to take before I'm a guy to you, a picture of my body part being held hostage by today's paper and a ransom note?"
Me: That probably won't work, but it'd be funny. Go ahead.