Borgstrom Wars

Warthur · November 20, 2006, 05:56:49 AM

Quote from: SettembriniStill, Borgstrom played a gender-switch game as a game author, which I think a debate over has it´s merits. There was confusion, which was intended, if they are even the same person. It was a move to generate curiosity. If people then try to find out what´s going on, it was intended from the start. You can be secretive about almost anything, if you choose to. Or you can relish in people trying to find out. Maybe the gender-switch game on RPG covers was a deliberate act to generate interest in a matter not directly connected with the hobby. Maybe the nameswitch is a political statement. As such, it can be discussed.

I like my RPG products mostly free of non-RPG agendas.

What sort of gender-switch game are you talking about? I believe that transsexuals usually change their name after they have changed their gender, and I think Borgstrom had RPG products published both before and after she transitioned. The "R. Sean" intermediate phase may have been a matter of gently testing the waters because she wasn't sure how the (in some sectors strikingly conservative) RPG industry would react to her sex change.

Really, though, if you think there's a non-RPG agenda in the name on the cover of a book, and that's enough to sour the content for you, my only suggestion to you is to rip the covers off so you never have to look at that wicked, deceitful name again.

The Yann Waters · November 20, 2006, 06:08:33 AM

Quote from: SettembriniStill, Borgstrom played a gender-switch game as a game author, which I think a debate over has it´s merits.

Does favouring a gender-neutral form of a name or going by the initials really constitute a "switch"? As far as I can tell, Borgstrom decided on that in order to avoid any peculiar prejudices against female authors, which isn't really all that uncommon: reading more into it might have more merit if the game itself in any way dealt with gender politics.

jrients · November 20, 2006, 06:12:49 AM

If I was publishing I maybe would have put 'R. Sean' on the cover if I thought female authors undersold.

RedFox · November 20, 2006, 06:15:47 AM

Quote from: jrientsIf I was publishing I maybe would have put 'R. Sean' on the cover if I thought female authors undersold.

People actually care what plumbing the author of an rpg book has?

I mean, like. Really? Like it's important enough to make a purchase decision about?

:confused:

The Yann Waters · November 20, 2006, 06:26:03 AM

Quote from: RedFoxPeople actually care what plumbing the author of an rpg book has?

Well, I have an uncle who bluntly refuses to read any book written by a woman, because "they wouldn't have anything worthwhile to say to men". It's not unimaginable that there might be gamers with the same mindset. ("But it's so... girly!")

Settembrini · November 20, 2006, 06:58:51 AM

QuoteReally, though, if you think there's a non-RPG agenda in the name on the cover of a book, and that's enough to sour the content for you, my only suggestion to you is to rip the covers off so you never have to look at that wicked, deceitful name again.

No. I despised her writing before being aware of that.

@all other comments: See? There´s a thing to discuss. Political move, to make aware?
Business move?

Sad thing if it was only because of marketing considerations. Sad for the hobby. So maybe the cover name switch, let´s us see some ugly things in this mirror. A thing to discuss and ponder.
Which was my point.

The Yann Waters · November 20, 2006, 07:03:49 AM

Balbinus · November 20, 2006, 07:12:29 AM

Quote from: RedFoxPeople actually care what plumbing the author of an rpg book has?

I mean, like. Really? Like it's important enough to make a purchase decision about?

:confused:

The world is sadly full of idiots, it doesn't surprise me that this particular brand of idiocy exists too. There are probably people out there who won't buy a book if they know the author owns a cat, nothing is so stupid that somebody doesn't follow it.

As for whether RB is genetically female or a MtF I can't see why I should care or what difference it makes to anything. That's her business, not mine.

Settembrini · November 20, 2006, 07:48:46 AM

QuoteThat's her business, not mine.

Totally correct. As long as it is kept private. The name-obfuscation must have a reason, and it´s only natural to ask which. And I say it is fruitful to do so.

The sexual preferences or identity are uninteresting per se, a thing none of our business. But: There is someone who hid their own gender. Why?

explanations

a) help book sales
b) gender political agenda
c) personal identity issues

Of which

a) is highlighting prejudices in the gaming scene
b) is debatable
and
c) should have been kept private

So I still think it´s discussable subject.

JamesV · November 20, 2006, 08:01:44 AM

On part I: Mostly a, and a little b
Part II: Both a and b.

We can't delude ourselves too much on how RPGs are a male dominated hobby and how there are some dumbasses out there who genuinely think your reproductive bits matter in things they can have no impact on: like RPGs for instance.

As for both Cs? Let's take a moment to put a huge disclaimer on one of the previous posts so we don't forget. This is not directly aimed at anyone, just reiterating that the below has zero use.

Quote from: hgisOnly in a manner of speaking: "Rebecca" Borgstrom is a MTF transsexual. Hence some of the confusion.
later
It was a joke. I decided to run with it because some guy was taking it seriously, but this is getting out of hand.

The Yann Waters · November 20, 2006, 08:04:07 AM

Quote from: SettembriniBut: There is someone who hid their own gender.

So how do you feel about J.K. Rowling?

TonyLB · November 20, 2006, 08:11:56 AM

Quote from: GrimGentSo how do you feel about J.K. Rowling?

And J. R. R. Tolkien, for that matter?

droog · November 20, 2006, 08:15:08 AM

Or Ellis Bell?

The Yann Waters · November 20, 2006, 08:16:54 AM

For the longest time, I assumed that Tracy Hickman was a woman...

Settembrini · November 20, 2006, 08:25:20 AM

Folks, I personally give shit about the matter. But it was said, that this a matter of no value for discussion. I just tried to show that there is indeed some worthwhile subject for discussion in it. Relish in your "I see no gender"- self assured supremacy. I´m out of this one, as it is indeed not anything I am in any way invested.