A video game industry conference in Poland issued an apology for its apology following a “sexist tweet” by its social media manager.
In an announcement for a panel discussion between female game developers, the Game Industry Conference tweeted: “Women in games is about to start! Gamedev ladies, join us and meet the pretty side of #gamedev” adding a link to the event, which was part of the three day conference at the Poznan International Fair Grounds in Poznan, Poland.
But calling other women “pretty” was tantamount to a criminal act and set off a backlash on social media.
i hope whoever is tweeting here at least shuts the hell up and listens to them, that’s an incredibly sexist description
— moth dad (@innesmck) October 7, 2017
True to form, feminists ganged up on the female “Twitter trainee,” as she was described by conference organizer Jakub Marszałkowski.
I think given how often women in games are reduced to appearances and being “pretty”, it may not have been the best choice of word
— moth dad (@innesmck) October 7, 2017
I think there are women responding here who aren’t happy about it! Because it’s been used to undermine their skills and experience
— moth dad (@innesmck) October 7, 2017
Inclusivity fail
— ?K Boooookley (@KatNicoleB) October 7, 2017
Beauty has nothing to do with our *professional* accomplishments. It is insulting to reduce part of their professional worth to their looks.
— Beth Beinke-Schwartz (@ebeinke) October 7, 2017
Professionally women should be lauded for accomplishments/talents FIRST as beauty is irrelevant to talent.
— Beth Beinke-Schwartz (@ebeinke) October 7, 2017
Marszałkowski issued an apology, calling the tweet “unacceptable, disrespectful and sexist” and offering assurances that “GIC is a respectful environment” that has “zero tolerance for such remarks.”
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Later, the GIC Twitter account issued another statement apologizing for its earlier “mishandling” of the incident, clarifying that no one was fired but that volunteer services were no longer needed.
In response to our mishandling of recent situation, we offer our apologies in an official statement below. pic.twitter.com/TT5wr0sknM
— Game Industry Conf (@gdcon) October 9, 2017
“By attempting to equate a badly-drafted tweet clearly intending to complement successful women (albeit in kind of a stupid way) with truly misogynistic language, GIC has done nothing more than embolden onlookers to whine that professional chicks are a bunch of whiny bitches who can’t even take a compliment, much less a joke,” Elura Nanos wrote in an opinion piece for LawNewz.
“As always, if everything is offensive, then nothing is. If casually using the word ‘pretty’ to call positive attention to a women’s technology event is an unforgivable offense, then where does sexual harassment fall on that same spectrum?” Nanos wrote. “Sometimes, a simple statement saying, ‘sorry, we’ll do better next time,’ is worth a thousand zero-tolerance policies.”
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Twitter users seemed to agree as they slammed the conference and its organizer for the reaction to the original tweet and the actions taken to tow a politically correct line.
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There was nothing wrong with the tweet, people are just insecure and stupid nowadays.
— Sam (@ninetiethname) October 9, 2017
there was nothing “poorly” worded about it, it was a tweet with a playful tone. but screw women using any subjective language, right?
— Irate Pirate (@Yahrrrr_GG) October 10, 2017
You made #shitstorm bigger by firing @evepoznan and reducing number of women in #gamedev Congratulations – achievement unlocked! @mieszau
— Katarzyna Korona (@kasia_korona) October 10, 2017
When you can’t make a simple joke anymore, this is the modern world ?
— DesRoin ن (@Des_Roin) October 10, 2017
Tmw you get so PC that you fired a woman because she called women pretty, holy shit get a grip pic.twitter.com/iXvbb1ZUOJ
— VP of Spoopy RG (@realgamer07) October 10, 2017
That’s cool, got a women fired by guys looking to “defend women”
what a world
— SpookyJess (@jes8965) October 10, 2017
Pffffft, and #gamergate was supposed to the ones that are anti women in games. OH THE HILARIOUS IRONY, YOU HYPOCRITE BUNCH OF FEMINISTS!!!!
— Vic (@Vic69403501) October 10, 2017
Bull. You kicked somebody out to appease the PC brigade, and you *will* do it again next time somebody whips up a witch-hunt.
— Dave (@DaveyOnline) October 10, 2017
Pretty sad that you let bullies who claim to be feminists and social justice advocates dictate that you treat a woman poorly
— Fire bad-Money good! (@thi_avatar) October 10, 2017
You fired a female for giving another female a complement. How stupid is this PC society become! FFS!
— Pizentu (@Pizentu) October 10, 2017
as your organization becomes less about games and more about dumb politics, and you wonder how it got away from you, rememeber this moment
— Shitwhip (@heinousjay) October 10, 2017
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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