So you're geeking out at a local LAN (Local Area Network, or a bunch of computers linked in the same building) party with a bunch of your buds, when suddenly you hear one of the guys making some messed up comments to some of the girls in the building. The girl gamers are getting uncomfortable. Some of them are pissed. The guys keep it up. What do you do?
If it were us, we'd toss the offending parties out on their ear. Maybe put together some form of agreement for future parties saying attendees forfeit their entry fee if they cause enough of a disruption to be made to leave.
This LAN party in Texas, however, tossed out the girls.
“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,” the organizers originally wrote in an event FAQ. “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.”
Because it's girl gamers' faults for being so few and far between that the boys don't know how to behave?
After news of their gender discrimination went viral, the group removed the offending paragraph and replaced it with, “This event is a 'gentlemen's retreat'; as such we do not allow women to attend.”
“Gentlemen's retreat” indeed. Next week: Rash of Dateless Gamer Boys Leads to Surge in Internet Porn Traffic. Stay tuned.