Subject: Girls in Magic!
Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 20:17:37 PDT
From: "Catherine Nicoloff" c_nicoloff@hotmail.com
To: webmaster@classicdojo.org

I couldn't think of a catchy title.

Anyway, I'll make the background short.  The lack of girls in this game
has been bugging the hell out of me.  It seems like they only come out
in droves for pre-release events, and even then the attendance is
scanty.  I don't know whether the game is to blame, or the audience the
game seems to find.  No matter.

I don't think WotC is coming to the rescue anytime soon, because I
believe they think the only interesting people in Magic are people who
win Pro Tours.  Winning a PT is a unique event.  That's probably why
they print it.  But the women who struggle past prejudice in an
environment fixated on demeaning everyone are *also* unique.

I'm just guessing, but I think the majority of players who consider
themselves tournament-worthy only entertain dreams of the PT.  Their
main focus is probably the tournaments in their local area.  WotC can't
be everywhere, so the local tournaments go without coverage.  Even
larger events like pre-releases and state championships go without
coverage.

Like I said, this runs along the theme of unique.  Grand Prix are
unique.  Pro Tours are unique.  Pre-releases are not, even though they
attract hundreds more people than most Grand Prix.  Pre-releases these
days make the Pro Tour look like an informal booster draft at your local
store, size-wise.  Pre-releases are really meat grinders.  With crappy
prizes.

I digress.

I was thinking... if WotC can't provide the sort of local coverage the
game might need, why can't the players themselves cover their areas?
The Dojo is always looking for tournament reports.  And then that made
me think...

Girls get very little respect in the game.  Especially from the younger
crowd.  From the older crowd, we often just get that sort of patronizing
respect you get from waitresses at Denny's.  Sweetheart *this*, you
bigot.

Even the guys on top suffer constant disrespect from the rest of the
guys on top.  Almost nobody gets respect in this game.  Egos and myths
and assumptions have all collided to make half of Magic the sport of
pointing out everyone else's mistakes.

But I think girls get it worse.  Given the choice between a random male
and a random female in a tournament pairing, most guys would reveal
their bias and choose the girl.  Statistics are a bit on the side of
choosing the girl, since far fewer take the game seriously.  The few who
do wind up as curiosities, to be dissected and discussed from a
distance.

That's not, however, because girls lack skills.  I think it's a lack of
exposure and inspiration more than anything.  It was a unique experience
for me to receive e-mail from quite a few ladies after many of my
postings on the Dojo.  Most of them echoed the same sentiment - "I was
going to give up, but I figured if you could win Regionals, I could at
least win my local sealed deck tournament this weekend."

So, target acquired.  I'm not going to rest until more girls fill the
gaming halls.  My plan is simple, but you have to do some of the work.

First, I have some myths to dispel:

  1) "Magic is skill" - Explain why that "scrub" just beat you.  Better
yet, reflect on the fact that very few other sports provide players the
opportunity to win a PT one month and not make second day three months
later.  Luck wins, too.
  2) "Girls aren't competitive" - Magic isn't just about competition.
The guys around me focus on demolishing everyone to build up their egos.
Girls focus on solving problems (removing their opponent's life points)
for the purpose of creating some level of fulfillment.  A nasty
competitive attitude is not required to succeed at Magic.  A problem
solver's brain *is*.
  3) "Winning is proof of skill" - I sure have seen a lot of PT winners
who disappeared into the realms of "What happened to...?"  Play well,
make few mistakes, don't let people rub your setbacks in your face.
Winning a PT is no surer a proof of skill than doing badly at a PT is
proof that you suck.

That's out of the way.  Now...

Girls - GO TO TOURNAMENTS.  Don't be ashamed to read the Dojo and borrow
a deck.  Deckbuilding skills come later.  First, focus on your play
skills.  Playtest a lot before a tournament, at least several hours.
Get used to the deck.  Then go out and play it.  If you've got an idea,
build it and use it!  Ignore the odd looks you get.

Also - GIVE US A REPORT.  Send it to the Dojo.  Give it character and
flavor, something which many reports on the Dojo seem to lack.  If you
do well, definitely say something!  It doesn't matter if it was a 12
person T2 at your local store.  It doesn't matter if it wasn't
sanctioned.  Our gender needs winners, and you're as likely a candidate
as the next person.  Every PT winner starts out playing really horrible
decks.  Playing badly, too.

Remember - NOBODY IS GOING TO ACCEPT YOU AT FIRST, EXCEPT FOR THE
INTELLIGENT FEW.  The harsh reality is that it's impossible to get
respect unless you win a major event.  For girls, you're probably going
to have to win several.  Either accept that as a challenge or content
yourself with local respect.  Just because there are assholes at the top
does not mean you suck at Magic.  Just keep playing.  Be nice to
everyone.  Develop a reputation as a person who can serve a beating but
not be nasty about it.  In our environment, politeness stands out.

And above all - DON'T GET DISCOURAGED.  So the crowd is less than
pleasant and everyone is mean to each other.  Girls are a civilizing
influence!  If there are enough girls at tournaments, do you think the
guys will be comfortable without a shower and a shave?  The tournament
scene does not have to be like the inside of a guys-only clubhouse.  The
stress of a sizeable female presence will be good for the image of
Magic.  Play on, and help increase our numbers!  Be your own local
celebrity, and others will follow.

If you have any doubts, just choose the following link and look at some
of the decks *I* built back when I started the game.  I even shamelessly
posted them to Usenet! '95 Decks!  I started from somewhere, too.  I
don't know how far I will progress, but I have definitely improved.
Enjoy your laugh!!

- Cathy Nicoloff

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