Thread by @SecretGamerGrrl

Somewhat adjacent to The Topics of the Day seems to be the fact that networking/job-hunting/career advancement within games (both video and tabletop) primarily happens in bars, strip clubs, and the hotel rooms people head to after leaving the former, and the obvious limits these

place on women's ability to survive in the industry (and several others for the matter).

And this is absolutely true. What's also true though is that this also excludes the hell out of anyone else who find themselves on the outside of such... let's say "social activities," and

framing it specifically around the impact on "women," and looking for solutions just from that end totally fail to address that.

Like, hey, a nice clear example I can pull from my own life. First time I hit a major industry event while I was properly out as trans, on HRT, etc. I

learned there was an annual tradition of having a one-night sub-convention where all the women in the industry get together for a big ol' dinner party to get some of the networking done that they're otherwise shut out of by you know, not wanting to get sexually assaulted by their

peers. Which is a good idea.

And it's a good idea I only learned about the next day, after spending the whole evening trying to get in touch with various people who'd suggested talking to me about work over dinner later. I'd hope that everyone making such tentative plans assumed

I'd been invited to this event, but whoever was in charge of the guest list apparently was of the mind that either I wasn't a woman, or I wasn't in the industry. And I've seen similar shut-outs for people with way more impressive resumes who've been out since the '90s, so, yeah.

I kinda have to assume this sort of thing is also a huge problem for anyone else that isn't "someone you'd have a beer with." Sure as hell isn't any shortage in the industry of massive racists in positions of power, any stripe of queerphobia you could name, nationalistic streaks.

And there's plenty of reasons beyond being a woman for someone not to want to try to socialize with people in a bar. Alcoholism is a thing. PTSD from abuse is a thing. Religious restrictions against whatever. More bigotry when in such spaces.

I don't know what the fix is exactly

but everyone dropping the frat boy act and treating work like work and not an excuse to hang out with friends would certainly help? Maybe adopt a culture of actual mentorship rather than giving out job recommendations to whoever's next to you at the bar? Something.