My Keeper of Secrets; Natasha

First.  Head here and read Monte Cook’s excellent blog post about what happened when he tried to have a character who wasn’t a white male be the face of D&D 3rd Edition.

Second.  Head here to hear the late Dwayne McDuffie talk about what it was like to be a black man writing for the Justice League comic book series.

Third.  Head here to read about Irum Abbasi’s experience being booted off a Southwest flight for being Muslim and wearing a headscarf.

Think they’re not connected?  I know they are.  Even though I’ve been playing Warhammer for over 10 years I still have people walk up to me and ask “Did you really paint those yourself?”  I’m always tempted to answer “Well I have to do something in between bearing children and baking cookies.”

Now, I’m not trying to claim I’m constantly discriminated against.  However, it’s worth thinking about when you’re reading a book, or watching someone get pulled aside for a bag check, or cracking open the newest edition of your favorite game: What is the bias?  How does it inform your experience?  Are women represented just as cheesecake, or do they have talents and back stories just like the men?  Are there people of color, and are they viewed as stereotypes or as fully-realized individuals?  Do the white people win just because they’re white?

If the answer to those questions is yes…is that a game you want to be playing?  Or a world you want to be living in?  Can you vote with your money to support policies and game companies which produce a “no” to those questions?

When/where have you been the most surprised by bias?