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As a woman who plays on-line games, I know of the difficulty of dealing with the gaming community. Playing late at night is especially dangerous, as some people are likely to talk to you in hopes of finding an on-line companion for their late-night romps. And I don't mean romps in the game. I play a majority of female characters, and thus, I am often singled out. My schedule makes it difficult for me to play during the day, so I have to play at night and hope to dodge the many comments about how attractive or sexy my character is.

At the same time, however, I will occasionally experience the opposite effect. Many other players doubt that I am really a woman. No matter what I may say, they refuse to believe that I am not lying about my gender. I understand their hesitation. I know many men who play female characters, and I know a few women who play male characters. It's just a part of immersing yourself in the gaming world.

I don't purposely design my characters to meet the eyes of other players. I let my playing style speak for itself. Usually, I design and modify my characters based on an idea in my mind. I don't try to attract other men or women. I make the character for myself.

However, it is still hard to fend off the men who are too interested, and it is hard to guarantee that you are truly a woman. Either way, I am forced to deal with a situation I did not want to. I play the games as a relaxation technique. I don't want to deal with the doubts of some people, and the stubbornness of others. This is a problem many female gamers face. And, I suspect it is also a reason some women shy away from such games. However, I won't let the other people change my opinion of a game. If I enjoy playing the game, then I will play it.

Still, not all of the men in the games are bad. Those who don't pressure me into late-night escapades and accept my word that I am a woman are the ones I enjoy playing with. Those people I find make the game fun for me. So, I will deal with the others, in order to keep up with those I found who are worth my time. My experience in the game is usually made better by these people. The other female gamers out there just need to find the right group to stay with. And they need the patience it takes in finding such a group of people.

Learn more about this author, Ashley Torr.
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