The question of the day: Is Zoe Quinn a whore?
Does it really matter?
Look, regardless of how you feel about “slut-shaming” or whatever: Zoe Quinn apparently slept with at least one member of the gaming media. At least some of her success is due to her using her vagina to get ahead.
Much like false rape accusations this actually does hurt other women. Now women who are making games that are good and getting good reviews may be looked on with unjust suspicion. Because you can get a lot of press by throwing around some sex. Is this fair? No, not really. Is it the truth, though? Yeah, I think so. Especially if they remind anyone of Zoe Quinn.
Another aspect of this: There are charges she manufactured the “raid” on her to get her game Greenlit. There’s also some evidence she’s lied about being gay for attention.
These are serious personality defects. These should give anyone defending her pause. She is doing more harm to women, and women in gaming, than a thousand internet trolls. Internet trolls are useless and don’t accomplish anything. They just blather until they get bored or ignored. This woman has done real, actual damage to people.
The problem that is arising is pretty easy: People want to defend her because she’s “special” by default. She’s a woman in a traditionally male space. She’s done weird things with her appearance. She wrote a game about depression. She’s the indiest indie person ever. We must defend her because… she’s a she! EQUAL TREATMENT NOW, DEFEND THIS WOMAN BECAUSE SHE’S A WOMAN!
Wait, what?
Reverse the genders. We have a goofy looking man cheat on his girlfriend with five women, including his married boss and at least one woman who is covering his career — and does so positively. Does he automatically get defended on all corners of the internet?
Well, maybe if he’s a Democrat, and it’s not his boss but a subordinate half his age…
She did some things wrong. She should own up to it and accept the consequences.