Sunday 15 September 2019

INCLUSION?

I was a bit late in getting my copy of Wargames Soldiers and Strategy, [issue 104]  this month. Unfortunately this is not a review of the magazine but actually an observation regarding a small article? written by a chap called Chris King titled, INCLUSION.
 Nowadays such a word is sadly a weaponised one [God I hate that word]

Mr King is one of those worthies that unfortunately seems to inhabit every part of modern life. Clearly by his own admission he feels guilty that he is in a privileged position being White, European [ I assume he meant British] Heterosexual and sadly for him and the vast majority of wargamers? we have had it easy?
 He then takes the position that his article shouldn't have needed to be written [so one could ask why he did write it anyway] and certainly not in 2019, because lets face it we are all so WOKE [another hateful word] and on message.

 Chris has taken umbrage with the way women are depicted in wargaming and the responses that his viewpoint elicits when he comments on their depiction. He then states that should he take his young daughters to a wargames show they will be confronted by images of women that he describes at best as denigrating but normally much worse ie. utterly unpleasantly represented. ie. unrealistic body shapes?sexualised, infantilised and sexualised?? bimboesque etc etc. You get the picture.
 Being a positive, woke chap he then tells the reader things are improving and companies like Bad Squiddo headed by 'Annie' is producing more sensibly represented women.

 An example of a more sensibly represented woman from Bad Squiddo? Another druidess, war dog handler [ who said I dont include women in my wargames?] By the way I love the figure and was very impressed by the range from Bad Suiddo. Note to Chris King, Annie was very proud of her range of sculpted female figures.

Unfortunately he spoils that improving vision by stating that the beer loving privileged wargamer is upset by his [always a man ] inability to display, buy or own his over developed women and show them on his wargames table.Its political correctness gone mad!

                         Three well blessed females. The moral depravity is shocking!
  [Bought from under the counter at Colonel Bill's, a well known purveyor of such filth.]

His argument continues [as they always do] to state that wargamers are effectively excluding women who are disgusted by these dreadful depictions of the sisterhood AND we are also tainting the opportunities for boys and young men to join the hobby because of the failure to depict 'women for men?' by not providing positive female images in a totally wholesome manner so that young men can realise that not all women are 'up for it.'

Of course the article has to include 'race' [where would we be without that thorny subject?] For some reason he cites the example of a wargamer modelling a vignette of a slave market in North Africa' and questioning the morality of the vignette.

To prove his credentials he then throws in the inevitable slogan; 'Keep it civil. Include not exclude!'
Warning the reader of the evil that clearly pervades the wargaming hobby he declares that he has only scratched the surface of the scandal of inclusivity and wargaming.
He then goes on, and on before once more offering us hope by stating; And times [at last] are changing.

And my point?
Well firstly I struggle to understand who this article is actually written for?

Being a historical wargamer, women very rarely get a look in simply because war was very largely a male domain and women were luckily under represented and very lucky they must have felt at times.  Im not one of those people who believes we should socially engineer history so that it becomes basically a huge lie, ie, a black Privy Councillor that was depicted in a new film earlier this year. How can we learn if we don't understand what went before? 

 In my 50 years [ is it that long?] of wargaming the scenarios depicted by Mr King just haven't occurred and if the had I'm very certain one of the thousands of wargamers would have definitely commented upon the event.
 Most wargamers have children or more probably nowadays grandchildren. They are responsible adults. The depiction of a wargamer as painted by Mr King is not anyone I know, in fact I would argue very strongly that what Mr King is depicting is virtually non existent in wargaming.
 And this is the rub because what this article seems to be describing is in fact something that is now identified as wargaming but for me is more accurately fantasy and sci fi gaming where ridiculously modelled warriors, dragging ridiculously modelled weapons that no one could ever lift, never mind use inhabit. The women inevitably are a pre pubescent boys wet dream and are frequently seen on the Internet and in computer games.

 As for the accusation that wargamers need to provide a more positive image where we depict              ' women for men' is so naive and sadly deluded simply because young boys and men are bombarded with real life pornography every day of their lives. So believing a dubious female model will somehow corrupt their pure minds is laughable.
 As for the idea that wargamers somehow exclude women from their hobby. I don't think that's just a female gender issue and certainly is relevant for any would be potential wargamer.

And the point of my post?
 I refuse to be lectured to, we suffer this type of pontificating every day of our lives nowadays.
I certainly don't identify with the wargamer that Mr King describes, white yes.
But privileged?? I wish.
 I love toy soldiers. That admission alone should tell Mr King that any issues I clearly have aren't concerning the exclusion of  women because lets be right why would a woman want to associate with such a person? Its a miracle that war gamers actually have a female partner at all.

As for my latest SPQR project, this is the first time I have owned and painted a couple of naked women so don't feel the need to apologise for their inclusion in my collection.
 I don't believe its political correctness gone mad because like most wargamers I have a pretty decent understanding of taste and morals.
  I dont need anyone telling me that wargaming has an issue. It probably has quite a few, but 'Inclusion' isnt one of them.
 Here endeth the lesson........

17 comments:

  1. Hi Robbie,
    There's always one isn't there?! He's clearly one of the 'conditioned' fraternity. I could wax long and lyrical against this clown but I have no desire to waste my much valued time! I can't quite understand why that article was allowed to find its way into a Wargames mag. Can only assume the editor had nothing else. But it's content has more to do with political correctness than any value to wargaming. I wonder if the editor would permit a reply article in the next issue entitled 'Exclusion' on how to exclude such people writing garbage regarding the hobby!

    Your SPQR figures are looking great as always Robbie. Boost up the Gallic hordes and get into Hail Caesar! Can't beat it!

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    1. Morning Dennis, Im afraid the editor of the WSS is a very woke individual and I have had a lot of run ins with him these last three years over, yes you guessed it Brexit.I think he likes to be surrounded by individuals of the same ilk.I dont have any axe to grind with him or his magazine, its actually my favourite of a not very good bunch but I really didnt see the need for this pile of pants.The only incident if you can call it that occurred at Salute all those years ago with the Waffen SS boys who really didnt do anything for our hobby. But what this guy portryed was bollocks, he is clearly looking for a cause and unfortunately he thinks he's found one.

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  2. Second rate magazine trying to stir up interest. Like you I feel it's a created issue, not one I have encountered.

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    1. Exactly David, I really didnt understand how he could take that position. aSadly nowadys there seems to be a lot of people desperate to take a stand against anything, perhaps they should concentrate on other more imporetant matters like getting a real life and leave us to our toys.

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  3. I would subscribe to this very good magazine if only it would drop the opinion columns, which increasingly feel like filler to me. The navel gazing takes a 'thinky' approach, yet I have never seen any of what we do as anything other than collecting and enjoying model soldiers.

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    1. But are you white, male and privilaged Norm?, because if you are you are you are clearly not 'woke' enough to see the turmoil we are inflicting on people.Sadly these people are given oxygen to spout this crap and create an issue when there wasnt one.

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  4. Haven't read a wargames magazine in 4 or 5 years, looks like I'm not missing anything... snowflakes, snowflakes, everywhere.. everyone wants to have a right-on opinion...

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    1. I like the magazine, its probably the best of the three but they do keep pushing what is clearly an agenda that doesnt have much to do with wargaming, well not my wargaming anyway.

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  5. Robbie,I completely agree with Mr King-you are a disgrace to humanity by displaying nude females in your collection,you should be ashamed of yourself,and,as a show of repentance,you should send all of your figures to me!!
    Power to the People!!
    johnc

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    1. Well thanks for that John, I feel quite touched by the recognition, I am actually attempting to draw up my will and I will make certain you are included in some way.

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    2. Robbie-anything but "fire at will!!" Are you really going to leave me something??
      johnc

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    3. Of course John, Im certain I can find something you could use.

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  6. I hadn't read the article when I first read your post. While the broad sentiment behind the piece can't really be argued against by any rational person I do think that the author is tryiñg to create an issue out of nothing. Opinion pieces are, well, opinions, and this bloke is welcome to his, but we don't have to agree with it and I don't see what it has to do with mainstream or even niche wargaming and why it found its way into the mag. Personally as the owner of slave market for my darkest Africa collection, a harem for my Ottomans and various ladies of dubious morals as vignettes for my Louis XIV armies, not to mention the 2019 Carryings on up The Dale girlie calendar I sent to friends this year I guess I must be a perverted and depraved individual who as a child used to look up the skirts of my sister's Barbie dolls. No I'm not (honest) as it's all about context surely? Our hobby is pretty broad church in terms of interests and backgrounds but whatever they are they should remain off the table, and in my experience usuàlly do. Not a good use of column inches in my opinion (ooo err missus).

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    1. Clearly Colin you need re educating. This guy clearly was or is looking for an audience but doesnt realise who wargamers are in so many ways.Sadly he will no doubt find some followers who believe that we are evil and depraved. Chance would be a fine thing. Anyway back to painting my representation of the rape of Boudicea.

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  7. Well done Robbie, I couldn't agree more. It is just nature for us white heterosexual males to find women attractive , and what's wrong with that? I find some women on Instagram who spend a lot of time promoting themselves as attractive and sexy say it feels empowering to them! As you know I like to paint ladies who are clearly in charge of their own military destiny and remain sexy with it, but it ain't history , it's like our hobby - entertainment! For example
    http://notjustoldschool.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-bevvy-of-hussarettes.html

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  8. Many will have seen figures of over endowed naked Celts, Gauls etc. I don't feel excluded by such. Why would a figure of a naked women make a sensible women feel excluded?

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    1. I think the author was looking for an 'issue' Sadly it has become a common problem as if life isnt difficult enough anyway.

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My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
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Smoggycon 2012

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Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating