WotC has begun suspending players from DCI (formerly Duelists Convocation International) for behavior violating their Code of Conduct, including engaging in open sexism and misogyny, such as “ranking” women they would like to “draft” into Magic on the basis of looks, and just in general being assholes.  This link here has the details.

Now, some important things to note about this, is that WotC apparently started investigating right away, and once they found that the charges had merit, acted decisively.

I have to admit, I was more than a little surprised by this.

Don’t get me wrong.  As a Seattle geek, and former Magic player myself, I have a fair amount of affection for WotC, which they have at various times tested mightily.  But this, this warmed the cockles of my coal black little heart, to see them actually take misogyny and sexism seriously.

Given the reams of missteps and bullshit that have been running rampant in geek culture for years, I can’t tell you what it means to me to hear this news.

I started playing Magic because a friend of ours who used to write for World of Darkness had gone to GenCon the year Magic the Gathering debuted, fell in love with the game, and bought us all decks so he would have someone to play with.  And I enjoyed the hell out of it.

It wasn’t until after the game had its broader release that things really went to hell.

I quit going to tournaments back before the company had anything to do with them years ago, because they were an openly hostile environment for me, and after the second or third time I was openly snubbed by the rest of the (male) players, I was done.  It was not at all unusual for me to be the only woman present. But, like I said, that was back in the early mid 90s (93 or 94) when the game was new.  And I understand things are generally much better, what with the Lady Planeswalker Society and all.

I kept playing, just not going to tournaments, for several years, until I decided I valued my marriage more than the game, and the Geek Husband What Rules and I decided to take a break.  Then we wound up selling a fair number of our first printing cards to finance a move across the state, and life in general.  Every once in a while we’ll pull out the ones we still have and play a couple hands.

So, congratulations on doing the right and stand up thing, Wizards of the Coast.  Thank you!

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