Aisha Tyler gives the haters something to suck on

Aisha doing Halo: Reach Promo work

You might have heard of Aisha Tyler - if you're of my generation you'll probably know her from her fairly popular role on Friends when she was caught in a love triangle between Joey and Ross. But that was so long ago, in this 'modern era' era one of her claims to fame is that she's a well known gaming personality - though it would seem some of the 'internet folk' (read: those people who love to make jokes about your mom) got a bit uppity when Ms Tyler was announced as E3 Ubisoft Press Conference 2012. 

It was apparently so bad she responded to with a verbal assault so awesomely vitriolic, mothers had to cover their babies ears each time they logged into facebook. 

But you know what? As I've typed this I've just realised that Policymic is just rehashing something that happened last year! But so what? her facebook rant was pretty amazing. It shows strength. And true grit.

And given the shit that Adria Richards recently received it's refreshing to know that out there some 'gamer girls' have the balls to make sure 'gamer lads' know this gaming universe is for everyone.


Here's Aisha's letter:

Dear Gamers

I play.

I've played since I was a little kid. 

Since I begged my dad to buy me a Nintendo LCD Donkey Kong, Jr.

Since I blew through three weeks' allowance playing Defender at the laundromat.

Since you were a twinge in the left side of your daddy's underoos.

I've been a gamer since I made friends with a girl in the 5th grade just to get at her Atari.

Since I missed the bus playing Galaga after school.

Since I missed the start of Return of the Jedi playing Tempest in the theater lobby.

You think you know. You don't know.

I've been a gamer since before you could read.

Since I aced midterms after staying up all night playing Evil Tetris.

Since I became dorm champ at Leisure Suit Larry.

Since I double-wielded on Time Crisis 3 at Fuddrucker's.

I was a voice in not one, but two major video game titles.

I hosted the Reach Beta tutorial.

I was a Gears of War superfan panelist at ComicCon.

I hosted the Ubisoft presser at E3 2012.

I didn't do any of it for the money. 

For most I got paid next to nothing, and for some, less than that.

I did it because I love video games.

Because I've dreamt since I was a kid of being in one of the games I love.

How many games have you done voices for?

How many cons have you repped at?

Your buddy's Unreal Tournament garage deathmatch doesn't count.

I go to E3 each year because I love video games.

Because new titles still get me high.

Because I still love getting swag.

Love wearing my gamer pride on my sleeve.

People ask me what console I play.

Motherfucker, ALL of them.

I get invited to E3 because real gamers know I'm a gamer.

I don't do it for the money.

I have plenty of money.

I don't do it for the fame.

Fuck fame.

I do it because I love video games.

I don't give out my gamertag because I don't want a mess of noob jackholes lining up

to assassinate me on XBL. 

I don't give a shit what you think about my gamerscore.

I don't play to prove a point. 

I don't play to be the best.

I play because I love it.

I play.

I've been playing my whole life. 

I'm not ashamed of it.

I don't apologize for it.

It's who I am.

To the core.

I'm a gamer.

So to all the haters out there who claim I don't play;

To the GAF dicks, 

Gamespot trolls, 

To every illiterate racist douchebag on Youtube:

Flame away. Go nuts.

Post every jackass comment your heart desires.

I'll still be playing when your mom's kicked you out of her basement

and you have to sell your old-ass console

and get a real job.

For now, I say to you respectfully,

and I mean this from the bottom of my heart,

GFYS.

-

I guess I'm still a child of the 1990s as I had to look up what GFYS means - and in case you were indeed wondering, it means GO FUCK YOUR SELF. Which makes me think it should actually be GFY as yourself is one word....

And here's Policymics follow up with Aisha that makes their post make sense: 

Elizabeth Plank, for PolicyMic (EP): You encountered a lot of sexist online harassment after you were the host of the E3 Ubisoft Press Conference. Your response was awesome. Did it stop the online assaults? What is your advice for women who are being harassed online?

Aisha Tyler: I don't think the gaming letter I wrote on Facebook necessarily stopped any online assaults. But it did help encourage others to speak out about misogyny in gaming, and to help them feel like they had an additional voice speaking on their behalf. And for the record, for every sexist or negative comment I had online, there were 10 or more encouraging or supportive ones. So while there is still an outspoken contingent of people in the gaming community who try to discourage or lash out at women gamers, for the most part the community becomes more welcoming every day. I love games; and gamers all have that in common. A love of gameplay tends to level the field.

We have no idea if she reads Mortal Engines.