Geek Editor (with two exciting updates)

For the last several months, I've been editing the technology newswire at Suicide Girls. It's been a lot of fun to interact with the community over there, and I've had a really good time digging up hawesome, amusing, and informative tech stories for them.

In the last month or so, the overlords are making some changes to the site, including the newswire, to make more than just a pin-up site. To that end, they've recently added a ton of new writers and editors, and changed our sections around quie a bit.

Last night, my section was changed from technology to geek, and I went from being the technology editor to being the geek editor, complete with shiny new title. I just about shot a d10 out my nose when I saw the change! Bow before me, for I am geek! Snort. Snort. 3d8 + 4

According to the announcement, "Geek is about video games, comics, role playing games, computer hacking, Linux, OS X, mocking Windows Vista, etc," so I'm pretty psyched to add comics and games to the list of news I can write and edit, now. I'm especially happy that any ambiguity about the deductibility of certain research materials has been effectively removed, as well.

I think it's time for a trip to the Last Grenadier, then to the comic shop. For, uh, research. Yeah.

Snort. Snort.

42.

Update: In comments, Elayne says, "I don't get it. Why are you writing for a pinup site in the first place? I think it's pretty unwelcoming for female readers to begin with."

It's a valid question, and one which I imagine crossed more than a few minds. I know lots of you (about 16000 at last count) read this via RSS and may miss comments, so here's my response:

I don't have any problems with writing for SG, because I don't find their content offensive in any way. I really like the people I work with, I like drawing a small paycheck to write and edit, and the little chunk of community I've interacted with there (mostly geeks like me) have made me feel very welcome.

I completely respect that not everyone thinks SG is okay, though, and if you're personally offended that I write for or am associated with the site, I completely understand and support your decision to not read my stories there, or even stop reading my blog entirely, if you feel that strongly about it.

Personally, I feel like it's a Venn diagram of Playboy, Vanity Fair, Cosmo, and a flurry of tattoo and goth culture magazines, and I don't find the content exploitive or pornographic in any way. But your milage may vary, and whatever that milage may be, I respect it.

Oh, and at my suggestion, the newswire has been made entirely safe for work, so you can read the news (like my story today about Facebook turning down 750 million while reportedly holding out for two BILLION dollars, which features a bonus Back to the Future reference, and some musings on how stupid online advertisers are) and interviews without encountering teh boobies. You're welcome (I think.)

 

One more, after a few more comments:

There is an entire page at Suicide Girls dedicated to addressing all the various rumors and allegations: http://suicidegirls.com/trash/

There are also numerous testimonials from several of the models, who all seem pretty happy with the site: http://suicidegirls.com/trash/testimonials/

I've noticed that most people tend to project their personal biases and and preconceptions into the site: if a person is opposed to nude modeling (for whatever reason) they tend to think the site is exploiting women, and are prone to uncritically believing the various charges made against the site and its owners. If people are cool with the nude modeling (male or female), they tend to discard the rumors, and if they have an opinion at all on the "exploitation" issue, tend to conclude that it's more empowering than, say, modeling for Suze Randall.

As I said before, since I am an editor on the newswire, those issues don't affect or concern me. The models I know all seem very happy with their work and enjoy being part of the site; the people I have worked with on staff have been fantastic, honorable, and respectable people (unlike the people I worked for at G4, for example.)

And I made with a whole bunch of the funny (to me at least) in this story about finding out where your Xbox was born.

No thank you, I! Thank! You!

Comments

[Lolita]

Congrats!

Say, are you still running the Thursday game at Pokerstars?

Thanks,
Lolita

[BonzoGal]

Ooh! Speaking of comics, Stan Lee is selling one of his cars on eBay. Check out the license plate! My fan-girl heart drools.

Go to ebaymotors.com and search for Stan Lee, True Believers! ;)

[Kim the fangirl]

Okay, that's like twelve times. What's with the sudden use of "42"? I realize it's the answer to life, the universe, and everything, but is it something more, oh your great Geekness?

I was lucky enough to get my pod person to finally give reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy a chance after one of those movie channels I can't afford played the movie. I told him if he wanted to know why the bowl of petunias said "not again" he'd have to read it. Score!

[ak_hepcat]

42! It's the answer to all things mathematical WRT Life, the Universe, and Everything.

1, 2, 42! 1, 2, 42! riemann hypothesis, riemann hypothesis! Hike!

[edgore]

Wil,

How many times must you be told - don't put dive up your nose, and no chewing on the lead figures.

[Nyarl]

Geez, rolled a natural 1 and failed my "read-heading-correctly" roll.

I thought you were about to don a toga, spout philosophy and wrestle nude men coverd in olive oil.

I'm going to take 20 next time!

ya geek, ya.

[tony mcdowell]

that's hawesome, wil. i've never been a big fan of suicide girls, but i've found the articles that you've linked to from over there to be hilarious, informative, and (often) both.

[leon]

Ah, windows VISTuh ? Take a look (or take a google) at mini microsoft.com :) And have a good laugh at the boys from redmond f*cking up. Open source is the answer.....

[KeithD]

That's a great photo of you as Geek Editor. You almost look cool.
-KeithD (no photo)

[Elayne Riggs]

I don't get it. Why are you writing for a pinup site in the first place? I think it's pretty unwelcoming for female readers to begin with.

[Wil]

Elayne: I don't have any problems with writing for SG, because I don't find their content offensive in any way. I really like the people I work with, I like drawing a small paycheck to write and edit, and the little chunk of community I've interacted with there (mostly geeks like me) have made me feel very welcome.

I completely respect that not everyone thinks SG is okay, though, and if you're personally offended that I write for or am associated with the site, I completely understand and support your decision to not read my stories there, or even stop reading my blog entirely, if you feel that strongly about it.

Personally, I feel like it's a Venn diagram of Playboy, Vanity Fair, Cosmo, and a flurry of tattoo and goth culture magazines, and I don't find the content exploitive or pornographic in any way. But your milage may vary, and whatever that milage may be, I respect it.

[blackunicorn]

OMFG Last Grenadier still exists!?! They closed down the one in Reseda years ago, and the last time I went to the one in Burbank it looked like they were packing.

Also, Geek Editor might be the best title anyone has ever had for a job :)

[Genxcat]

Gah, I will have to check out this site at home. Nothing looks bad like naked women on the computer at work. (Ok, not bad in my opinion, but in the opinions of those who govern the internet use at work)

[Nicole]

Wh00t for promotions, Wil. Looks like I'll be checking into the site sooner than I predicted. =)

[Tom Boucher]

Hey Wil -

I appreciate the update. However I was wondering if you could comment on the contreversay that appeared late in '05 (see here: http://un-pink.blogspot.com/2005/09/i-first-came-across-suicidegirls-2.html) that showed the 'geek cool' was really clever marketing? The girls aren't in control, some guy runs it all, and they're paid small amounts. All sorts of accusations. I loved SG at first but after reading that I really felt unable to support it.

Would just like to hear from you why you think otherwise.

[Ipsa Fictura]

Hey, I just wanted to add in the female perspective that I think SG is a great, pro-sexuality post-feminist website, and I think it's really cool that you're working for them. I have a membership myself.

[David Arroyo]

Hey Wil,

This is very cool, i cant wait to read more about your comic geekness. May i suggest you look into Alan Moores recent complaints of Hollywood on the adaptation of V for Vendetta.

Oh and i sent you a promo for your show. Im not sure if you recieved it. Can you make your e-mail more available on the site? it took me a while to find it in the old website and you seem have many in your podcast which i wonder will continue? (God i hope so! I love Radio Free Burito!) So having some kind of direction in where i should e-mail, this that and the other would help allot and not make me nervouse that i sent it to the wrong place.

[Jaie]

Hey don't forget the 4504 who read you on Livejournal's feed! Those numbers are much higher!!

[Pookie]

a job is a job and a paycheck is a paycheck. Beats the crap out of asking "paper or plastic" (not that I am slamming earning an honest wage) or "you need space for cream?". Besides, if ya don't like the site, don't go to da site. It's like TV. If you don't like what is on, change the effing channel.

[Wil]

Jaie - I love all the LJ readers, but I'm pretty sure 16000 is greater than 4504 (unless King George Bush is doing the math, of course.) ;)

Tom - Everyone is entitled to their opinions about things, and every story has two sides. The things alleged on that blog don't have anything to do with the work I do for Suicide Girls, so I can't really comment on it. It's sort of like we work on different floors or even different buildings, you know? While I'm sure the girls who left have their reasons for being unhappy with the site, I know lots of current SGs who are very happy with the stuff they get to do there.

[exit]

"...without encountering teh boobies."

I'll get you for this, Wheaton.

[Elayne Riggs]

Thanks for responding, Wil. Never gonna stop reading your blog, you're one of my "blogfathers" and inspirations. But yeah, I'll be steering clear of SG, I'm afraid. Definitely one of those places where a female gaze doesn't feel very welcome. :)

[Ledfeather]

I wonder more about how the site owner Sean Suhl who is suppose to be a far right wack job. Use to post rants that were pro war and anti-Palestine not sure if he does it much anymore seeing that it cut into profits.

As to not for female gaze it actually has a large female membership, it's not all about nude emo and goth ladies.

[honeythunder]

Geek Editor. It's a GREAT flippin' gig...one that I had until about 30 minutes ago! Boo! I just found out the site's closing until further notice. (The owner has had a lot of personal/family matter to attend to.) But ohhhh....the joys of writing about all things geeky (anime, video games, graphic novels and such) and editing reviews was a job I loved so much I did it for free! Congrats on the revamped position. Any job where you go to a comic book shop for research just PWNS!!!

I'll add Suicide Girls to my long list of sites to visit during lunch.

(SG kinda reminds me of Bust, which is like Jane's neo-feminist punk-rock roommate.)

[Plainsong]

Anyone who's read how the SG's are treated though has to question the ethics of the people running the site.

Hopefully Wil won't get screwed like some of those girls probably did, but then again, he's a guy. Different rules for him.