Last night, I attended a Type One tournament with the lovely and talented TemptingElf. That’s a rarity, as T1 isn’t played very heavily around here. I was playing a blue/black Underworld Dreams deck, and she was playing a Necro heavy on the discard. Unfortunately, what we were playing has little to do with the story. Anyway, as is often the case, TemptingElf was the only female in the tournament (and that, unfortunately, DOES have a lot to do with the story). She blazed through the opening rounds of Swiss to go 4-0 with no problems, and before she sat down for the fifth round she was feeling confident in her deck and playing.

Before I go on, I should tell you that I did not witness firsthand most of what happened. I saw the end only. However, I did speak at length with a friend of mine that was watching and got involved (his name’s Dan, by the way), and he’s not one to embellish.

And this is the story that Dan told me. Apparently, TemptingElf’s opponent was a guy that couldn’t have been over eighteen, and his first comment as he sat down was that he’d never seen a chick playing Magic before. Seeing as how the majority of female Magic players don’t like to be called “chick”, he was already off to a bad start. He then made a joke about the loser of the match should have to strip. I’m extremely protective of TemptingElf, so I would have snapped the kid in half if I would have heard that. At that point, Dan figured that it would be a good idea to get a judge in case it went any further.

Throughout the match, the kid continued to make such remarks with the judge standing right there. Dan told me that he couldn’t believe that the judge wasn’t doing anything. After one such comment, TemptingElf turned to the official and asked if he would do something about it, and he replied that no rules were being broken. She said something to the effect of “What about unsportsmanlike conduct?”, and he stated that he didn’t see any of that going on. It was at that point that I first learned that something was going on, as my concentration towards my own game was broken when I saw TemptingElf glaring at the judge. Still, there wasn’t anything that I could do, as I still had a game to go before my match was over. Besides, I reasoned, she can take care of herself.

I finished up my game and was packing up my stuff in my backpack again when Dan came over to me and said that I should probably come watch TemptingElf’s match. I reached the table just in time to hear the kid say to a friend, “Yeah, that (term for a woman who sells her body, you know what I mean) beat me.” It was at that point that TemptingElf slapped him hard enough to make him stubble backwards. The judge that had been watching, who definitely heard the remark (along with the dozen or so before it), immediately disqualified TemptingElf from the tournament for, get this, unsportsmanlike conduct. In addition, he gave her a match loss, which made the kid 5-0.

Now I ask you, is that FAIR? No, wait, that’s not the right question. Is that JUST? I understand that TemptingElf did strike another player, and that’s against the rules, but think about this: a kid was being insulting throughout the entire match, she asked that judge to make the kid refrain from making those comments, and the judge did nothing. It wasn’t until this kid pushed her too far, with no reprimands whatsoever, that she struck out. In my humble opinion, this judge was a complete disgrace to the title. I spoke for quite some time to the head judge afterward, and he stated quite firmly that he would look into it, and if it turned out to be true, that the guy would never judge for him again.

So I’d like everyone’s opinion on this. Obviously, the kid was making the comments because TemptingElf is a female, which goes a long way towards explaining why you don’t see a lot of female Magic players in the first place. But for the most part, I just want opinions. Maybe this post will prevent the same thing from happening to someone else, or maybe it won’t accomplish anything. It will, however, go a long way towards creating a boundary that shouldn’t be crossed.

That really blows for TemptingElf. It was like the worst possible thing that could have happend. I mean, she got the game loss and the DQ, while the other guy went 5-0? That is completely unfair.

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gh0stface's Reflist

One injustice starts a thousand riots.
One law stops a thousand crimes.
One thought opens a thousand eyes.
One sun brings a thousand dawns.

My family protects all families.

Scan of my Best Cards as of 5/15/2000

Talking trash in my opinion is foolish in Magic. Hell, its just a card game after all. But any type of verbal attack, especially ones involving any type of racial, sexual, or gender based comments is not only foolish, but childish, silly, and down right insulting (those words are not forceful enough but its the best I can do while keeping it clean)!

TemptingElf is a much calmer person than I. I myself would have reached across the table and done much earlier what she did...KNOCK THE SENSE INTO HIS LITTLE HEAD! If the kid dares to make such remarks, he should expect what will come to him. And TemptingElf delivered.

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"Sticks and stones break my bones, but whips and chains excite me."

My ref list: http://www.magictraders.com/reflists/DarkDamion.html

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"One man alone cannot forge a nation from a world of chaos."
-Commander Trinistand
of the GAB Starlight Blue Team

Tim left some things out of the story, really, and I mean things that involved his actions. There aren't many things that will push him over the edge, but that almost did. Some of you may remember an issue of Across the Board a while back that discussed an incident involving the Dan mentioned above and an opponent that crossed the line of decency with trash talking (which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing in Magic, as long as it's kept somewhat respectful). In that case, Tim had to physically restrain Dan, and the roles were reversed Thursday night. On a quick sidenote, thank you, Dan.

Now then, onto the issue at hand. I'm not going to lie to anyone here; I don't regret slapping that immature kid, as his comments crossed the line. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but I do regret not turning around and doing the same to the judge. This is the second time this has happened in the last month (a somewhat similar incident occurred at this year's Ohio Valley Regionals), and frankly I'm sick of it. Serra, I'm sure, can identify with this, as unfortunately my experience has taught me that this happens everywhere.

Someone above commented that he hoped that I don't quit Magic over this. Why would I quit playing a game that I enjoy because of a few close-minded bigots? I'm a big girl; I can rise above all of this. Usually I am incapable of holding a grudge (although in this case I've already contacted the DCI), and truth be told I'm a gentle person at heart. So by moving past all of this, I can just go on with playing Magic. Besides, I have a talent for the game, and I'm not going to waste that talent.

I've never been called anything to my face or even in earshot - I am a BIG girl, 5'7" and about 180 - but I'm sure some snide things have been said about me before. The only thing that really has happened to me was a kid almost knocked me over at '99 regionals because he was playing as we were waiting for the pairings. A friend of his, whom I knew from association (my husband beat him in the finals of a PTQ) said "Apologize to her!" The kid just looked at me like I was an alien and I said, "It takes a big man to apologize to a woman." The kid looked like he was about to ball his eyes out. For the most part - in Dallas at least - I'm given respect because I can play. What they say about me behind my back, I can't help. Anyways, back to the post at hand.

You should definitely push the issue with DCI and WotC. It IS sexual harassment, ESPECIALLY since the judge was watching the match and let it slide, even when you asked him to refrain.

To all male players, PLEASE watch how you treat women at these tournaments. Not all of us are here because our boyfriend/husband plays Magic. Some of us are actually competitive. And if we beat you, have the decency to go down with a smile, not a comment directed at our gender. Just because we are female doesn't mean we are inferior.

i think what some of these guys do to girls make me sick.it sucks that some people think that magic is a game for only guys. I hate to tell you guys, but a few of those girls(just like TemptingElf), could rip you a new A**hole in magic. thats actually one of the reasons i believe these idiots do this sort of thing. they cant stand losing to someone of the opposite sex. As a matter of fact, at the nemsis prerelease, i was paired with a female opponet, and she beat the living tar out of me(mana screwing does NOT help!) =(

Anyway, i think temptingelf did the right thing in this matter. Like Leshrac said, dont let this one go unfixed.

just my 2 cents

Anyway, I'm glad that I'm not the only one that sees how disgusting this all was. If you think that hearing about it is bad, you should have been there to witness it. Some people...

Last night, in fact, I got into an arguement with a co-worker. He took an innocent comment of mine way out of proportion and literally threatened to take me outside and pound the **** out of me. Many times, in fact. I lost my temper and yelled back, which was wrong of me, but it went no further.
I'm older now, and contrary to my younger days when I'd fought with customers before, I realize that hitting someone is just wrong.