For what it's worth, the removed a bunch more since you posted. Not arguing a side here, just pointing out the data.
https://www.wowhead.com/news/suggest...h-9-1-5-324416
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This is something I have NEVER been able to wrap my brain around. Like... ever. I am 54. So a little more than twice your age. I was roughly your age when the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis were first released and popular. I was heavily into video games as a 20-something male. But it never once occurred to me, nor did I ever hear any of my peers also into video games saying, that it wasn't right for females to play video games, or that they had no place.
My then girlfriend (later wife), was massively into video games. And I can say that the very fact she was, to me was awesome. I loved it. I love every single minute of it. And knew a few other girls during the 90s that gamed. Now, I am aware of the trope of "You can't be good at video games because your a girl" that was prevalent in the 80s and 90s... but that's all I thought it was. Back then I just thought it was an exaggeration and nothing more. It never occurred to me that girls shouldn't game, or that they shouldn't MAKE the games. Because I always felt they had every equal right to men.
I have just never understood how it came to be that males were so toxic to females regarding video games that they felt exclusion.
Now, to be fair, I was more than likely a bit more sheltered regarding it all than I should have been. And while I don't think I was purposefully turning a blind eye to it, I just never got that it existed. I'm sorry that you every felt at any point there wasn't a place for you. But, that said, I am glad you are here now. I hope nothing ever pushes you away from it.
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It's not. And it's even worse than that. The Maddie is pretty bad.