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Dr. Piggy, PhD Profile
Dr. Piggy, PhD

@drpiggyphd

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Postdoctoral Scholar • Psychology of Games, Gender, & Skill • 💍 • 🇵🇷🇲🇽🇺🇸, queer, they/she

Chicago
Joined January 2015
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
Dissertation approved as-is. I’m actually a Doctor now.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
Frankly, Smash doesn’t need vigilante keyboard warriors or Youtubers who profit from drama or even top players speaking out. Smash needs organized, trained, and supported adults to handle instances of misconduct in professional, private, and consistent ways.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I have never shared my story as a Smash player because I’ve been ashamed of myself. But I think it’s time. Beyond the scientific data on the subject which supports women’s spaces in 1v1 like chess, this is my personal story about why I’m in favor of women’s brackets. Long Thread
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Gonna explain a bit further. Is there any physical reason for gender separation in mostly cognitive domains like chess and sports? No. Are there social reasons? Absolutely. (10+ Tweet thread, this is literally my dissertation topic)
@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
@tiradactyI Sure. I did a study on non-gamers just learning to play and found that women in women-only settings have lower anxiety and report having more fun and being more motivated to play again. Maybe women-only settings aren’t for you, but they’re damn helpful for some others.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I don’t know why but the Zero situation has me angry more than usual because he did everything wrong. He did harm, tried to hide it, tried to do damage control, then started pitying himself. Not even a real fucking apology. If someone says you hurt them, you shut up and LISTEN.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
@BestNess_ If anyone is interested in the actual science of why this is wrong, one of my PhD qualifying topics was on expertise acquisition in esports. Here's my conclusions and annotated bibliography:
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
My own moral thoughts: 1. It will never be ok for adults to have relationships w minors. Whether there is grooming, coercion, or not. Adults are always responsible for saying no. 2. Everyone is responsible for harm they cause. Both of these things can be true at once.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Closing the Smash chapter. Read:
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
5 years
I interviewed w a journalist last week. He asked me why Smash seems to be such a toxic place compared to the FGC. I laughed, and I said, “The same problems are there too. They just aren’t being addressed. We’re addressing them, which is why you’re hearing so much about it.”
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
IF YOU ARE A TO, you DO have the power to ban every single person that has been named in every Twitlonger in the past week. Legally, if you are hosting a private event on private property, you can bar anyone from entering for any (non-identity-discrimination-based) reason.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
My spouse says no but my heart says … want
@AmongUsGame
Among Us
3 years
roll up into the finest establishments with our new Among Us costumes 😌✨ @toikido1 u can grab these on Amazon, Walmart, HMV, and other retailers globally! BE!! THE SPACEBEAN!!!
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I’ve found out Ally & Zack are working together to defame me & the COC to undo their bans & I can’t even feel angry. Just empty.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
@PracticalTAS Frankly, I want to cry from relief. I hope the people who doxed me see now how complex the situation was.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Ally, I searched out entire chat history for "Nairo." You mention that Nairo "is about to be exposed" but you never said for what. I couldn't act on that info. Regarding this screenshot:
@AllyUltimate
Ally
4 years
Piggy (Kyle) I told you about it with proof and you did nothing. Even someone else brought it up to you and you did nothing and made the 5 years excuse. If I don't say anything no one will.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I asked my boy to marry me at midnight He said yes :3 Five years of Smash, D&D, working together through new jobs & grad school hurdles, learning to talk... all of it made me realize that this is my person.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
This thread seems to insinuate that I knew about Nairo/Zack. Although it's difficult to prove a lack of knowledge, I'm going to post here screenshots from conversations with D1, D. Disciple, & Ally, and clear up misconceptions presented in this QRT thread.
@frenchtutor_
Dave Kim
4 years
Regarding Dr. Piggy, the Smash CoC, D1, Disciple A thread: [1/10]
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Nintendo won’t fund/organize tournaments or implement safety for them, train TOs, etc. Nintendo also won’t let us use mods or make improvements to the game. It just feels so... bad. Worst of both worlds. No big company money/support but still big company red IP tape.
@TheBigHouseSSB
The Big House 11
4 years
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I’m late to the party, but here’s some truth about justice in Smash. TOs receive no training, no compensation, & have no oversight. In such a system, shitty TOs can & have abused their power to ban players they just don’t like or quash valid accusations against their friends.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Today is the day my partner and I would’ve gotten married if not for COVID. We’re spending it together and I won’t be doing COC work or Twitter advocacy today. Thanks.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
5 years
Two young boys (maybe 10 years old?) came up to @PG_ESAM & @MVD731 asked for autographs and it got me all teary. Like haven’t we all felt like that to someone who was a star in our eyes? Now they’re playing doubles & I gotta hide my sniffles Community is powerful
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
Smash Summit skit has ruined me, I saw this newspaper and my brain said “I be doin weekly” @iBDWSSBM
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Married 🥳 Met through D&D and Smash Now together forever
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I am experiencing major secondary traumatic stress, sometimes known as compassion fatigue. I feel like the spark in me has been put out. I feel hopeless in a deep way, that comes from seeing systems fail up-close for years.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I’ll take 10,000 Smasher smurfing tweets over even one Twitlonger about abuse or assault. What a relief to see Smash Twitter arguing about game issues instead of whether a victim should be believed or their favorite player should be given “another chance.”
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Tonight I sat down w my partner. With the recent harassment towards me, he's reduced his web presence to avoid spillover. I removed his name from my profile for his safety. This is the reality of speaking up. I won't back down. But people need to be better.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I didn’t know all of this, but I knew enough to believe the rest. I am bitter. The Smash world would have been so different - more stable, more safe, thriving instead of struggling - if they’d given even a second thought to us at any point. #SaveSmash
@anonymoussmash2
anonymoussmasher
4 years
How Nintendo Has Hurt the Smash Community Read:
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
5 years
I drew this on my SO’s whiteboard at work over a month ago & it’s still there Bulbasaur propaganda lurking at my University’s IT department
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
I'm sorry we couldn't be what this community needed.
@SSBConductPanel
SSBConductPanel
3 years
Formal Disbanding of the COC Read:
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I am ready to say some things. A thread.
@SSBConductPanel
SSBConductPanel
4 years
Effective immediately, all instances of sexual violence will be punished by lifetime ban. This includes but is not limited to the recently released decision regarding Mew2Queen.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
@tiradactyI Sure. I did a study on non-gamers just learning to play and found that women in women-only settings have lower anxiety and report having more fun and being more motivated to play again. Maybe women-only settings aren’t for you, but they’re damn helpful for some others.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I am honored to be on this list at all. Let alone the top. This gave me a good (happy/relieved/proud/sad) cry. Thank you so much.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Current thoughts: -I want us to expose EVERY powerful figure in Smash who used that power to abuse. Get them out of the spotlight/power. -ADULTS ARE ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAYING NO TO CHILDREN. Jesus Christ. -COC is punishment, but how can we structurally implement prevention?
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
5 years
Today I wore tights that match my hair
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I actually called the Child Protection hotline. I asked them what I was supposed to do with the info that a minor dated you or other adults. They said that because Zack was no longer a minor & it was not an active situation, I could do nothing.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
Twitter justice doesn’t work. Twitter is a place where shitty humans go to get their story trending 1st or otherwise weaponize young Smash community members (who want a taste of justice) against their victims or enemies. Even victims lose on Twitter when their abuser is popular.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Small rant: Fair, equal, unbiased, & thorough justice systems require enormous time, effort, training, & dedication to implement, which the Smash community as a decentralized group does not currently have. It still drives me insane to see mob judgment operate so recklessly here.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
When should we abolish gender- segregated tournaments? When I can enter a bracket at a National & reasonably expect that by random selection I can be paired against another woman. Until then - give us a few spaces a year to play without a crowd of dudes around the CRT. 13/13
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
5 years
I am at Shine!! With my poster!! The product of 3 years of data collection at tournaments!! I will explain it all and pay you to do surveys for me all day tomorrow!!
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
The legal system is highly flawed in that the person with more money and a better lawyer often wins, especially in civil suits. A GoFundMe, even of this size, is a reasonable preparation for a defense. You’ll note too that she is still harassed in the comments.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
TLDR: Learned the game hardcore, tried to compete, choked despite using emotion regulation, realized begrudgingly that women’s events were the only space I could perform & grow confidence to compete in main bracket but there aren’t any womens brackets so fuck me I guess.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
Addendum: If it wasn’t clear, my position is that women’s brackets should be an option that supplements not replaces an open bracket. Give me someplace to practice against other femmes 1v1 with real stakes/prizes! (As a way to prepare myself to eventually do so against all ppl)
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Ppl like black-&-white thinking: a person is a monster thus we dox OR an angel so we stan, etc. In reality, everything is in shades of gray. Yet one place we are forced to think in black/white: banned or not. What gray is dark enough for a ban? A 1-year ban, a lifetime one?
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
If someone is attempting to atone for abuse in a community, ideally you will never hear their name again. You won’t see them Tweet about the community they were banned from, you won’t see them trying to make money on YouTube from community viewers. They will disappear.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
5 years
Some guy named Jack gave my number as a fake to some girls and now the random texts I’ve been receiving for ages make sense
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Right now, in this historical moment in which maybe 2% of competitive gamers are women, we need at least a few women-only tournaments. Not because we’re inherently worse, but because we have a ton more societal, social, and personal barriers that dude gamers just don’t deal with.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Once a domain is seen as masculine or is in fact dominated by men - coding, chess, gaming - young women who are making decisions about how to spend their time see that & gather, “I don’t belong.” “I won’t have friends in that hobby.” “I’ll always feel awkward & it won’t be fun.”
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
My therapist of 2 years is changing career directions & in a month we’ll have to say goodbye. This woman saw & supported me every week through the creation, implementation, fallouts, doxes, & internal & moral crises involving the Smash COC.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
So I am taking a break. I will not be around for 10 days. I don’t want to be contacted for labor, emotional or material. I can’t give interviews or statements. I won’t defend myself. I must heal.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Today, I 1) relived my childhood experience with molestation 2) anonymously submitted a story of my own from Smash I’m sorry but this is my limit for today. I will come back tomorrow.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I wrote a piece on the personal costs of organizing justice systems in Smash. Main Points: 1. Smash’s problems with misconduct are systemic, emerging from Nintendo’s negligence and the scene’s recent explosive growth.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
So throw a gal who identifies with/values/expresses her femininity into a 99% male tournament, she’s gonna underperform regardless of her actual skill level. Not because she’s bad. But because she has another layer of pressure: to others, she is *the* representative girl.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Ok, so, women-only tournaments 1) They normalize women gaming to the rest of society 2) They remove the component of having to “prove yourself” on behalf of your gender to your male opponent 3) They may make you feel like you have a better shot at winning which is motivating
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
“Well Piggy you have more anxiety & bad experiences with gamerbros than other gals. This is an extreme case. Tougher gals could & do survive. This is a you problem” Why can’t we have places in gaming where even anxious gals can have fun? Fuck, I *was* having fun until tournament
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
Smash can become better. Maybe it couldn’t support a centralized org like the COC. But as individuals we can talk abt harms done (no rug-sweeping), support victims/survivors (both believe & verify stories of abuse), & maintain boundaries in our friend groups (“not cool dude”).
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
11 months
I want Smash to be a place for they/thems, trans girls, and every kind of person interested in the game for as long as possible and as much as possible. Not sure how to properly express how important and revolutionary it is that someplace competitive can also be accepting.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
If dudes only invite you to play because you’re a girl and they want to get in your pants, or they sandbag to gain favor with you, you literally do not have access to a key component of skill acquisition: feedback. And you’re probably missing another: social support.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I hear a lot of "rumors" that never become reports or even Twitlongers. I respect the victim's right to decide when they want to seek justice. I was the only one who had conversations with Ally & his defender. No one else on the COC was involved.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
@zerowondering Goodbye and good riddance. This has been a master class in how NOT to apologize, be accountable, or treat people who say you’ve hurt them.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
I have a lot to say on women in esports & how to incentivize our participation Summary Good: Gaming being a normal/accepted hobby for & among women, options to engage in women-only spaces esp for newbies, girlfriends gaming together like dudes do Not Good: who is best woman??
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
4) They allow you to meet other women who could be sources of social support/training 5) They give us more exposure which could lead to interest by other players or sponsors to invest in our skill development Those are good reasons to have them. NOT bc women are inherently bad.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 months
The dream is now real. I’ve accepted an offer for a tenure-track professor position at @MorganStateU ! I will teach in the psychology department and do esports research for the new Center for Data Analytics & Sports Gaming.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
@iBDWSSBM I know you don't want sympathy, but I want to state that sexual abuse from parents of their children is unequivocally one of the most disgusting things an adult can do. Yes, you are responsible for your healing. But you are not responsible for her decisions.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
Smash needs to pay people to specifically address misconduct or otherwise supervise the community, offer safety nets or backup for when those people need a break from making difficult decisions about traumatic content, and make it all a priority.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
5 years
🎮RECRUITING: Gender minority Smashers & MIOM Top 100 for a dissertation study!! Payment for online surveys & interviews: $25 Payment for study tasks at a National tournament: $70 Email knolla @u .northwestern.edu for sign-up 🐽 Please RT for science!🎮
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I remain committed to the fact that I'm not going to investigate something unless it's reported, because the victim has to go through hell to prove themselves to strangers. At the time, I had no reason to believe those things were true, bc they came from Ally & not from Zack.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
So that’s the first problem: interest & motivation in gaming are difficult to cultivate in women bc it’s already so freaking masculine that they know they’re likely to experience harassment, judgment, loneliness, etc. But what about women already interested/invested in the game?
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
5 years
@snarkie_ I went to an Ultimate tournament last week and got something like this and deadass stared at the guy and said “I commentate Melee at nationals” and wrapped up my controller and walked tf away I have never felt so powerful
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
In cognitive domains especially, anxiety directly interferes with performance. Having to stave off feelings that others see you as inherently inadequate (due to gender) takes mental energy that can no longer be put into the game, whether you believe their judgment or not.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I was projecting upon my own spouse the gendered experiences I had had since childhood: teachers taking my game guides away on the playground but boys kept theirs, a 10-year-old friend literally punching me for beating him in Melee, the jeering dudes on Overwatch mic as an adult.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I'm happy to provide clarification to anything. I don't have anything to hide. Ally needs to stay banned. Nairo needs to stay banned. Adults who enter relationships with minors need to be out of our community, away from minors.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
3 years
No, Hax’s document/video do not represent normal or healthy thought patterns. No, it is not appropriate to diagnose anything from the internet. No, it is not appropriate to seriously discuss the contents. I hope the documents are removed and people don’t escalate this crisis.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Does it ever get easier reading bad comments about yourself in chat? Like. Somebody saying “she screwed over abuse victims” or keeps spamming “girl” about me and Jisu and it still makes me feel like I’m getting beaten up.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I never went back for friendlies even when my friends wanted to play with me. The only time I played for real again that tourney was Smash Sisters crews. It was the only time I felt my training kick in & my brain actually function. Gals cheering me. I lost but not by choke.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
Rather than focusing on what shitty dudes may do/say to us/about us, we could instead focus on how to grow skill & give tools to the gals who love gaming & want to compete but the gender balance is an issue. Some dudes will be shitty ALWAYS. Fuck them, support your fellow women.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
“Well Piggy your experience was a 1-time thing but women’s brackets do damage to all women long-term” This story is an example of how barriers to entry are doing long-term damage to all women. I desperately wanted to compete, had the skill & opportunity but lacked a fitting venue
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
So unless you are obsessed w the masculine domain, or already have a gal friend that gets you into it, or you have a boyfriend who will guide you & prevent others from hurting you - why the hell would any sane person put themselves into a situation of being an extreme minority?
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
6 years
RECRUITING: MIOM Top ~100 Melee Players for research on Smash skill. Study Title: Skill in Top 100. Earn $95! Email knolla @u .northwestern.edu for info, primary investigator is Mark Beeman. (Ad is IRB approved: STU00207847) Plz RT for science!
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I spent over 200 hours training 2 characters: ZSS by studying frame data & grinding training mode then applying that, Pika by play/feel only. I monitored my heartrate & recorded my practice & feelings. At first I was nervous to play for real but slowly started enjoying the grind
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I conducted an interview with a potential panelist. Instead, this person used the hour to yell at me that Ally deserves freedom and Zack is (all sorts of bad things). He said "Zack has hit on a lot of top Ult players, like Nairo." I was still in active contact with Zack.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
In 2018, I had been in Smash for 5 yrs. I had studied Melee intensively for commentary. I was way beyond casual. Something had always stopped me from entering tourneys. But I was gonna use Ultimate’s release to dive in & become the best. Decided to document my process for science
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I couldn’t play with my spouse in the room because I imagined he as an ex-pro could easily see how bad I was & silently judged me. He said he wasn’t, so I did some breathing, worked until I could play with him in the room and eventually play against him. Progress!
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I had thought I’d become a pro through sheer force of will, polished emotion regulation skills, & funding to attend tournaments. Turns out I’m not a monolith, my environment affects my emotions which affect my performance. I went from “meh” about women’s brackets to “wait yes”
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Zack had not mentioned Nairo even tho we were finalizing the lifetime ban of Ally for the same thing. I did not act because 1) the sources of info were you and someone defending you, and especially 2) despite being in active contact with Zack, he did not seek a ban.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
@tamim2938029181 Hey. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
I don’t want empty words, but if you’ve experienced STS any resources would be appreciated (via email or FB). I don’t want to be coddled or given empty words. I don’t want more followers or attention. Thanks for your understanding.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
Furthermore, others’ judgments affect her resources. Studying or training alone only goes so far in competitive domains. You have to train against other humans in gaming to learn humans’ patterns/behaviors or you won’t improve.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I was the only gal in my pool. I was fucking terrified the whole morning. My opponents were cold, rude. I saw a dude in my pool look at me then mutter something to their friend and they laughed. Everything was too loud. I didn’t know another person. I was extremely anxious.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
1 year
So, funny story My advisor at the med school is an older guy and when I said I studied games, he thought I meant gamification and suggested I apply for a digital health grant. I bought a few books to learn about it, got the grant, & now making a cancer symptom monitoring app.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
As a woman interested in gaming, you’re gonna get discouragement instead of nurturance from family, friends, and other gamers, which affects your motivation to get better, your ability to put time into practice and maintain social relationships, and your mood/happiness.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
0-2, went back to my room, cried. Not because I lost but bc I froze & didn’t execute even 1 combo I practiced. Fast forward to next tourney: I was sitting in the venue w my controller when I heard my name called & I just couldn’t. DQ’d as a noshow sitting 6 ft away from my pool
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
A year later drunk at an afterparty I beat the shit out of a dude in game. He said I was pretty good. I felt like crying. What happened to my goal of kicking ass, proving myself? I thought I was tougher. I’m still ashamed. I survived grad school, family trauma, but not gaming??
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
If someone says, “You hurt me” you sit the fuck down & listen. You let them say it all & you absorb it no matter how much it sucks. You don’t jump to defend yourself, discredit them, or “get ahead” of it. You need to understand the intimate specifics of why and how you hurt them.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
Still: my personal training was going well, and I had just received research funding to attend Nationals and study players there. So, on top of research w other people, I decided to play bracket, friendlies, & side events as a way to measure my training progress and efficiency.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
The gals-only tournaments started out quiet then became laughter, talk of moves and strategies, fun. A professor poked his head in once to see what department event he was missing. Co-ed tournaments were serious, quiet, except when a dude would win and pop off.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
@magyo_gt This is terrifying. I'm so sorry. If you decide you want to seek a ban, I'm here to help. Thank you for speaking up - and again, I'm so sorry.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
However, many TOs do the exhausting, unpaid, challenging work of leading communities because they genuinely want to do good. In line with that mission, most ban decisions are attempts at making the community a safer, better place. & they have more info than the public ever will.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
It’s common in helping professions and I know the signs. My therapist specializes in its prevention. But I did not know it would feel this empty and absolute. I did not know how quickly a week like this would overwhelm every coping mechanism I’ve ever learned.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
Bracket was the next morning. I was terrified but knew strategies: cognitive reappraisal of the situation, breathing/grounding, focus on gameplay, reminding myself of the hard work I’ve put in, that my physical sex itself did not limit my skill cap despite what dudes said before.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
4 years
So. Player safety is coming first. Period. That's it. We've already been discussing changes to code protocol for cases, since the delay in processing them is unacceptable. This is just the beginning. But it is an important one.
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@drpiggyphd
Dr. Piggy, PhD
2 years
I noticed the gals practicing with guys would kinda check out. I sort of scoffed that they would be intimidated but then I checked myself: I had choked away 200+ hours of training & then felt too overwhelmed to play. maybe I had more in common with non-gamer gals than I realized.
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