At the end of 2020, with the pandemic in full swing, people escaping to fantasy Geek Native gave away a copy of Ben Aaronovitch’s River of London story The Fey and the Furious graphic novel. It’s volume 8 of a series in which magic is real, and cops have to cope with that.
To enter the competition, readers had to answer a poll question and say whether they would want to live in a world in which magic was real or not. They also had a say whether they identified themselves as a man, woman or as non-binary.
There was one entry from a reader with a non-binary identity, and so we’ll focus on where we have some contrast and compare opportunities. That’s not to suggest Geek Native’s survey is anyway scientifically robust or statistically representative. There were about 100 entries, and readers were trying to win a fantasy graphic novel.
It may be no surprise but most Geek Native readers would want to live in a world in which magic was real.
These polls aren’t always straight forward as non-geeks are perfectly entitled to take part and competition hunting sites direct visitors to them. Nor should we assume that all geeks are pro-magic.
- I’d like to live in a world in which magic was real – 75.4%
- I would not like to live in a world in which magic was real – 18.5%
However, the stats show that a fifth of men would not want to live in a world where magic was real, and a quarter of women agree.
| Would you like to live in a world in which magic was real? | Responses |
|---|---|
| I’m a woman, and I would not like to live in a world in which magic was real | 25% |
| I’m a woman, and I’d like to live in a world in which magic was real | 75% |
| I’m a woman, and I’d like to live in a world in which magic was real | Responses |
|---|---|
| I’m a man, and I would not like to live in a world in which magic was real. | 20% |
| I’m a man, and I’d like to live in a world in which magic was real | 80% |
Would you like to live in a world in which magic was real?
Would magic make your life easier or better? Or would supernatural power make life harder and perhaps more dangerous?
Of course, the competition poll wasn’t very sophisticated and did not get into whether or not you too would have magic, whether it would come at a cost or even how common it was.
As a result, the poll results lean towards people’s more instinctual reactions to the concept. Women are more cautious than men. And perhaps that’s a poor reflection on our society than any fantasy world or alternative reality?
What about you? Would you like to live in a world in which magic was real?
Let us know in the comments below whether you’d like to live in a world in which magic was real and why you think men, based on this little survey, are slightly more keen on the idea.
Creative Commons credit: Magic Book by Colgreyis by Chabien.
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