Muslim Should Not Equal Villain

[Waif]

It is true that Muslims have been in a bad light (not near as much as Nazi's or Russians lol). However, Muslims have been attacking American values for just as long. Even today we can see hate speeches from Islamic leaders citing violence against Americans, and their way of life. I'm afraid I can't feel sympathetic towards a culture that hates democracy, it's values, and it's people. Also, they hate Jews with such a passion that it makes Nazi's look conservative. This is common knowledge, and also this:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.229799-Iran-Publishes-Anti-Israel-Videogames

Sorry, I'm just not buying that it is Muslims who are the real victims here. Of course, this is a matter of opinion.

So Iran making one Anti-Israel game is bad, but America making several Anti-Muslim games is not? Also, calling something "common knowledge" doesn't make it a fact. I see way to many people using "everybody knows" as an argument in debates like this.

I never said either was good. I was using a comparison in the fact that if a culture is getting upset with being demonized, perhaps they should stop demonizing other cultures. Only a hypocrite would say that they are a victim, all the while they victimize others. Unless you feel that Islam is above criticism?

Facts are of course, things that can be proved, or disproved. Common knowledge falls into this arena. So thus, yes, it is a fact, and the tiniest bit of research will show as much. There have been many links quoted in this thread showing the factual nature of muslim hatred of the Jews and women. Just stop by the Giza plateau (Palestine preferrably) sometime and tell me if the muslims there, don't hate the Jews? That is fact, and your inability to see that, doesn't change the truth of the matter.

 

[Carlston]

This is a joke right?
I love the Jafar from Aladin as wouldn't Aladin and anyone else not the bad guy who are muslims be good guys?

Oh wait...or is this a failed guilt trip about letting evil people be evil because they are not white christians?

Seriously, Muslims who have a job, don't murderer their daughters in honor killing, beat women, have 8 wives just to pump out kids, don't beat all their siblings in public ect ect are fine.

When talking about 3rd world nations one of these ugly old barbaric practices can easily show up, and no muslim religion doesn't excuse them.

Same thing about Catholic child molesters... murdering people in gods name, burning witches at crosses would not be accepted....

Just keep in mind, want to be treated civil, BE CIVIL and Muslim at the same time. Same with any other religion.....

The world has laws. Laws that should cover all people. NOT what invisible man in the sky they pray to. That is a cultures downfall for sure... as we proved many will say "God wants, god told me" to excuse the most horrible actions in history.

 

[baconfist]

Muslims are the bad guys in video games because they are the bad guys. Sure there are a lot of great muslims out there but I'm sure there were some great nazi's too. They come from a culture where shit like stoning your wife for cheating is a totally cool thing to do. They follow a book that says that is the proper way to do things. Muslims that don't want to be depicted as crazy people should just change the name of their religion to islam2.0 and dissassociate themselves from the others and while they are at it make up a great excuse why they don't have to follow all the bat shit crazy rules in the Qur'an that have no place in modern society like christians did with the old testiment.

 

[Something Amyss]

maybe if moderate muslims took a more front and center position against extremists

More than condemning and often opposing them?

 

[Sillyiggy]

Persecution complexes are fun.

Yeah it's awesome to make this stuff up! In fact *I* actually stabbed a Muslim cabbie in New York (http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/muslim-question-leads-cabbie-stabbing-hate-crime-charge/story?id=11480081), and set off a pipe bomb at a Florida mosque (http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/fbi-finds-pipe-bomb-used-in-blast-at-fla-mosque/19475001) JUST SO YOU WOULD TAKE MY BEEF WITH METAL SLUG 2 SERIOUSLY!

Sarcasm is lost on this one. Obviously they are not fun hence why it would be comical to refer to them as funny. I can see yours is ruining your life and I admit there is nothing funny about it at all. No one with a persecution complex would ever refer to it as fun for them.

 

[etherlance]

As a whole we, the people of the earth are a bunch of base-line petty children.

The USA could be described as the attention seeking child jumping up and down on the spot.

Britain (thats me) could be classed as a snobby "only child" who doesn't like it when kids come over to play (immigrant kids that is).

When I say this I'm taking no pot shot at any one country or people.

If we were to look at the world wars as an example we could say that back then germany was the resident bully who beat up france and other kids untill some of the other children like Britain and poland decided to beat germany up for picking on their friends.

USA didn't want to get involved untill that japanese kid broke his toy ships.

After this war was done, all the kids branded those bullies and their mates as "not to be trusted bad boys".
Today we are all picking on the muslim kid because some of his mates have been breaking our stuff (twin towers, london bombings etc.)

what I am trying to say and have probably done a crap job in explaining, is that every country has been told to play nice with the others but kids being kids we are always gonna call them names or break their things and say they are wierd.

.......I'm gonna shut up now.......probably for the best.....

 

[Quid Plura]

As a whole we, the people of the earth are a bunch of base-line petty children.

The USA could be described as the attention seeking child jumping up and down on the spot.

Britain (thats me) could be classed as a snobby "only child" who doesn't like it when kids come over to play (immigrant kids that is).

When I say this I'm taking no pot shot at any one country or people.

If we were to look at the world wars as an example we could say that back then germany was the resident bully who beat up france and other kids untill some of the other children like Britain and poland decided to beat germany up for picking on their friends.

USA didn't want to get involved untill that japanese kid broke his toy ships.

After this war was done, all the kids branded those bullies and their mates as "not to be trusted bad boys".
Today we are all picking on the muslim kid because some of his mates have been breaking our stuff (twin towers, london bombings etc.)

what I am trying to say and have probably done a crap job in explaining, is that every country has been told to play nice with the others but kids being kids we are always gonna call them names or break their things and say they are wierd.

.......I'm gonna shut up now.......probably for the best.....

I liked it, gonna use it in class. See what my students think of it.

 

[etherlance]

As a whole we, the people of the earth are a bunch of base-line petty children.

The USA could be described as the attention seeking child jumping up and down on the spot.

Britain (thats me) could be classed as a snobby "only child" who doesn't like it when kids come over to play (immigrant kids that is).

When I say this I'm taking no pot shot at any one country or people.

If we were to look at the world wars as an example we could say that back then germany was the resident bully who beat up france and other kids untill some of the other children like Britain and poland decided to beat germany up for picking on their friends.

USA didn't want to get involved untill that japanese kid broke his toy ships.

After this war was done, all the kids branded those bullies and their mates as "not to be trusted bad boys".
Today we are all picking on the muslim kid because some of his mates have been breaking our stuff (twin towers, london bombings etc.)

what I am trying to say and have probably done a crap job in explaining, is that every country has been told to play nice with the others but kids being kids we are always gonna call them names or break their things and say they are wierd.

.......I'm gonna shut up now.......probably for the best.....

I liked it, gonna use it in class. See what my students think of it.

Well good luck with that one......tell me how it goes!!

 

[Jerakal]

Great article. I agree that it's tedious how often the most obvious difference between protagonists and villains, especially in most of these vanilla shooters, is that the "Good guys" are usually white, and the "bad guys" are usually some OTHER COLOR (Religion/species/etc.).

 

[Nieroshai]

There's always going to be racists and anti-religious haters. Right or wrong, here's the point: they ought to be civil and tolerant, BUT their opinions are just that as well- opinions. If we want them to tolerate us, we must tolerate them. We can condemn actions without condemning people, can we not?
Also, as for the Taliban, what's wrong with a TERRORIST ORGANIZATION being villains? The same is done with the Nazis, the Russians, and in my favorite game series Assassin's Creed, unfortunately Christians. The last being from a scifi alternate world perspective, but the Catholic Church is very nastily portrayed. That does not make me hate the game or Ubisoft.
There are places, surely, where such characterization is completely unfair. Like all men with mustaches must be the villain. Seriously, though, no instances of outright muslim-bashing in video games comes to mind, and most I have seen take every effort to show that the average muslim is NOT like the terrorists you are fighting. Not denying it doesn't happen, just never seen it.

 

[Nieroshai]

This is where you are wrong. Truth is not based on perspective, if we still believed that, the earth would still be flat. Unless you are a flat earther? In that event,let me introduce you to what is in fact truth. For instance, truth is indivisible in it's definition as: Conformity to fact or actuality. Which is objective, and not subjective as you have stated. This invalidates your claim in it's entirety. Therefore it is your logic that is flawed. Allow me to drive the point home further. There are absolute truths, ones that cannot be questioned. Because to say that there is no such thing as an absolute truth is a self-defeating statement. Because if that statement were not in itself an absolute it would be false!

Truth is a constant, and is supported largely by the factual, not the opinion. In the case of the flat earth, people believed that the earth was flat because that was all the knew. This didn't make it the truth, simply because they believed it. In fact 500 years later, we now know that the earth is round. Perspective can change, the truth, however, remains the same. Unless you actually believe that upon thinking the earth is round, that it suddenly became round?

Morality is another story that is subjective and is based on perspective. As are the concepts of good and evil. For the record, I never said anything about morality. You did. Truth supersedes the subjective. I spoke in terms of truth as in factual evidence that you can find anywhere. On the subject of morality. Look up Honor killings some time. If you don't think that is evil, well, then there is nothing that can be done for you.

Sorry, fail argument.

You're basing your standard for Truth on the false theories of induction, and causality. Our epistemological limits prohibit us from knowing anything outside what we can experience. Objectivity is just lots of people agreeing on something, and calling it "objective" so that it may never be doubted. But of course, they fail, and don't worry the axioms of today will[/b] be the fables of tomorrow.

And I wholeheartedly perceive you as a non-human slave. I perceive it, therefore it's true? Or are you saying there is no truth? Truth is either absolute, or fluid, or nonexistant.

 

[Nieroshai]

I've read several pages of these posts now and I'm calling you all out. Show me ONE anti-muslim game that made it into the mainstream in the last ten years. That's a SUCCESSFUL game that WASN'T accepted by the mainstream public. Million brownie points if you can come up with five from the past five years that reached critical acclaim in ANY publlication. That will prove your argument once and for all, my friends!
For extra credit, find ten games that make Christians look evil from the past ten years. Then find 50 movies that do the same. You'll find the extra credit is practically free points.


Make sure to LIST your answers. Just saying they exist does not work.

 

[zacattack14]

God I am sick of this stupid issue. America does this every time we go to war. The citizens who are not out fighting take it upon themselves to attack those who share something in common with our enemies. We do this all the time. Remember the little diddy with the Japanese, and the Germans, and the Russians. This will all blow over after some dumb politician thinks China just looked at us wrong. And for the record, I am muslim, and my dad was at the pentagon during the attack.

 

[Shadowkire]

I agree that Muslim should not equal villian, but in story telling media (games, books, movies, etc.) it is somewhat understandable that they are often portrayed as villians when you look at the facts:

the basis of any good story is making the listener care about what is going on, the simplest and most often used method is by creating a character the listener can relate to. Because relatively few people in the US, the country to which most games and Hollywood movies are designed for, would find it easy to relate to a religious Muslim or a culturally accurate Muslim man from the Middle East most writers don't make one as the protagonist of their stories.

As for why they are often villains: when creating villains the exact opposite methods are used, creating characters that are very hard to relate to or characters that are easily disliked. When creating a villain or group of villains for a story based somewhat on the real world writers will often pick stereotypes or real world groups that are vilified already (because they are lazy), which is why you get repeat appearances of Nazis, Russians, Treacherous businessmen and politicians, overzealous fanatics(often Muslims these days but I recall seeing Christians in this role in some media), and conscienceless military commanders.

 

[nightkill]

Not...kill/or subdue only in self defense or to defend others of weak nature...the Bible

 

[ninja51]

We make all Russians villians, all Germans, all Middle Eastern people, South Americans, Chinese, and AMerican corporations. Every type of people have been steriotyped and made villians. In fact only recently in modern FPS's have Middle Eastern people been the bad guys, the Russians have taken flack for years before that. Now steriotyping any people is kinda wrong but have a sense of humor about it. I will say though that America has been really fucked up to Muslims since 9/11, funny how people only selectively brand things. You dont see people angry at the entire Christian religion for a few of their nutjobs bombing things.

 

[cmalberg]

I think it is less of an issue of "Hey all Muslims are godless killers" and more "Hey everyone who is different from me is a godless killer." Hell, according to video games, all people from north of the British isles is gigantic and wears a horned helmet, everyone from the middle east is Muslim, Germans are all Nazis, and Americans all have really irritating twangs. It is just the nature of mass media I suppose.