Poll: Taking criticism of large groups personally.

[yeti585]

did we forget this chart

that says white and male on that damn poster

That chart has an agenda. Notice how it doesn't include the protagonist of Mirrors Edge or the played character in Portal. Two great games loved by a good part of the gaming community. And this isn't an insult to you or directed at you in any way, but the "white male" protagonist argument is taking on water.

On the topic of being insulted because a group is insulted; I try not to be because the people that generalize others into groups are the kinds of people that don't see why others complain about their groups as a whole.

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

I comment on R&P regularly and have never gotten as much as a warning. If I took things personally I would have been banned months ago.

Somewhat more seriously, I do understand this. I still find myself trying to defend Republican policies I no longer even believe in and I am no longer one of them at all. We humans find it quite cozy in our varrying social groups and become quite defensive when they are attacked even if we agree with the attacker. It is a hard thing to get past, though it is essential if you intend to live rationally.

 

[NoeL]

I do, but for different reasons. When people ***** about my "group" it's often because my "group" are being dicks. I don't feel bad for being lumped in with them, but I do feel ashamed for sharing a group with jerks.

 

[DugMachine]

For the third time this month, militant vegans. I don't know what it is and I don't even interact with these people but when I visit their blogs and them pretty much openly saying if you aren't a vegan you should kill yourself it just upsets me and I get all riled up. But can't be helped and I definitely won't be getting into any flame wars over it.

 

[yeti585]

SNIP

Let's examine that chart. First row, Column two. Snake. More importantly, Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The game that launched in '04 and a series that has stood for longer than that. I don't see how switching a character randomly in a long standing series would be necessarily a good thing.

Column four, row four. Niko Bellic. An European immigrant to the USA, that's a common trend in videogames isn't it?

If I could remember where half these characters are from, or who they are for that matter, then I'd tell you more. If this is a trend in videogames, then the trend must be "easily forgettable white guys".

Let's look at some of the games people are talking about (courtesy of GameFAQs top 10 games list)(as a disclaimer; I am not trying to say these are games everyone likes or everyone is talking about. I am merely using them for a point). Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim a game where you create your own character. League of Legends, I've never personally played, but I've gathered from friends that you have the choice between male and female characters. Far Cry 3 played through a white male, you've got this one. Skyrim again. Halo 4, a game where the main character wears a full bodysuit of armor 99.7% of the game. Assassin's Creed III, the main character is a mixed (native american and Caucasian) male in colonial america.

I wasn't trying to start a debate. You don't have to get angry about it. And the actor example you gave doesn't work because there are specific roles that call for people of all ethnicities and genders. I'm not trying to say there is not discrimination in the world today, I'm saying that the argument about most video game protagonists being white males is getting less and less credible.

 

[Vault101]

snip?

its ahot button issue thease days...*shrug*
to be fair I don;t know what its like to be on ther other side (the white male privalige thing)

honestly no amount of explain is ever going to justify people whining about fake nerd girls to me, its a fucking hobby, not a secret society, there are no initiation rituals

though when somone does go on about "neck beard nerds" I feel a little offende don their behalf

 

[BreakfastMan]

Not really, if it is indeed criticism and not blatant insults. It is the difference between "all Americans are fascist pigs!" and "American culture could do with a little work, and I don't particularly like it's tendency to outright invade other countries and overwrite the local culture".

 

[Vault101]

I have to wonder, though, if maybe people are over-sensitive to generalizations because they are worried there is a grain of truth to be found in them. Who knows? Topic for another day.

no, it's because they are fucking stupid....


"I'm such a nice guy..but I can;t get a girl because they all like assholes[footnote/]the confident guy who isn;t me[/footnote] and when they get dumped they cry and wonder why..and then expect ME to be there to say its ok[footnote/]HAHAHA take that fuckin bitches! (+10 for condecending attitude) no...I'm not bitter at all[/footnote] <-well that right there's your fucking problem

theres an element of truth in any sterotpye but some fucktard who wandered around using them as an excuse to blame their problems on or to base all their actions is on is just plain wrong and annoying

 

[Pink Gregory]

I think the tendency on the internet is that you can't be wrong (or even have a differing opinion) without being called a ****, or that at least being heavily implied.

 

[Ryotknife]

Just remember, all feminism means is equality between the sexes. If someone calls themself a feminist and says that all men are scum and that the world would be a better place if women had all the power, they are doing it wrong.

If you want to know why feminists are being so persistent, here's a website [http://whoneedsfeminism.tumblr.com/] which might give you an idea.

This [http://fatuglyorslutty.com] is a fun one that's gamer-specific.

That is what they SAY feminism is. Yet feminism is now the greatest opponent to gender equality (mostly because the sexists have had their teeth removed so they no longer have any power to affect change on a country-wide level). 15-20 years ago, yea I would say that feminism was the greatest movement for gender equality. But not the movement as it exists right now. I believe in gender equality, but I would never label myself a feminist. If i had to lavel myself as something, I guess it would be a humanist.

The feminist movement has served its noble purpose. It is time to reinvent it under a new banner. The movement is shackled by its own past and it betrays the purpose it says it still aspires to.

 

[MakerofMysteries]

did we forget this chart

Spoiler

That chart is a stupid, inaccurate representation. Some of the brown-haired white males are 20-somethings.

Vere are zeh blonde übermensch? Vhy are zere no older gentlemen? Vhy does only one have what I most hesitantly call a beard? Vhy are zey all Americans?!

 

[Doclector]

Mega snip

But I don't disagree with it most of the time. That's the thing, I never have and never will be a sexist, and I know that most just want equality. Every time the issue comes up however, I feel lumped in with the crowd, I feel like I'm having a label put on myself that because I'm male and play games I'm constantly telling women to get back in the kitchen.

Disengaging from the debate isn't so easy either, as, well, it's everywhere. It's even been on memebase and as said in the OP, on cracked.

Part of the whole point of the thread is that I do realise that this criticism isn't truly aimed at me, but rather at the actual perpetrators, I still feel like I'm being scolded for something I didn't do, and honestly, having an essay on the subject aimed at me doesn't help that feeling.