Racism in Skyrim?

[someonehairy-ish]

Everyone has experienced this, its a pretty big theme in the game. People are dicks to you if you're argonian or khajiit or occasionally if you're orc or dunmer, the guard to Windhelm pretty much refuses to let you in if you're argonian...

Also, isn't it more speciesism than racism?

 

[MarineSquadDeployed]

There's quite a bit of funky racism going on in the Reach, which I found pretty interesting. Basically, it seems like the Breton-ish natives of the Reach have been or are being systematically displaced by Nord conquerors, mainly led by the Silver-blood family (who, if Ulfric wins the Civil War, will take over as Jarls of the Reach).

It makes me a bit frustrated that you can't actually join the Forsworn (basically the Breton resistance), since they're quite clearly the good guys in the conflict (for a given value of good).

Though there seems to be some in-story confusion regarding whether or not the natives of the Reach are Bretons. The castle chef at Markarth will say something to the effect of "I'm a Breton, not a Reachman. I came here from High Rock", while one of the in-game books (I think Madmen of the Reach) notes that the Bretons and the Reachmen have some distinct similarities.

 

[IlikeLolis]

There is Racism cuz Racism is Real and Dramatic.

2 Things the Elder scrolls likes to be is Realistic and Dramatic so it's actually their job to be racist.

 

[Thanatos5150]

Racisim is actually a pretty big thing in Elder Scrolls. It's a mainstay of the series, just like the whole starting-off-in-prison thing.
Try booting up Morrowind as something *other* than a Dunmer sometime. Your reaction scores with Dunmer NPCs drop like rocks.

 

[Sir Prize]

"So I want to know if I am the only one who has experienced this racism..."
Your forgetting the golden rule. Furthermore these Redguards are looking to abduct a woman... hah.

SPOILER...sort of.
EDIT: That's what I get for rushing through dialog.
Well, she's either a criminal or spoke out against the Thamlor...I'm still betting the second one.

OT: It makes sense and also gives more balance to the whole Stormcloak vs. Imperial thing. Sure one side wants to free Skyrim from elf control and allow religious freedom, but they also want to kick every non-Nord out. The other is pretty damn harsh and allowed the Thalmor to pretty much do as they please.

 

[Folji]

Though it was probably just a bug or glitch that caused it, the first time I went to Riften (playing as a Breton bard/spellsword, which is a race most others don't really care enough to be racist toward) the Argonian innkeeper there actually opted not to show me to my room. Fair enough, I thought, then proceeded to search every bed in the building until I found one that would let me sleep in it.

 

[Mr Goostoff]

When I entered Whiterun I saw a group of Redguards being herassed by Whiterun guards. The guards where going on about how the Redguards only wanted to come in to rape children and abduct woman to sell into slavery. When I went up to one of the Redguards, he said that they where just looking for a friend and if I could help

Just saying, The Redguards in question were actually sent to murder this "friend" they're looking for... So yeah...
Although I will say, I find the racial tensions in Skyrim to be very interesting. As I play a Wood Elf, I don't really receive much hate, at least not directly towards me (I have gotten a few racial remarks about being an Elf in general, not necessarily a Wood Elf).
Conversely, I got a pro-Wood Elf comment during the Dark Brotherhood questline.

Spoiler

When the other chef in Solitude told me that she figured such a renowned chef as The Gourmet would have to be a Wood Elf

I have noticed the racism towards other races though. The segregation of the Dunmer in Windhelm, the disregard for the Khajiit, the general hatred for the Altmer, the feud between the Empire and the Stormcloaks, and I find it all very compelling. It gives the world as a whole a lot more character as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Doomcat]

Racism has been a key feature in every TES game so far, although maybe I've experienced it more than most since I always play as Argonians.

Also if you think the people of Skyrim are racist you clearly haven't played Morrowind, where Argonians and Khajiits were commonly enslaved and put to work, and practically everyone thought they were "lesser" beings.

^^ pretty much this, except most of the characters i play are Khajiits, and mages as that. in my experiances in the game its common for the random (humanoid) NPC's to spout racial slurs at me during battle, one that after a while was quite annoying was to be called a mangy housecat, just for that insult i tended to give special treatment.

Honestly i think its pretty cool, if the NPCs treated you the same no matter what race you were i would find it a bit annoying, though some NPC's don't care what race you are and i DO find that annoying.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Dunmer ghetto, Argonians living right on the docks, Khajiit excluded from cities.

Yes there is racism (and speciesism I guess too), but off course when you have such huge differences among the different people inhabiting a land, it's not that surprising. And since racism is still alive in a world with nothing but humans, can you really be that surprised when you have different kinds of elves and beast-people running around and having their own lands and cultures?

Wow.. I guess not too many play as Redguard eh? Always fun having a general good store clerk outside of Dragonreach offering to buy one of my relatives.

I'm not really sure what the point of this is... because we need to turn to Skyrim to see shocking examples of racism and prejudice?

While playing as an Argonian, at least one shop keeper will jokingly (or is he) offer to buy members of your family.

He says that to anyone I believe. It isn't to show he's racist so much as show he's willing to buy anything.

I dont mind the hate between the imperials and the Nords, but when it comes to opressing the Khajiit, Its just wrong, It is like animal abuse. They are a minority being stomped on by the strongest group in the realm, the Nords. Its just sad I guess, Hahaha!!!

I find that highly offensive. We people of the beast-races are not animals. We may not be humans or elves, but that doesn't make us like tigers or lizards.

 

[Brainpaint]

From what I know about the elder scrolls series there's been racism in it since the start. In Oblivion I got a lot of comments made against my Argonian character. In fact if you encounter angry guards one of the things they bring up is race. "You filthy nord!" and the like.
And what about the slavery of Argonians and Khajjit in Morrowind?

 

[freaper]

It is like animal abuse.

Well, that's just racist.

I also didn't come across any dialogue with "rape" in it, even though I've had my fair share of racism.

 

[masticina]

Yeah
I have a Kaijit so I do bear the brunt of it. Nords only really trust Nords..the rest of the species are just visitors. And since it is a big time of war and trouble.. doesn't helps.

Don't get me wrong sometimes the Nords are right about certain individuals being trouble. But yes there is allot of prejudice! Yet my Kaijit is quick and nimble just what I need so I don't care that I am treated slightly less.

Like others already said in the whole TES Story there are allot of wars, political issues and so on. Now Kaijit do have a bad name for a reason they excel in thiefing and sneaking so guess what they do. And not to mention I did notice skooma being sold by some of my fellow furred brethen. Yet I like it.. those fight fights are made easy with claws

 

[NightHawk21]

Of course. It's everywhere.

It's happening because there's a rebellion going on between the Empire and the Stormcloaks. Stormcloaks want all non-nord occupants out of Skyrim. Empire wants to keep things the way they are. Makes sense in-universe. And it's pretty much why I didn't join the Stormcloaks.

Though I agree it's not too subtle, but then again considering Nord culture, subtlety wouldn't be one of their strong suits.

Go to Windhelm. Plenty of racism there.

And the guy talks about your "norse power" no matter what race you are. Just replace "Norse" with "Imperial", "Orc", "Argonian", and so on and you get the idea. Supposed to make you feel good about choosing your class.

Exactly, racism (or rather this sterotyping) is/was always pretty prevelant during war time.

Also look in the spoilers for some fun facts.

Spoiler

- The Khajit are traveling merchants so they always tent outside the city. It is also worth noting that these Khajit deal in Skooma (Elder Scrolls equivalent of meth or some other hardcore drug) and fence stolen goods, so they're not that innocent.
- The Redgaurds are actually assassin's there to kill a women for excercising her right to free speech.

The more you know.

 

[NastoK]

I'm pretty sure you... adjusted your examples a bit, as I remember no mention of rape whatsoever, nor the Redguards looking for a friend, but I won't delve too much into detail. Yes, racism is in the game, and it's better for it. And, as mentioned, is one reason I can't see myself joining the Stormcloaks while playing a non Nord character. Though the Forsowrd are looked down upon as well.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

The Khajiit have never been trusted by other races in general. Most Khajiit have an inborn tendency to be thieves and bandits. Of course, not all of them are bad but enough are that it became a stereotype for the entire species.

Don't forget that their most famous (and probably biggest) export is drugs. And they are notorious for being addicted to it.

I believe Morrowind had it a bit worse. With racism, slavery etc.
Fun times. But hey! It's war and society! WhoO

That is true, I cant remember a single time in Morrowind where I saw a Khajiit or Argonian that wasnt a slave. Why are those two groups hated so badly by the other groups?

I've seen a few. There are a couple argonians in belmora that aren't slaves, and I've seen a few khajitts who are merchants, one in a mage guild as an apprentice, and one in pelagiad that....ahh...yeah she tried to put the moves on my khajiit, I think....

And I think they're hated because they look animal-like. Ergo, they can be seen as sub-human.

I believe Morrowind had it a bit worse. With racism, slavery etc.
Fun times. But hey! It's war and society! WhoO

Of course a N'wah would say that, the Dunmer just want to be left alone you S'wit.

*gets into character for his morrowind character, a khajiit named swiftheart*

Rude Dumner person seems to be mistaken! Swiftheart is KHAJIIT! Not "Enwah", silly! Although you CAN call Swiftheart a "swift". Makes good nickname. Now swiftheart needs to go back to "sharing". Everything belongs to everyone, after all.

*goes on to root through your stuff while you're not looking, to "share" it with everyone.*

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

When I went up to one of the Redguards, he said that they where just looking for a friend and if I could help.

Yeah, that's a total lie. Keep playing the game. You'll see unfair racial stereotypes; you'll see people voluntarily succumbing to their specific racial stereotype. It's the reality of the world. The only racism in games that Yahtzee points out is when it's ironic, over-the-top, intentionally mean, or making a big fuss in current news, all of which Skyrim isn't guilty of.

 

[lacktheknack]

<link=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FantasticRacism>You DO realize that it's intentional and purposeful, right?

 

[Belaam]

The world tries for realism.

Ergo, there is racism. Against the least human looking races in particular, but a little bit among everybody.

This has been a pretty common theme in TES games.

I'm frankly a little sad that even though they included gay marriage, they didn't code in responses to it. It would have been far more immersive if some races were really upset by it and some didn't care.

 

[lacktheknack]

Sur-fucking-prise. A fantasy medieval setting and people have prejudices? Grow up. And the Red Guards weren't looking for a friend. Know what yer talkin about next time, it'll help you not look like a twat.

And ofcourse they keep different outsiders out of their cities during a civil war. They've got enough shit to deal with other than foreign spies and parasites.

And ofcourse Hadvar is positive towards you, people like their own people. Hurpydurpy durr. Can you tards stop posting these pointless "ZOMG RÄJSISM!!!111 IN SKRYIM!!! threads, they are pointless.

Uh huh. A search turns up no other racism-in-Skyrim threads. Where are "all these" threads? I can't find them.

Also, reported for being needlessly antagonistic. Leave it for the Religion and Politics board.