What's with all the -sism accusations lately?

[FitScotGaymer]

Something I have really notice lately is there has been a sudden upsurge in the past few weeks and months of people shrieking irrational accusations about sexism, racism, and any other ism you can think of lately.

The other day there, there was what 3? 4? threads all screaming about sexism in video games on this very forum.

Last week I myself got a long winded rant accusing me of ignorance and racism on the BSN because I happened to note in a thread about including black skinned peoples in Dragon Age that given black people evolved in subtropical climes, and given the world of Thedas' similarity to Earth in terms of climate (and the affect THAT has on evolution) we can safely assume the same would be true for that fictional world, then it would be unlikely for a black skinned race to pop up in any large scale on the continent of Thedas (which as has repeatedly stated by the Devs is a Europe-like continent in climes and cultures) they would have to have emigrated en masse.
The response by one person was to scream that I ignorant and racist for pointing out a historical and geographical fact, and logically applying it to the world of Dragon Age.
The mind boggles.

So I am wondering now, what is with the sudden obsession with everything being sexist, racist, ignorant, prejudice, and so on?

Do we think that the world has suddenly become a more prejudiced and ignorant place? Or are we simply overreacting to it all?

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

Largely because of the Tropes v woman kickstarter, the nun affair and lara croft rape strory have been the biggest talking points lately and with these "ism" issues all popping up one after another the talk on the matter has not had a chance to die down. Hell last week we had "girlfriend mode" and this week Team Ninja are going on about jiggle physics again, its just snowballed to the point where every week there is something on these issues.

 

[Phasmal]

Normally what I see happen: 2 or 3 people say something is sexist.
400 people come crashing into the thread screaming about how everything is overblown and how outraged the other people are, when they're generally not.

My advice?
Next time someone accuses you of an `ISM` and you disagree, try shrugging and saying `Sorry, I don't agree`, obviously, feel free to say why, but recognise when you and the other person are simply not going to agree. And try to stay away from posts that just sound like `NO! STOP HAVING OPINIONS I DON'T LIKE!`.
Isms are not that scary, people bringing them up are generally not outraged, and if you think they don't have a point, shrug it off and get on with your day.

Inb4 people telling me I'm overblown and outraged.

 

[FitScotGaymer]

@TheArtificiallyProlonged

Yeh the whole reaction to that Kickstarter was appalling I agree.

Apparently Lara Croft rape thing was blown out of proportion by a misquoted PR rep or something; and as for the Nun's being slapped about thing?
I think it was a fanservice thing that backfired badly.

Team Ninja are Grade A idiots, but I don't think they r sexist.

@Phasmal

So you think overrreactions generally?

 

[Phasmal]

@Phasmal

So you think overrreactions generally?

I think mostly people talking past each other.
As I've been in more and more of these conversations it becomes easier to recognise when someone is just so commited to their idea that they're not even thinking about what you're writing and you end up going in one big circle.
Only way out is to break the circle by going `You know what? IDGAF`.
No matter what side of the debate you're on, if it's going in circles, the best thing to do is bail.

Sometimes those conversations actually do lead to a realisation, but it's once in a blue moon.

 

[Spartan Altego]

It's the latest trend, screaming about whatever new "ism," generally gets attention from otherwise un-interested people. Sometimes the people who mention it have genuinely interesting or insightful things to say. Other times it's simply used as a way to make something you don't like seem worse than it is or is a simple case of a person screaming words without knowing the real meaning.

And now that threads are being posted about it left and right, it's reached the height of popularity. Give it a few more months and everyone will be ranting over some new trend that happened to catch on. Hell, in those same threads there are complaints about seeing the same thing over and over again already. As far as The Escapist goes, people are already sick of it, it seems.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I think mostly people talking past each other.

Phasmal, as usual, hits the nail on the head.

It's almost always the case that people in the big blow-up flamewar arguments are carrying personal baggage irrelevant to the discussion and they aren't even really talking to one another. To a certain extent, a lot of the ranting isn't about the argument at all, it's more about venting over that personal baggage.

The problem is all that noise usually drowns out the rational discussion - which is a shame, because the rational discussion is always important to have.

Silly Trilligan, Phasmal can't hit nails, she's a woman, and nail hitting is reserved for manly men with manly hammers of nail pounding fortitude

Joking aside, I agree. Most of the time, it's just people screaming their opinions at each other with very little actual discourse.

It's gets...

Tiresome.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Silly Trilligan, Phasmal can't hit nails, she's a woman, and nail hitting is reserved for manly men with manly hammers of nail pounding fortitude

Joking aside, I agree. Most of the time, it's just people screaming their opinions at each other with very little actual discourse.

It's gets...

Tiresome.

Oh wow, quoted by Daystar.

I feel special.

I was gonna say something about men and women and pounding but it just came out all wrong so I scrapped it.

You had the chance to make a dirty joke and you blew (hah!) it?

You have much to learn, young Trilligan, much to learn indeed.

But don't worry, like the beacon that guides a ship to harbour, I will take you under my wing and sculpt you into a masterpiece of dirty joke telling proportions.

 

[Ryotknife]

sexist, racist, rapist, pedophile.

These are all very serious issues. unfortunately, with our sensationalist society the mere accusation is often more damning than any proof. In these four cases, falsely labeling someone these can very easily ruin their life. Sure, they will be vindicated in court without proof, but society/businesses will wash their hands of that person so that they dont take the risk.

Not on the internet of course, but in real life. Still, it is a scummy tactic to use either out of spite or as a tool to deflect the conversation. There will always be people who legitimately want to fight the good fight against these evils, and there wtill be people who will twist it to serve their own selfish desires.

It is not unusual characteristic of humanity.

 

[Ryotknife]

I think mostly people talking past each other.

Phasmal, as usual, hits the nail on the head.

It's almost always the case that people in the big blow-up flamewar arguments are carrying personal baggage irrelevant to the discussion and they aren't even really talking to one another. To a certain extent, a lot of the ranting isn't about the argument at all, it's more about venting over that personal baggage.

The problem is all that noise usually drowns out the rational discussion - which is a shame, because the rational discussion is always important to have.

Silly Trilligan, Phasmal can't hit nails, she's a woman, and nail hitting is reserved for manly men with manly hammers of nail pounding fortitude

Joking aside, I agree. Most of the time, it's just people screaming their opinions at each other with very little actual discourse.

It's gets...

Tiresome.

pff, that just means she has a good head on her shoulders

she doesnt see the appeal in volunteering to accidently smash one's fingers with a heavy piece of metal like some people who wield these mighty instruments.

hell, i still have the scar from when i sent a screw all the way through my finger.....freakin 40 foot metal studs....

hitting reverse on the screw gun was fun.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

But don't worry, like the beacon that guides a ship to harbour, I will take you under my wing and sculpt you into a masterpiece of dirty joke telling proportions.

Already want to try to master my dirty proportions? You move fast, Daystar. You could a least buy a fella dinner and take him to a movie first.

That's not my style.

I like to get in and out before anyone knows what's happened.

Like a ninja.

A ninja of sex.

A Sex Ninja.


[sub][sub]Smooth, Daystar, smooth...[/sub][/sub]

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I think mostly people talking past each other.

Phasmal, as usual, hits the nail on the head.

It's almost always the case that people in the big blow-up flamewar arguments are carrying personal baggage irrelevant to the discussion and they aren't even really talking to one another. To a certain extent, a lot of the ranting isn't about the argument at all, it's more about venting over that personal baggage.

The problem is all that noise usually drowns out the rational discussion - which is a shame, because the rational discussion is always important to have.

Silly Trilligan, Phasmal can't hit nails, she's a woman, and nail hitting is reserved for manly men with manly hammers of nail pounding fortitude

Joking aside, I agree. Most of the time, it's just people screaming their opinions at each other with very little actual discourse.

It's gets...

Tiresome.

pff, that just means she has a good head on her shoulders

she doesnt see the appeal in volunteering to accidently smash her fingers with a heavy piece of metal like some people who wield these mighty instruments.

But how would she get a thrill equal to that of potentially smashing one's fingers into a bloody mush?

In the kitchen?

I think not.

 

[Ryotknife]

I think mostly people talking past each other.

Phasmal, as usual, hits the nail on the head.

It's almost always the case that people in the big blow-up flamewar arguments are carrying personal baggage irrelevant to the discussion and they aren't even really talking to one another. To a certain extent, a lot of the ranting isn't about the argument at all, it's more about venting over that personal baggage.

The problem is all that noise usually drowns out the rational discussion - which is a shame, because the rational discussion is always important to have.

Silly Trilligan, Phasmal can't hit nails, she's a woman, and nail hitting is reserved for manly men with manly hammers of nail pounding fortitude

Joking aside, I agree. Most of the time, it's just people screaming their opinions at each other with very little actual discourse.

It's gets...

Tiresome.

pff, that just means she has a good head on her shoulders

she doesnt see the appeal in volunteering to accidently smash her fingers with a heavy piece of metal like some people who wield these mighty instruments.

But how would she get a thrill equal to that of potentially smashing one's fingers into a bloody mush?

In the kitchen?

I think not.

That just means she values her fingers because she needs them for gaming, an endeavor i think we can all appreciate.

(why do i have a feeling my complements are going to get me in hot water?)

 

[Phasmal]

o_o

I went away and this thread became about me.
This must be kind of like what it's like to be Daystar.

But how would she get a thrill equal to that of potentially smashing one's fingers into a bloody mush?

In the kitchen?

I think not.

I'm a feminist! I get my thrills from manipulating the menfolk into hammering nails for me and then I laugh as they crush their fingers.
Obviously.

Seriously, though, I've never hammered a nail. But there's been no reason to!
I could hammer a nail!
I just don't want to.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

Controversy and screaming generate a lot of page hits and therefore ad revenue. Rational discourse is boring and thus does not encourage people to check the forums every 5 minutes to see if that one asshole posted something else stupid.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

o_o

I went away and this thread became about me.
This must be kind of like what it's like to be Daystar.

But how would she get a thrill equal to that of potentially smashing one's fingers into a bloody mush?

In the kitchen?

I think not.

I'm a feminist! I get my thrills from manipulating the menfolk into hammering nails for me and then I laugh as they crush their fingers.
Obviously.

Seriously, though, I've never hammered a nail. But there's been no reason to!
I could hammer a nail!
I just don't want to.

I don't believe you.

I think you're grossly exaggerating you ability to hit small metal things with bigger metal things.

 

[Overusedname]

Team Ninja are Grade A idiots, but I don't think they r sexist.

I can see someone didn't play Other M....I envy you for that.

They don't strike me as people who have an ounce of respect for women, honestly. In fiction nor reality, otherwise they wouldn't have taken the medium's most beloved, respected and idolized female badass and turned her into a submissive little girl afraid of the dark who needs her 'daddy's' permission to turn on her heat resistant suit when she's burning to death. They also made a nice comment defending this, saying they were trying to make her a more 'realistic women'. Tasteful.

Agreed on the Grade-A idiot thing. But I honestly think they're complete and utter sexist pigs XD, especially when they accuse their own country of unanimously approving of objectification outside of porn. (They don't. Look up Miyazaki.)

OT: This is the kinda thing I think it's okay to obsess over. This is kind of a growing pain phase for our little medium. I think a lot of the recent complaints have been overblown by a vocal handful of people, but in general, the fact that we look at these sorts of trailers and complain about being pandered to is a sign we're growing up. I think that's a good thing. Gamer's of both genders are a bit more aware of this sort of thing.

I also don't think this should be a 'fad' everyone obsesses over for a brief amount of time. It should be one of the topics we constantly discuss...though maybe not as obsessively as we do right now.

Most people have a weird definition of feminism right now. Going off the webster definition, everyone on this cite is probably a feminist. Going off Sarkeesian's version, you'd think it was an evil conspiracy to make both men and women hate their own sex drives. Because of those skewed definitions, I think we need to dial back the discussion and talk about these things at a slower pace. A lot of people are still convinced feminism is some kind of terrorist invasion.