Dastardly said:
But we should be careful not to group all of these accusations into the same pot. Some do not have merit, but some do. Otherwise, it's like saying, "Because some people diagnose themselves with Asperger's falsely, we won't believe anyone..." or something.
I personally don't trust anyone who diagnoses themselves with Asperger's, only the people who have a trained medical professional diagnose them (I should know, I'm one of those with the condition).
A lot of these accusations do come across as people searching for something to gripe about and this case (and specifically your response to it) was no exception.
Please understand -- neither I nor the folks writing these articles are against the use of the word "*****." It's a dark game, and that kind of language is to be expected. The problem is the exclusive and pervasive use of the word "*****." Any other words could break the monotony of it.
Nice way to try and avoid answering the question I gave you, but to answer your evasive response I would have to say that you can't claim that you aren't against the use of the word ***** when that was seemingly the platform of your complaint (that every woman in the game is called a *****), either that word bothers you or it doesn't.
If it doesn't then what's the problem?
And using the perceived educational level of the NPCs isn't a defense. The developers have to keep in mind that players will be encountering these random dialogue bits hundreds of times during a playthrough. Repetition is already a problem, just from a "fun" standpoint. When it's a gender-specific insult, that problem is compounded.
I would see the problem with that if the line was something specific that sticks out (I still have funny memories of Mass Effect's 'I will
destroy you') but when it's something that it isn't that hard to conceive that people would say a lot (calling someone a ***** isn't exactly a rare phrase for the criminal element to utter so repetition isn't that large an issue) then hearing something like 'you *****!' over and over wouldn't really draw my attention that much.
Also, about how the lack of education not being a defence, yes it is. I, sadly, have had more contact with gangsta wannabes and chavs that I would have liked throughout my life and I can safely tell you that a lot of them are really unimaginative when it comes to hurling insults (rarely thinking of anything more unique than 'fuck you', 'you [insert racial slur here]' and 'I fucked your Mum'), it really isn't that suprising for those types of people to spam the same stuff over and over.
Again, it's not lazy writing so much as it's just fitting for the characters in question.
The other problem, as I see it? Every woman is described as "*****." You could call Harley Quinn a "friggin' nutjob." You could call Talia an "ice queen." You could think of some insult that's just a little more specific to the woman being insulted. Not only would that provide variety, it would avoid the appearance of a belief that all of these "girl" characters are pretty much the same...
Read my point above about the lack of creativity on the part of thug-like individuals when it comes to expressing their opinions about others, it would seem weird and out of place to have people who are essentially violent idiots start waxing poetic about the various ways in which they dislike various women in the game, these aren't meant to be likeable or foward thinking individuals (in case the whole 'hardened murderer and criminal' thing hadn't clued you into that) and having them be more vocal and expressive about why they dislike these people would result in cheesey repetative lines like my previous 'I will
destroy you' example above.
Also, calling someone a ***** is more of an emotive response than an actual description of someone. You call a woman a ***** because you're angry at her or because you're frustrated and hate her (it's usually because of the
emotions you're feeling at the time), it's the reason so many people throw words like 'fuck', 'shit', '*****' and others around so casually, it's usually an exclaimation or an expression of suprise, anger or irritation (guess which out of those entering a fight with an infiltrator like Catwoman would fall under).
You know what? I don't even think it would be as big a problem if it was just Catwoman described as a "*****." That does, in a way, seem to be part of her persona -- she's a little rougher on men than she needs to be sometimes. As long as the other women got different labels, you could call it an aspect of "characterization."
So you wouldn't have any problem what-so-ever if the other women got different terms of abuse hurled at them?
That's a...strange sentiment to have.
It's laziness on the part of the writers, excused as "character behavior." I find a similar problem in movies where every other word is "fuck." It's not the word that bothers me, it's the laziness -- as though that words is the only way to make things more "edgy" or "adult" or "dark."
And the absence of expletives suddenly makes a work more mature as well? I understand and to a certain extent agree with the notion that just throwing swearing in doesn't make a work more mature but it must be understood that this also applies to the opposite, just because you have swearing present doesn't make a work less mature or adult (I personally believe that the people who believe that it does are just as immature as those who swear excessively).
It's a grave mistake to think that sexism can only be intentional. Someone doesn't have to maliciously want bad things to happen to women. If they just harbor a subconscious belief that all woman are inferior to men... or that most women are inferior to men... or that all women are basically the same... or that all women should be... it doesn't have to be intentional or malicious to be sexist.
Bias is unintentional, we all have biases and they're always active whether we recognise them or not (most of the time we don't). Biases are largely harmless and often don't result in anything (like I said, we all have biases and for the most part we all tend to believe in the equal and fair treatment of others despite this).
Sexism is not accidental or unintended, the people who hold sexist beliefs or commit sexist acts against men or women know what their stance is and why they hold the beliefs they do, they openly acknowledge their disregard or hatred for others and often act upon them in dispicable ways.
Sexism, just like racism and homophobia, is a very heavy and loaded word and should be an accusation saved for actual, serious instances of hatred and malice (like I said in my previous post about how most people tend to overlook the history behind these branches of discrimination) not pulled out whenever someone has a minor grumble or feels like complaining about someone but doesn't want to be called out for it.
Again, it's not the amount of times. It's the fact that it's basically the only insult used, and it's used universally for all women in the game. It's not that the word is being used, it's how. Lazy writing, zero effort to individualize treatment of the female characters, all blamed half-heartedly on, "What do you expect? They're uneducated thugs!" Yes, they are. But writers, you are not.
The writers aren't the ones saying *****, the characters are so stop harping on the 'lazy writers' complaint because it plainly isn't that.
There are reasons to be outraged or concerned about a game (for examples just look at Call of Juarez: the Cartel, America's Army, Custer's Revenge, the leigons of propaganda games out there and Dead or Alive) but the
villains (read: bad guys) calling women bitches is not one of them.
