Columnist Deems Enslaved Racially Insensitive

[Sennz0r]

I have nothing to say about the story, but I honestly have no idea why stuff like this gets posted since all the reactions from people here are exactly the same.

You mean "being offended is bad, and you are a bad person for being offended?"

Basically, yeah. I don't necessarily agree with the columnist, but these reactions are so incredibly predictable.

Its the same every time. Article about Jack Thompson? "He's an idiot who knows nothing about games!" Ebert saying "games aren't art"? "Who cares what he thinks, he looks at films and is an idiot." Like, who the fuck cares man?

Paying attention to this stuff ensure it will keep happening.

It's news related to games. The Escapist reports on news, and lets its members voice their opinion. Yes with articles like this you usually get a fairly one-sided response, with some people bringing up some interesting points.
If you want more purpose to these kinds of threads, you could consider playing devil's advocate, see if any of the generic responders have anything more to say on the subject.

 

[Weaver]

This guys argument:
"I read too much into this and it hurt my feelings so I want it banned."

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

So is DBZ racist then?

Hm?

what about The Pokemon Infernape?

Because all of them are based on the same damn thing.

 

[The Human Torch]

The best thing we can do about this, is just not give the write any attention, at all. Beating a dead horse will be a lot less interesting for THEM when no one gives a shit.

 

[mr_rubino]

Not every slave was black. If you want proof just look at the Roman Empire's Slave trade. Also in middle age Europe, peasants were basically slaves and they were the same race as the nobility! Hell there is still slavery today among the Chinese Mafia trafficking people. Shouldn't we be just as sensitive to them. I think monkey would be a little it tanned, having to work in the sun all day. According to this guy we should ban all media containing slaves fighting for freedom, so logically we should also ban the film Spartacus.

This is precisely what's bugging me so much about this whole thing. While this man is accusing others of racism he is simultaneously insinuating that black people should be treated differently to people of all other races when it comes to depictions of slavery, apparently ignorant of the fact that throughout history people of all races have been (and still are) slaves. This is another form of the racial discrimination he is so self-righteously railing against, and it makes me very uncomfortable.

Meeting one intellectually dishonest argument with another intellectually dishonest argument doesn't help anything.
In U.S. history, slavery was a distinctly racist institution. You could only get slaves in one color when you went shopping. Early (very very early) on, you could get a second, but they were taken off the market because they broke down too easily, and the fact that the available number seemed to plummet with each passing year.

 

[Ekonk]

I hope to one day make a game that offends little pricks as him and all his prick friends even more.


EDIT: Also, how about this.
"THIS IS RACIALLY INSENSITIVE, HE'S A SLAVE AND HE'S CALLED MONKEY!"
"Soo... what? How is that racially insensitive? Slavery went on with all colours in the days of the Romans, for example."
"BUT HE'S CALLED MONKEY!"
"So - ahhh. You're connecting monkeys and black people? That's pretty fucking racist, dude."
"..."
"GTFO."

 

[CK76]

Classic Billy Madison quote needed

 

[meowchef]

Escapist Forum-goers deem columnist retarded.

 

[Yankeedoodles]

You know, I've never understood why people use "olive" as a skin tone. The only olives I've ever come across have been green, black or a kind of purplish color. None of which are the sort of "tanish" color that people seem to use the word to describe.

 

[captain underpants]

Dear God, why do we keep giving these nincompoops airtime?

 

[GrinningManiac]

I disagree with his idea that the game has racial and/or slavery-based undertones. I think that's just overreaction. He's called Monkey because he can climb around scenery like the aforementioned primate. The same logic could be pointed at Russel Crowe, claiming his last name to be a racial slur. It's just a word that has another connotation that is, in this case, not being employed.

I do agree, though, that if Monkey were actually black, I would find myself making the same connections.

 

[silasbufu]

Go love a duck you lifeless little man.

 

[KingPiccolOwned]

Oh, it's racially insensitive? Oh my, I'm sorry person who wrote the article, were your feelings hurt? Please tell me what your point is? Are you concerned that someone might play the game and think that slavery is okay? If not, what are you worried about? Are you just complaining to get your quota of race card playing for this month?

(this written to the author of the original article, not the Escapist article)

I think we should send him to therapist Ermey...

 

[kickyourass]

People like this guy need to be kicked in the head, it's one thing to say that RE5 is rasist what with it's mud hut dwelling spear throwers half way in, but calling Enslaved racist because the enslaved character's name is Monkey? That's beyond stupid.

 

[the_bearpelt]

Honestly, I thought the racism was directed at the female character for a moment before I read. She's much closer to being dark-skinned than the man is. He looks white to me.

 

[TheGreekDollmaker]

Everyone who read Collumist as Communist please raise your hand.

Other than that another Resident evil 5 oh-its-kinda-racist thing.

Resident Evil 5 i can understand, a couple hours in and your killing native africans barely dressed with a 44. slugs.

Enslaved on the other hand? Really?

 

[Spencer Petersen]

Because we all know, if you create any work even mentioning slavery, it automatically becomes offensive, I mean, look at the terrible works like Amistad and Glory. I mean, because they mention slavery, they must be terrible

In all seriousness this person is blabbing about nothing. Slavery is a subject and this person is one of those people who is so hypersensitive about it I'm guessing they are probably more racist than the game is. It reminds me of the person who claimed that L4D2 was racist because there were black people amongst the zombies.

 

[Olorune]

As a black guy, I can see what he's saying, but I also think he's just looking to start up some trouble. He's looking a bit deep into the subject for something that I just don't think is there. I do agree, however, that if Monkey's skin color was darker, I'd see a problem and speak up about it...but it ain't so go play the game and stfu, dude.

 

[hanaharu]

Oh my god not this crap again!!! this really needs to just stop.

 

[Olorune]

Oh, it's racially insensitive? Oh my, I'm sorry person who wrote the article, were your feelings hurt? Please tell me what your point is? Are you concerned that someone might play the game and think that slavery is okay? If not, what are you worried about? Are you just complaining to get your quota of race card playing for this month?

(this written to the author of the original article, not the Escapist article)

I think we should send him to therapist Ermey...

Agreed!
But still...what the hell is a "jack-wagon"?