Racism and You

[VanityGirl]

To go ahead and stop the people who are going to say "search bar" I looked to page 13 and did not see another thread relating to this.
(Though there were some about specific games with "racist" undertones)


Have you ever noticed how all kinds of groups today will point out racism in either movies, books, newpapers, video games and the like?
How many times can we honestly say there's been blatant racism in a video game, movie or book?

I'm sure many of the escapists remember the article about L4D2 and Call of Juarez: BiB
http://blogs.chron.com/gamehacks/2009/07/racism_in_video_games_the_new.html#more

This guy is saying how the games have racists undertones and how any game dealing with the "Old South" can be touchy. In my personal opinion, it's only "touchy" if you try to make a big racist deal out of it.


Now, we, as human beings and gamers, need to set the record straight.
How many times do we buy a game in hopes to "kill all the mexicans" or to "murder black people"?
Odds are very slim.


I'm beginning to think that racism is an illusion and that we humans are to stuck on that illusion.
I think our art, media and commnications are so limited because some people are afraid of offending someone by sayin something that a group may think is wrong.

I could be wrong, but I've opened this thread for a discussion.

Do you think idea of racism is being taken too far?

Also, if you could help me, what is the exact definition of racism?

Are we all racist somehow?

 

[PxDn Ninja]

Racism is discrimination or dislike of a person or group of people based on race.

As for today's standards, I agree with you. I find the only people I hear of that truly are racists and the ones calling racist on other people. In games, race can help build a background of a character depending on the title, but rarely are racist intentions...intended. In the few situations where it is, it usually is related to the game itself (Mass Effect for example), and usually serves to show the futility of it and to show the type of world it is in.

 

[Cargando]

I think racism is basically intolerance of other people races, religions or beliefs. I am not racist, I believe in the equality of all life.

EDIT: But I do think people need to lighten up about it a bit.

 

[iggyus]

All this hype about racism is bullshit. People just use it to get attention or troll. Honestly, has anyone seen or heard of a KKK gathering in the area or mass black or Asian murders? Didnt think so, racism died a long time ago in the majority of the population but some people just need to bring it back

 

[Legion]

Racism isn't an 'illusion' but it is most certainly taken too far. People need to lighten up and stop taking things so personally.

Like how a few Muslims in the UK complained because a local cricket team were called 'The Crusaders', the name was changed upon request because it was seen as offensive due to 'The Crusades' by the Christians however many hundreds of years ago.

I was told the definition of racism and the difference between Racism and Prejudice but it has temporarily eluded me.

As for the question 'Are all racist?' No, being slightly uncomfortable around other races or whatnot is not racist, it is instinct to be wary of those who are different.

 

[Baby Tea]

I think racism is very real, and I think it's still very much a problem today.
I also think that me being a white person limits my ability to see and relate to most racism around me.

Really quick: Am I saying racism against white people isn't racism? Not at all.
What I'm saying is that I'm only really tuned to see that type of racism, as well as the blatant, over the top racism of the KKK and other similar hate groups.

Any white person who says racism isn't a problem today is just stuck in a bubble of racial ignorance.

As for games: Do I see a problem with there being black zombies in a game set in Africa? Or black zombies in a game set in the south? Or with little brown hooded thieves in a forest level of a silly beat-em-up?

Personally? No.

But I find it hard to fault people for being cautious or giving a knee-jerk reaction to something that very directly relates to them, while not at all relating to me. Whether or not this 'limits' art or media, I think, is a very silly point. The 'restrictions' of a PC culture exist because racism, sexism, bigotry, and ignorant hate still weave their way through our culture. If everyone was 'just joking' then maybe it wouldn't be an issue, but, quite frankly, not everyone is joking. Some people are racist or sexist, or bigoted in some other way, and we all have to pay the price.

That isn't everyone, thank goodness, but what can we do? The actions of the few ruin it for everyone else.
Not everyone is a thief but we all have locks on our doors, right?

 

[Cheesus333]

So in Resi 4 it was okay to obliterate Mediterranean Europeans as a distinctly American special agent, but when you're a distinctly American special agent murdering Africans, the racism flag falls?

I'm not sure I understand their point... I think it might be that Africans deserve life more than Spaniards. But... isn't that a little racist?