Racism in Skyrim?

[Char-Nobyl]

You know your stuff. This pleases me.

The chinless thing ties into the whole 'milk-drinking pansy' idea. Have a pronounced jawline is a classic sign of an 'alpha male' in media, and saying someone is chinless has been an insult for the upper class. Bretons are half Altmer, racially, and the Altmer are a very arrogant, aristocratic race. The Bretons would catch some splashback from this from the Nordic population. Ironically, the Altmer have always had outrageous chins in the Elder Scrolls series.

Shit, that's right. I forgot about them having Altmer blood as the source of their magical-inclination.

The dwarves are a huge mystery to most, enough that they haven't really got any stereotypes (rather, rough understanding). The mystery is compounded by the entire race (barring the one corprus-ridden dwarf in Morrowind) leaving at once, to a place nobody knows. They have written records, and a few visual representations (assuming the Centurions represent the Dwemer), but the knowledge about the Dwemer is too vague to really understand anything about them. You can tell by the anthropological annotations in the Marobar Sul tales. One tale (can't recall the name) mentioned a dwarven smith making a 'Calling' to his dwarven leader. Are dwarves psychic in some way? Nobody knows. Basically, the only ways common people see the Dwemer are 'Good smiths, extremely smart, love traps and contraptions, all disappeared'.

And also that they didn't put much stock in everyone else's gods. They certainly knew they existed, but in the Terry Pratchet sense that they knew, so there was no point in believing in them. And in the spirit of everyone else completely missing that, lots of writing about them referred to the dwarven reverence for 'Reason' and 'Logic,' complete with capitalization, as if they perceived them as dwarven gods.

Though bear in mind that the Dwemer left a lot of statues and the like, giving us at least a general idea of how they look. And dwarven armor can be found within ruins that is clearly meant for someone of normal stature.

As for the werewolves and vampires, I'd definitely agree with you. The werewolves are able to control their bloodlust, and even can choose to forgo it completely. The only reason some of the Companions choose to turn in to wolves is because they rationally believe that the power gained is worth the risk. Some choose otherwise, and that's okay. There's also one dude cursed by Hircine in, I think, Falkreath. He randomly changes into a wolf, and can't control it, resulting in the murder of a young girl. He's not a normal werewolf though, he's cursed by a Daedric prince, and he tries his hardest to fix himself.

Yeah. Frankly, it seems like a lot of the negative attention that werewolves get is (disregarding the 'wolf-monster' thing) because of how closely they're tied to Hircine. Being favored by a daedric prince is rarely a good thing to have out in the open. Even the not-blatantly-evil ones have to keep their shrines outside of population centers. The most widely accepted among them seem to be Azura and Malacath, through sheer virtue of being the patron of non-evil things and being incapable of subtlety or deception of any form (respectively).

As for vampires, their hunted throughout Tamriel, so they understandably are mostly bad guys. The same goes for necromancers, and even a lot of conjurers. This isn't because their vampirism warps their brain, I believe it's because their constantly being hunted.

Yeeeaaah...that tends to be the case a lot. Take an individually but not inherently aggressive group and hunt them essentially as sport, and you'll turn them aggressive real quick.

Non-hostile vampires, such as Babette, are shown to be in complete control. She hasn't fed on anyone in the Dark Brotherhood, and neither did Vicente Valtieri in Oblivion (not without consent, at least). In one quest, I had to assassinate a vampire who lived peacefully in a town with his partner, another vampire. They had succesfully passed as human for years, which indicates a reasonable degree of control.

Yep. And don't forget Janus Hassildor. Not only is he a vampire, but he's a respected political figure who isn't secretly evil. Valtieri and Babette are both in control of their urges, certainly, but they're both also career killers.

Sorry about the overload of text. I get really passionate about Elder Scrolls, haha.

Nah, it's not problem. It's a slow night anyway, and I enjoy the Elder Scrolls mythos.

 

[Tiamat666]

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?

They're the 'beast races', and have always been seen as primitives by the elves, who occupied Tamriel long before the human races showed up.

So the reason for all the hate against the Khajiit and Argonians is exactly like what happened in South Africa, or well any country that was colonised by a colonial power. The Colomial power comes into a country that is not theirs and stomps on the natives?

The reason is the same reason with racism in real life. They look the most different.

 

[Savagezion]

Hah! I roleplay a racist Nord.

His view on the races:
Altmari - Racist (against humans) assholes. All of 'em. Always trying to put humanity under their thumb. Need to be eradicated.
Dunmer - Sneaky Racist lot. All of 'em. Most in Skyrim are beggars or Assassins or potential spies. Practice dark arts that are savage. Need to be eradicated.
Bosmer - Slightly racist assholes. Most of 'em. Some are 'OK' if detached from elven society. Like the dude in Riverwood.
Imperials - Racist assholes. Most of 'em. Just want to rule over everyone. Care more about their Empire than Tamriel. Destroys cultures with their own and are trying to assimilate Tamriel.
Khajiit - Sneaky assholes. Never trust any of them if you must deal with them at all.
Redguards - Good people for the most part. Strong capable warriors who reflect a bit of Nordic cultural ideas.
Bretons - Mostly OK. Hasn't known many. The few he has have been cowards and assholes.
Argonians - Good people for the most part. Respects their culture and dealings.
Orsimer - Monsters. Can be useful if trained. Like a bear.

If possible, will not trade with:
Altmari
Dunmer
Imperials
Khajiit
(He has had to trade with Imperials so far but I will go out of my way if I can.)

Will kill out of spite:
Altmari soldiers
Imperial soldiers

Overall, he would rather have Skyrim's independence with an alliance with the Imperials over an enemy. He would prefer no elves of any kind or Khajiit being in Skyrim.

It is fun to play into it a little bit. My next character will either be a Khajiit or an Argonian and they will both probably hate Nords. I know the Khajiit will. I'll see where the Argonian goes.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

The general racism doesn't bother me all that much. It's a fantasy world filled with various different races and a rich lore, there's bound to be people who don't get along. Besides, you need conflict in any story.

What does bother me is the way EVERYONE believes my Khajiit character to be a sneaky thief even though she is not. The only one who understands her is Ysolda in Whiterun... but she won't give her the time of day *sigh*

Plus, the amount of times my Khajiit has been called a "milk drinker" is quite disheartening! I'm not sure if that's a racial slur because she is a cat-person or not, because I have heard other characters refer to other races as milk drinkers too...

Khajiit - Sneaky assholes. Never trust any of them if you must deal with them at all.
He would prefer no elves of any kind or Khajiit being in Skyrim.

It is people like you who make Skyrim such a terrible place for my character!

 

[Pat8u]

I have alot of racism towards my khajjit
but that doesent stop all the male nords and dunmer who are interested in my male khajjit

 

[Savagezion]

Khajiit - Sneaky assholes. Never trust any of them if you must deal with them at all.
He would prefer no elves of any kind or Khajiit being in Skyrim.

It is people like you who make Skyrim such a terrible place for my character!

Sorry.

If it makes you feel any better, Khajiit are probably my favorite race. Argonians give them a run for their money though with the ability to breathe under water.

 

[epikAXE]

I gets a little bit intense because when ever you are in combat with a different race they always use these Racial slures that the Bethesda team made up. It kind of gives you a whole apartheid feel.

Silence, Milkdrinker!

 

[DeleteThisAcc]

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

You mean that quest where redguards what to kidnap/kill that redguard woman(princes or something)? "The guards where going on about how the Redguards only wanted to come in to rape children and abduct woman to sell into slavery." Well... they might be right...

Anyway Skyrim is not racist. It depicts world where racism is a problem. If whole game would be "go kill all Khajiit because they are bad" but in game they would not be bad, then it would be racist.


And why people have problem with games like skyrim and racism, why not look most modern shooters where all you do is kill russians, muslims...

It's strange... In games I have already killed whole population of germany like 7 times, but I have newer shoot jew. I consider that racist.

 

[The Lugz]

I always play as Argonians. I think it's pretty cool, really, and adds an extra dynamic of relationships between my character and the NPCs. Honestly I'm as racist as the Nords in that game, since I always try to avoid harming fellow Argonians even when I have no qualms with massacring entire towns of other people. It just makes me feel so guilty when they clearly trust me, and call me their friend (or marsh-friend) and I kill them anyway.

hail fellow Saxhleel marsh friend!

i have Argonians too, i think it's quite apt especially for skyrim considering were reptiles and supposed to have dragon blood
( i get that it isn't that simple, before you have to ram the schooling pencil )

it's also a shame we make such a good pair of boots..

 

[Mittenz]

I haven't heard the Whiterun guards talking about Khajiit or Redguard being racist, but while I was in one of the cities (not sure if it was Riften or Windhelm), I saw a couple Imperials harassing a Dark Elf woman. they threatened to come to her house late at night and assault her. This exchange happened a few feet away from my Dark Elf shadow-mage.
I considered tracking her home and keeping a watch on her house that night, but I didn't think there would really be a scripted attempt for that in the game, and I'd just be wasting time. Besides, there should be enough guards patrolling the place to keep her safe...right?
Does anyone know if they actually follow through with this plan? Because my Dark Elf is sitting on his ass at Breezehome, and he'd like nothing more than to exterminate some Imperial scum from that city. (if I could only remember which one it was )
The guy has a Thalmor robe buried in his chest at breezehome from an encounter he had with a group of these stuck-up supremacists escorting a prisoner for torture just because he worshiped Talos. Slaughtering a couple of Imperial brutes would be fun to him.

The city you're thinking of is Windhelm, where the leader of the Stormcloaks resides in the castle. The men you're thinking of are Nords who support the stormcloaks and hold disdain towards the empire, not imperials.

 

[Mr Companion]

The Stormcloaks are in essence an ultra-nationalist party and a pretty believable one at that when you come to think about it. Look at the BNP for example, its precisely why the empire is a better choice.

To be fair the empire is slightly damaging to Nordic culture but the nords are self destructively racist so its worth saving them from themselves.

 

[spartandude]

this isnt new to fantasy games. oblivion had some racism, and morrowind had alot
however i dont like any organisation that calls itself the empire and has no Death Stars in it, so i went to join the StormCloaks and the first thing i when entering Windhelm... two nords picking on a Dumner (darkelves are by far my favourite race) so i promptly joined the Empire instead hoping they would soon build a massive space station

 

[Proverbial Jon]

Khajiit - Sneaky assholes. Never trust any of them if you must deal with them at all.
He would prefer no elves of any kind or Khajiit being in Skyrim.

It is people like you who make Skyrim such a terrible place for my character!

Sorry.

If it makes you feel any better, Khajiit are probably my favorite race. Argonians give them a run for their money though with the ability to breathe under water.

Hey don't apologise to me, just know that pretty soon all this prejudice will lead my Khajiit character to turn to a life of crime due to her grief. Just sayin'

I'm playing an Argonian now as it happens. The underwater breathing is pretty damn helpful, although it does confuse me when my Argonian emerges from underwater and gasps in air as if he had been holding his breath all that time...

I was curious as to what 'milk drinker' meant so I looked it up on the Skyrim Wiki. Turns out 'milk drinker' is a suck up, who is weak mentally thus relies on their 'mom' which is pretty much an insult to you since to everyone... a thief is a milk drinker who's low and relies on others to get what they want.

This happened when I didn't reach the Giant in time to help finish it off since it was fighting the Companions. They had the nerve to say, "Looks like it's taken cared of, NO THANKS TO YOU." When I replied that I tried (as in tried to come help but they finished it off to quickly) then they replied, "Ah, you're a milk drinker then. That's no excuse to not help your shield brothers and sisters."

Well excuse me that I am a warrior class and you guys killed it off before I could even lay a hit so then you have the nerve to insult me for that. Least you guys made it up later on... but I won't forget that. Ooohhh no, you'll know I am no milk drinker. Khajiits are milk drinkers (joking).

Ahh right, that makes sense! Thanks for the explanation.

I missed the Companions and their Giant with my first character but just stumbled across them today with my Argonian warrior. I was also pretty annoyed that they dared to blame me for not helping when I was literally RUSHING over to get me a piece of that giant slaying action.

My "milk drinking" Khajiit married Aela the Huntress and we regularly go out at night and hunt, either with bows and arrows or sometimes in... other ways.

 

[BoTTeNBReKeR]

I love the racism in the TES Games! It gives me an excuse to add another head to my orc's collection.

 

[Spectrre]

I first realised this just after I picked a race. I chose to play as a Nord which immediately brought the guard with the check list great joy. He was also very taken aback when after he gave his "Norse power" speech the front woman still ordered me to my death. This made me realsise that this game might have a slight Norse supiriourity thing going.

After surviving the dragon onsluaght I was sent to Riverwood, where another man sent me to Whiterun. When I reached Whiterun the first thing that I encountered was a squatter camp filled with Khajiit. I went closer and over heard two of them talking about how the Nords would not let them into Whiterun because they think all Khajiit are rapists and theives. They then went on to say that all they are trying to do is raise a family.

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.

Things like this kept happening throughout the game, and I didn't make a post about it earlier because I thought Yatshee would bring it up in his review of Skyrim but he didn't. So I want to know if I am the only one who has experienced this racism, and if you have, share your tales of witnessed racist actions within Skrim.

Don't always let yourself be fooled tho. Those Redguards aren't as nice as they seem. They're not looking for a friend. They're hunting a certain Redguard woman down that you can choose to help and protect (which is what I did). You'll probably run into some of the Al Akir or whatever they're called (the Redguard men) and you'll see them being not so nice to Redguard females they think is their mark/target.

 

[Dastardly]

I first realised this just after I picked a race. I chose to play as a Nord which immediately brought the guard with the check list great joy. He was also very taken aback when after he gave his "Norse power" speech the front woman still ordered me to my death. This made me realsise that this game might have a slight Norse supiriourity thing going.

...

Things like this kept happening throughout the game, and I didn't make a post about it earlier because I thought Yatshee would bring it up in his review of Skyrim but he didn't. So I want to know if I am the only one who has experienced this racism, and if you have, share your tales of witnessed racist actions within Skrim.

It's supposed to be an issue. The game is highlighting how loyalty to race, rather than loyalty to a cause, can cause tension and problems for people. The game expects you to notice the racism, but it doesn't expect you to agree with it.

As for the "Nord superiority" thing, remember that the Nords are natives of Skyrim. They feel that the other races have basically "invaded" their homeland and taken over. They were overpowered by the Empire, and forced to sign a treaty and accept foreign rule... and people are upset about that. For a real life parallel (sort of), look into the whole North Ireland trouble of decades past.

Also, something to remember -- in a fantasy setting, where people believe in "magic" and "curses" and "destiny," people are bound to be superstitious. And that's all racism is -- an ignorant superstition, believing that a person's race is inextricably linked to their personalities or tendencies. In a way, the game is commenting on how people thought in our own "Dark Ages."

So, you're right that racism is a theme in Skyrim. But the game itself is not being racist, and it isn't trying to make its players racist.

 

[Mikkaddo]

I first realised this just after I picked a race. I chose to play as a Nord which immediately brought the guard with the check list great joy. He was also very taken aback when after he gave his "Norse power" speech the front woman still ordered me to my death. This made me realsise that this game might have a slight Norse supiriourity thing going.

After surviving the dragon onsluaght I was sent to Riverwood, where another man sent me to Whiterun. When I reached Whiterun the first thing that I encountered was a squatter camp filled with Khajiit. I went closer and over heard two of them talking about how the Nords would not let them into Whiterun because they think all Khajiit are rapists and theives. They then went on to say that all they are trying to do is raise a family.

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.

Things like this kept happening throughout the game, and I didn't make a post about it earlier because I thought Yatshee would bring it up in his review of Skyrim but he didn't. So I want to know if I am the only one who has experienced this racism, and if you have, share your tales of witnessed racist actions within Skrim.

I've seen all that and one bit that was so hilarious I was almost not mad. You see I chose to play as a Dunmer, specifically a Dunmer WOMAN, so naturally all the big strong Nord men are constantly belittling me for being just a woman and what not. But more over, the first time I chose to follow the Stormcloak guy cuz he was telling me on the way over (apparently assuming I was a Nord despite the GREEN SKIN) how the Stormcloaks are cool and the empire sucks and all that. So I go to a Stormcloak camp and find the leader who spends about 10 minutes telling me how he plans to personally rape and murder every Dunmer, Argonian, Khajiit, Redguard, Imperial, High Elf, Wood Elf, Bosmer and everything else that ISN'T a Nord and how the Stormcloaks want to not simply "take back the empire" but to eradicate ALL OTHER RACES ONE BY ONE. Then asks me if I want to join. Again, he says all this then asks a DUNMER if she wants to join their cause. Nice job Stormcloaks . . . I'm going with the empire

 

[Jfswift]

It's kind of realistic with the hatred for the elves at least since only recently they fought in a war.

 

[Furioso]

Fucks sake visit an Orc stronghold. They hate everyone.

Huh? I did one quest for them and now every single stronghold welcomes me like a brother (I'm an Argonian), what did you do to piss them off?

Be an Imperial Nord.

Oh that's interesting, didn't know they hated you based on varying races, thought they probably liked other orks, and hated everyone else the same

 

[Oly J]

I'm an elf, and I joined the stormcloaks, which is a little odd I suppose, mind you I also got into a tavern-brawl (I love those) with an anti-dark elf guy in windhelm (least I think it was Windhelm