Scribblenauts Caught Being Accidentally Racist

[Megacherv]

"Your copy" my arse, it's not out here yet!

Must wait for the UK release, I couldn't get used to US wordings

 

[Thaius]

Sigh... the fact that people actually give a crap about this shows how far down the tubes our society is going...

Racism is dead, okay? There are a couple random people that are still racist, and they really just don't matter to society. We have to stop making such a big deal out of it: we're the ones keeping it alive by seeing a racist behind every bush.

 

[Keane Ng]

I prefer the term "racially insensitive" to "accidentally racist," it's more refined and more descriptive of the situation and actions.

But they're not being insensitive. That would imply that they should have known better, that they should be sensitive but, perhaps by choice, weren't. The fact is that they just didn't know in the first place, that it was all just an accident.

I don't think there were "actions" to speak of in this situation at all. No actions were taken - in fact that's the problem, is that it was all just a bad coincidence and nobody at 5th Cell was trying to make this happen. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are racially sensitive at 5th Cell - Slaczka's quotes certainly attest to the fact that he is (at least after the fact) - so I feel like calling the game "racially insensitive" is giving it a harder time than it warrants.

The phrase "racially insensitive" certainly sounds a lot more official, but I don't think it's necessarily more descriptive here.

 

[Amnestic]

Excuse my naivete, but how is a watermelon tied to afroamerican people?

It's an old stereotype that African Americans love chicken and watermelon.

Not just chicken. Specifically chicken of the Fried variety. Often it comes in buckets in drumstick form.

The More You Know.

Someone sees something that could loosely be connected to a loose affiliation of a well-known-to-be-shit stereotype and that's construed as Racism? Am I the only one who sees a problem with this train of logic?

 

[Eruanno]

And in Sweden, "sambo" is a girlfriend/boyfriend who lives in the same house/apartment as you, but you're not married.

(Sam = samma = "same" Bo = "Live" or "Place to live" so together "Same place to live" essentially. Although it is kind of a funky word)

 

[Susan Arendt]

Excuse my naivete, but how is a watermelon tied to afroamerican people?

It is said that blacks LOVE watermelons. And I am sure that many do, but so does a lot of white people.
OT- This is just stupid, I have never heard of that word before, and probably nor have most people. Something is only racist if the intent behind it is racist

Google "Little Black Sambo." I assure you, this is a well-known term in the States.

 

[Hazy]

Excuse my naivete, but how is a watermelon tied to afroamerican people?

It's an old stereotype that African Americans love chicken and watermelon.

Not just chicken. Specifically chicken of the Fried variety. Often it comes in buckets in drumstick form.

The More You Know.

Someone sees something that could loosely be connected to a loose affiliation of a well-known-to-be-shit stereotype and that's construed as Racism? Am I the only one who sees a problem with this train of logic?

Furthermore, it's rather silly how quickly people are willing to jump on the "RACIST!" bandwagon at the first sign that something even loosely connected to racism is detected.
[small]See: Left 4 Dead 2 and to a lesser extent, Resident Evil 5's controversy. I wanted to clarify that I was not aiming this whole thing at Scribblenauts.[/small]

But really, it's quite silly that people still flip out about something as stupid as racism at all.

 

[DrTrevelyan]

I don't care if it's the name of a 3rd world country fruit. Sambo is a very well established racist word in the US. It's akin to Coon and Darkie, so to pretend that you're so world-educated to know what a gourd from Namibia is, but you don't know a racial slur from pre-WWII. Then you are morons and have no business make a word game.

 

[Hazy]

I already have mine, pre-ordering rules! It also comes with a snazzy rooster hat.

Seriously!?
Where the hell are my car keys!?

Also: Where did you preorder?

 

[Acidwell]

i never heard of it as a racist term. Where i'm from people use it to mean sandwich

 

[messy]

I don't care if it's the name of a 3rd world country fruit. Sambo is a very well established racist word in the US. It's akin to Coon and Darkie, so to pretend that you're so world-educated to know what a gourd from Namibia is, but you don't know a racial slur from pre-WWII. They you are morons and have no business make a word game.

I agree with you, but I wouldn't say no business. Probably just one guy trying to be smart and unique and interesting etc. Also I've rarely heard sambo out side of the US so it could be form a different country (the person who suggested it)

 

[Buschmaki]

Excuse my naivete, but how is a watermelon tied to afroamerican people?

It's an old stereotype that African Americans love chicken and watermelon.

I believe Dave Chappelle said, "If you don't like chicken and watermelon ************ something is wrong with you." Because chicken and watermelon is awesome no matter what race you are

 

[j0z]

Excuse my naivete, but how is a watermelon tied to afroamerican people?

It is said that blacks LOVE watermelons. And I am sure that many do, but so does a lot of white people.
OT- This is just stupid, I have never heard of that word before, and probably nor have most people. Something is only racist if the intent behind it is racist

Google "Little Black Sambo." I assure you, this is a well-known term in the States.

Hmmm... interesting, I live in the states and never heard of it. Then again, where I live there aren't many blacks to be racist to.
But this magazine is based in what... the Carolinas? so you guys are around it more than I am, I guess.

 

[DrTrevelyan]

I agree with you, but I wouldn't say no business. Probably just one guy trying to be smart and unique and interesting etc. Also I've rarely heard sambo out side of the US so it could be form a different country (the person who suggested it)

I know you are right; already many people have posted different countries use of the word, but if the developers are expecting the U.S. to be a big part of your audience/customer base, then they have to be a little more in the know. Plus, it's such an obscure word, that it seems pointless to have it in the first place, when there is plenty of usable vocabulary that probably got passed over.

 

[scotth266]

How can anyone possibly not know that "sambo" is offensive?

Quite easily, actually. I only knew that it was a form of martial art up until today, and I'm the person that my friends and family turn to when they're looking for a human thesaurus.

Words can take on different meanings in different cultures as well: in fact, I believe that there are words in Spanish-speaking countries that can either be innocuous or an insult, depending where you live.

 

[AvsJoe]

Hmm... so "Sambo" = "Fig Leaf Gourd" ~ "Watermelon"

And now I know (And Knowledge is POWER!).