WHITE GUY DEFENSE FORCE GO!

[N3squ1ck]

This is me at 4:15 am, after some beers and a terrible night on a family celebration, so excuse my sloppy language:

I don't think that this comic is all that funny, but then again, I absolutely hate strawmaning, which this thing clearly does.

I /really/ miss the days when videogame websites were, you know, about sodding videogames and not social justice issues. Those are important, don't get me wrong, and we have to have this discussion in the gaming communities too, but not this terrible circlejerking that is sometimes celebrated here. If I would want this I would go to Kotaku, Jezebel, or Tumblr. We don't need the millionth flame-bait comic, we need to have a real discussion and not trolling - countertrolling, no matter who started it.

I really am concerned about social issues in the real life, but videogames are my way to escape the real world and just lean back and relax in another world. I don't want to get the real world involved there.

Also, kinda funny that this weeks Jimquisition discussed exactly this topic too and that a lot better.

 

[Caiphus]

Do you know why it's impossible surely they could do it if they really wanted to-it is their site after all it just seems strange is all.

Well, the mods don't own the site. They need to answer to someone. And I assume that 'someone' told them not to lock content threads. For whatever reason.

It could be that the thread is locked/connected to the content somehow, and locking the thread would screw with it. I don't know. In any case, the mods have said before that they don't do it:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.825922-Zero-Punctuation-Papers-Please-and-Brothers-A-Tale-of-Two-Sons?page=14#20062734

Normally, a thread as vitriolic and derailed as this would've been locked many pages ago. But because this is a Featured Content thread, it cannot be locked.

Another mod further down that page seemed to suggest that it was more a moral stance/standard procedure thing than an impossibility:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.825922-Zero-Punctuation-Papers-Please-and-Brothers-A-Tale-of-Two-Sons?page=14#20065383

We don't lock feature content threads. That's just not something we do

Edit: I see shrekfan got in an explanation before I did. Splendid.

 

[EvilRoy]

Wait.....


...Doesn't Yahtzee wear a fedora?

:O

Spoiler: Mod edit: Please add spoilers for images!

Thats actually a Trilby, some consider it a sub-category of fedora (it can be referred to as a 'crumpled fedora'), but is significantly different in that it will tend to have a more tightly shorn brim than a fedora and, rather than a guttered crown that might be seen in a fedora, the trilby has a shallow edge-eased crown.

As it was drawn in the comic, it seems like the thin brim of the trilby was mixed with a more fedora like guttered crown. Now that I look at it again, it looks more like a Französin missing a feather.

...

HAT LOVERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

Edit:

I've changed my mind. I think as it was drawn the hat looks more like an unadorned traditional Trachtenhut. Although he would be wearing it wrong in the image if it is. Its supposed to tip back on your head, not forward.

 

[knight steel]

Staff don't want Featured Content threads locked, most likely because it contributes to ad revenue and helps pay the content contributors.

The mods would get in trouble for locking it down, and the staff aren't going to be back in until Monday.

So in the end it comes down to a double standard based around money-contributors and their content/threads make money our's don't so we are expendable.
*EXHALE*
Well that incredibly sad and disappointing I mean I always suspected but still so sad

You're starting to ask too many questions around here kid. People go missing 'round here for that.

Don't I know it and considering my health bar.......I think I'll be leaving now:

Spoiler

 

[Shadowstar38]

Why is Beta a brony? That shit still confounds me.

After encountering about 3 real-life examples of White Guy Beta, I'd say the artist simply drew from reality.

I was going to post a long and witty response to this comic/post explaining why I don't like it and why I feel it doesn't contribute anything worthwhile. Instead, I will embrace my cynicism, tip my hat, and walk into the sunset.

Bullocks. You can't do that. Now I'm going to forever wonder what that post consisted of.

Why is Beta a brony? That shit still confounds me.

After encountering about 3 real-life examples of White Guy Beta, I'd say the artist simply drew from reality.

I disagree!

1000 posts and 30 pages, you guys are terrible people nice work guys! Next time I want to show people how the internet debates controversial, two-sided, morally ambiguous issues like basic racial equality I'll direct people to this thread.

...two sided and morally ambiguous are contradictions.

 

[Shingro]

Why is Beta a brony? That shit still confounds me.

After encountering about 3 real-life examples of White Guy Beta, I'd say the artist simply drew from reality.

I was going to post a long and witty response to this comic/post explaining why I don't like it and why I feel it doesn't contribute anything worthwhile. Instead, I will embrace my cynicism, tip my hat, and walk into the sunset.

He's a class act isn't he? Alt account too. *Clearly* the guy everyone wants to be.

 

[madwarper]

Which he was told not to do by people actually qualified to handle such a thing. Not illegal, but really freaking stupid.

Did you even listen to the 911 tape?

He was asked where Martin was going, after he lost sight of him. So, he exited his vehicle to follow after him.
Then, when he was advised not to follow, and he stopped the attempted pursuit.

Complex chain of events? All he had to do was not follow him. End of conflict.

All Martin's father had to do is keep his home well stocked with snacks.
All Martin's mother had to do is not kick him out of her home after being suspended.
All Martin's school had to do is not suspend him for possessing a bag of pot residue.
All Martin's school's police officer had to do is not search him on suspicion of vandalizing school property.

See? I can lay blame on several people for not doing simple things that would have kept this conflict from having happened.

And, of course, all Martin had to do was enter his father's house when he got there, instead of circling back to attack Zimmerman.

People were already going off on a tangent about a one panel joke. It was off topic way before I got here. That or, it's still on topic sense it's part of the strip. However it works.

I was quoting the Code of Conduct.

Deliberately posting inflammatory comments falls under being a ... I can't say, because that's also prohibited by the CoC.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

...two sided and morally ambiguous are contradictions.

You're absolutely right good sir! I've amended my post to properly represent the many complex and completely reasonable stances people have on the issue of basic racial equality.

 

[The Wooster]

Staff don't want Featured Content threads locked, most likely because it contributes to ad revenue and helps pay the content contributors.

The mods would get in trouble for locking it down, and the staff aren't going to be back in until Monday.

So in the end it comes down to a double standard based around money-contributors and their content/threads make money our's don't so we are expendable.
*EXHALE*
Well that incredibly sad and disappointing I mean I always suspected but still so sad

You're starting to ask too many questions around here kid. People go missing 'round here for that.

Don't I know it and considering my health bar.......I think I'll be leaving now:

Spoiler

Why would the Escapist make any more money on featured threads over regular ones? Same amount of ads being shown, same amount of ads being seen.

 

[Shadowstar38]

All Martin's father had to do is keep his home well stocked with snacks.
All Martin's mother had to do is not kick him out of her home after being suspended.
All Martin's school had to do is not suspend him for possessing a bag of pot residue.
All Martin's school's police officer had to do is not search him on suspicion of vandalizing school property.

Pointless examples. Zimmerman's actions had a direct cause in the incident.

I was quoting the Code of Conduct.

Isn't that in and of itself going off topic?

 

[Broderick]

Why is Beta a brony? That shit still confounds me.

There is a stereotype that shows bronies as socially inept misogynistic man children, with small streak of racism on the side. I won't argue that the stereotype does describe someone out there, however it is far from the norm. I am a bit confused on why that specific character was a brony though; the stereotype usually focuses on the misogynistic part rather than the racist most of the time. Maybe it is because he specifically mentions "white, heterosexual males", which is a large part of the brony fandom. Eh...I got nothing; I am just throwing ideas out there.

 

[thenoblitt]

That comic was so incredibly racist, and filled with stereotyping. Yeah you show people with your hypocrisy. Yeah the comic should be more like this.

"If race doesn't matter, why isn't he a black guy?"

"Because race doesn't matter"


Problem solved, race doesn't matter, it doesn't matter if he is black or white, and you are stirring up race baiting, good job.

How is it racist when the voice of reason is a black immigrant?

Ever got the idea that racism isn't exclusive to white people?

So who am I being racist against? Is it just a knee-jerk reaction to yell 'racist' at anything you don't like?

No the white defense force is completely racist. That is stereotyping white people. The black guy has nothing to do with it, and guess what racism isnt a white only thing. Saying that only white people can be racist, is a statement that is racist in itself.

 

[Shadowstar38]

Why is Beta a brony? That shit still confounds me.

There is a stereotype that shows bronies as socially inept misogynistic man children, with small streak of racism on the side. I won't argue that stereotype does describe at someone out there, however it is far from the norm. I am a bit confused on why that specific character was a brony though; the stereotype usually focuses on the misogynistic part rather than the racist most of the time. Maybe it is because he specifically mentions "white, heterosexual males", which is a large part of the brony fandom. Eh...I got nothing; I am just throwing ideas out there.

The weird part is, the majority of bronies I've meet are gay or bi.

 

[madwarper]

Pointless examples.

Like I said, complex chain of events that puts any one person any where at any point in time.

Zimmerman's actions had a direct cause in the incident.

As were Martin's actions. They both have a hand in creating the conflict.

Isn't that in and of itself going off topic?

You openly admitted to violating the CoC. I'm pointing it out to you in hopes you won't repeat the same mistake again. I wouldn't want to see you get banned. This thread has more than enough causalities.

 

[Broderick]

Why is Beta a brony? That shit still confounds me.

There is a stereotype that shows bronies as socially inept misogynistic man children, with small streak of racism on the side. I won't argue that stereotype does describe at someone out there, however it is far from the norm. I am a bit confused on why that specific character was a brony though; the stereotype usually focuses on the misogynistic part rather than the racist most of the time. Maybe it is because he specifically mentions "white, heterosexual males", which is a large part of the brony fandom. Eh...I got nothing; I am just throwing ideas out there.

The weird part is, the majority of bronies I've meet are gay or bi.

I know right? Most of the bronies I know are actually women(that also happen to be gay or bi) so it is odd. hrm.

 

[thenoblitt]

...but Zimmerman isn't even White. Or am I missing a joke here?

You don't have to be Hispanic(though Zimmerman is partially Hispanic?) to murder a black guy who isn't holding a traditional weapon(a lawyer argued the sidewalk was a weapon [I'd say it was available to both of them if that was the case.]) is the point of that part.
Zimmerman ultimately killed someone who at best was winning a hand-to-hand fight and then decides to shot to kill first chance he gets. The fact that no one else is a direct physical witness to the conversation before the fighting or during taking the only version of events of the "victor" shouldn't immediately be considered truth or fact.

There's a saying that goes: History is written by the Victors. If that's you making yourself out to be the hero is a pretty sweet deal if you can "quiet" any evidence to the contrary.

There was a teenage boy that saw the whole thing who said everything zimmerman said was true. Listen to the phone calls, zimmerman approached trayvon, trayvon ran, came back and said now you got a problem then attacked him, held him down mma style and tried to grab his gun, yes trying to grab someones holstered gun is enough reason to believe they are trying to kill you. You are completely ignorant and did not follow the case at all, you are just following this tumblr of the week race baiting new bullshit.

 

[Vegosiux]

1000 posts and 30 pages, you guys are terrible people nice work guys! Next time I want to show people how the internet debates controversial, multi-sided, morally ambiguous issues like basic racial equality I'll direct people to this thread.

Well, luckily we have the shine of paragons like you from the ivory spires, unreachable by common peasants, yet a clear sign that it is worth fighting for the internet, if only for the sake of the oh-so-scare morally and intelectually superior individuals, looking down upon the cesspit that is the rest of the internet, as an angel chorus sounds.

It's good to see there are still people who have their head on their shoulders (for whatever reason that might be).

...

Yeah, I've been up too long again, and I've got a fever. I think I'll show myself out and get some sleep instead of making a fool of myself now.

 

[thenoblitt]

Staff don't want Featured Content threads locked, most likely because it contributes to ad revenue and helps pay the content contributors.

The mods would get in trouble for locking it down, and the staff aren't going to be back in until Monday.

So in the end it comes down to a double standard based around money-contributors and their content/threads make money our's don't so we are expendable.
*EXHALE*
Well that incredibly sad and disappointing I mean I always suspected but still so sad

You're starting to ask too many questions around here kid. People go missing 'round here for that.

Don't I know it and considering my health bar.......I think I'll be leaving now:

Spoiler

Why would the Escapist make any more money on featured threads over regular ones? Same amount of ads being shown, same amount of ads being seen.

When there is content made by the site, their are going to be more people flocking to it.

 

[Caiphus]

When there is content made by the site, their are going to be more people flocking to it.

To be fair, the same could be said of any forum topic that is likely to devolve into a flamewar. And those are the most likely to be locked.

 

[DjinnFor]

You don't find it funny? Well that is because its making fun of you, and it couldn't be any more blatant about it. The rest of us seem to think its hilarious.

Whoa now; I didn't find this funny. So it's making fun of me, you say? You mean this joke is meant to be a parody of me, specifically?

Because then it's just sad and pathetic, really. I could find the humor in it when it was making a goofy caricature of a non-existent entity, or perhaps a cynical reflection of a distant reality. As long as it wasn't pretending to represent me, that's okay. But to think that people are conflating the absurdism in the comic with myself...?

Please, tell me, enlightened one: tell me what exactly what this is parodying about me? Tell me, please.