Hey, folks. SinSynn here.
So this is a series I've been plotting for a few weeks, and ugh...what a week to begin.
As I'm sure all of you know, Tuesday was 9/11. As a New Yorker who suffered through that horrific day, I tend to get very melancholy every year 'round this time. Not just on the day itself, because that was just the beginning. The misery that occurred extended for many months afterwards, and virtually every flat vertical surface in my great city was covered with tragic lil' posters that no municipal authority would dare remove.
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| *Images like this still hurt me. Very much* |
Don't get it twisted, New Yorkers are a tough bunch. We bounced back fairly quickly, but our hearts will forever bear a great Twin Towers shaped scar.
It is what it is; our mighty skyline was forever altered, and our city and selves as well.
I'd probably be OK now, except that...well, on the 11th anniversary of that day, a series of attacks began that extended throughout the week. I'm sure you all know about it, and that's not what I'm here to discuss, so whatevs.
It just seems like an odd time to begin a series about 'political correctness in gaming,' is all I'm sayin.'
Apologies for the miserable joke free intro, dear readers. Anyone interested in sharing their own 9/11 memories can head on over to my buddy Purgatus' blog, Best Overall. While yer there, be sure to click 'follow,' and check in when he posts. I'm loathe to use terms like this, but he is 'a gentleman of rare distinction,' a thoughtful writer, and a gosh-darn smart gamer.
He's also a great big ol' knucklehead.
:)
There, I've called someone a knucklehead...I'm feeling a lil' better.
*Deep breath, clearing of throat*
Ok, so here we go...
Right, so anyone that knows me knows I think enforced political correctness is a bunch of crap. What it seems to result in is people using their own special interests as an excuse for seeing everything they don't particularly like as an attack on them.
Some individual gets fired from his/her job, and it's gotta be because he or her is...whatever (choose yer thing), not because he wasn't any good at it, or took too many sick days, was a liar and/or thief, or any other possible reason.
This attitude has pervaded the world we live in until now we've got a literal plethora of laws, rules and company policies seeking to make us behave like some sorta robotic sheep, afraid to give voice to our own opinions.
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| *Get back in your cubicle!* |
I firmly believe that good and decent people should treat each other with kindness and respect simply because it's the right thing to friggin' do, people should earn what they expect to receive, and should receive what they've earned.
Sure, occasional altercations may occur, angry words may be bandied back and forth in the heat of the moment, or whatves, but hopefully when we cool off we'll reach a middle ground of tolerance, acceptance, and possibly understanding.
Rational people are capable of this, I think. I aspire to rationality.
...I do, really.
...
...
Shaddup, youse...and don't you judge me.
I said 'aspire.'
:P
Be that as it may, I've been doing some thinking 'bout 40k lately, and I've been hitting the links here at the HoP, trying to find some direction for my next 40k 'thing,' and for a second, I was like hey, what about the ladies?
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| *So much coolness* |
I mean, seriously, if I was ever gonna do Imperial Power Armor, it would be the Sisters of Battle. Look at the models, man...they're da awesome. Baroque in an obsessively detailed manner, the Sisters present any hobbyist with a completely unique modeling/painting opportunity, not for the faint of heart.
The models themselves will challenge your abilities, of that there is no doubt.
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| *Simply amazing* |
It doesn't take long for the Hamster That Lives In My Head to spin off in wacky directions, however, and before long I found myself wondering why the heck Games Workshop flat-out hates the Sisters.
Y U hate them, GW?
Spinning a lil' deeper, it becomes clear that females in general don't fit into the universes they've created. Deeper still, and it's not just women- it's blacks, Latinos, and pretty much every ethnic group except one.
Inevitably, the Hamster's lil wheel snaps off the spindle, and whoosh...
...Our hobby doesn't do a good job portraying and representing women, does it? Or many of the various peoples that actually populate our planet, huh? Religion and politics tend to be either ignored or glossed over, as well.
Virtually any other medium used as entertainment would at least seek to be inclusive, or pay lip service to these things, for the sake of 'political correctness' if nothing else. And who knows? That might actually lead to someone learning sumpthin,' expanding their horizons of thought, or whatevs.
It could happen, but you've gotta actually touch upon these subjects to open a line of communication, don'tcha?
We play games where most of the issues we're presented with are resolved by killing stuffs. For the most part, video games do, too. As the video game industry has grown, it's had it's share of troubles in the matter of political correctness, but that industry moves quickly, and before you know it, they'll be trotting out a game where you can play as a ginormous, naked black lady while you blow up everything...and why the heck not?
Total Side Note: Hey Ash, Watcha Playin'? (aka HAWP) is one of my fave things. Check out the Minecraft Episode. So funny.
Still, the video game industry takes a lotta heat over it's portrayal of characters like Sheva, from Resident Evil 5.
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| *Racist and sexist! It's a twofer!* |
When stuff like this jumps off in the video game industry, oh boy...heads roll, official apologies are issued, etc, etc.
Our hobby rolls on, as it ever did, in it's gloriously politically incorrect manner, seemingly reveling in it's ignorance of pretty much everything that isn't a white guy.
Sigh.
Sure, I may enjoy a scantily clad model for no good reason, but when I look at the bigger picture I worry that my hobby is doing nothing to be inclusive, nothing to encourage diversity, and nothing to attract customers and new players that are outside the group that's already buying and playing.
Every other industry on the planet courts business from every group of humans, everywhere, and they do so shamelessly. The companies that make our games do not, and our hobby is losing ground and becoming more niche as a result.
Video games are killing it. Period.
Ok, so...now that I've said that, I thought I'd approach this series in a different manner than I usually do.
Why? Cuz I'm a dumbass, that's why.
Sexism, racism, intolerance and ignorance.
I want to discuss these issues with you, but I'd really, really like not to piss anyone off this time. So I will do my best to keep the inappropriate comments and bad jokes to a minimum, and present my thoughts as just...thoughts.
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| *The forthcoming Relic Knights. A lot of the models are like this. Waddaya think?* |
I want you, my readers, to tell me what needs to change in our hobby for it to more than survive, but to grow beyond where it is now. And I'm not talking about awkward change like the medic in Battlefield 3 somehow becoming a black guy following the Beta, which is Lolz-worthy, but genuine change.
The kinda change that'll help it stay alive, and vital, as we move forward- not with enforced political correctness, but with kindness and respect.
Until next time, folks- Exit with catchphrase!
-SinSynn
EDIT:
If you are a member of any group that is misrepresented, under represented, or whatever, and have something to say about this, please feel free to e-mail me at SinSynn@hotmail.com. I have some questions I'd like to ask you, and I'd love to include your opinion.
Thanks.
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