What We Lose When We Eliminate Controversial Content

[Reynard]

See this right here is what's irritating... We have a black (African) figure known for an amazing thing, and who has so much capability and potential in his abilities and intelligence but you've tied his entire identity to slavery... do you know how often this happens to black historical figures, characters, heroes, etc. It's a tiring old trope. He isn't great because he was a slave... he's just a great historical figure who accomplished something amazing. If you enjoy this trope have at it but I think (besides placing him in the situation to become a samurai) you are giving way too much credit to slavery as opposed to the actual man.

I appreciate that but I also think it is undeniable that his story is historically compelling because of those circumstances. We know about him above any other number of highly capable but low born soldiers lifted up to a higher social tier because of his blackness in the context of 16th century colonialism.

 

[Imaro]

I appreciate that but I also think it is undeniable that his story is historically compelling because of those circumstances. We know about him above any other number of highly capable but low born soldiers lifted up to a higher social tier because of his blackness in the context of 16th century colonialism.

Or his story is historically compelling because he was African and became a samurai... slavery was just the device that put him in the circumstances to be one. Here's a test.. name 3 other Africans who became a samurai?

 

[Reynard]

Or his story is historically compelling because he was African and became a samurai... slavery was just the device that put him in the circumstances to be one. Here's a test.. name 3 other Africans who became a samurai?

You obviously want to argue, so I will leave you to it.

 

[Imaro]

You obviously want to argue, so I will leave you to it.

No I obviously want you to realize you're defining him mainly through slavery as opposed to his accomplishments. The very thing I was talking about.

This is exactly what I mean about defining black people through slavery. If you honestly believe the only/main thing that makes the FIRST foreign samurai, who was also from a totally different culture originating in Africa and able to become a warrior noble of another nation, compelling is the fact that he was a slave... that's really the problem in a nutshell.

 

[Reynard]

No I obviously want you to realize you're defining him mainly through slavery as opposed to his accomplishments. The very thing I was talking about.

This is exactly what I mean about defining black people through slavery. If you honestly believe the only/main thing that makes the FIRST foreign samurai, who was also from a totally different culture originating in Africa and able to become a warrior noble of another nation, compelling is the fact that he was a slave... that's really the problem in a nutshell.

In said that the context of slavery and colonialism makes Yasuke's story compelling. You are the only one reducing it to "just that he was a slave" -- not because you believe that, but because you want to be mad and argue with someone who believes that. Have at it, but don't paint me as the villain you want to fight. I'm not interested in being your cathartic target.

 

[MGibster]

To proscribe "any kind of basis" seems like a bit of a misunderstanding of how creativity works. I might go so far as to challenge anyone to find a single fictional culture that has absolutely zero basis in real culture. It might be conceptually impossible.

You're preaching to the choir here. When I designed my dwarf campaign, I had absolutely no problem ripping off Bavarian culture nor did I have any pangs of guilt for using Spain for my humans.

 

[Imaro]

In said that the context of slavery and colonialism makes Yasuke's story compelling. You are the only one reducing it to "just that he was a slave" -- not because you believe that, but because you want to be mad and argue with someone who believes that. Have at it, but don't paint me as the villain you want to fight. I'm not interested in being your cathartic target.

Are you reading what you just wrote... You're stating that objectively and definitively slavery is what makes his story compelling. That's the part I find the least compelling of his story. That's what I am saying. And yes claiming that IS what makes it compelling is diminishing and reducing all the other reasons his story is compelling and resting it squarely on the fact he was a slave. I don't want to argue but you're giving me a prime example of why black people (at least in America) are slowly growing fed up with the slave narrative. It's a part of our history... it's not who we are, it doesn't define who we are and it isn't solely (or IMO mainly) responsible for making our stories compelling.

 

[billd91]

In said that the context of slavery and colonialism makes Yasuke's story compelling. You are the only one reducing it to "just that he was a slave" -- not because you believe that, but because you want to be mad and argue with someone who believes that. Have at it, but don't paint me as the villain you want to fight. I'm not interested in being your cathartic target.

But by constantly harping on the slavery and colonialism, you keep implying that Yasuke's story would NOT be compelling absent the slavery and colonialism context. I mean, it's true that colonialism is what took him to Japan and it's most likely slavery that first brought him to contact with the Jesuit colonizers. But nothing past that point drives the compelling nature of his story?

 

[Teo Twawki]

Generally no, with the exception of forced sexual assault.

at some point or other in my game you're pretty much certain to encounter slavery, colonialism, genocide, torture, mind control, racism

Asking, not sniping, for a clarification of what differentiates "forced sexual assault" and "slavery, colonialism, genocide, torture, mind control"?

At least four of the five latter activities inherently encompass the former.

 

[Umbran]

I am not saying we need to wallow in the horrors of slavery, colonialism, terrorism, fascism, etc... But I do think that we do not want to erase those things from our game worlds, because they give us the opportunity to create heroes that feel more real -- because in the popular imagination at least, it is rising above injustice (in all its forms) that makes heroes.

All this "we" and "our", as if we had to all do the same thing.

Indeed, we can turn this around a bit, and note a trope I've often seen discussed. When many writers of fiction want to show a character is "tough", they do so by introducing trauma into their backstory. With female characters ,the go-to trauma seems to be sexual assault.

Because, yes, sexual assault is a real thing. Even a common one, in the real world. But it is also super easy to use. Cheap, even, if not handled with sensitivity and some understanding of the realities, which are often not in evidence. When it becomes common, but handled poorly, the result is unsatisfying, even inslulting to real-world survivors of the trauma.

I have witnessed my wife pick up a book, and nearly instantly physically toss a book aside, saying, "Welp, by page three, the main character has been raped. I'm done."

So, using these controversial, adult, or historical issues can be fraught - they give you the opportunity to make characters that feel more real... at the cost of not actually understanding the reality.

Do you scrub your world of slavery and other historical crimes? If so, how do you encourage heroism?

This kind of weird skew of the world sometimes happens - if you like a thing, or find it valuable, it suddenly becomes required. But it isn't like historical injustice is the only valid source of conflict!

If a bunch of PCs goes out after a dragon that's been ravaging the countryside, or to lift everlasting night that has draped the land in everlasting winter, there's no "historical crime" (as I think you are using the term) involved. Heroism is about taking personal risk for the benefit of others - that can be done fighting slavery, or rescuing someone from drownings in raging rapids.

If not, what do you do to mitigate the real potential discomfort such subjects can cause?

Have an adult discussion with the players about what bothers them, and asking about what is fun, what is tolerable, and what isn't, and how they'd like it handled.