Homophobic Elves

[Xarlen]

I heard that it got a lot of press from young women, on mesage boards and forums. So, I donno.

And, just being a little defensive, Serge.

About orcs, I believe that in some packs of animals (Dogs?) that males will hunch one another to show dominance. Which, is something I was sort've associating, there. Perhaps not best, with Orcs.

 

[The Serge]

I think American English has deviated from UK English in discarding female endings for Sorceress, Heroine, Actress etc, although there is some Politically Correct impetus to discard feminine endings here in the UK also. There are quite a lot of little differences like this - most people here still refuse to call my American wife 'Ms' the way she wants, she ends up being 'Miss' on most forms.

You're right. I should have made that clear in my post. However, I don't know that I'd call it "politically correct" due to the stigma associated with that term... unless that's the reason why you used the term.

I think it's a good thing that we're trying to move away from that kind of language. It's fine to recognize gender, just like it's fine to recognize race, ethnicity, and all that. However, all of these things, when "recognized" too much can become divisive. Like George Carlin said, one can go too far, but I think saying "Ms." as opposed to "Mrs." is a healthy change for a variety of reasons. I think eliminating "heroine" is also good since gender is largely irrelevent with regard to the act the hero accomplishes UNLESS one thinks that women have a hard time being heroic.

 

[S'mon]

You're right. I should have made that clear in my post. However, I don't know that I'd call it "politically correct" due to the stigma associated with that term... unless that's the reason why you used the term.

I think it's a good thing that we're trying to move away from that kind of language. It's fine to recognize gender, just like it's fine to recognize race, ethnicity, and all that. However, all of these things, when "recognized" too much can become divisive. Like George Carlin said, one can go too far, but I think saying "Ms." as opposed to "Mrs." is a healthy change for a variety of reasons. I think eliminating "heroine" is also good since gender is largely irrelevent with regard to the act the hero accomplishes UNLESS one thinks that women have a hard time being heroic.

I generally disagree, I prefer the feminine endings, although "A Land In Turmoil Cried Out for a Hero - She Was Xena...!" doesn't particularly bug me. I don't see anything lesser or disparaging about heroine as opposed to hero, for instance, but apparently some people do, or at least associate it with hard drugs! I do find that when running or playing a fantasy game, gender-neutral endings are harmful to the mythical flavour - Circe is the Black Sorceress, not Black Sorcerer! Basically it depends on how the in-game culture views things - eg if they see a Witch as a completely different thing from a Wizard, a female graduate of a Wizards' academy will be termed a 'female Wizard', not a Witch.

 

[The Serge]

About orcs, I believe that in some packs of animals (Dogs?) that males will hunch one another to show dominance. Which, is something I was sort've associating, there. Perhaps not best, with Orcs.

No need to be defensive, but I do apologize if that's how my post made you feel.

As for animals. Well, there are birds of the same gender that mate for life and evidence of preference in some mammals (like lions). Heck, the US government supposedly spent over a $1,000,000.00 to research sheep to determine if they could be homosexuals.

They can be.

 

[The Serge]

I don't see anything lesser or disparaging about heroine as opposed to hero, for instance, but apparently some people do, or at least associate it with hard drugs! [/QB]

Heh.

I do find that when running or playing a fantasy game, gender-neutral endings are harmful to the mythical flavour - Circe is the Black Sorceress, not Black Sorcerer! Basically it depends on how the in-game culture views things - eg if they see a Witch as a completely different thing from a Wizard, a female graduate of a Wizards' academy will be termed a 'female Wizard', not a Witch.

Oh, I agree with that aspect. It is a fantasy game, afterall, and I have no problem with that language in a fantasy game. However, it's when we enter the public and real world that such issues become important.

 

[Xarlen]

As to the titles, I think some Gender Neutral terms are fine, especially when we consider the Core Rules, and Manuals. They should be set up to be gender exclusive (And, the Art should cator to ugly female characters, or female characters of a wide range, IMO too), just to make it fair, and Neutral.

But, on an IN-game scale, keep some gender terms. Sorceress, Loremistress (Hm), Baroness, Countess, Witch, Warlock, etc.

And, Serge, I thought I put you off with my orc example, and thus I felt the need to explain. No worries.

 

[Piratecat]

25 posts, and this thread hasn't exploded. I love you folk.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

You still can't have our Bud Lights.

I love you folk.

 

[radferth]

Here my idea: the male elf prince's family tries to get the PCs to stop the mariage to the male human hero, or the elf or hero try to get them to stop the parents from stopping it. Let the players assume that it is because of the same sex nature of the union, but later reveal that the family does not like the idea of their son marrying a human, they hoped he would find some other male elf to settle down with.

 

[garyh]

Here my idea: the male elf prince's family tries to get the PCs to stop the mariage to the male human hero, or the elf or hero try to get them to stop the parents from stopping it. Let the players assume that it is because of the same sex nature of the union, but later reveal that the family does not like the idea of their son marrying a human, they hoped he would find some other male elf to settle down with.

Clever!!