D&D 5E The word ‘Race’

[Alzrius]

There's no "different experiences and views." With the sole exception of the KKK comparison, everything I said is an objective fact. Especially the investigations and arrests by the FBI for hate crimes and terrorism. There are full logs and investigations into this.

Absolutely nothing you said was objective fact, especially the investigations and arrests by the FBI. That's why you didn't post any of these so-called "full logs" and "investigations" into that.

 

[Mistwell]

I've been in enough casinos to know that lots of women play poker. And lots of women watch sports as well. And neither activity is particularly leaning in any direction when it comes to ethnicity.

Would you say that sports fans are predominantly white males?

Depends on the sport. But yes.

 

[MG.0]

With regard to chainmail bikinis:

...deliberately used to turn a woman ... into a fetish object for the male gaze.

That's the second time in as many days I've seen that exact same BS quote. The other was with regard to artwork in a computer game unrelated to D&D. Is there a factory somewhere stamping out people with this bizarro-world viewpoint?

People like to look at images of attractive people. Most men like to see women, and most women like to see men. Some women like to look at women and some men like to look at men. Some people like to look at both. It harms no one, and pretending we don't helps no one, except maybe those who find sexuality on any level distasteful.

To protest this anti-sex viewpoint I have now decided that all NPC's in my game will wear chainmail bikinis for the next session. Even the males.

 

[evileeyore]

Though I did read on some gaming blogs (video gaming mostly) that some female gamers were being threatened and given a hard time by male gamers using the anonymity of the Internet to rage on them. It was known as Gamergate.

Oh gods. Gamergate is so, so much worse than that.

#GamerGate: Hey guys, I think the gaming news is lying to everyone and trying to paint a terrible narrative in order to change gaming media!

Gaming News: OH NO! Did you hear! #GamerGate is horrible troll misogynist that lives in basement and kicks puppies!

#GamerGate: What?

Gullible 'People': How could you #GamerGate! We hate you forever! We're going gonna dox you and call your work place!

#GamerGate: Guys? We said the news is lying to you...

Gaming News: OH NO! This just in! #GamerGate doxes and harasses women at their workplace!

#GamerGate: .... Ya, we see where this is going...

 

[Morrus]

We're not getting into Gamer Gate here. Drop that subject, please.

 

[Ovinomancer]

I'd seriously consider nuking the whole thread, Mo. This is a highly charged topic in US politics, and it has almost no value as a gaming discussion. It's just thinly veiled politics.

It would make a fine topic for the Circvs, though. I'd suggest people interested take it up there. There's even a thread to discuss the video game thing!

www.circvsmaximvs.com (note the'v's). Eric's grandma doesn't visit, and the denizens bite.

 

[Mistwell]

I do think it's wise to take this thread and related topics to http://www.circvsmaximvs.com/ . Though, it's rough and tumble, and I am not sure some would be able to handle the rowdiness. Consider that a trigger warning, y'all.

 

[evileeyore]

Consider that a trigger warning, y'all.

You sir, are growing up to be a fun ruiner.

 

[S'mon]

Personally I'd like to see the broad use of the word race properly reclaimed to mean any substantial line of descent - "the Scottish race" "a race of pigeonfolk" "the Human race" "the Dwarven race" "a race of Mulhorandi Hill Dwarves", etc etc. 'Race' is properly a broad term. US Higher Education seems to be doing a lot of damage to peoples' brains, narrowing word-definitions in pursuit of ideology. Newspeak sucks.

I'm not sure why this thread is 5e-specific.

 

[Hriston]

All fantasy is, in some way, a metaphor or symbol for parts of the human condition. Being crass and over the top with the associations is just as bad, if not worse, than trying to bleach all the associations out. *shrugs* But the metaphor remains irregardless of your feelings by the very nature of fantasy works.

Sure, as is all fiction and all art. My point, however, since we were talking specifically about race, is that fantasy race is not necessarily a metaphor or a symbol of race in the real world. I much prefer that fantasy race is used as a metaphor for aspects of the human condition that are universal themes, things like greed, domination, corruption/purity, etc. The OP may be correct if what they are saying is that it is problematic to transfer this sort of thinking onto real life racial divisions, which I wouldn't recommend. But the value of race as an element of fantasy can be found, IMO, in recognizing the strains of elvishness and orcishness that can be found in each and every one of us.