Enough popcorn for two Ammonite??
!
Hmm, Sera's a lesbian. Woe to my male playthrough where I romance everyone. He'll be sad. But since like, all my other playthroughs are female, I'll get to experience her awesomeness at some point! Woot.
. My popcorns going stale.
The very first words, "For me", remove any paradox. The statement isn't that there's no difference, only that for the purposes of the quoted individual, such differences don't matter.
Obviously there's a difference between a gay person and a straight person. But is it really any greater than any other difference between two different people? Is it really any different than tall vs short? Left handed vs Right? Bald vs Blonde? Is sexuality so great a difference that it needs to be called out, or remarked upon? Do we have to start introducing people as 'the lesbian' or 'the heterosexual'? I don't believe so.
I have friends of all genders, sexuality, and ethnicity. Exactly 0% of the time do I define them by any of those traits. I do not think of them, nor do I identify them as those groupings. I do not have gay friends, straight friends, native friends, hispanic friends or white friends.
I just have friends.
Bear in mind that both your comment here and the one you are replying to are from the perspective of how you view people. The discussion is more on whether that person's personality and character will be affected by being gay, not whether you will treat them differently.
Now for my two pennyworth, yes if I'd been straight I'd be different to how I am now in more than who I choose to shag and what dubious internet searches I perform. However in terms of how a video game character in an epic action story is portrayed, I'm perfectly happy if their sexuality has no significant effect. In that specific context I'm happy with the idea it doesn't make much difference.
So, Sera fans, who should I romance her with? Dwarf, elf, human, or qunari? I'm leaning towards dwarf
Hmmmmm...a qunari she could ride on the shoulders of and that would be adorable. But a dwarf or elf could take her place as Iron Bulls fastball special companion so she doesn't have to.
Yup, and with Sasha's stack we've officially got enough to fill a small swimming pool
Gods, it's priceless! Some of them are going on about cancelling preorders, Bioware shaming straight males, and how Traynor, the only exclusively f/f was like totally unfair xD. Quick, inb4lock and all
While I understand the amusement, we probably shouldn't be talking about that thread. As you said, it's due for a lock and as entertaining as it is, it's for the best that we don't post in there. No need to draw attention to it. Besides, this is only the beginning. Less than 4 months away from game release and I know that these kinds of topics only get worse as time goes on. It's probably best to get in the habit of trying to ignore those threads now rather than let them drive us up the wall later. 
Hmmmmm...a qunari she could ride on the shoulders of and that would be adorable. But a dwarf or elf could take her place as Iron Bulls fastball special companion so she doesn't have to.
You know she's going to beg IB for a shoulder ride. I think one of the local artists (Aimo, maybe?) did a picture of her trying to do just that.
Zevran asks the Warden if it's *all right* to be attracted to men and tells you that he's looked down on for it.
Are you certain about that? All I remember is an early conversation where he asked if I minded if he fancied me, and as far as I'm aware, both sexes get that dialogue. Responses range from acceptance to either a gentle rejection ("No, but you needn't bother") or more brusque ("Erm... yes, actually."). Unless you're referring to something completely different that I'm not aware of, I think you might be... projecting.
Is anyone else still appreciating the image in the op taken from this heros of cosplay thing I've only just realised existed???
Also, YAY my 100th post
Grats! You should probably find a good piece of Sera art to use for your avatar.
Bear in mind that both your comment here and the one you are replying to are from the perspective of how you view people. The discussion is more on whether that person's personality and character will be affected by being gay, not whether you will treat them differently.
Now for my two pennyworth, yes if I'd been straight I'd be different to how I am now in more than who I choose to shag and what dubious internet searches I perform. However in terms of how a video game character in an epic action story is portrayed, I'm perfectly happy if their sexuality has no significant effect. In that specific context I'm happy with the idea it doesn't make much difference.
Of course it's from the context of how we view people. That's the only context that matters when discussing a character we will only observe and interact with rather than inhabit and direct. Sera isn't a POV character. She wasn't written as a POV character. She was written as someone we will interact with as a separate person, and in a relatively specific situation at that. We aren't going to live through her wide-eyed youth, discovering the world, or her awkward adolescence when she's discovering herself. We meet her fully formed, as one world shaping killer to another on a quest to do said shaping, and none of that history ever needs to come up. It is highly unlikely she's going to introduce herself as "Hi, I'm Sera. I kill people sometimes and I'm a lesbian". I find it far more likely, if she says anything about it outside romance options, that it will be throwaway banter, or a Lileana/Majorlaine backstory that directly effects her ability to continue our primary goals.
As much as I dislike DA2 Anders, I can appreciate how his bisexuality was handled. Namely, that you would never know unless you played both genders. I saw someone, maybe in this thread, talking about how he 'hid' his relationship with Karl from FemHawke, and I actually laughed. He didn't hide anything, it just never came up, at least not on screen. And honestly, why would it? If he didn't define himself by it, why should we?
I look at Sera the same way. If she doesn't define herself by her sexuality, why should we? I'm always seeing how people are up in arms about homosexuals, men and women, being terribly written as stereotypes, or damaged goods from bad relationships, or who's only important characteristic is that they are 'the token gay'. Here, on the other hand, we have a writer outright saying he wrote the character as a full person. And part of that full person is homosexuality. Shouldn't that be a breath of fresh air? Something to be lauded rather than "Oh, well, you could never write a lesbian properly". Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't, here.
It's like people are searching for something to whine about. Oh, right. Internet. Carry on.
Are you certain about that? All I remember is an early conversation where he asked if I minded if he fancied me, and as far as I'm aware, both sexes get that dialogue. Responses range from acceptance to either a gentle rejection ("No, but you needn't bother") or more brusque ("Erm... yes, actually."). Unless you're referring to something completely different that I'm not aware of, I think you might be... projecting.
I didn't see it, but here's his dialogue options here.
http://dragonage.wik...rainai/Approval
We're getting pretty far off-topic, so let's stick Sera for now guys.
The problem with that list is that it lists what the Warden says to Zevran, but doesn't say what Zevran's dialogue to the Warden is.
Of course it's from the context of how we view people. That's the only context that matters when discussing a character we will only observe and interact with rather than inhabit and direct. Sera isn't a POV character. She wasn't written as a POV character. She was written as someone we will interact with as a separate person, and in a relatively specific situation at that. We aren't going to live through her wide-eyed youth, discovering the world, or her awkward adolescence when she's discovering herself. We meet her fully formed, as one world shaping killer to another on a quest to do said shaping, and none of that history ever needs to come up. It is highly unlikely she's going to introduce herself as "Hi, I'm Sera. I kill people sometimes and I'm a lesbian". I find it far more likely, if she says anything about it outside romance options, that it will be throwaway banter, or a Lileana/Majorlaine backstory that directly effects her ability to continue our primary goals.
As much as I dislike DA Anders, I can appreciate how his bisexuality was handled. Namely, that you would never know unless you played both genders. I saw someone, maybe in this thread, talking about how he 'hid' his relationship with Karl from FemHawke, and I actually laughed. He didn't hide anything, it just never came up, at least not on screen. And honestly, why would it? If he didn't define himself by it, why should we?
I look at Sera the same way. If she doesn't define herself by her sexuality, why should we? I'm always seeing how people are up in arms about homosexuals, men and women, being terribly written as stereotypes, or damaged goods from bad relationships, or who's only important characteristic is that they are 'the token gay'. Here, on the other hand, we have a writer outright saying he wrote the character as a full person. And part of that full person is homosexuality. Shouldn't that be a breath of fresh air? Something to be lauded rather than "Oh, well, you could never write a lesbian properly". Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't, here.
It's like people are searching for something to whine about. Oh, right. Internet. Carry on.
I'm not quite sure how to respond to this as you appear to be rather vitriolically agreeing with me on most points!
Onto more Sera related stuff! I couldn't find any pictures of candy-type tequila, but I did find this. It looks like something she'd drink:
I didn't see it, but here's his dialogue options here.
http://dragonage.wik...rainai/Approval
We're getting pretty far off-topic, so let's stick Sera for now guys.
On-topic: everyone jump on the Sera love train 
After reading some of your exchange with Luke and a few others, I'll take the approach of... admitting that I don't understand your perspective (and possibly never fully will since I'm not).
I'm not quite sure how to respond to this as you appear to be rather vitriolically agreeing with me on most points!
Well, the heck with you for being so reasonable, then!
I can only imagine the convos Sera would have with the other characters,I can see her making jokes at Cass's expense and trading witty one liners with Varric.
This is where I began:
Luke is writing about a minority group I am part of despite not being part of the group himself. I expressed skepticism/reservations about his ability to do so.
There is where I see myself currently:
I, a lesbian, am being told by a group of non-lesbians that I am wrong about what it’s like to be a lesbian.
That so many people are doing this – people who consider themselves rational, intelligent, and non-biased – tells me that I am right to have reservations. I’m not making a bizarre, out of left field statement. I’m not saying that all lesbians hate to be penetrated, that they all love 90s rock, that they all have short nails, or that that all secretly crush on Johnny Depp.
I am saying that being a gay woman is meaningful.
How can I hope to have a conversation about a lesbian character when people will tell me ‘no, that’s not a meaningful trait?’
And do you know what the funny thing is? No one would dismiss her being an elf. No one is going to say 'Oh, I'm sure being an elf has no impact on her and her life.' Her FANTASY RACE will be treated as more meaningful and get more acknowledgment than her sexuality.
I think being Gay is very meaningful. Even if we were 100% accepted we are still a minority and we are still different from most people in a very big way that causes our lives and life choices to be different.
That doesn't mean being gay defines your personality, it doesn't mean that we all outwardly show it or even talk about it that much and it doesn't mean that it should matter that much what sexuality a person is but it will matter to that person.
This is where I began:
Luke is writing about a minority group I am part of despite not being part of the group himself. I expressed skepticism/reservations about his ability to do so.
There is where I see myself currently:
I, a lesbian, am being told by a group of non-lesbians that I am wrong about what it’s like to be a lesbian.
That so many people are doing this – people who consider themselves rational, intelligent, and non-biased – tells me that I am right to have reservations. I’m not making a bizarre, out of left field statement. I’m not saying that all lesbians hate to be penetrated, that they all love 90s rock, that they all have short nails, or that that all secretly crush on Johnny Depp.
I am saying that being a gay woman is meaningful.
How can I hope to have a conversation about a lesbian character when people will tell me ‘no, that’s not a meaningful trait?’
And do you know what the funny thing is? No one would dismiss her being an elf. No one is going to say 'Oh, I'm sure being an elf has no impact on her and her life.' Her FANTASY RACE will be treated as more meaningful and get more acknowledgment than her sexuality.
I think it's a matter of context. In the context of the larger story being told, her being an elf is a significant factor. Racial tensions with the elves has resonance with the main plot, but issues regarding sexuality don't. Given that, I don't find it too worrying that race is focused on and sexuality treated as a much lesser issue. You focus on the charcateristics that are important to the wider story. If the plot involved - taking a clumsy modern example - same sex marriage, then I'd see it being more important to address.
And do you know what the funny thing is? No one would dismiss her being an elf. No one is going to say 'Oh, I'm sure being an elf has no impact on her and her life.' Her FANTASY RACE will be treated as more meaningful and get more acknowledgment than her sexuality.
If a complete stranger walked past you by yourself on the street, with no interaction beyond that casual passage, would they think to themselves, "Oh, look at that gay woman"? Is ANYONE going to know you're gay unless you you demonstrate it via word or action? Is anyone even going to care? Especially if we transfer that exact situation to Thedas.
This is where I began:
Luke is writing about a minority group I am part of despite not being part of the group himself. I expressed skepticism/reservations about his ability to do so.
There is where I see myself currently:
I, a lesbian, am being told by a group of non-lesbians that I am wrong about what it’s like to be a lesbian.
That so many people are doing this – people who consider themselves rational, intelligent, and non-biased – tells me that I am right to have reservations. I’m not making a bizarre, out of left field statement. I’m not saying that all lesbians hate to be penetrated, that they all love 90s rock, that they all have short nails, or that that all secretly crush on Johnny Depp.
I am saying that being a gay woman is meaningful.
How can I hope to have a conversation about a lesbian character when people will tell me ‘no, that’s not a meaningful trait?’
And do you know what the funny thing is? No one would dismiss her being an elf. No one is going to say 'Oh, I'm sure being an elf has no impact on her and her life.' Her FANTASY RACE will be treated as more meaningful and get more acknowledgment than her sexuality.
There's an awful lot of "I" statements in there. Is this even about Sera, and not you just projecting?
"Meaningful" is a vague, ambiguous term that can have many applications. Being attracted to other woman is a very important aspect to your life. For Sera, that very well might not be the case. I will admit, I am a heterosexual male and don't understand a non-heterosexual viewpoint, but I will say that, as a heterosexual male, who I am attracted to is fairly low on my lifelong list of priorities - consequently, while it is "meaningful", it isn't AS "meaningful" as a lot of other aspects. Sera is an elf, a rogue, an archer, a Friend of Red Jenny, someone who cares about the common folk, and a lesbian. As "meaningful" as one's sexuality may be, it very well might be a much smaller aspect in her own life than in your own.
Wait... secretly crushing on Johnny Depp is a stereotypical lesbian thing to do?
Wait... secretly crushing on Johnny Depp is a stereotypical lesbian thing to do?
It's Johnny "How are you still this hot at 50 years old" Depp. I've seen a lot of otherwise very straight men crush on him too. He's gorgeous, so nothing wrong with some appreciative drooling. 
This is where I began:
Luke is writing about a minority group I am part of despite not being part of the group himself. I expressed skepticism/reservations about his ability to do so.
There is where I see myself currently:
I, a lesbian, am being told by a group of non-lesbians that I am wrong about what it’s like to be a lesbian.
That so many people are doing this – people who consider themselves rational, intelligent, and non-biased – tells me that I am right to have reservations. I’m not making a bizarre, out of left field statement. I’m not saying that all lesbians hate to be penetrated, that they all love 90s rock, that they all have short nails, or that that all secretly crush on Johnny Depp.
I am saying that being a gay woman is meaningful.
How can I hope to have a conversation about a lesbian character when people will tell me ‘no, that’s not a meaningful trait?’
And do you know what the funny thing is? No one would dismiss her being an elf. No one is going to say 'Oh, I'm sure being an elf has no impact on her and her life.' Her FANTASY RACE will be treated as more meaningful and get more acknowledgment than her sexuality.
I don’t feel like anyone is trying to tell you what it’s like to be a lesbian. I know I certainly wasn’t, and if it came across that way, I completely apologise.
I think the thing is, while sexuality is absolutely meaningful, whether Sera decides to openly discuss it or not doesn’t affect how well Luke has portrayed a gay character. Simply because -to Sera- it might not be a topic she chooses to discuss.
Retour en haut