Time spent among Gamergate, there are people from the other side who are trying convince me that I'm a white mysoginistic male.
I have been told in the past on the BSN that I must hate all straight men when I post in gender equality threads, and if I don't then I "really don't care about women in video games." That crap sadly works both ways.
You actually can. The writer (or filmmaker, or songwriter, or whatever) are the ones publishing the work. They're the ones who have the final say in what goes into the work. When it's published, it's finished (unless the creator goes back and adds to the original piece, in which case it's finished when they stop putting in additional effort).
The bolded part is one of the most inane and nonsensical statements I've heard in a long time. Well done.
That isn't true in a video game where the artist does not have final say.
That isn't true in a video game where the artist does not have final say.
That entirely depends on EULA and the publisher's willingness to enforce it.
That entirely depends on EULA and the publisher's willingness to enforce it.
Very true. Ask folks that have tried to do HD fan remakes of Chrono Trigger. They weren't planning on making money on it, nor claimed the characters/story/ect as their own. Square-Enix can't get those Cease and Desist orders out fast enough.
I have been told in the past on the BSN that I must hate all straight men when I post in gender equality threads, and if I don't then I "really don't care about women in video games." That crap sadly works both ways.
"And you call yourself a feminist pfft" 
I find it hilarious when people claim that changing the sexuality of a fictional character is a bigotry.
Fictional characters are not people. I didn't start calling people murderers when they chose to wipe out the quarians in ME3, even though I romanced Tali and think the quarians are one of the coolest races in ME.
Go ahead and make everyone bisexual, if you really want to.
Damn Right
"And you call yourself a feminist pfft"
Just another case where I'm a weirdo, I suppose. 
I have been told in the past on the BSN that I must hate all straight men when I post in gender equality threads, and if I don't then I "really don't care about women in video games." That crap sadly works both ways.
Think of it this way...Most of these armchair activists wouldn't be able to handle a true protest. Theres Tumblr/Internet Social Justice and theres True Social Justice.
I've been in marriage equality protests back when it was still illegal in my state. I've been kicked and shoved against the wall. I've also been to protests where people were trying to shut a homeless shelter down. That shelter is still up and running thankfully.
My sister-in law helps run a LGBT shelter in her area. This shelter survives primarily on donations from the community. She blocked Tumblr/Facebook from the shelter's computers because it got so overly militant that it was affecting their donations.
These were residents acting out solely because of being influenced by social media.
I don't think people realize how their actions can have a domino affect and how their influence can affect a person's situation in a negative way.
If people want to make change in the world...bullying/hating people on the internet is not the answer.
Think of it this way...Most of these armchair activists wouldn't be able to handle a true protest. Theres Tumblr/Internet Social Justice and theres True Social Justice.
I've been in marriage equality protests back when it was still illegal in my state. I've been kicked and shoved against the wall. I've also been to protests where people were trying to shut a homeless shelter down. That shelter is still up and running thankfully.
My sister-in law helps run a LGBT shelter in her area. This shelter survives primarily on donations from the community. She blocked Tumblr/Facebook from the shelter's computers because it got so overly militant that it was affecting their donations.
These were residents acting out solely because of being influenced by social media.
I don't think people realize how their actions can have a domino affect and how their influence can affect a person's situation in a negative way.
If people want to make change in the world...bullying/hating people on the internet is not the answer.
I completely agree with you. I too have been part of multiple protests for various iss]ues over the last two yers, but I hate the militant nature of tumblr. For such a suppposedly ¨open minded¨ site, they sure do hate cis, staight, and men. Also, they dont seem to understand what abuse is.
So now we live in a world where instead of remove the harassers we prefer to remove the harassed... sweet!
All my symphaties to the modder: I hope that she and her mod could soon be back.
We always have.
Why is this thread not locked yet :/
Think of it this way...Most of these armchair activists wouldn't be able to handle a true protest. Theres Tumblr/Internet Social Justice and theres True Social Justice.
I've been in marriage equality protests back when it was still illegal in my state. I've been kicked and shoved against the wall. I've also been to protests where people were trying to shut a homeless shelter down. That shelter is still up and running thankfully.
My sister-in law helps run a LGBT shelter in her area. This shelter survives primarily on donations from the community. She blocked Tumblr/Facebook from the shelter's computers because it got so overly militant that it was affecting their donations.
These were residents acting out solely because of being influenced by social media.
I don't think people realize how their actions can have a domino affect and how their influence can affect a person's situation in a negative way.
If people want to make change in the world...bullying/hating people on the internet is not the answer.
I wholeheartedly agree that tumblr can get completely toxic and ends up creating a situation that is detrimental to 'the cause'. And it works for both sides of these particular 'issues'. Just as there are people who will never actually lift a finger in real life to take on activism yet hide behind it on tumblr, there are many people who say virulent anti-gay, anti-woman, and racist hate-filled things on the internet and hide behind the anonymity that they get there, which feeds into the toxic culture as well. I can pretty much guarantee that almost everyone on BSN who has told me that I'm a "SJW" would never say the things that they say to me on the boards to my face. Why? Because then there would be consequences since they'd have to look a person in the eye and own what they are saying.
Unfortunately, and this goes for society as a whole, the internet has created an entire generation of people who think that they can say or do anything they want online without any consequences. And that's kind of a sad situation. If more people were to turn off their monitors and take the 'debate' into the real world, perhaps we'd see less of these toxic environments online. Again, that works on both sides of these issues.
Personally I don't understand why people want to mod their games so that their fictional romance can refer to them by the opposite sex. That is pretty insulting to me imo, although maybe that was due to being picked on all throughout high school...
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Why is this thread not locked yet :/
Did it devolve or something? Seemed pretty civil when I visited the other day. I think the issue brings up something that should be discussed somewhere.. at least. I'm against this kind of modding, personally.. Because I view the game solely as a story. Not a "platform". And as a story, I don't like seeing it tampered with much, except superficially. A platform view disregards stories and just views everything and everyone as little pieces for their own personal concepts. A mere "jumping off point" that you can use and mangle however you see fit.
My only issue with mods like this is when people start demanding Bioware acknowledge a choice made using a mod. When The Keep was released someone was complaining that the Keep wouldn't recognize a gay Alister from a player modified save. They were getting upset at Bioware and demanded the choice be put in even though the choice was never officially there to begin with since Alister is not gay in any official lore.
Conflicted on this , on one side of me says : Being Gay isn't a choice , so why do it to Cassandra.
The bigger part of me says that she is just a bunch of pixels and has no agency anyway so who cares.
Then i look through this thread and see people who mock 'neckbeards' for wanting more straight relationships in DA I from other threads. Yet changing Cassandra's sexual preferrences is OK. Hypocrites .
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Conflicted on this , on one side of me says : Being Gay isn't a choice , so why do it to Cassandra.
The bigger part of me says that she is just a bunch of pixels and has no agency anyway so who cares.
Then i look through this thread and see people who mock 'neckbeards' for wanting more straight relationships in DA I from other threads. Yet changing Cassandra's sexual preferrences is OK. Hypocrites .
She is just pixels (unfortunately!), but I think it's just more humane to elevate it beyond that. Not in some kooky way where I think we should take characters too seriously... but more like, just having some general principles about how to view people. Fictional or not. It's an "as if" thing. "As if" she were human. If someone tells you they're not straight or gay, you don't drag them into your room and insist that they are.
It's OK to view pixels in an "as if" manner. Just like a humane person will generally treat a video game dog with kindness or something. And not want to blow off their head with a shotgun. That's just crass at best.
Why is this thread not locked yet :/
Im really glad its not. I think its important to discuss topics that upset people. For me, personally i really dont like any type of mod that changes a major aspect of any character (be it race, gender or sexual orientation) but im not very good at putting my thoughts into words, it all comes out a bit garbled. A lot of people here have been saying it so much better than i could, with some reasons i hadnt even considered and of course the counter - arguements are equally fascinating (to me).
Its nice to see it being discussed without breaking down to toxic internet speak 'haterz!!!' etc.
So yeah im just quitely lurking, liking and considering.
Fanfiction is possible because the authors chose to allow it; to stop you, all it would take is one email by GRR Martin to whoever is hosting your story because guess what, fanfiction.net (or whatever) does not want to get involved in a million dollar lawsuitIf I want to write a fanfic about Jamie Lannister being homosexual no one has the right to stop me unless I make money out of it.
Maybe not, but it still says something about you if you felt the need to use mods that make everyone straight, or if you installed a mod that replaced every black person with a Caucasian. Even if the original intent was otherwise, you are going to be seen as sexist/racist/etc if you keep doing that kind of thing (I.e. It is not possible to deduce intent from one mod affecting one single character)I find it hilarious when people claim that changing the sexuality of a fictional character is a bigotry.
She is just pixels (unfortunately!), but I think it's just more humane to elevate it beyond that. Not in some kooky way where I think we should take characters too seriously... but more like, just having some general principles about how to view people. Fictional or not. It's an "as if" thing. "As if" she were human. If someone tells you they're not straight or gay, you don't drag them into your room and insist that they are.
It's OK to view pixels in an "as if" manner. Just like a humane person will generally treat a video game dog with kindness or something. And not want to blow off their head with a shotgun. That's just crass at best.
Still Pixels =/= real. In the end of the day the only reason Cassandra is straight is because some writter decided she was. So if someone decides she is straight whats wrong if someone decides she is not? In this case through a mod. Also this modder didn't force it on anyone to use.
Note i care little if anyone wants to change something so a charcter is to there liking , if it makes them happy doing so to a fictional bunch of pixels without saying that its the right way and everyone else should be doing the same. I think IRL we should respect peoples decisions , but in fictional/fantassy we shouldn't tell people on what to 'Fantasize about' Be it a straight guy seeing Cass with bigger boobs or a lesbian wanting a relationship with Cass or a straight guy wanting a relationship with Sera. Aslong as its not forced onto other players i truly don't care. What i do care about is people telling others what they should fantasize about and that if you fantasize a certain way you are wrong/virgin/childish/neckbeard/feminazi/insert insult .
Note it would be a different case if Bioware suddenly decided to implement a patch changing characters sexual/gender prefferences because thats forcing every player to have to get used to it. A mod is optional and only affects those who use it.
I'm glad the thread isn't locked, too, because I think it's important to be able to discuss these things or we'll never grow and work through them.
i don't think that's what's going on here.
I wholeheartedly agree that tumblr can get completely toxic and ends up creating a situation that is detrimental to 'the cause'. And it works for both sides of these particular 'issues'. Just as there are people who will never actually lift a finger in real life to take on activism yet hide behind it on tumblr, there are many people who say virulent anti-gay, anti-woman, and racist hate-filled things on the internet and hide behind the anonymity that they get there, which feeds into the toxic culture as well. I can pretty much guarantee that almost everyone on BSN who has told me that I'm a "SJW" would never say the things that they say to me on the boards to my face. Why? Because then there would be consequences since they'd have to look a person in the eye and own what they are saying.
Unfortunately, and this goes for society as a whole, the internet has created an entire generation of people who think that they can say or do anything they want online without any consequences. And that's kind of a sad situation. If more people were to turn off their monitors and take the 'debate' into the real world, perhaps we'd see less of these toxic environments online. Again, that works on both sides of these issues.
I do agree. I think a lot of people who do this have have been bullied in real life. Its an outlet for them.
For the record...you do not sound like a Tumblr SJW. You are very eloquent and fair-minded in your tone. If more Tumblr regulars were like you, Tumblr would not have the reputation it has. 
Yeah, the point about game systems and the 'vision' thing is pretty fair, imo. I feel the artist's vision argument is a bit weak in general because increasingly large part of our culture is based on giving a spin to things made by someone else; whether it's then called homage, reference, parody, fanfiction, mash-up, reboot or yet another of dozen different terms, the principle of doing as one pleases with the original artist's vision remains.To me, that seems like a perfectly reasonable argument. The argument that it goes against the artists' vision is, imo, less reasonable unless it extends to all the game's other systems.
I've only been on Tumblr a few weeks but it seems to me that quite a lot of the 'social justice' on there is to actual social justice as spray cheese is to actual cheese. There is a superficial resemblance at times, but too much of it seems to be entirely about the pretence, about proving that 'I am more progressive and understanding and sensitive than you, and you are bad for saying/doing XYZ'. I get the feeling that a lot of the posters skew very young, which will feed into that, of course; certainly I was an insufferable little oik when I was a teenager, still learning everything about the world and working out how I felt about things outside the shadow of parental influence. (As it turns out, I feel more or less entirely opposite of my parents on quite a lot of things.) I'm frequently relieved that the internet did not exist yet when I was a child, and I don't envy either children or parents trying to navigate through it now.
I will freely admit that I don't feel I do enough in terms of challenging injustice in an active way, aside from voting, petitions, trying to be an ethical consumer and challenging and examining my own beliefs and those of people close to me, but turning oppression into a performative game of oneupsmanship is just...*disgusted noise.* There are gold nuggets there too, but you often have to sift through a lot of dirt to find them; and it's quite easy for people to look at the whole and think 'everyone here feels exactly the same way and that way is absurd, so I reject it all wholesale.'
As far as equality goes, I think...well, I think a couple things. I think that context does matter. In a vacuum, if Timmy punches Pete as hard as he can in the chest, and then Pete punches Timmy as hard as he can in the chest, those are equal actions. But what if we learn that Timmy is 4 and Pete is 36? Then identical actions are, in context, less identical, and it makes sense to judge the one more harshly than the other despite not being, on some level, 'fair.' If two people both steal a loaf of bread from another person, that's the same action, right?. What if thief A is starving and stole a loaf of bread from the table of wealthy business owner so they'd have something to eat, and thief B is a wealthy business owner who stole a loaf of bread from a homeless person for kicks? Are those identical actions still, or do circumstances render one worse (even if both are still wrong)? Someday we may live in a world where everyone is starting out on equal footing, and then everything would be a lot easier to measure; but we're a long way from that world, if indeed it could ever be fully achieved.
That said, people are going to mod what they're going to mod. None of it affects the canon, and it doesn't affect anyone else's game. Pretty much any mod could be deemed to be disrespecting the creators' visions but large games like DAI are a mish-mash of many people's ideas and influences in the first place (and I am sure that everyone involved will have had to compromise something, somewhere, because it's a group commercial enterprise as much as an artistic one). Plus, once a piece of art or media is out there in the world, the artist inevitably loses some level of control over it - not in terms of property rights and so on, but artists can't (and shouldn't, IMO) control other people's reactions to or interpretations of their work, even if they don't like them. Art history methodology has principles about this, about the role of an audience and how the act of viewing changes the object being viewed, and so on, but art history methodology is generally criminally boring and I've forgotten a lot of it because who uses semiotics in day to day life so I won't expand on that.
Depending on the game, I find some mods indispensable, some interesting, and some stupid and distasteful (e.g. White Isabela, or body mods where all the NPCs are running around nude and fully erect...why???), but there's no excuse for harassing modders or anyone who downloads them. I may quietly judge and suspect the motives of people who use them in my own head (I definitely do, because I'm a giant misanthropist ) but hamfisted attempts at 'banning' things are generally pointless, or worse.
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