Oh Lord Capcom accused of Racism for RE5

[Sqrl]

foont said:

Sqrl said:

foont said:

@ Sqrl


So far Resident Evil 5 seems to only say "Racism? What Racism?" And, for me, that's why it bothers me. I guess if we lived in a world without racism, it wouldn't bother me.

Maybe just two different ways of approaching the same problem?

 

Well there is an interesting question there:

What came first the chicken or the egg?

What comes first a world with no racism, or a world where nobody is actively looking for racism?

To be clear racism certainly exists, and as many have pointed out many use that fact illegitimately as a weapon against others.

Perhaps it is two different approaches, but would it make a difference to you if these zombies were an even mixture of different races versus primarily one skin color?

I don't know. In some ways that's more offensive because it's clearly a weak attempt to put a band-aid on the situation (Oh, look, there goes Sheva now!). It's like that episode of South Park with the controversey over the South Park Flag. Maybe the only way we can make it better is to have all races killing each other equally, and not because of the colour of their skin. World peace!

All I was trying to do was to argue why the images in RE5 could be considered potentially offensive. I don't like it when people are legitimately offended by something, and everyone acts as though they shouldn't be offended at all. If people are offended by RE5, I think they are more than justified to feel that way.

As far as Capcom is concerned, what's done is done, and I guess people will interpret this game however they see fit.

If I was Capcom, I would have avoided this whole mess altogether by having Chris Redfield kill zombies in Canada or something. That way no one would be offended, and Canadians would be happy to be in a famous game!

 

 

 

I don't think people shouldn't get offended (zomg double negative), I think when they see something that offends them they should examine the issue.  If they honestly believe the motivations behind the acts are race and/or sex then they should absolutely be offended. But if they find that the motivations seem to be something different they should introspect on their own baises in their initial reaction.  It's self-correction...it's ok to form an early opinion and then refine the opinion with new information as it comes.  It's not ok to form an early opinion and refuse to examine new information and stick to your first impression.  Maybe you find that the motivations were innocent but you're still offended....that's legitimate too, but you don't call them racist or sexist and you should recognize that your position is highly subjective.

As for Capcom avoiding the issue by going to Canada...I couldn't disagree more, I'm glad they made this choice because it brings the issue front and center for people to discuss.  Which as I said is the only way we are ever going to make progress on this as a society.

Ok now I'm out =P 4 rly.