Cryptic, makers of Champions - another gay discriminating company

Elikal · July 2009

I usually take my word serious, and being in a MMORPG beta under NDA, I usually refrain from taking things to the open. But my personal code of ethics force me to bring something to the public, which I personally feel of enough importance.

It is a story whose topic may be know to you. Banning gay people from MMOs. The story is simple enough. I created a character called "Qweer Cop", looking like a Cop. Now my character was forcibly renamed, telling me it was harrasment against sexual orientation. You may mind the irony, that a gay gamer (me!) is "protected" from being harrased by calling himself gay. You may or may may not share my idea of freedom that I can call a character as I want, but pretending to protect ME, by banning my own self-descption is in every way the height of absurdity.

I thought after WOW and SWTOR, we have passe beyond this way of PC thinking. Apparently the lesson isnt learned... so here we go again.

I posted a post in the Beta Forum, *kindly* and *reasonably* asking that it was wrong to forbid my character to be named like that. The Tems of Service just mention usage of sexual orientation is only forbidden, when it is used in a derogatory way, which I as gay gamer myself, can't. I mean I AM GAY. I can call MYSELF as I want. Freedom of Speech in USA used to be an absolute, but apparently in 2009 it just means "Freedom of Speech to say what I agree to". There goes the land of the Free. I am ired about the fact they forbade "Qweer Cop" - I used a hero called "Qweer Avenger" in City of Heroes for YEARS, and not a single moment anyone cared.

Nor is the word "Queer" genuinely sexal, as if I had called the char "Assbang Anvenger". It is a matter of identity. And it was a simply fun char, either way. The matter is, when in a forum a reasonable debat isnt just locked, it is deleted, and all the effort from both side are nullified.

I understand most of you won't care. I know most of you won't care rat's ass about my pain about being made invisivle and being harrassed by a company. But even tho I know they will likely win and I won't, I must fight this fight. It is to acknowledge what I am - what we gay gamers are. We are once more forbidden even our very own name!

And tho it may not credit me as a serious or sober person by your definition - I spit my hate of despise against Cryptic. Hell's own fire is not as hot as my anger against you. Know that I am entirely honest and serious in saying this: from the depth of my heart I wish Cryptic curse and doom.

Hammertime1 · July 2009

< shrug >

I'd report a name like that in most games for being inappropriate, and I think that you are making a mountain out of a mole hill here.

ogibogi · July 2009

lol...just live with it , I doubt I can name my character "titt f*ck McKinglsey. I don't go and cry about it

Rallycart · July 2009

It does not matter if it does not offend YOU, because it may offend OTHERS. Also, "freedom of speech" does not apply in this case, because it is their private property, and they make their own rules. Dont like it? Dont stay. They are forcing nothing on you. Your whole case is laughable at best. It would be like if I called my character a name with the "n" word in it, and said it was fine, because I am black, and am not offended. Get a clue.

nickelpat · July 2009

I definitely see where you're coming from, but it's also not so much what you call yourself, as what others see.

As if a black player named his character using the 'N Word'. Although he, being balck, probably means nothing bad, it cannot be used as it is still considered derogatory.

I found nothing wrong with Qweer Cop, rather catchy name for a superhero. Although, to avoid future issues it seems Cryptic went with a 0 tolerance policy with CO.

CactusmanX · July 2009

Wait your a cop?

I don't see what the issue is with the name, I don't find it offensive and if no one is bothered then whatever, you should be able to call your character any name you want, even if they offended are who cares. I could understand if it was on a roleplay server, naming rules you know.

I guess by their logic Black Lighting is a racist name, someone should tell DC.

dethgar · July 2009

Seems that you're just looking for attention.

Sovrath · July 2009

Seriously Elikal, do you ever post without cause? I like you and all but sometimes I think you are like the character Daffyd in Little Britain. Only actually Gay. And you probably don't dress like him. Not that there is anything wrong with it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4zx1ZX8GW4

I suspect that Daffyd is actually "not" gay but just likes thinking he is. You'd have to see the show.

www.wisegeek.com/is-queer-a-derogatory-word.htm

What you might not be sensitive to is that sure, gay people might have adopted that word and therefor it takes a bit of the sting out of it, but one can just as well be insulting with its usage as well.

so be fair. Game companies try to be sensitive to everyone which is very difficult. What about if someone just hates gays. Is it ok for you to shove it in their face? Just as having derogatory things said about gays might piss you off.

So where can they draw the line? How can they tell that Queer cop is ok but Queer Boy isn't? so if a gay basher creates some sort of stereotype gay super hero and calls him Queer Bait are you telling me that someone i the gay community isn't going to get upset?

So instead of opening up a can of worms I think they are just trying walk that delicate line. I've met some gays who hate the word Queer. So where are we then? You saying it's ok and they saying it's not.

Oh, and just for the record, I'm in the arts. You can't throw a cast party without hitting someone who is gay. So I've been exposed to all sorts of gay people from all walks of life. Some are militant, some are easy going. Some you would never know were gay unless they said it and some you can see coming from 5 miles away. I'm pretty sure that the consensus might be ok with it but I know some would not be.

RogueMaster · July 2009

Hell, I'd have banned you for being disrespectful to cops.

Go cry somewhere else. You knew what you were doing, and knew what would happen, yet did it anyway. Probably for the sole intent of whining about it afterward for attention.

Since you brought up the subject of lessons not having been learned, go back to school. Your spelling and grammar make it hard for anyone to take you seriously. The half assed attempt at pretending you were Khan in Star Trek didn't help your case either.

Abrahmm · July 2009

For god sake, this again? Stop begging for attention and just play the damn game. It's an inappropriate name and you know it, you are just looking to create a problem. Why do you have to broadcast your sexuality to everyone? Just keep it to yourself and play the game.

Freedom of speech was never an absolute. Look up Supreme Court rulings, freedom of speech can be over-ruled for the good of the people.

Truth is, if people of your type hadn't victomized themselves and took such offense to those words to begin with, you wouldn't have a problem. The street works both ways. If people want to complain about derogatory words that apply for them, it isn't ok for them to use the words because they are part of the group.

SavageSage · July 2009

Ok, I am confused. It is ok for you as a gay man to use such negative sterotypical slurrs, because you are gay?

Did not Perez Hilton just get in trouble with one of the Gay Alliances for calling another guy a f a g g o t, and he is very gay, and they had issue with even a gay man using such negative gay sterotypes and propegating the hatred by using such phrases.

The same reason the "N-Word" was "burried" a few years ago and a couple of comedians were pulled from stage at african american events for daring to use the word after that, even though it had been part of their acts from the very beginning. Cryptic has no way to know that you are gay, thus, in your mind, empowered and justified in using such negative words. They must logically apply a droad brushstroke to keep things fair. If I called myself Fat Cracker Pegan Bastard, because I am fat white pegan and my parents were not married when they had me, they sould leave such a name intact?? No they should not, becuase they have no way of verifying what I claim, and they should not allow me to get away with such negative phrases, any more than they do you.

Kalefen · July 2009

If "IF" you are homosexual that is your business and doesn't need to be displayed in order to allow you to feel some dramatic sense of "here I am..." in order to reinforce the emotional excitement you feel with this particular choice. Queer cop, however, is something an emotionally underdeveloped individual would want as a title - so whether or not you are any of the above it (in my humble opinion) seems best for a community that by the way will contain people UNDER 18 that you refrain from that name. Now, how about Sergeant Rainbow?

Kurush · July 2009

If nothing else, I admire you for having the balls to post this, knowing the kind of flaming you'd get.

As for Cryptic, they're just a product of the times. Video game companies do this for the same reason the military keeps Don't Ask, Don't Tell in place: image. If a group that people hate in the real world becomes too visible, it hurts recruiting or (in this case) subscriber retention.

Businesses don't want to be either extreme. They'd rather not be seen as anti-gay, but they'd rather not be seen as pro-gay, either. They'd rather simply avoid the issue completely. They accomplish this by simply quashing both sides of the debate. You can't say too much bad about gays without (eventually, with enough complaints) being banned, but you can't be too open about being gay, either.

Edit: By the way, the word "queer" has more or less been co-opted by the LGBT support movement since the 90's. It has no negative connotation to most of them. I would say it would be inaccurate to say that it is generally perceived as hateful or a slur. That said, there are still places where it is used as a slur (it's all in how you say it). To people who have endured it as a negative word, it may still be hurtful.

saturn1234 · July 2009

Funny that you also felt the need to post this twice....

Honestly, get over yourself. Not allowing you to use that word in your name is perfectly reasonable. Should they alow people who claim they are a certain race to name their characters derogitory slang? Stop trying to play the victim here, and stop trying to make a point out of something that is pointless.

Elikal · July 2009

"Doesn't matter what the press says. Doesn't matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn't matter if the whole COUNTRY decides that something WRONG is something RIGHT. This nation was foundede on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter what the odds or the consequences.

And when the mobs and the press and the whole WORLD tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and the the whole world - ' No YOU move.'"

Captain America

Civil War - The amazin Spiderman

I thought it was apporpriate to quote a Superhero for why I am doing this.

Lord_Ixigan · July 2009

Originally posted by dethgar

Seems that you're just looking for attention.

G FREAKING G!!! WOOO!

Glad someone else saw that. I could say a lot more about the type of person the OP is....the kind of person who does something.....then keeps freaking saying that they did that thing.

It'd be like me mentioning every five fucking seconds that I'm an eagle scout (I'm not, just an example....would be ironic if I was though ). Or that I'm really tall, or that I love Dr. Tran.....you get the idea. It's the people that openly shove something in your face when you never even asked any questions in the first place. Do I walk around in a suit made of old hentai manga pages? No....that would be awesome....but I don't do it.

Edit: How the HELL is Cryptic supposed to know you're gay? They legally can't even ask if you are. And nobody is a mind reader.......so yeah, bitching about nothing. It'd be like someone naming a hero 'Down Syndrome Soldier' and they work with people that have that and they mean it in a positive fashion. The company has NO way of knowing that.

toddze · July 2009

If i made a toon called "qweer basher" you would take offense to that would you not? Some might take offense to your brodcasting "qweer cop"

Would you take offense to someone making a negative comment to you because you are gay or not inviting you to a group for being gay? If so your just asking for trouble by broadcasting it. Its like your setting a trap that you KNOW full good and well some people will bite on.

Since you brought this topic up Ill tell you how I feel about it. If I cant call you a qweer w/o getting reported you sure as hell shouldnt be able to call yourself one. Its just like the N-bomb It makes no sense that 2 black guys can drop the N-bomb to each other be it in good friendly nature or fighting words and nothing comes of it. Soon as a white dude drops the N-bomb its on instanly.

As for games it is best to avoid any/all confrontational names.

lugal · July 2009

Originally posted by dethgar

Seems that you're just looking for attention.

QFT.

Attention starved. You invent drama to get attention. You are the worst enemy to gays, not the gay basher.

madeux · July 2009

If I start calling people queers and fags, how many gay people will get offended? If it's offensive, it's offensive regardless of who is using it. If I can't use it, then you can't either.

This has nothing to do with Cryptic not allowing gay players, it has more to do with you being a whiny little girl pushing your gay agenda.

SonikFlash · July 2009

well im i finally have a reason my first post where I say.

QQ some more...good freakin god

csthao · July 2009

Originally posted by nickelpat

I definitely see where you're coming from, but it's also not so much what you call yourself, as what others see.
As if a black player named his character using the 'N Word'. Although he, being balck, probably means nothing bad, it cannot be used as it is still considered derogatory.
I found nothing wrong with Qweer Cop, rather catchy name for a superhero. Although, to avoid future issues it seems Cryptic went with a 0 tolerance policy with CO.

I think thats the whole point of it...You may be able to call yourself that, but if someone else was to say it, I'm most certainly sure that you would be offended.

I can say this for sure though, you go up to a black guy and just call him the "N" word. I can assure you that 100% he will flip out at you. I dont know how gay/lesbians would react to someone calling them fag or queer, but I'm sure there's people out there that would get mad.

To some extent calling your character "qweer cop" and being proud of it (no pun intended) you're not going to take some things seriously when people in game make fun of you. BUT there's going to be a time when you will hear people making fun of you TOO MUCH, and that's when you're going to get angry.

I think they did themselves a huge favor and not have to worry about all the issues thats going to come in the future.

Lobotomist · July 2009

Originally posted by Elikal

It is a story whose topic may be know to you. Banning gay people from MMOs. The story is simple enough. I created a character called "Qweer Cop", looking like a Cop. Now my character was forcibly renamed, telling me it was harrasment against sexual orientation. You may mind the irony, that a gay gamer (me!) is "protected" from being harrased by calling himself gay. You may or may may not share my idea of freedom that I can call a character as I want, but pretending to protect ME, by banning my own self-descption is in every way the height of absurdity.

Eli...you know that I usually agree with you

But this time I dont think you are right.

You name your character Queer. That is deragatory term. It doesnt mather if you are gay your self. Other people dont know this , and it might offend them (especially if they are also homosexual)

Its like a black person making character called Nigger. How do you know he himself is actually black and he is not using it as insult ?

You can express your sexual orientation in different way. (although i am very much against sexual expression in gaming..we have pubs and clubs for that , for crying out loud )

Call your character Pink Cop , or something like that ...

It will get the message across , and its much cooler anyway

lugal · July 2009

Where the hell are the forum admins? THis stupid thread needs to be locked.

Kyleran · July 2009

Originally posted by lugal

Where the hell are the forum admins? THis stupid thread needs to be locked.

This is the first time I've ever agreed that a thread should be locked.....along with the other one made in DCO forum.

Hell, delete them both as well.

lugal · July 2009

Originally posted by Kyleran

Originally posted by lugal

Where the hell are the forum admins? THis stupid thread needs to be locked.

This is the first time I've ever agreed that a thread should be locked.....along with the other one made in DCO forum.

Hell, delete them both as well.

Hammertime1 · July 2009

Originally posted by Elikal

"Doesn't matter what the press says. Doesn't matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn't matter if the whole COUNTRY decides that something WRONG is something RIGHT. This nation was foundede on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter what the odds or the consequences.

And when the mobs and the press and the whole WORLD tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and the the whole world - ' No YOU move.'"
Captain America

Civil War - The amazin Spiderman
I thought it was apporpriate to quote a Superhero for why I am doing this.

this is great - not only has the OP created the *exact* same post in different areas of the forum, now he is posting the *exact* same replies also in the different threads.

-1 for spamming, and reported.

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Cryptic, makers of Champions - another gay discriminating company

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Cryptic, makers of Champions - another gay discriminating company

Comments

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV