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L
Canada4732 Posts
There is no justification and no excuse for the use of this word in the flippant way that it is thrown around. The fact that it is used in a flippant way completely changes the meaning of the word. When you tell someone you owned or pwned him, no one's going to say: "Hey that's fucking disrespectful to the millions of people who are the victims of human smugglers, or the slaves of yesteryear". Why? Because that's simply not what the word refers to. | ||
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buhhy
United States1113 Posts
On August 14 2010 10:26 tree.hugger wrote: Nice OP. I self-consciously realized how I was using the word some time ago, I still think it sometimes, but there are many other words that capture the same meaning. There will always be people using the word, of course, but I applaud the OP in raising awareness of the connotations of this word, and how we play a role in trivializing it in our community. Hopefully you've helped convince people to change their thinking. Whereas I can prove to you that in starcraft, my goal is to kill all your units, and destroy your base, I doubt you can show me that starcraft has anything to do with rape. When you destroy an enemy expansion and build your own expansion on it, you're raping his expansion. | ||
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Ich
United States12 Posts
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XeliN
United Kingdom1755 Posts
I guess you could make an argument about how fairly young children become desensitised to vulgar language or explicit ideas in gaming culture and this might be used to support such a claim but thats about the extent of it. | ||
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Zocat
Germany2229 Posts
On August 14 2010 04:34 choboPEon wrote: alright this is getting contentious and, again, i know im not going to win any converts so i wont linger in this thread for too much longer. i will respond to this, though: "Words in english have multiple meanings in different contexts." And often the meanings are connected, they do not exist in a vacuum and, again, for you to claim that when people say rape in a gaming sense that there is no connection to definition #6 seems ridiculous to me! but whatever, it's not like i shed a tear every time i read it, i'm as numb to it as most males 18-35 are. It isnt ridiculous. The English language is (again/still^^) "influencing" other languages. Look at poker - we talk about a "Full House", a "Flush", or a "Straight" in German. When I hear "rape" in a gaming environment I honestly do not think about the sexual forcing. There is no connection. If I hear "rape" in another context though - I think about the fitting translation. English is the language we gamers communicate in - but I, personally, and a lot of other foreigners adapt those words without considering their "normal" meaning. Though I dislike the word "rape" (because I think it is too strong) I often say to friends (in German): "Ich habe ihn owned" for "I owned him". Owned is no longer a word I have to translate - the meaning is clear to me & my friends. I could also say "I habe ihn geraped" for "I raped him" and we all knew what I meant. And we wouldnt think about something bad / negative while using the word. And a german girl would never be offended if I use the word "rape" in the german language - if I'd use it's translation on the other hand - I'm not so sure  So I do understand your point - but I honestly doubt we can change this. There are too many gamers who use the word "rape" but dont associate it with the meaning a rape-victim would do. | ||
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RinoZerg
Australia130 Posts
I can't see anyone having problems with this ... :/ | ||
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DonKey_
Liechtenstein1356 Posts
However I have a problem with someone omitting a word simply because others find it offensive. From what you are saying we have to change to accommodate their needs, however I believe they need to overcome their own experiences and not force others speak a certain way to alleviate that pain. | ||
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THE_DOMINATOR
United States309 Posts
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synapse
China13814 Posts
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VabuDeltaKaiser
Germany1107 Posts
we know that. we are not that stupid. we can differentiate between gaming language and wording and unbelievable things that happens outside of the internet. that are 2 worlds, focus on the worst and focus on the best. if you even try to compare, you are wrong. the world is just not 1 way simple, sorry. you need to use your mind. | ||
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EAGER-beaver
Canada2799 Posts
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hefty
Denmark555 Posts
Being mindful about contexts go both ways though. People who catch the word "rape" in a starcraft commentary for instance really shouldn't get offended because the intention of to the usage is completely different. Hassling gamers for their usage of the word is neither righteous nor very understanding at all. But of course we can cut people some slack if they are emotionally hurt, so I wouldn't confront them on that err, and would certainly avoid using the word around them again. But really, it is not like you are helping anyone by avoiding that word. A rape victim will recall the gruesome experience again and again whether or not confronted by casual usage of "rape", so the beef they/other might have with the word is all about showing respect (or the lack of it), and here context is everything. As long "rape" is used in a totally different context without the intention of hurting, it's not morally wrong. That doesn't mean professional casters and other public figures shouldn't avoid it - part of being a public face is working on a clean and gracious conduct. | ||
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howerpower
United States619 Posts
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RinoZerg
Australia130 Posts
On August 14 2010 11:13 howerpower wrote: I'm so tired of people getting offended over everything, its childish and immature. Yeah man, rape victims should just get over it. Sheesh. O_o | ||
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Radfield
Canada2720 Posts
I remember seeing a front page article that used the word 'rape' in it. It was honestly a bit shocking. I kind of expect to see 'rape' thrown around on the forums, but I was caught off guard that what I think of as so inappropriate a term to use, would be used by the writing staff here. I don't hold it against the writers, but it really just goes to show how prevalent the term is in this culture. | ||
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Ascian
New Zealand7 Posts
But I agree with casters and players not using any vulgar language in a public forum (broader sense of the word then just a web forum) as they are the face of e-sport in the west and foul language is another barrier to becoming a main stream entertainment. I personally swear like a sailor but there is no reason alienating what little support we can gather in the west with language some may find offensive. | ||
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CharlieMurphy
United States22895 Posts
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FlashIsHigh
United States474 Posts
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LunarC
United States1186 Posts
Yes, words can change intrinsic meanings in different contexts. Two young African Americans calling each other "nigger" is more or less socially acceptable. If I called either one of them a "nigger" I'd probably get beaten to a pulp. However, "nigger" cannot be compared to "rape" because "nigger" possesses an enormous cultural scaffold to back it, while "rape" does not. Truly, the gamers are the minority in this sense. On August 14 2010 11:21 CharlieMurphy wrote: you could say the same thing about the word owned. Anyone who was a slave is offended and reminded of when they were owned. Black people all over the US are turning in their graves. "Own" is a word that can be applied to many things. I can "own" a desk lamp. The term CharlieMurphy is looking for is probably "enslaved". But gamers will never say that they "enslaved" some noob. Too many syllables. | ||
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FireBlast!
United Kingdom5251 Posts
On August 14 2010 11:21 CharlieMurphy wrote: you could say the same thing about the word owned. Anyone who was a slave is offended and reminded of when they were owned. Black people all over the US are turning in their graves. I dont understand why people keep using the word owned as an example when its implications are broader and more abstract. Owned in gaming terms in no way intentionally or unintentionally makes connections to slavery. Its semantic impetus comes from "to seize something completely, to hit the spot" whereas "rape" specifically evokes sexual violation. This has been covered many times throughout the thread | ||
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