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Rockstar Censors GTA After Haitian Outcry
Thanks to VE3D for carrying a statement from Take Two/Rockstar announcing the removal of alleged anti-Haitian content from future copies of Grand Theft Auto:Vice City, after a furore which started last month following a CBS TV segment on the game. The controversy, which even had New York's Mayor Bloomberg weighing in on the game's rival gang-related urgings to "Kill all the Haitians", has ended with Rockstar's press release indicating: "We believe that recent media coverage has taken certain statements made in the game out of context... nevertheless, we are aware of the hurt and anger in the Haitian community... we will remove the objectionable statements from future copies of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City."
what if this were spray painted on a wall in a movie like Boyz N the Hood?
How is this any different?
Cop killing has been one of the most criticized aspects of this game, but the Hatian comment is what gets the changes made? And really, it's not that out of context of a statement, as there is an unfortunate and very strong anti-Hatian sentiment in South Florida that I have personally witnessed as have many who live down there.
Seriously, though, we should really be more concerned about the rampant genocide already present in gaming culture.
One last thing: why is the "strike" tag not supported? I can't be the only one sick of seeing ^Hs.
Co-founder of GerbilMechs
Brits call themselves brits, Scots call themselves Scots so those two are probably self explanatory.
It probably doesn't help if you've been at war with someone in reasonably recent history as the abbreviated names tend to have retained their pejorative edge.
It also has to be said that I don't think I've ever heard "nip", "chink" or "paki" said without a degree of ill-feeling behind it (GWB's "pakis" statement being the exception).
It's not terribly unreasonable to accept that some shortened names have gathered a negative meaning while some haven't. Language evolves like that.
Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
You ignore a crucial point! That is: The "segregation" you describe is self-imposed. People of different races are not likely going to "become one" anytime soon. That would be taking the archaic concept of "America's melting pot" a little too far. I prefer to think of America as a huge pot of nabemono: Everything goes together well and contributes to the flavor of the stock, but the ingredients are meant to enjoyed separately for what they are. "Vive la difference," if you prefer.
:) And white people aren't stopped at the entrance to Snoop Dogg shows either.
And you cannot responsibly compare the segregation of America's past (basically, American apartheid) with black people wanting to be represented on TV in some sitcom, or listening to a rap radio station. The former was about the politically powerful racial majority using the law to oppress legally underrepresented minorities, in the areas of social status, employment, education, whatever you've got. The latter is about __everyone__ being free to express themselves. Nobody forces Jason Mraz's audiences to be almost 100% white, that's just how it turns out.
To extend this example, black entertainment exists because blacks enjoy it. Nobody is sitting up in some NBC office (well, especially not NBC....), thinking, "Let's make some black sitcoms because I don't want them watching white shows." That's nonsensical. Same thing applies to all forms of "ethnic" entertainment.
Further, I take issue with your poor understanding of the concept of "Policital Correctness." PC is seen -- by those who have given the issue very little thought -- as a set of guidelines which is meant to shield people from "the truth," or as a means of suppressing what straight white males are allowed to say in public. That's bull. All that PC is really about is about treating people the same way you want to be treated. In other words, using common sense.
So, what do I think of the Haitian group's qualms with Vice City? I think they should get over themselves. But because I'm not Haitian, I'm not qualified or informed enough to tell you whether I'd really be offended AS A HAITIAN by something like this. Common sense tells me, if they don't like it, there's no harm in not doing it. So Rockstar's decision sounds fair to me.
BTW, if you think race is going to disappear as an instantaneous means of identifying someone, you are an idealist whose optimistic views will unfortunately not become reality any time soon. It is not politically incorrect to note that you are standing beside a black person on the train, or that the cashier at Macy's is a white woman. There is nothing offensive about such notions, nor is there anything wrong with noting the differences between yourself and others. Differences can be celebrated.