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The Story of the Gold Farmer

Posted by Zonk on from the making-a-dishonest-buck dept.

The Deadalus Project has a massive update looking at Player Opinions of Gold Farmers. While farming activities are well documented, Mr. Yee opens up the dialogue about the topic by looking at player opinion in a larger context. From the piece: "Of course, the story of prejudice against the Chinese during the 1800s is far more complex and nuanced than stemming from just the laundry workers. And, of course, the parallel that I'm trying to draw isn't perfect. But the juxtaposition of this historical narrative with the much more recent narrative we typically tell about 'Chinese' gold farmers reveals its disturbing metaphors and framings. The contemporary narrative starts to feel too much like the historical one - Chinese immigrant workers being harassed and murdered by Westerners who feel they alone can arbitrate what constitutes acceptable labor."

4 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. I hate to say it.... by LordPhantom · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...but I really don't like them wherever they're from - throwing race in as an issue in this seems cheap to me.

    1. Re:I hate to say it.... by supersocialist · · Score: 4, Insightful

      When racism happens to accompany a real problem, the people who'd rather not see it solved cry "racism!" to make the pasty white boys shrink bank into their basements for fear of looking bad. I'd mention a few examples, but I'm already courting bad karma just by opening my mouth near the word racism!

    2. Re:I hate to say it.... by thesandtiger · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What brings race into this is that people are constantly referring to "Chinese" gold farmers, as if being Chinese is somehow part of the problem when it is only the gold farming that is objectionable. It would be like putting "Black spammers" or "Jewish phishers" or "Mexican telemarketers" as being a problem, rather than simply spammers, phishers and telemarketers.

      --
      Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
  2. So let me get this Straight... by Banner · · Score: 4, Funny

    YOU come into a game, abuse the rules to make money, AND make the game less playable and less fun for the majority of the players.

    Then YOU have the nerve to complain about it when they retaliate against you in manners that are well within the rules of the game?

    Is that the 'waaaaaambulance' I hear?