Can Game Titles Be a Problem?

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Moderator note
Thread created from moving posts from another work in progress thread. If anyone wishes to continue discussions it’s a general matter. The context is: Can game titles be a problem ?

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Changing your language to please someone is something entirely different than changing your language to not hurt someone.

I am not saying whether or not he should change the name of the game. He’s the creator, it’s up to him. If he has chosen a name, he should indeed go for it.

In this particular context, sure, but don’t apply this rule to every aspect of your life.

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I don’t care about political correctness, I care about my (potential) customers, and they are always right.

That name is certainly going to alienate some of your customers and it’s hard enough to sell indie games even with everything perfect, let alone with a game that will reduce your potential customer base on the first glance at its name.

I personally would never click on a link pointing to a game with that name, not because I’m offended or something, but because it sounds like a name a silly teen would come up with, so I wouldn’t expect a great game.

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I am a retard, and everyone on these forums are retards. We aren’t a bright species. Is everyone happy with that? If not, why not?

From what I can tell with politics and the state of the world, very few people aren’t retarded in some form or other. Retard is indeed just a word.

It’s a mark of a retarded species that would fear a word, and even more so knowing that the word is merely data stored on a hard drive, somewhere on the internet, long before you read this post.

Therefore if you are less retarded, you would not be offended at comments about retards. Much Ado About Nothing.

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I am sympathetic, I’m just pointing out that words really are words and it’s quite exhausting trying to encourage mankind to move beyond tribal cat calling being important whatsoever. I’m not bright or good enough to do it, but someday it has to happen for us to progress without metaphysical rules that exist just because someone wishes to inject control via perceived reasoning.

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The word retard is painful for a reason. At one time disabled people were called retard. It was the word to use to degrade and make them feel less than human. Using that in your game is like using the N word in your game title to people who have loved ones who are disabled.

Use it if you want but as someone who grew up with a loving cognitively disabled uncle, it hurts me to the core when I see this word. It hurts…nothing to do with politics.

It really hurts when I see people I respect say it is okay to use that word. Regardless, there are many who will not play your game because of this word.

Words hurt…and if one thinks it is okay to use words that they know hurt, then it says something about that person. It is like deciding to walk away from a fight rather than to punch someone in the face because you disagree. So easy to do, no skin off your back, and it makes people feel better.

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Ugh…now this really hurts. I think that says more about you than about me…sighs.

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Words shouldn’t hurt, what should hurt is the intention behind the words. I assume the word ‘retard’ here is not meant to offend people, some will get offended nevertheless, but words are just sounds coming out of our mouths (or characters on a computer screen).

That being said I think people should always strive to be polite and respectful on one side, while people on the other side should not take offense so easily by words spoken in a playful manner with no disrespectful intention whatsoever.

PS: I’m not saying people who get offended are wrong, we are humans, we attach feelings to things, that’s why as a society we need to work around these ‘open wounds’ (as the N word) until they heal or until we overcome that.

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Retard is like N to people who have had to deal with the hatred and demeaning attitudes of that word. Originally, many years ago, it was used to define people who had a low IQ. Now it is used against anyone disabled, even those who are physically disabled. It is used to make fun of them, to make them feel inferior.

Empathy is a huge thing lacking in some people. Words do hurt. As a former foster parent, I can tell you that kids who are physically abused often heal eventually, but kids that are emotionally abused by people using words, often never heal. The impact of words is huge.

As a teen, I remember hanging out with my uncle who was one year older than me. He loved me and enjoyed showing me off to his friends. Of course, they threw the word ‘retard’ at him constantly, among other hateful things. He would smile…he was unable to speak, but I would see a sadness in his face. It hurt me too. Someone I loved and horrible people who thought words did not hurt were thoughtlessly treating him like an animal, believing that he did not understand or feel the pain.

And it never left me either. My mother changed her vote due to such an action by a politician. Words do hurt…and to say they should not is very naive. Dismissing those of us who do feel empathy, and do hurt for others, and ourselves, is unbelievable to me, honestly. It is like saying that our feelings do not matter as much as your right to use a word that hurts others.

There are so many other words that can be used instead. Is this word really being used to be silly? Or is it for shock value?

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Words do hurt, whether they should or should not is a useless thing to argue about. If you hurt someone with words, and then you say ‘but hey, I didn’t intend to hurt you’, that defense is pretty worthless because the damage is already done. Especially in the context of the internet.

I’m wondering, what do you think that we should do with the word ‘Nigger’? What exactly do you mean by to work-around words like that? Things like these are just so complex and to be honest I don’t have the slightest clue about what we should do about them and I’d love to know your thoughts about this.

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I agree with you guys, I was just pointing out that sometimes you also hear nice words that are full of bad intentions behind them, as well as words considered ‘bad’ used in a playful manner. I’m not saying it’s OK to do that, but ultimately the intention is what counts, especially because there are different people and different cultures out there.

Some Finnish people cuss every other word, and they get along perfectly well in their home country, however, they have problems with other cultures where they’re deemed disrespectful because of that. Can you say the Finnish person is wrong since his only ‘crime’ was being raised in a culture where words don’t hold as much meaning as in others? Maybe; but I’d also expect a civilized society to understand that a bit better, as well as I’d expect the Finnish person to make an effort to fit in.

That is an excellent point, and that’s why those words ideally shouldn’t be used to communicate with a general audience, your intentions are never clear. I’m not saying it’s OK to use the word whatever the answer to that question is, but there’s a difference in my opinion.

The work around is tolerance on both sides… don’t threaten to kill somebody when the word slipped out unintentionally, and on the other side try not to use the word since it holds to much emotional value and cause so much impact.

The ‘N’ word is a good example on how the same word may offend people profoundly, and may be used colloquially with no disrespectful intention by the very same people, as I’m pretty sure you’ve witnessed in your daily lives.

In my opinion we should be concerned about people using words to backup their bad intentions, there are plenty of people like that. We shouldn’t spend so much effort with some random stranger who is possibly a good citizen who happened to let a word we consider bad slip out unintentionally or due silliness. Call this later a jerk or idiot, but don’t go much beyond that, because using a word with no intention doesn’t give you the right to overreact with plenty of bad intentions.

Regarding this specific thread, I just assume the OP was raised in a culture/family where that word doesn’t bear any bad connotation, can you blame them? The problem here is that the OP should use a different language/terminology to communicate with the general public. Not that they are trying to be a jerk or offend people (I assume).

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We’re ruining OP’s thread about his game, but regarding the N-word, the man (the dad) in this video made some very interesting points I think. I like the son a lot and I’d like to share this video with you guys.

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No, do not threaten to kill anyone for using words or having a different opinion. :slight_smile: I think that is pretty much a given. But…I can refuse to buy their game with that title. I can start discussions on blogs, game forums, and twitter to talk about using appropriate words. I can post here and let people know how words do hurt and hope that at least some will will be like you and try to understand, (although won’t do so because it might actually draw attention)…

I do not think the intention of the OP was to offend. But as we always say, ignorance is no excuse. An early response in this thread was to point out the fact that they might want to change the title.

After that, we got all these “no one can tell me what to do” people who responded. I did not see any understanding in those people’s responses that showed me that they really understood the impact of that word. Like them, I have issues with many of the political correctness that has filled our world. But sometimes, it is not just about using the right word for he/she or whether African American should be used instead of black, but about whether a hateful derogatory term with a very shameful history should be used in a game/book/movie title.

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Humans are trained these days that words can cause harm or will cause harm. The problem with this pervasive ignorance is that it’s the same problem in the animal kingdom. It’s possible to ruffle feathers and make calls to mislead others in order to further one’s own gain.

The difference is that as a species we need to learn to move beyond that before any concept of world peace is anything more than a fond yearning.

I do have a turbulent past. So yes, I have been abused. Which makes me an unlikely proponent for the stance I have: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

Questions like “am I dying from this?” and “does it have the effect or do I create the effect?” are real questions. And the damage is always caused by those responding. As the words will never stop.

You can create safe places forever and still there will be pointless teenage deaths through hanging themselves or poisoning themselves or whatever grisly imagining you can muster. They die because we agree that words like retard and nigger matter. They die because we fail to arm them with the alternative from a young age: that words are shapes and sounds to be examined, to be seen as a symptom not a cause.

Instead they take words SO seriously, that they kill themselves. Because well-meaning people teach them that words matter. That safe spaces are everything. That’s not empowerment. That’s purposeful regression.

I guess I’m not so good at explaining things. I must be retarded.

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Again, dismissing other’s feelings as “trained”.

I am disappointed and saddened. People kill themselves for many reasons, and most of us have other ways to deal with pain and sadness. To make it simplistic is harmful to many. Suicide is not something to just throw out there as a reason why we should “harden up”. My cousin killed himself because the county delayed his medication refills. Many teenage deaths are due to bullying, which is a lot more than words. Or maybe you think those kids are just sissies.

The wonderful thing about this world is that we have people are beautifully sensitive and those who are empathetic and those who can put their emotions aside to do their job.

We have teachers, therapists, poets, writers, etc., because people allow themselves to feel and respect the feelings of others.

I give up on you, sorry. I think that you do not even understand what I am saying. Instead you use shock…yeah right, the word Nigger and Retard make people die…sheesh. Using hyberbole to make your point? Instead it looks like justification.

It is not the word that makes people die. It is constant harassment, constant degradation, chemical disorders, the lack of empathy from others, the constant telling others that their feelings are unimportant. It is the actual dismissing of the pain that sensitive folks or those with cognitive disorders go through by people who think that they should just “be retrained”. Ignoring them is what makes them give up. Making them feel like they do not matter.

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And you’d be absolutely right in refusing to buy their game, and starting a civilized and constructive discussion is a great way of contributing to a better society!

People project their emotions onto others (and even animals), but we should always stop for a second to consider that some people may not see the world as we see. Trying to achieve a compromise here is what’s called diplomacy. You have to go with a common denominator what is generally far from your personal view of the world.

Ignorance is no excuse. However, I’m against ‘forbidding’ the OP from using whatever words they want to express themselves. Do I agree with them? Absolutely not! But the best we can do is try to convince them, and if we fail at that, as long as they’re not hurting anyone, just let them be, some people are irremediable and we have to learn to get along with people we don’t agree with.

That’s exactly what I was talking about!

There’s a famous saying that goes like:
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

A wise man once said that should actually go like this:
Do unto others as they would have you do unto them
And I couldn’t agree more.

I personally wouldn’t get offended if a friend came to me and said in a playful manner ‘come over here, you retard’, but I don’t say that to my friends because I don’t know if they’d react the same way.

@Teila I’m sorry for your loss.

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You did not understand anything I wrote, not a single line. I’m sorry for my failure. Or maybe you find it easier to project?

Regardless, I’ve said what I feel to be a logical and impartial appraisal - that we’re all flawed and that the root cause of the harm won’t go away unless we’re educated to view things objectively.

I’ll bow out of the thread now. Never intended any distress to anyone.

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Maybe if as much effort was spent in learning how not to be a dick as lecturing people about how THEY should think, one wouldn’t need to turn around and apologize in their next post? That might save some time.

In fact, I’d suggest a more apropos name for this game and thread might be “Am I a Dick?” as that seems to be the actual question that is being begged.

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I do not thing he should be forbidden. :slight_smile:

My beef in the majority of my posts are not with the OP. He really did not respond to the post after a couple of initial posts. My guess is he never even thought about the name as it seems he took it from elsewhere.

My concern is with the rest of the thread.

To the point, exactly. I admire your way with words. :slight_smile:

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I’m of a similar opinion of hippo tbh. I feel that words like nigger for example, only have the power they do because we give them it. If nobody made a deal when you say nigger then it would lose its power, it’d just be a meaningless word. It’s the intentions behind. If two black people call each other 'nigga’s, no feathers are rustled cos the intention is pretty obvious, and it’s the intention that counts. If someone called me retarded I wouldn’t care, however if someone I knew who was actually disabled in some form I would be very unokay with someone calling them retarded.

Having said all this, I’d still never use any words like that in a game title. For one thing, as it stands now, the words do have power and do hurt, whether they should or not is a different matter. Secondly, it’s just unprofessional

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I got called fat as a child. It was just as demoralizing as when they called me retard or gringo. Was it the word… nope. It was the intent of it. The way it was used not the word itsself. Fat is a pretty common word. It gets used non offensively everyday. “Hey that line is too fat, looks out of place. Skinny it up a bit.” Same goes for the word retard. “It’s missing slightly I think your timing is off retard the spark a bit” no harm in that. Its not the word that hurts its the insult. You can take any tame word and hurt someone with it. Be a white kid in a black school and snowflake becomes severely derogatory. So the word retard is just a word and in its own right not foul. The way it gets frequently used is offensive.

As for the game name. That is an offensive use of the word and will alienate potential customers. Is there anything wrong with that is the question. No there’s not. Some people enjoy offensive things. I personally really like the most offensive hurtful humor I can find. No wrong in that. As a developer you must know that a large portion will not take it well though. Target your target, if you are going for offensive keep it. If you want to keep from running off a large potential customer base find something less offensive.

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