Jentos 6884 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2020 Homophobia and Hate within Roleplay Hi. I thought I’d write this up following a visible increase in posts about this topic. I am attempted to lay the groundworks for what I hope to be civil argumentation and discussion between players. LOTC occurs within a fantasy setting, which possesses high-fantasy, late middle ages and even steampunk elements within its canon world lore. However, many cultures, traditions and characters advocate for a lack of toleration when it comes to homosexuality, race-mixing, and other such hate. After all, this server draws in certain places of its lore from a “sacred” (ie: catholic church), and Western European mindset, especially when it comes to the human player-base, though it has also existed in various other groups. Recently, there have been numerous outcries against the use of homophobia and racism within an RP context. There is an almost undeniable plausibility that certain individuals play the role of homophobic characters because they themselves are homophobic, and this is by community standards unacceptable. Many In-Character cultures have a long lasting tradition against homosexual tendencies, though this derives from a number of reasons. These might derive from desires such as keeping a (though faulty and incorrect) degree of historical realism, or might even stem from a desire of an (arguably) flawed “grimdark” roleplay, in which characters find themselves at constant odds with each other, in an environment filled with hate within what they perceive as an often depressing and downtrodden world. After all, LOTC is no safe space, as each new player quickly comes to understand, and this entire medium is brimming with constant toxicity. And the diverse tastes of hundreds of players from different backgrounds creates a chaotic cocktail of contradictions and differing interpretations of the LOTC world and setting. When we hoist on our LOTC virtual masks, we all attempt the tricky game of playing the role of a character in an alien setting comprised of its own history, geopolitics, theology and natural laws. Therefore, is homophobic roleplay unacceptable? Is it the fruit of hateful individuals, bullying an often discriminated fraction of the world population. Is it the fruit of actual RP, supported either through the desire of a medicum of albeit flawed historical accuracy and that of a “darker” fantasy setting. Or is it a mixture of both of these? Should we limit the use of homophobia? Remove it entirely? How do we come to terms with this issue of racism and homophobia that affects the experience of players negatively? Therefore, DOES HOMOPHOBIA BELONG WITHIN ROLEPLAY ? 34 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanrahan 2885 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2020 god i love escaping from irl bigotry and social problems to fantasy bigotry and social problems 46 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickando 3395 Share Posted October 22, 2020 bro lotc isnt toxic idk what ur talking abt.. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urahra 5359 Share Posted October 22, 2020 damn can we just let people be gay in peace if it bothers you, don’t engage in RP with gay chars if you’re going out of your way to harass gay characters, then... idk man. i think that’s weird. 26 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wretched 2038 Share Posted October 22, 2020 In-character homophobia as a by-product of cultural or religious laws seems acceptable to me. The issue arises when what should be a minor in-character ruling of a belief, instead becomes a major aspect of the roleplay (or its niche). A hard in-character push of that agenda should be both avoided and discouraged, because it then becomes an outlet for genuine homophobes to express their beliefs under a veil of ‘being in-character’. All in all, it’s just a matter that should be treated carefully and with respect to fellow LoTCers. Homophobia can cut very deep to some, and upset may still be justifiably caused despite no obvious OOC motivator. 25 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABruhMoment 609 Share Posted October 22, 2020 People still fail to realize RP is not OOC. While sure, going out of the way to harass characters that are homosexual can be seen as targeting. But for someone to just RP not liking an individual because the CHARACTER is homophobic is okay. You can ask if homophobia belongs, but at the same standard does homosexuality belong? The point being, you can’t ask someone to not RP being homophobic without also allowing them to ask not RPing being gay. 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jentos 6884 Author Share Posted October 22, 2020 2 minutes ago, Wretched said: All in all, it’s just matter that should be treated carefully and with respect to fellow LoTCers. Homophobia can cut very deep to some, and upset may still be justifiably caused despite no obvious OOC motivator. I think you offer a very insightful opinion here! I starkly believe that we should try to achieve a sort of middle ground to avoid blotting out any potential roleplay, while trying to remain respectful. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
argonian 12844 Share Posted October 22, 2020 breaks techlock 28 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guzr 2049 Share Posted October 22, 2020 As a bisexual I dont really care, let them try and be homophobic my char will just keep on ftbing with twinks. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malaise 1569 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2020 Please, please God, make it end. The inane fear of role-play. The asinine hatred of conflict. The escapist pipe dreams of a perfect world, here on this Minecraft server. We, each and every one of us, are on a role-play server. That means we are supposed to insert ourselves into the role of a fictional character and act out their lives – every part of it. If your character is homosexual, they are homosexual. If your character is homophobic, they are homophobic. If your character identifies as a female but was born a biological male, if your character has no sexual urges whatsoever, if your character is bisexual, etc. etc. etc. You do what they would do. That is what role-play is. It is all role-playing has ever been. You make the script. You make the decisions. You act on the outcomes. We are role-playing. I pray anybody keeping their eyes on this thread reads this comment and commits it to memory. It is not unethical to be homophobic in role-play. It is not unethical to commit violence upon homosexual characters. It is not unethical to despise the very notion of love itself. These are real character traits and our world is not a safe one. It never has been. Nearly every single event hosted on Lord of the Craft will involve in some way or form: death, misfortune, and suffering. What difference does it make to your character, who is homosexual, whether you are killed by an angry clergyman who is homophobic, or a roving band of demons that wish to devour your soul? You are harassed by both and must act accordingly as a result. The difference between these two situations lies in the reality of one and the fantasy of another. You should be prepared for homophobia. You should not be prepared for a demon attack. The former hates you for who you are. The latter wishes to consume your soul and annihilate your world. The demons are the worse enemy – not the offender in holy vestments. This is a role-play server. It will never be anything else. Homophobia should always be a facet of our universe and will never cease to be. The second it leaves our universe and spills into OOC, it is a problem, and one that will be fixed quickly if addressed through the proper channels. Do not make yourselves out to be the weak, ineffectual role-players that crying about adversity in-character will make you. 67 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treshure 5581 Share Posted October 22, 2020 All problems fall to the wayside when you treat the person in front of you with kindness and respect. There are other situations in roleplay (such as extreme conflict) where it can render other players uncomfortable, too. In either case, you should be accommodating out of character and ensure that the roleplay is staying in character. Stop the roleplay if the other person is genuinely bothered out of character. Full stop, it isn’t worth it. Lots of players don’t do this. I don’t buy the “realism” argument when these same people can be seen shouting the same slurs out of character in private Discords to anyone that’ll give them the time of day. I can accept racial tension in a fantasy setting. Root out everyone else who hides behind characters to play out racist fantasies. Edit: Matt makes great points above me. Roleplay is great when it is contained to roleplay. However, it feel it’s everyone’s duty to make sure those two worlds are separate. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
osumanduas 1436 Share Posted October 22, 2020 11 minutes ago, Malaise said: Please, please God, make it end. The inane fear of role-play. The asinine hatred of conflict. The escapist pipe dreams of a perfect world, here on this Minecraft server. We, each and every one of us, are on a role-play server. That means we are supposed to insert ourselves into the role of a fictional character and act out their lives – every part of it. If your character is homosexual, they are homosexual. If your character is homophobic, they are homophobic. If your character identifies as a female but was born a biological male, if your character has no sexual urges whatsoever, if your character is bisexual, etc. etc. etc. You do what they would do. That is what role-play is. It is all role-playing has ever been. You make the script. You make the decisions. You act on the outcomes. We are role-playing. I pray anybody keeping their eyes on this thread reads this comment and commits it to memory. It is not unethical to be homophobic in role-play. It is not unethical to commit violence upon homosexual characters. It is not unethical to despise the very notion of love itself. These are real character traits and our world is not a safe one. It never has been. Nearly every single event hosted on Lord of the Craft will involve in some way or form: death, misfortune, and suffering. What difference does it make to your character, who is homosexual, whether you are killed by an angry clergyman who is homophobic, or a roving band of demons that wish to devour your soul? You are harassed by both and must act accordingly as a result. The difference between these two situations lies in the reality of one and the fantasy of another. You should be prepared for homophobia. You should not be prepared for a demon attack. The former hates you for who you are. The latter wishes to consume your soul and annihilate your world. The demons are the worse enemy – not the offender in holy vestments. This is a role-play server. It will never be anything else. Homophobia should always be a facet of our universe and will never cease to be. The second it leaves our universe and spills into OOC, it is a problem, and one that will be fixed quickly if addressed through the proper channels. Do not make yourselves out to be the weak, ineffectual role-players that crying about adversity in-character will make you. basically this 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScreamingDingo 16995 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Just be tasteful with it and use terms and conclusions that you would be able to make IC with the various cultures, religions and aspects of the server to keep it as accurate to the lotc ‘world’ as possible. Just don’t start calling people f****** in the middle of streets because you’re like “ur gay lol”. It’s that fine line that needs to be respected, but everything Malaise says is perfectly right 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaldabaoth 743 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Malaise put it very well, be an ass in rp, and not ooc, that's basically it. No reason to draw arbitrary lines in the sand for what is and what isn't feasible. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axelu 3691 Share Posted October 22, 2020 im gay and roleplay a conservative nun its chill if you have an in-character basis for that resentment/antiquated ideals such as culture or certain trauma.. what isn’t okay is projecting irl hatred unto others; there’s a discernable difference and very fine line 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts