March 24, 2004

• That was a sweet article. Takes me back to my days of playing Starcraft on Battlenet.
• Compare and contrast to Julian Dibbell's classic A Rape In Cyberspace. Then, it was all about the then-newish VR versus RL.
• I can't believe what a visceral reaction I have to this. I want to punch his opponent, and to some small extent, I want to punch dng, too. I realize that you're not using the epithet except in context, but it doesn't abrogate the base reaction of shock I'm experiencing. An interesting and thought-provoking read.
• A really well written article. It really underlines just how involving some games can get, especially online.
• I want to punch dng, too. I realize that you're not using the epithet except in context, but it doesn't abrogate the base reaction of shock I'm experiencing. I debated whether it was appropriate to post this like that, and eventually decided it was. I'm sorry if I offended you, and if its not appropriate, I have no problems with tracicle removing or editing the post. Sorry, again.
• Its an article about the good guys dng. I doubt anyone here thinks poorly of you for posting it. I'd be upset if I found out that you had seen this and not posted it.
• Still, boo_radley, do you believe dng should have restrained from posting this the way it is?
• Great article dng. Man, Wanker indeed.
• i think dng posted appropriately... there was more than enough context on the front page to warrant the use of the article's title.
• see, that's the thing : I KNOW it's in the interest of furthering debate -- not to shock or offend. It's not dng that I'm questioning, it's my own reaction to the phrase, and to some extent my ability to discuss contentious issues calmly. I've played online games -- I've seen really offensive things in a lot of different forums, but this simple phrase simple goes beyond the pale. Don't apologize, though, because it's kicked off a little bout of introspection; this tends to be a good thing, dng. I promise. * buys DNG a bunch of bananas.
• p.s. I wouldn't call for the removal of this article under any circumstance.
• *dng accepts the bananas, smiles*
• I think maybe the shock comes from the use of the N-word on a FPP. But as far as the content, it's a great read.
• Hmm. There are people who use that word and ones like it, and people that don't. I don't believe that this person would act online in this fashion without holding the underlying disrespect and contempt in his heart, game or no. For the recipient - do nothing, other than know that the person who would stoop to calling you that is unworthy of either your consideration or your comapny, and then disassociate yourself from the game.
• You've got to be a pretty damn fine writer to make pretending to be a Jedi Knight seem only somewhat dorky as opposed to completely raging full on dork. Out of curiousity, how is ones ethnicity determined via the game, or is it?
• dng, any thoughts about displaying the "word-that-shall-not-be-named
• Out of curiousity, how is ones ethnicity determined via the game, or is it? i don't think it is... i think the situation arose from the writer's onscreen name of "Always Black". his odious opponent twigged on that, it seems.
• I can't think of a word in use today that has as much sheer, raw mana as nigger. Strong stuff. Say it loud, and there's music playing / Say it soft, and it's almost like praying
• ugh, i can't even *look* at the word, better yet repeat it in my head.
• and I did go "yessss!" and mentally punch the air when he won the duel.
• Ditto, boo. Which is why it made such a great adventure story. You have an honorable warrior fighting a dishonorable, racist opponent against extremely unfavorable odds -- yet he triumphs!
• g : it really is like star wars!!
• MonkeyFilter: completely raging full on dork eenh! eenh! eenh!
• remember, dork is a synonym for penis. *shuffles away from petebest*
• ugh, i can't even *look* at the word, better yet repeat it in my head. part of the problem. not part of the solution. i recommend writing "i can look at the word nigger and repeat it in my head" 500 times on the board. people who cannot confront reality can hardly hope to change it. say, i've got some excellent photos of people plummeting from the burning WTC! we'll save them lesson two. now stop fretting, we'll have you back in touch with reality in no time!
• This was a truly satisfying read. Highly appropriate wording in the title in that many will be so outraged that they will want to know what goddamned asshole felt he had the right to say that. Classic. Also, my husband is ridiculously addicted to something called Asheron's Call and while the 'bad guys' can do what they want, over-the-top abusive language and slurs are never accepted. The admins are very quick to take care of the problem users.
• I don't mean to make light of terms such as "nigger", but I feel that insults such as these should not evoke too much strong emotion in us. If we cannot control how we feel towards such words, it will be too easy to goad us into rage or shock. Chances are, that Wanker was probably a fifteen year old pimply runt who can't raise a cleaver to save his life, but thinks he's a god because he's got better-than-average hand-eye coordination. Figures he can get away with anything online, behind the mask of anonymity. The article was very well-written. I met up with jerks like that one fairly often in the past. It's a pity poetic justice doesn't come more often.
• "Are There Any Niggers Here Tonight? Oh, my god, did you hear what he said? Are there any niggers here tonight? Is that rank! Is that cruel! Is that a cheap way to get laughs? Well, I think I see a nigger at the bar talking to two guinea owners and next to them....Now why have I done this? Is it only for shock value? Well, if all the niggers started calling each other nigger, not only among themselves, which they do anyway, but among others. If President Kennedy got on television and said:'I'm considering appointing two or three of the top niggers in the country to my cabinet'-if it was nothing but nigger, nigger, nigger- in six months nigger wouldn't mean any more than good night, god bless you...-when that beautiful day comes, you'll never see another nigger kid come home from school crying because some motherfucker called him a nigger." ---Lenny Bruce “Well, I don’t respond to that. I mean, you are free to criticize. I understand that it could be painful for some people, but it just does not have the same connotation for me. The thing about the n-word is that I don’t think the word itself is offensive as much as the malice and the hatred that’s associated with the word. But culturally that’s been flipped, a lot of younger black people took that word and changed the meaning amongst ourselves, hell even white kids are calling each other nigger. I didn’t make the word up.” -Dave Chapelle, on his use of the word nigger LBJ told the story of a Democratic senator who said to him that his "poor state" hadn't heard a truly Democratic speech in 30 years. "All they ever hear at election time," the president said, "is nigger, nigger, nigger!"
• I want to punch dng as well. Not because of the link, which I thought was amazing... I just think it would be kind of funny. On second thought... I don't want to punch dng. I want to cockpunch dng.
• Ooooohh, kinky bone, can I watch?
• No wonder bone needs the brillo pad and detergent.
• what was it sly and the family stone sung don't call me nigger, whitey! don't call me whitey, nigger!
• I like being hit.
• Cockpunch (the frightening origin), another cockpunch, a whole flurry of cockpunches. Also referred to as cock-punch and "cock punch." So far, cockpunch seems to be the closest thing this community (as opposed to "that" community) has to a "pancake."" Now you can play with the cool kids too. No wonder bone needs the brillo pad and detergent. You would too if you had just spent half-an-hour with your hand stuck to the doorknob.
• um, quonset: I don't know what kind of "reality" you live in, but in my reality, I don't associate with colleagues, friends, family, or acquaintances who believe it's cool/edgy/appropriate/subversive to throw the N-word around like it's a fucking badge. So, at what opportunity would you recommend that I start engaging this word into everyday conversations?
• I'm a fucking hero. A real one. No, you're a fucking moron. A real one. As much as I appreciate the dexterity involved in this sort of online hijinks, to think you're a "hero"—a real one—because you moved your computer mouse a certain way and the screen told you a visual representation of some unknown person who's been moving his or her mouse somewhere else has vanished or run out of points or something is pathetic. um, quonset: I don't know what kind of "reality" you live in This one. Wake up and smell the meepzorp, naxosaxur—you're getting high and mighty with the wrong guy.
• No, you're a fucking moron. A real one. Context, languagehat, context. you're getting high and mighty with the wrong guy Do all you MeFites owe him money or something? Cause I'm seein' quonset this, and quonset that, and quonset kitty-bar-the-door — but still no sign of the legendary gold-lamé Spider-Man Underoos of his legend and fame. Apologies to q for the third-person pissage.
• goetter, you should be on a cranky mood more often. to think you're a "hero", a real one, because you moved your computer mouse a certain way and the screen told you a visual representation of some unknown person who's been moving his or her mouse somewhere else has vanished or run out of points or something is pathetic. Yet, fighting mills is heroic.
• I'm a fucking hero. A real one. No, you're a fucking moron. A real one. I think you've got it wrong, languagehat. This isn't about him genuinely thinking he's actually done anything heroic, made any real difference in the world. Its about how you feel at the moment of victory - its absurd, its only a game after all, but the euphoria for that second is real, you do feel like a hero, like a Jedi, or whatever. Its like scoring the winning goal in some first to five match over the park against some wankers you hate (or whatever the American equivalent is) - it feels fucking fanastic, no matter how inconsequential it all is.
• "Quonset Kitty Bar the Door" had a great debut album, but after their lead singer OD'd, the band was never the same.
• This isn't about him genuinely thinking he's actually done anything heroic, made any real difference in the world. Its about how you feel at the moment of victory OK, OK, I see your point. I overreacted. But I'm tired of people acting as if online activity were somehow on a par with real life, and I let my generalized annoyance spill over. You may pelt me with poo now. I love "Quonset Kitty Bar the Door"!
• Ask tracicle if you can borrow her umbrella.
• >>"Wake up and smell the meepzorp, naxosaxur—you're getting high and mighty with the wrong guy." languagehat, I
• Quonset Kitty Bar the Door's drummer recently lost both legs and has been forced to start playing with his arms.
• *Flings poo toward languagehat. Hits goetter instead* languagehat, there's an incredible amount of meaningless real life activities were people feel like heroes and are treated like gods just because they show quite some skill and spent too much time doing it. That online activities don't require too much physical skills doesn't mean they don't require skills at all.
• Oh, man - this thread seems to have provoked about three different fights. I'm sorry, everyone...
• *starts cleaning up the mess*
• Threats, nax? He did not say, You picked the wrong nigga to fuck with. /Ice Cube Nothing even close. Touchyfilter redux. Come on, airbody, let's give it a rest. *runs to other thread to borrow tracicle's brollie*
• Don't apologize dng, it was bound to happen with any thread sometime soon. Touchyfilter as goetter said. I just hope this doesn't generate any enmities.
• *throws menorah in naxo's general direction, runs like mad*
• Please contribute to the Quonset Kitty Bar the Door minority memorial scholarship.
• Heh. Nice thread, all.
• How long until you've read 'em all, PF? Couple of min-mins?
• Chances are, that Wanker was probably a fifteen year old pimply runt who can't raise a cleaver to save his life, but thinks he's a god because he's got better-than-average hand-eye coordination. Figures he can get away with anything online, behind the mask of anonymity. Sadly, this game doesn't even require the hand-eye coordination, Neddy. Just the ability to get the best gear. It's pretty sad, actually. If it was hand-eye, most of these hardcore MMO PvP types would have their asses handed to them. Kinda makes them extra lame, which explains the extra bravado. Serious overcompensation issues.
• I completely forgot about Quontset Kitty Bar the Door. Ah, memories.
• Looks like I'm a, um, few months late, but this post goes hand in hand with John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory.
• You made me cry. posted by Jesus at 10:49PM UTC on September 15 Hitler.