this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2024
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54
What discussion you know you are on the wrong side of? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
97 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Maybe you haven't been convinced by a good enough argument. Maybe you just don't want to admit you are wrong. Or maybe the chaos is the objective, but what are you knowingly on the wrong side of?

In my case: I don't think any games are obliged to offer an easy mode. If developers want to tailor a specific experience, they don't have to dilute it with easier or harder modes that aren't actually interesting and/or anything more than poorly done numbers adjustments. BUT I also know that for the people that need and want them, it helps a LOT. But I can't really accept making the game worse so that some people get to play it. They wouldn't actually be playing the same game after all...

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 hours ago (5 children)

Pronouns. I get that they matter a lot to some people, and of course it's super annoying (if not worse) to be referred to in the wrong way, but I find it unreasonable to demand being referred to something outside of the gender binary, simply because that's the way language works.

I am aware that English has used "they" for a person of unknown gender for ages, but for one, I don't think it's something that you should demand people call you when they actually know your gender, but also I really hate that this is making its way into other languages like my own, that has never had this convention. Inventing entirely new pronouns is just ridiculous, I have a hard enough time to remember your name.

I am also aware that language evolves, but this is not evolution, it's forced, and if one group of people can try to force a change they prefer, I'm as much in my right to resist it if I don't like it.

People are super passionate about this though and in fifty years I'm sure I'll be seen as a fossil for not getting with the times now - in fact I'm sure certain people see me like this now.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Language evolves because people force it to. It's not a natural organism independent from our choices. We choose taboos, we choose meaning, we choose pronunciation, we choose loanwords. It's all evolution. The idea that it's "forced" is ludicrous because no one can take words from you nor force you to use them. Your words are your own and no one is capable of stopping you from speaking them. But, if you choose not to respect the wishes of others, you will suffer consequences.

The reason some languages have a gender binary is often because that society forced a gender binary on people to control them. There are plenty of non-Euro languages that have no gender binary built in. Language is an active participant in social oppression and changing language is an active countermeasure to that oppression and indeed a tool in shaping future society.

Inventing entirely new pronouns is no more ridiculous than inventing yet another television show character or yet another tiktok dance craze or yet another romance novel or yet another $15/month subscription service that does the same things other service do or writing yet another magazine column.

We put effort where we care. That's how we work. Where you put your effort shows you what you care about.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 50 minutes ago

Based

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

Yeah I support trans rights. If you are consistent I'll use your preferred pronouns. I don't care what bathroom people use. Health care is between you and your doctor. I only care about what genitals you have if we are going to be doing things with each others genitals.

That said so many trans people are complete assholes about it. I'm on your side but fuck so many of you are annoying jerks.

I remember when gays started coming out of the closet and they handled it better. Polite but firm about being treated fairly. The trans community is making more foes then friends the way they are acting.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago

They aren't referred to as "preferred pronouns". That concept doesn't exist. They are just pronouns. The pronouns for this person are x, y, and z. There's no preference, just a declaration.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

This might be specific to your region? Most trans people I know are grateful if you even make an effort. Even if you get it wrong sometimes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 hours ago

Could be. Grateful and understanding does describe my two trans friends. However they we friends before they transitioned. So the relationship was established and they knew I cared about them.

I knew one for ten years before they transitioned. So yeah I try not to dead name them but it takes time to adjust. For me it took about 2 years before I didn't think of their old name and have to adjust it before speaking.

I was talking about them with a mutual friend at a party. Someone I don't know yells at me from across the room "we don't use that name here." I'm better friends with them then you and you just made the entire party aware of their status.

Maybe it's just the people who make it a big deal publicly and like to challenge people. They tend to be the most noticeable in the community.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

Just use 他

He = 他

She = 他

Chinese Language Supremacy!

(Disclaimer: I have Chinese Ancestry)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 hours ago

I know, right? The pronoun for third-person female did not exist historically. When western culture hit China 100 years ago, they swap out the part where it means 'human' to make a new word.

Now when someone wants to refer to one in a gender-neutral way, they naturally write out the phonetic 'ta', as if the gender-neutral word is for male only.🤦

Same goes for second-person pronoun in Taiwan.

Stop these bullshits! The Chinese language does not need to address the gender! Figure that out in context! If you are writing and don't want to confuse your reader, just use the name!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

I know a few trans or nonbinary folks. They either go by he, she, or they. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't. Then again I live in a weird progressive rural community.

But if someone asks me to refer to them a particular way, sure what not? It means more to them than it means to me.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 hours ago

Zzzz

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 hours ago

I think TTRPGs should be unbalanced. Balance is a construct of games, and the fictional worlds the players will interact with are less immersive when everything is predictably tuned and equal. I think the fiction of a rogue being about as good as a fighter at combat is stupid. I think rust monsters and undead creatures that hurt your stats are way better than dire boars and skeletons who just shoot you with bows. I think that when rocks fall, things should die. These all contribute to the fantasy world seeming more dangerous, more 'real', like a spectral hand isn't shielding you from the worst the world has to offer.

I also recognize this is my dark fantasy bias yapping away

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

Veganism. I don't have any problems with most vegans. Most go through a phase of trying to convert you, but the ones I know and associate with have come out the other side. We all know that these positions would make the world a better place. I don't think I have the will to do it. Might be wrong though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 46 minutes ago

What about not trying to annoy vegans?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 56 minutes ago (1 children)

As a Vegan, I can honestly say some Vegans are the worst. LOL. And I have found through the online rave review of products that Vegans are liars too. :)

When my wife brings a product home that had great reviews by Vegans, I'm like ah crap, this is going to be shite.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 minutes ago

My old man yelling at cloud rant :

  1. i hate vegan products that try to position themselves as the vegan replacement to a non vegan product. They have their own qualities, and it hurts the product that it is compared to the meat alternative. If someone wants to eat chicken, no amount of marketing and spices will make it taste like chicken and will always be inferior to their meat counterparts for the meat eater.

  2. Vegan recipes on internet are 95% terrible. They try to put 100 flavors in one meal. Take whatever recipe your normally eat with meat and simply replace the protein for a vegan protein of your choice (pvt, tofu, bean curds, etc). Grill your tofu to your heart content, make that bean curd extra delicious by dunking it in soy sauce and eat with vegetables and rice or make a simple rice and bean with a side of fresh avocado.

  3. There are so many good vegan products with fucking terrible marketing. Meat eaters will not change their habits because you green wash your marketing. Go balls to the wall with that shit.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

OP, you've made the classic mistake of putting your opinion in the post instead of as a comment, now everyone is replying to your opinion in top level comments instead of your question.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 hours ago

This is the best practice, especially for AskLemmy but it also applies to news and other media threads. It's best to put your personal thoughts and opinions in a top-level reply, while keeping the post body to clarifications or summary of the posted question or media.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 day ago (5 children)

I’ll answer your question!

Pretty sure I’m on the wrong side of vegetarianism. I love animals, I think they’re worthy of love and consideration from us. I know becoming a vegetarian or vegan would reduce harm to animals, and I’m pretty sure it’s the morally correct thing to do. It’s also hard, it’s alienating, and I know every time I’ve attempted it in the past it’s triggered disordered eating.

My current stance is that society should embrace vegetarianism. If the government were to make a law granting animals status that protected them from being killed for food, I’d support that as a moral good. However, I’m not willing to be fully vegetarian in a carnivorous society, there are too many drawbacks. I know this is hypocritical and kinda intellectually pathetic of me but there it is :(

[–] [email protected] 2 points 54 minutes ago

It really depends on where you live. Being in BC we have so many Vegan and Vegetarian places that finding food outside of the home is easy. Visiting Calgary AB though, good luck.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 hours ago

I definitely commiserate with this. This is almost certainly the biggest moral quandary in my life. I think in my lifetime there will be a tipping point where vegetarianism will be a large enough minority to make it personally viable for me, but for the moment I reduce consumption where I can. Breakfast sausage will be the hardest thing to give up for me - but I continuously try meat alternatives in hopes of finding something I like.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

My mother does wildlife rescues, birds are mostly, then goes home and cooks a roast chicken.

She knows it's hypocritical. Cognitive dissonance is weird.

Also, it's not so alienating. I attend dinners with my family, and I'll eat roast vegies, and bring a side-dish for myself. Over time a few of my friends became vegan (I didn't convince them to) and it's exciting to share recipes.

If nothing else, reduce your meat intake over time.

As with most changes people make, the more drastic, the more unlikely it is to stick.

When I became vegan I was a slut for KFC burgers, and I "failed" a few times, but I just kept reminding myself it's not good for anyone, and mustered up the will power to drive past, and eat at home instead.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I’ve definitely reduced my intake, I just can’t apply the principle in a strict way. And the “alienating“ comment is just my own experience, I’m glad you didn’t have that issue! This isn’t intended to dissuade anyone from trying to be vegetarian, like I said I think I’m on the wrong side of this. It just personally has been difficult to fully align my moral principles and my actions on this matter.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 15 hours ago

You're not alone in not living up to your principles, virtually nobody can.

I once tried to vet all the products I was buying to make sure I wasn't contributing to slave labour, or deforestation, or animal exploitation, and it was exhausting.

It was good to identify brands which were absolute villains, and I still avoid them like the plague, but the amount of willpower it takes to travel to multiple stores and pick only the lesser of evils is something I'm not capable of right now.

I make gradual improvements, which is sustainable.

I am dead-set on repairing what I can, and hate spending money on new things.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 17 hours ago

Good example. I also feel like vegetarianism is probably correct, but I still haven't gone that way.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (16 children)

Adding an easy or "story" mode to a game doesn't inherently make it worse. You can still play it with difficulty cranked up to "Dark Souls" or whatever. The fact that there is a separate mode that others can use does not affect you; you need not use it yourself.

"Story mode" is actually an accessibility option in disguise: it can let people who have difficulty with fine motor control, reaction times, or understanding visual and auditory prompts to enjoy the art alongside everyone else. Instead of cheapening the game, it actually expands its influence on the world.

All that being said, no, no game is strictly obligated to be accessible, but why cheapen your art by not making it so?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 hours ago

“Story mode” is actually an accessibility option in disguise: it can let people who have difficulty with fine motor control, reaction times, or understanding visual and auditory prompts to enjoy the art alongside everyone else.

This is very insightful.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago

I have an experience relating to game difficulty and accessibility that you would probably appreciate.

I was playing Rimworld for the first time, and because I was aware of how huge disasters that wipe out most of your work (that you can sometimes build back from) is a part of the game, I felt bad about playing the game on the mode that allows you to load earlier saves; I would find losing progress in this way more stressful than fun, so I wanted the ability to reverse poor fortune or choices, even if it felt like I was "dishonouring the intended experience".

However, a friend (who was the reason I had bought Rimworld in the first place, and who enjoyed the chaos of no-save mode) pointed out that whilst the no-save mode may be presented as the default, the mode with saves enabled is presented as a perfectly valid way to enjoy the game. This made me feel immensely better about it, and I was able to dispel the silly guilt I was feeling. It highlighted to me the power of how we label difficulty settings and other accessibility settings.

Games are a funny medium.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 day ago (4 children)

I am always on the right side of any discussion. Otherwise I wouldn't be on that side.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

A lot of people seem to feel this way. Don’t let it become a tautology, however. It’s your opinion because you think it’s correct, NOT it’s correct because it’s your opinion. For example, plenty of folks justify homophobia because gay people make them feel icky and never examine whether or not their intuition is actually correct. You still have a responsibility to examine your conclusions on a topic and readjust as necessary!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago

It’s your opinion because you think it’s correct, NOT it’s correct because it’s your opinion.

Exactly this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago

I have been bashed for saying sth similar in response to "you think your opinions are better than other people's opinions". Duh, yeah? Otherwise I would hold the other opinion.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 17 hours ago

I'm glad you are like that, but dometimes people want to be convinced of the opposite side but haven't been able to, yet.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Imo, games shouldn't have an easy or a hard mode. They should progress from easy to hard. Think super mario world.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 19 hours ago

Opinions change, but sometimes the discussion doesn’t come up a second time. There are more than a few positions I’ve taken that I’ve since changed my mind about, one of which is certifications. While not necessarily a requirement in IT, having one would be immensely helpful right now, and so would having any kind of degree. Not only would it assist with a job search, but I’ve also been looking into moving to another country, and these things are almost always listed as something they look for during approval.

I’ve also been on the wrong side of whether or not to change career paths.

I’m trying to get back into gaming, and one of the things I appreciate most is a true, authentic experience that the developer intended, not something that was trimmed down or made easier for the sake of bringing in the most money or using other gimmicks to increase player count. I used to think it was best to include an easy mode, but after experiencing it, I can see it’s really not the same game, like you said. This was a relatively recent realization, too, one that I didn’t know I was on the wrong side of until I saw it firsthand.

Distro choice is another issue. I didn’t want to admit that I’ve fallen behind on that one, but I’m trying to get into some of the gaming-specific distros now after seeing what’s available.

I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection, and these are just a few of the things I’ve realized I was wrong about. It’s not that I needed to be convinced of anything; I just couldn’t admit it for whatever reason. I’m trying to work on a lot of things right now.

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