"Since Lee's Urban and all"

2

Comments

  • edited July 2012
    ozzmann wrote: »
    This is true but it was apparent(to me anyway) that Kenny was using "Urban" as a stereotype of black people from the city.:D

    It's one thing to believe in stereotypes, though, and another thing to hate people for what they look like, etc.

    It didn't strike me as a hateful comment, rather as an uneducated one.
  • edited July 2012
    WowMutt wrote: »
    Also, Larry called Lee "boy" a couple time's. that's more racist than Kenny asking lee if he can pick locks!

    I don't find that racist in the slightest, but, I'm from the UK, so in the US, it probably means more than it does here. If someone could verify that for me?

    Do agree about the whole comment just being an idiotic thing. A typical stereotypical comment, based from the world's media. I think too many people are reading more into it. As I have been playing the game, I've tried to treat it as if I was actually there, instead of making decisions based on how I want the game to go.

    The "urban" comment, I just took as someone who isn't handling the whole situation more calmly, which a lot of people wouldn't be doing as well. An off the cuff remark, which, as I said, comes from media stereotypes. I've got a skinhead and tattoos, and have been called a nazi, many, many times, and I am far from that type of person, but thanks to stereotypes, people judge you on what they don't know or are willing to understand.

    I like the fact Telltale put the comment in. It makes it more, you know, realistic. These things do get said in the real world, and I think it just added more interest to the story and the characters.
  • CapnJayCapnJay Banned
    edited July 2012
    i've been replaying my fuck kenny to try and get clem to lower her hopes of finding her parents. and talking to kenny even knowing what you know now it's hard to be abrasive to him like if you tell him you dont know what your doing with clem he admits he didn't know what he was doing at first when duck was born
  • JenniferJennifer Moderator
    edited July 2012
    skonk wrote: »
    I don't find that racist in the slightest, but, I'm from the UK, so in the US, it probably means more than it does here. If someone could verify that for me?
    I brought the fact that Larry called Lee "boy" in a racist tone in another topic, and someone posted a quote from wikipedia about the term's use in the US. I'll repost the quote here.
    From Wiki:

    Historically, in countries such as the U.S. and South Africa, "boy" was not only a 'neutral' term for domestics but also used as a disparaging racist insult towards men of colour (especially of African descent), recalling their subservient status even after the 20th century legal emancipation (from slavery, evolved to race segregation, viz. Apartheid) and alleged infantility, and many still consider it offensive in that context to this day since it denotes that men of colour (especially of African descent) are less than men.

    Georgia, the state where The Walking Dead is set, still does have a lot of racism, and "boy" is definitely still considered a racist term over there when said to an African-American man, depending on the context. Larry's tone and demeanor towards Lee when calling him a boy definitely fit the context of racism.
  • edited July 2012
    I think Kenny is ignorant of all cultures other than his own, so it's not personal. He probably thinks us Brits go around wearing monocles and tophats.


    And is also surprised to hear that we Brits actually drink Coffee as well as tea
    :)
  • edited July 2012
    Ah! Cheers, Jennifer! Can see what WowMutt meant now! So, Larry calling lee,"boy", is more than likely Larry being an old, set in his ways, kind of local, meaning boy in the way you described. I think the only time I've heard the word, boy, being used, was on old uk tv programmes, where a schoolteacher shouted it at a boy! "You, boy! Sit down!"

    It's funny how some words are seen totally different over here than the USA. Fanny, being a particularly amusing one!
  • edited July 2012
    I also thought boy just means boy. Weird though, how do you call a black young male / infant then?

    I also had to learn that I cant use the N word, as here in the Netherlands is somewhat common to use and not restricted by that only black people itself can say it. It is also not as offensive as it is the States, but is often used between friends.

    We have the word Neger ( the n word in Dutch) it comes from the Spanish or Portuguese word Negro.
    What means black. So it is the same thing here as saying that someone is a black person.
    The whole context of it is so much different.

    The dictionary here also defines that the word is to point out people that live south of the Sahara Dessert excluding the Horn of Africa.
  • edited July 2012
    Boy, lad, and son are common words used by men to describe anyone younger than them in my area. "Go on, my son!" being a favoured shout to a well-liked football player. Admittedly 'boy' is the most derogatory of the three though.
  • edited July 2012
    I think Kenny is ignorant of all cultures other than his own, so it's not personal. He probably thinks us Brits go around wearing monocles and tophats.

    This mental image gives me all kinds of giggles.

    Im black and I pretty much responded to Kenny the way Lee did. "You did not just say that! Oh whatever, you're just being an idiot, moving on." I think it does add a bit of realism to the game so Im not fussed about it.
  • BSMBSM
    edited July 2012
    I'm a black guy and I laughed my ass off. It was a dumb comment, completely out of left field, but what made it really funny was his defense.

    "Man, I'm from Florida! Shit just comes out sometimes..."

    HA!
  • edited July 2012
    Lee's response, for me, added more realism to the fact you are playing a game. His reaction was great! Even as Kenny was saying it, I was thinking,"No! Did he really just say that!?!?!"
  • edited July 2012
    Aexra wrote: »
    I also thought boy just means boy. Weird though, how do you call a black young male / infant then?

    I also had to learn that I cant use the N word, as here in the Netherlands is somewhat common to use and not restricted by that only black people itself can say it. It is also not as offensive as it is the States, but is often used between friends.

    We have the word Neger ( the n word in Dutch) it comes from the Spanish or Portuguese word Negro.
    What means black. So it is the same thing here as saying that someone is a black person.
    The whole context of it is so much different.

    The dictionary here also defines that the word is to point out people that live south of the Sahara Dessert excluding the Horn of Africa.

    Funny how that works out. I think the word that you call "N" comes from the Spanish and Portuguese words for black. One can use the word "youth" or "child" or "young adult" any word can be used, even boy. Though I imagine an American would be cautious in the context it is used when speaking about a black. Also..you guys in the Netherlands would be wise not to use that word. it is a word for ignorant people. But..to each is own.

    But lets not get into that too much eh? I notice the German moderator is sensitive to topics of race.

    As for the comment I thought it was funny. I laughed. I like the Florida jab too. Ironic since the games developers are in California. Shoot where I come from we could just as easily say...

    "Hell man I don't know what I'm talking about I'm from California, crazy shit just comes out of my mouth."
  • edited July 2012
    I suppose when we're all zombies, race is no longer an issue!
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited July 2012
    But lets not get into that too much eh? I notice the German moderator is sensitive to topics of race.

    The German moderator IS sensitive to topics of race. But also very very aware of how the last thread with the topic went down, and that was a veritable disaster with a whole bunch of actually racist comments in it. :(
  • edited July 2012
    I don't think that Kenny thinking that Lee could pick a lock means that he is racist. That's not racism, it's stereotype... If Kenny was racist, he wouldn't offer him a ride to Macon, or save his life. He would treat him like a piece of shit... Strerotype is wrong too.... but not as bad as racism, I think...
  • edited July 2012
    I thought it was a light hearted moment. I mean, I don't thing Kenny's racist in the way that makes you deserve being flayed alive. Just ignorant, or maybe he Knows something... Like some others suggested.
  • edited July 2012
    I laughed hard at the awkward situation it caused!
  • edited July 2012
    Funny how that works out. I think the word that you call "N" comes from the Spanish and Portuguese words for black. One can use the word "youth" or "child" or "young adult" any word can be used, even boy. Though I imagine an American would be cautious in the context it is used when speaking about a black. Also..you guys in the Netherlands would be wise not to use that word. it is a word for ignorant people. But..to each is own.

    But lets not get into that too much eh? I notice the German moderator is sensitive to topics of race.

    As for the comment I thought it was funny. I laughed. I like the Florida jab too. Ironic since the games developers are in California. Shoot where I come from we could just as easily say...

    "Hell man I don't know what I'm talking about I'm from California, crazy shit just comes out of my mouth."

    I don't use the word anymore since I have met allot of Americans trough sports.
    Also in the media (films etc.) it is considered a bad word world wide now. I rather be safe then sorry. My last intentions would be to insult someone, let alone be racial. I thought I would brought it up, that the same words can have different contexts throughout the world. Also by culture.

    Japanese people are considered "racial" when you are in Japan. If you get to know there culture allot of it is understandable when you get where it came from and see the context.

    Same goes for American TV, allot of things cant be said, here you can say almost every swear word.

    I find that interesting how those "same" things can be so much different in other area's in the world.
    But that is maybe an other discussion, I'm going of topic to much now :p
  • JenniferJennifer Moderator
    edited July 2012
    skonk wrote: »
    It's funny how some words are seen totally different over here than the USA. Fanny, being a particularly amusing one!
    Once I found out what it meant in the UK, I can see why Warren Spector and Disney decided for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit's girlfriend in Epic Mickey would be Ortensia rather than Fanny (of course, the meaning in the United States also would make that name embarrassing, although much less so). :p
  • edited July 2012
    Augurk wrote: »
    I laughed hard at the awkward situation it caused!

    Kenny recovers from it strong, though.

    The comment about being from Florida was comedic genius. It's always best to diffuse tension with humor!
  • edited July 2012
    It was very stereotypical, and definitely based on race. Lee has been pretty open about being a professor at a major university. He's well spoken, intelligent, and educated. There is no way Kenny took the stereotype from anything but race.

    I still laughed. Lee didn't take it to heart and Kenny apologized. If you mostly side with Kenny, he's all about the bro love. So, I wouldn't think that the racist/stereotypical comment defines Kenny.
  • edited July 2012
    skonk wrote: »
    I suppose when we're all zombies, race is no longer an issue!

    "just white meat, and dark meat...."
  • edited July 2012
    "just white meat, and dark meat...."

    -Rick Grimes
  • CapnJayCapnJay Banned
    edited July 2012
    Well on the plus side Kenny isn't suspicious of the black guy with an random eight year asian girl in tow
  • edited July 2012
    CapnJay wrote: »
    Well on the plus side Kenny isn't suspicious of the black guy with an random eight year asian girl in tow

    Well, Shawn's cop friend wasnt suspicious either, lol.
  • edited July 2012
    CapnJay wrote: »
    Well on the plus side Kenny isn't suspicious of the black guy with an random eight year asian girl in tow

    Yeah...Err um, I'm just some guy:rolleyes:
  • edited July 2012
    HA HA I wonder if Kenny asks Lee to hotwire the train since he's "urban":D
  • edited July 2012
    CapnJay wrote: »
    Well on the plus side Kenny isn't suspicious of the black guy with an random eight year asian girl in tow

    She is Asian?

    In the picture her father looks black, and her mother light skinned. (The shadow falls right in the middle of her mother)

    I figured Clem was a light skinned black girl. I thought her skin color was made that way on purpose so that she could be ambiguous and make the dominate gaming culture more....comfortable.
  • edited July 2012
    She is Asian?

    In the picture her father looks black, and her mother light skinned. (The shadow falls right in the middle of her mother)

    I figured Clem was a light skinned black girl. I thought her skin color was made that way on purpose so that she could be ambiguous and make the dominate gaming culture more....comfortable.

    I thought it implied she was Mixed, so that race became a non variable.
    Being Mixed myself it makes me feel a bit closer to her character, to be honest. I don't like that it does, but I think it's kinda cool. Also I think, since she's supposed to make people feel attached like she's their actual daughter, making her ambiguously mixed would make attachment easier.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited July 2012
    Trains are Duck's specialty. ;)
  • edited July 2012
    Trains are Duck's specialty. ;)

    I thought that was tractors. :p
  • edited July 2012
    I thought it implied she was Mixed, so that race became a non variable.
    Being Mixed myself it makes me feel a bit closer to her character, to be honest. I don't like that it does, but I think it's kinda cool. Also I think, since she's supposed to make people feel attached like she's their actual daughter, making her ambiguously mixed would make attachment easier.

    Right right I meant that too.
  • edited July 2012
    Forgot to mention but, honestly, I found the joke Funny. I like Racist Humor, well some of it, it's better to laugh prejudice away than to give it a serious thought. I mean, it just shows how ignorant some people are and it's hilarious, especially the way Lee plays it off followed by Kenny's save... I mean, by Ep 2 I hate Kenny but, that was pretty funny.
  • CapnJayCapnJay Banned
    edited July 2012
    TTG is tired of calling Clem asian so look at her hand in episode two when she pats her walkie
  • edited July 2012
    CapnJay wrote: »
    TTG is tired of calling Clem asian so look at her hand in episode two when she pats her walkie

    I don't get the joke. What's in her hands?

    but of course the race of the child is irrelevant. I was just stating surprise that she when you called her Asian, thought she was black.
  • CapnJayCapnJay Banned
    edited July 2012
    Clems face looks asian but her hand in the walkie talkie scene is brown
  • edited July 2012
    When I got to the bit where Danny compliments Lee on how well he handles the gun, I found myself wishing the exchange with Kenny had come before and you got a dialogue option along the lines of "Of course I know guns. I'm...'urban'" - except in character it wouldn't make any sense.
  • edited July 2012
    Here's a thought: Maybe Telltale put it in the game as a joke. To be funny. Crazy, right?
  • CapnJayCapnJay Banned
    edited July 2012
    Demo kinda reminds me of an aspergers person or is it autism. whats the condition that makes it impossible to tell if someones making a joke or being sarcastic because they can't recognize tonal inflection.

    then i wonder how does one express tonal inflection with text.
  • edited July 2012
    its was a ignorant remart more than a racist one big diffrence.
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