Halloween 2013 set back my faith in humanity a little bit. For some reason a bunch of people decided that previously established guidelines about what we, as a culture, find to be inappropriate didn’t really apply any more. That said, I often find the idiocy of other people quite inspiring. While walking back from the Moonbase I started joking with Graham about what it would be like if someone decided they should get a refund on their costume because it was horribly offensive and people were offended by it.
One short group writing session later, we had this week’s LoadingReadyRun video, The Bodypaint Problem.
Next up this week is Unskippable, which goes high class and high danger with 007 Legends. The game attempts to do some neat in-cannon adventures, but what it really seems to be doing is re-enforcing the theory that 007 is not very good at his job.
And finally, this week on CheckPoint, EA is extra evil so they get to show up twice, UK personality Jonathan Ross has been handed a plum job doing vague things and most importantly, I change my hairstyle. The episode is also called Attack on Titanfall which is a fun in-joke for approximately 98 percent of the internet.
In other news, have you been checking out Feed Dump? For like, the past month we’ve had people saying “funniest episode ever” – we’re really on a tear. Go watch!
Feed Dump *is* on a tear. The alternating of Graham & Kathleen hosting is also nice too, opens up a variety of different perspectives and comedic paths!
And.. As for the Halloween thing, I mean.. I don’t do the whole dressing up thing, but I guess people need to strictly abide by characters, etc within their skin group? I don’t know if that’s segregation or not.. I mean, I’m not intentionally trying to offend anyone here, I’m of the strong belief that racism and sexism, etc are *bad* things.. Though to use the example of Julianne Hough’s “Orange is the New Black” costume.. If it’s someone’s favourite show and they love/respect the character.. Are they supposed to “change it up” and be “White/Asian/Hispanic (whichever they happen to be, if they aren’t of African descent or “black”) Orange is the New Black” character? Then that isn’t the character, right?
But that said, in a *perfect* world, anyone and everyone could portray the character they like and not be racist/sexist about it, regardless of skin colour or gender. Y’know, actually equality, because we’re all people and whatever? But hey, maybe *I’m* the weird one, to even have the nerve of thinking that’s possible..
Comment by Matt A — November 4, 2013 @ 5:07 pm
As I am a woman, I sadly cannot grow a fine, sexy beard like Graham’s. Does The Bearded Way still work with a false beard?
Comment by Ms Elizabeth Vorakers — November 5, 2013 @ 12:11 am
@MattA: Protip 1: if you’re dressing up as an actual character, you don’t need to try to mimic their race! Black people dress up as Superman all the time without whiteface. You don’t need blackface to dress up as Static Shock.
Protip 2: If you’re dressing up as a racist stereotype (that is, your entire costume is predicated on dressing up as an “ethnicity”), don’t, and pick a different costume.
Comment by AlexanderDitto — November 5, 2013 @ 8:37 pm
@AlexanderDitto I agree with you, except for some Anime Cosplays.
You do have some characters in animes/video games with bleached-white skin. And people wear white body paint to get their skin to reflect that.
But I suppose no one ever got offended when someone tried to mimick demonic-people. I still find it an interesting irony.
Comment by Merrymaker_Mortalis — November 6, 2013 @ 8:06 am
@Merrymaker_Mortalis: That’s because demons are fictional characters that are based on entities that aren’t actually real or are part of a people’s religion/culture/mythos and even though a character like Static Shock is also fictional, at least he is based on a human (with fantastic powers). That’s the difference.
Comment by Trisha Lynn — November 6, 2013 @ 4:38 pm
Ah, I was waiting/hoping someone would add a comment with an answer!
@AlexanderDitto; thank you! That’s understandable. I was just curious is all, hence why I asked.. Also never said racist stereotype was acceptable in any way, I just meant legit character, wanting to portray it properly. You do make a valid point with the Superman thing, so.. Yeah. Fair enough!
Though I do also see Merrymaker’s point as well..
Comment by Matt A — November 7, 2013 @ 9:33 am
I have another question.
It is considered ill taste to dress up as a major Religion’s deity.
But it is acceptable to dress up as a mythological deity.
Is the reason for this is that generally, all followers of ancient religions are dead? So they won’t get offended.
Comment by Merrymaker_mortalis — November 8, 2013 @ 7:33 am
I think that’s probably the key, Merrymaker.
Now, I have a fine line on this issue, personally. I don’t actually think it’s in ill taste to dress up as a major religion’s deity. However, I believe that it IS in ill taste to dress up as such, and then act in a way that contradicts the personality and actions of said deity.
The key problem with this is that there are about as many interpretations of what the “personality and actions” of that deity are as there are worshipers of that deity, so anything you do will likely offend at least ONE person, and more likely many. Since the only alternative is to dress up, and then stand still and do absolutely nothing (which would not be fun), that’s why most people avoid it.
Comment by Admiral Memo — November 8, 2013 @ 11:23 pm
Not that it matters, really.. But I still find this Stephen Fry quote *brilliant*.
http://www.titaniumteddybear.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/stephen-fry-on-being-offended.jpg
Comment by Matt — November 9, 2013 @ 10:50 pm