Journal of Other Forum Analysis

[benji]

Slavery is bad. I don’t think that’s a hard conclusion to draw. Throughout history, we have witnessed the most bigoted and fascist regimes on the planet use slavery as a means to eradicate or diminish racial groups, believing their own genetic hierarchy is somehow superior. We need to do all we can to fight for equality and diversity in the modern world.

Actually, historically, there wasn't really a racial component to slavery. This has been still the case even after the discovery of genetics, few people in the 20th Century were enslaved for racial reasons for example. While minorities in general were highly prone to becoming slaves it was typically more their ease of being conquered and not some kind of 19th Century racial concept. Slavery in the United States, and parts of Caribbean, was unique in that it explained the disconnect in rhetoric between "all men are created equal" and "these dudes be slaves" by explaining it through modern racial theories. Nowhere else did you have to make this claim because everyone totally understood "these dudes be slaves" because you said they were slaves.

Also, "genetic hierarchy" is not what you meant here, nor would "racial hierarchy" be correct either.

Diversity is a big issue, and Square’s excuses feel like lightweight justification for a damning lack of diversity. The experience eventually takes us to regions like the Dhalmekian Republic where people of colour do exist, but their facial features and overall presentation still exudes an unmistakably white aura. To hear instruments like sitars strummed along to a vast desert landscape filled by characters with all the colour of mint imperials isn’t a good look at all.

I don't know what this means so I can't respond to it.

You come across countless examples of Bearers being punished for not doing their jobs properly throughout Clive’s adventure, when in reality they’re tired and quite literally working themselves into an early grave. Final Fantasy 16 presents slavery as irredeemably bad, but so many of the good people you meet seem to treat freeing Bearers as a bizarre concept even when their own moral compasses point towards a need for liberation. Therefore, the cycle of Bearers continues regardless, and it isn’t until Cid comes along that things begin to change.

Cid leaves his position as Commanding Officer of the Dhalmekian Republic and founds The Hideaway because he believes in a world where people - Bearers included - are free to live and die on their own terms. They aren’t just struggling to survive, they’re striving to conjure up a life worth living once it’s all over. Countless quests and stepping stones across the main story have you liberating towns and even piecing together new ones where Bearers are free to settle away from the shackles of their masters. Many are ignorant to independence at first, and need nudging in the right direction in order to embrace their newfound freedom.

It’s hard to watch, but almost becomes heartwarming in its hamfistedness. At the same time, there are several instances where Bearers are liberated across regions, but it doesn’t seem that society is shifting into a new status quo, even as the magic they continue to rely on dwindles. Bearers are displaced and have nowhere to go unless we assist them, and it feels even more hurtful to suggest that slaves are powerless to enact change on their own destiny. When Bearers begin gathering at The Hideaway and across other small towns they begin undergoing procedures to burn away the marks strewn across their faces, which a side quest describes as an excruciating act which even results in death for those unable to withstand the pain.

Oh, so it's realistic? I thought your complaint was that it doesn't touch on the issues from the actual history of slavery in the real world?

This liberation should have been a main drive of the core narrative instead of a tertiary discussion, even more so when all of our reasons for wiping out the Mothercrystals relate to ridding Valisthea of blight and freeing its people. Final Fantasy 16 wants to be an epic anime adventure on the one hand, while on the other it seems determined to explore powerful issues like slavery and doesn’t do them justice. Tie in the game’s own lack of diversity, and we only complicate matters further.

Final Fantasy 16 moves the series forward in a lot of ways, and that includes approaching emotional complexity in its storytelling. Deciding to tackle issues like slavery is undoubtedly a part of that, and it’s mostly powerful in its execution. Yet it’s also a heavy-handed exploration of the idea that discounts our own history for a fantasy clone that is desperate to talk up big ideas without enough appropriate world building to uphold it.

Clive Rosfield could have easily embarked on a journey to rid Valisthea of magic and usurp his homeland’s reliance on magic and monsters without a clumsy reliance on slavery tropes. But Final Fantasy 16 leans into this and can’t avoid the awkward conversations regarding race that wouldn’t exist if its own diversity wasn’t so stilted.

Isn't confronting those awkward conversations a good thing? Isn't that forcing us to reconcile with our own conceptions of slavery and race in the real world? What exactly are you saying is the failure here? You never explained what your objection is at all, you just recounted the plot and complained that it tackled slavery. It's interesting that you titled your piece "We Need To Talk About Slavery In Final Fantasy 16" when you didn't talk about it at all and your complaint is that it talked about it.

F - Revise and resubmit.

[remy]

PlanetSmasher: This game is sooo easy I only get hit twice on the bosses.

Also PlanetSmasher: Uses the game journalist/my uncle that plays RPGs easy mode cheat ring that puts the game in slow mo every time you are about to get hit so you know when to dodge

[benji]

My Game Genie used to make insane combos that would break the games wide open too.

[benji]

Actual footage of PlanetSmasher:

[BIONIC]

DifficultySmasher wishes he was that rad!

[BIONIC]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/datingera-this-isnt-like-one-of-your-animes.666/page-560#post-107954232

Okay. Great. Now ask her if she wants to be in a committed relationship. If she doesnt give you an affirmative answer, respectfully, wtf are you waiting around for? This has been riddled with problems since you started posting about this months ago. Hang out with someone who wants to be with you dude.

I asked and told her I want to be in a committed relationship before I buy a plane ticket. She told me she wants to wait until she and I are both financially stable and when she can obtain some PTO off then once I come and see her then discuss being in a relationship. But I feel we both know each other long enough to know whether or not she wants a relationship with me. :/ We've both been good friends for over a year now and she's my only close friend.

I feel bad for picking on the little fella, but this is all too dumb not to share.

[benji]

She told me she wants to wait until she and I are both financially stable and when she can obtain some PTO off then once I come and see her then discuss being in a relationship. 

Demand to see her financial spreadsheets TaySan!

[BIONIC]

Was this ever posted? So many layers to unpack here:

https://www.resetera.com/threads/j-k-rowling-and-her-legacy-of-hate-the-uk-gender-critical-movement.643740/page-79#post-107811042

Rich and middle class white women commandeering feminism to be exclusionary so they can re-centre themselves as the victim. Not new but immensely tiring. Feminism should be centred on the needs of the most vulnerable women in the world, not the 0.1% who get to spend the day drinking Chardonnay and making up issues to get upset over.

It always amazes me how in America rampant transphobia is seen as the hallmark of the far-right and the religious whereas here it's presented as the domain of women's rights campaigners and modern day suffragettes.

[benji]

Can't fool me, that's bait, especially that last sentence in the first paragraph.

[BIONIC]

Pretty sure she mentioned drinking wine while browsing ree before like it was some cutesy thing instead of being utterly depressing.

[Boredfrom]

Rich and middle class white women commandeering feminism to be exclusionary so they can re-centre themselves as the victim. Not new but immensely tiring. Feminism should be centred

I mean, strictly speaking, most trans activists are middle class white women.

[BIONIC]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/might-have-a-lost-a-friend-over-a-make-out-session.734772/page-5#post-107978850

After being "trained" how to french kiss by my stepdad from the age of 6 till I was about 14, I have a pretty strong aversion to it and I'd probably be pretty annoyed by someone who insists on doing it in my presence when I'm incapable of leaving. I feel like that's reasonable enough.

I just asked the age because it sounds like literal teenage shit.

[Polident]

I dunno. Prefacing misogyny with “white” doesn’t make it any less misogynistic.

[jorma]

Was this ever posted? So many layers to unpack here:

https://www.resetera.com/threads/j-k-rowling-and-her-legacy-of-hate-the-uk-gender-critical-movement.643740/page-79#post-107811042

Rich and middle class white women commandeering feminism to be exclusionary so they can re-centre themselves as the victim. Not new but immensely tiring. Feminism should be centred on the needs of the most vulnerable women in the world, not the 0.1% who get to spend the day drinking Chardonnay and making up issues to get upset over.

It always amazes me how in America rampant transphobia is seen as the hallmark of the far-right and the religious whereas here it's presented as the domain of women's rights campaigners and modern day suffragettes.

Currently working through a bottle of Rosé and I'm curious.

Feel free to be more specific in the comments.

the avatar image is the icing on the shameless cake 

https://www.resetera.com/threads/which-wine-do-you-prefer.667000/

[BIONIC]

My god, the level of projection

[Boredfrom]

1687758111[/url]']
https://www.resetera.com/threads/might-have-a-lost-a-friend-over-a-make-out-session.734772/page-5#post-107978850

After being "trained" how to french kiss by my stepdad from the age of 6 till I was about 14, I have a pretty strong aversion to it and I'd probably be pretty annoyed by someone who insists on doing it in my presence when I'm incapable of leaving. I feel like that's reasonable enough.

I just asked the age because it sounds like literal teenage shit.

Why share this information, in RE of all places…

[benji]

I dunno. Prefacing misogyny with “white” doesn’t make it any less misogynistic.

[Potato]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/datingera-this-isnt-like-one-of-your-animes.666/page-560#post-107954232

Okay. Great. Now ask her if she wants to be in a committed relationship. If she doesnt give you an affirmative answer, respectfully, wtf are you waiting around for? This has been riddled with problems since you started posting about this months ago. Hang out with someone who wants to be with you dude.

I asked and told her I want to be in a committed relationship before I buy a plane ticket. She told me she wants to wait until she and I are both financially stable and when she can obtain some PTO off then once I come and see her then discuss being in a relationship. But I feel we both know each other long enough to know whether or not she wants a relationship with me. :/ We've both been good friends for over a year now and she's my only close friend.

I feel bad for picking on the little fella, but this is all too dumb not to share.

It's really hard not to pick on him when every time he's given a choice between being a man and being a whiny little bitch, he chooses the Shosta option.

He's also taken his dumb sob story two at least 3 different Neogoof offshoot forums now and he keeps getting the same answer: "Stop being a whiny little bitch."

[books]

I really hope he doesn't send her money that he doesn't have as gifts.

[Potato]

Was this ever posted? So many layers to unpack here:

https://www.resetera.com/threads/j-k-rowling-and-her-legacy-of-hate-the-uk-gender-critical-movement.643740/page-79#post-107811042

Rich and middle class white women commandeering feminism to be exclusionary so they can re-centre themselves as the victim. Not new but immensely tiring. Feminism should be centred on the needs of the most vulnerable women in the world, not the 0.1% who get to spend the day drinking Chardonnay and making up issues to get upset over.

It always amazes me how in America rampant transphobia is seen as the hallmark of the far-right and the religious whereas here it's presented as the domain of women's rights campaigners and modern day suffragettes.

The complete lack of self-awareness in this post is astounding, even for kyujigijigi.

[Potato]

Rich and middle class white women commandeering feminism to be exclusionary so they can re-centre themselves as the victim. Not new but immensely tiring. Feminism should be centred

I mean, strictly speaking, most trans activists are middle class white women.

[YuYu]

And now they're off to complaining about the women in FF16 because apparently they're just not powerful enough. Because that's how you write stories, always making sure that everyone feels powerful

https://www.thegamer.com/author/jade-king/







https://twitter.com/KonaYMA6

[Potato]

Why these trans women, who can choose any name they want, always choose the stripper names?

[HardcoreRetro]

At least the king part is correct.

[Snoopy]

The real question is why do they always look like Iron Maiden's drummer

[jooseloose]

The Bear
Hecht's favorite punchline
Moderator

Literally who? I've never seen or heard of him until yesterday.

[Uncle]

Pretty sure she mentioned drinking wine while browsing ree before like it was some cutesy thing instead of being utterly depressing.

I whip out the ecto cooler juice box

[Potato]

The real question is why do they always look like Iron Maiden's drummer

That's not fair...on Nicko

[DocWager]

1687773654[/url]']
The real question is why do they always look like Iron Maiden's drummer

I always think, Ronnie James Dio.

[Eric Cartman]

alright mr vgm name the exact point along the political scale where a person suddenly crosses over into "nuts" territory

center line? somehow I expect he thinks centrists are nuts too

Not being super into Disney