Journal of Other Forum Analysis (Volume II, Issue 2)

[HaughtyFrank]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/mamdani-says-he-is-looking-into-whether-he-can-order-netanyahu%E2%80%99s-arrest.1581556/

None of them even wondering about the legality

[Snoopy]

Mamdani should wait until Netty turns up in NY then send 6 officers dressed as the 9/11 hijackers to arrest him. Shit would be lols

[NekoFever]

I don't feel comfortable a lot of the time when non-neurodivergent people start claiming fictional characters are Autistic

Note: this is NOT about neurodivergent people fanoning and theorizing about fictional characters or relating to fictional characters. To me that is very different and a good thing.

I don't feel comfortable a lot of the time when non-neurodivergent people start claiming X character is Autistic or neurodivergent, in fact so often I find it hurtful.

Nearly every time I see it, it's ALWAYS based on the character being "weird", "quirky" and "odd", like that's all we are, that's the sole thing that defines us and we can't be anything else; which I hate. I hate the mentality that being autistic = being weird, that's it's our defining trait.

I can't stand the armchair psychology I see, the nasty stereotyping, the misinformation and quite bluntly hurtful stereotypes like "They act like an asshole, they MUST be autistic!", "Autistic people lack empathy!", "All autistic people are good at maths!" etc etc; all of which isn't considered acceptable because its "there fanon" so it's okay for them be ableist and say ignorant things, "It's just a theory".

I despise the idea that you MUST fit into a specific box to be considered Autistic. No, we can't varied and diverse people with our own feelings, loves, wants, hobbies etc, we're all just the same that fits into a nice box so Non-Neurodivergent people can easily category us.

And I HATE when Non-Neurodivergent people decide they can dictate who can be considered autistic fiction, tell me off for having fanon that doesn't match theirs. Like I can't consider Blade, Cammy from Street Fighter etc as Autistic because their to cool to be Autistic or too sexy (because we're never allowed to be considered sexy or cool we MUST be the "weird" ones, that's all we are to them), they know better and get to decide for me. Hell I've seen people straight up denying characters who are canonically Autistic as Autistic because they don't match their preconceptions like DC's Black Manta or Overwatch's Symmetra.

And I hate when Non-Neurodivergent fans flanderize Autistic or perceived Autistic characters in memes, discussion and fan art to make them more weird. This is something that makes me feel unwanted in the Dungeon Meshi fandom, Laios has does some pretty damn cool and heroic feats throughout the series and has plenty of depth beyond his obsession; but from all the memes and fan art I've seen you wouldn't know it because they always exaggerate and hyper focus on him being "weird" because that's all we are to people (and this is another place I've felt to be told off for having the "wrong" fanon, for considering and feeling Marcille as autistic).

Just can't stand the focus on Autistic people being weird/odd/quirky, I find that hurtful, othering and just nasty. Sorry for the rant. This was something I needed to vent out.

Feeling dysphoria due the idea that women in fiction can be not "feminine" enough

There is a type of praise for women in fiction for those typically butch, tomboyish or "badarse" that I've seen for decades from men, NB and women; the praise that they can kick ass and badarse yet stay/still being "feminine". I understand the logic of the critique, So often femininity is portrayed as frail and weak and can't be badarse which is obvious nonsense and rooted in misogyny... But a lot of the time I see, it has a nasty implication you can fail at being a woman, that you not be feminine enough if you don't exhibit the "right" traits or like/enjoy the "wrong" things, that what you find enjoyable and empowering is bad and not good rep for others etc etc; especially towards butch and trans women (especially masculine looking trans women like myself).

I really dislike in fiction where they just random introduce as stereotypical feminine hobby to a butch or "badarse" woman under the logic that it makes them more well-rounded, especially when that hobby never gets brought up again. I dislike this because of how shallow it is, implying women who don't enjoy "feminine hobbies" or don't act "feminine" (so much of which is arbitrary or enforced by societal norms or capitalism like the mentality of pink for girls, blue for boys) can't be well rounded or betraying themselves.

It's frustrating because it's not always cis people praising women like this, I've seen trans women say similar (what set this off for me was a Jessie Gender (to be clear I'm not calling her bad or suggesting she did wrong) video where she was discussing the recently Canned Buffy Reboot where she was discussing how Buffy could kickarse and still be feminine) and when it comes from the latter, it especially feels othering and implying I'm and other women are failing to be trans, that I'm not considered feminine enough to be accepted.

This feels especially frustrating for me as someone who has severe body issues being a late bloomer when it comes to be realizing I was trans (I knew I was different but took years to realize due to lack of knowledge and severe trust and self-loathing I suffered) who only recently came out to one of my parents and still not publicly fully came out for everyone and afraid to due to Reform and the Transphobes in my area. It's frustrating to be called he.

And like it's equally frustrating because so often with fiction, while I love well-written femme fatales and characters like Elsa, Cammy from Street Fighter etc, most often I find myself liking the less traditionally feminine women, the butch, the tomboys, aka the ones that often get less attention or killed off (it depresses me just how love Zarya from Overwatch gets nowadays) or villains like Maleficent. I hate the notion that I and women in real-life and fiction should be deemed not feminine enough based on hobbies, how we act, our personalities etc.

Video game recommendations with good CANON lesbian protagonists
It honestly bothers me when I look for lesbian representation online, most of the time the majority of mentions are either player created or games like RPGs where we are barred from being companions or romance options because we "break immersion" or "ruin people's power fantasies", barred because we're an inconvenience for fans and devs of those games.

As such I would like recommendation with video games with good CANON lesbian representation and games where our existence is not optional; that actually tell lesbian focused stories and themes.

As such some rules:

MUST include a CANON lesbian protagonist (and as the only option)

NO PLAYER CREATION games

Any WLW romance can't be optional, it HAS to be canon and unavoidable (and preferably avoid nasty overused tropes like bury your gays).

The word "lesbian" preferably be said out loud; it pisses me off so much media, creatives and fans treat lesbian and other LGBTQ+ terms as taboo to never be used in the games themselves (can't piss of the Gamer Bros) or that it's not "immersive" to say it in like fantasy games (because Dragons, Magic etc totally okay! the word lesbian, no that's a step too far! /s) and media, even media like Arcane that is much better than others.

They must tell in part actual lesbian and wlw stories and experiences, I want our struggles and experiences etc actually told in games, I want games to be more then just power fantasies.

SuperiorCommunist92
6mo ago
Super Lesbian Animal RPG

Ghostie_24
6mo ago
Was gonna mention this one, please OP don't ignore it even if the name sounds silly. The protagonists are all sapphic and in WLW relationships. The main protagonist might be bisexual, don't remember? But it doesn't matter because she never shows attraction to a guy during the game and her relationship with her girlfriend is one of the main focuses of the story.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
Already have it and love it (:

PlasmifiedKarmelita
6mo ago
How is BG3 a game like that? All of the female companions are romanceable if you're a woman, and a lesbian couple is even a very important and prominent part of the second act, it does not shy away from lesbians in the slightest.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
Because once again, whether intentionally or not, is another game that makes it clear lesbians and gay men aren't allowed to be companions and romancable, that at best we can be NPCs with some importantance.

It boiled my soul constantly see men complain not being able to have sex with DA:I Sera or ME3's Samantha Traynor with comments that it ruined their power fantasy, "They can be gay in someone else's game" or being gleeful to mod the game to erase their sexuality... And the Veilguard announced their would be no lesbian or gay man companions and seeing the fandom cheer that descion as good and better for representation. It made it very clear, lesbians and gay men aren't welcomed as companions or romancable, not considered good enough to be considered good representation. That stories like Dorian don't belong (again I don't lesbians and gay men to exist I want it to be acknowledged and want our experience, both the good and the bad explored and shown) that lesbian and gay men stories aren't worth it.

And fuck that, everyone in the LGBTQ+ should get rep in ALL ROLES, from protagonists, companions, romantic interests, important and minor NPCs etc. Why the fuck can't there be lesbian companions in more RPGs or Non-Binary CANON protagonists or gay men protagonists or trans woman romantic interest? Why should I not expect more or better; expected to shut up and be happy lesbians aren't allowed protagonists or companions because it's deemed better by the fandom?

PlasmifiedKarmelita
6mo ago
I feel like you’re venting out anger at a game that just utterly doesn’t deserve it and also wasn’t made for you.

BG3 is an rpg where the protagonist is a blank slate, they don’t have a canon sexuality be it het or queer.

Whilst I wouldn’t have minded the companions to have set sexualities, I can understand why they didn’t. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t annoyed that I wasn’t able to romance Morrigan in DAO or Panam in Cyberpunk because my player character was a woman, even if there were lesbian options.

But this is literally the worst game to get this mad about. Since they already took player-sexual characters as a design decision (and the protagonist being a blank slate is literally the entire point of these kinds of games), putting prominent queer characters in the game’s story is literally they best thing they could have done.

It’s just kind of baffling that you would think the game not only including a romance between two women but putting it front and center and revolving a good chunk of the second act around these characters is a bad thing. There’s plenty of queer characters throughout the rest of the game too, and part of Shadowheart’s storyline is literally her reconnecting with a woman she used to be in a relationship with.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
Edit: Sorry, that was way too damn and needlessly aggressive, you didn't deserve the original version of my reply.

But why can't there RPGs made for me? Why shouldn't there by RPGs with canon Lesbian leads, or gay men leads or trans leads etc? Why in a world where their are tons of RPGs with straight male leads, is one with a lesbian canon wrong, can only exist in character creation?

To me, BG3 is not above criticism and being good in some regards doesn't make it or any other work immune to criticism (and I admit I have a very sore history with members of that fandom). I just don't think an RPG being character-created focus means lesbian and gay men companions shouldn't be allowed when we know it can be done and brilliantly like with Dragon Age Inquisition and will continue to bang that drum. I'm sorry I don't believe player sexual or All pansexual (the latter is better and to give credit where it's due, it is better then the former and I do like the companions in BG3 and Veilguard do have love lifes beyond the player) is the only option.

PlasmifiedKarmelita
6mo ago
What I meant by “not meant for you” is that you seem to really hate player creation games. And that’s fine, but you’re talking about the character being a blank slate an as issue that should have been fixed rather than an inherent aspect of the genre.

There’s plenty of RPGs with set characters, and advocating for more of them to feature queer woman protagonists is good (you’ve probably seen the recommendation already, but the Horizon series is probably the best example for a game like this).

But BG3 is literally the one of the wokest player creation RPGs out there, and the fact that a game with such prominent and unapologetically queer characters got so mainstream and even won GOTY should be celebrated. I take immense issue with you trying to frame the game as bad representation.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
I don't hate player created games (though it's true I find them less enjoyable then I use to), I just don't think that means their should be no lesbian or gay men companions and romancable characters, I'm sorry I just don't think that's right.

Same way I don't think a character being a blank slate doesn't mean the game can't do better in the rep department there as well. To give credit where credit is due for DA: Veilguard, one of it's best features is that you could be trans or Non-Binary and not just in a superficial way, but have that actually acknowledged by character, have options to let you discuss, state and have the character discuss their experience being trans or Non-Binary. I absolutely adored having a trans woman Dwarf who could actually say they were trans. I would love that for sexualities. I would love for RPGs like that along with options like pronouns and body type to let me pick lesbian and acknowledge that in-game the same way, let me discuss my lesbianism, let me flat out be a lesbian and not just have to pretend to in these games (and that blocks fully romances with men and FINALLY gives me the option to tell men to back the fuck off when they try to flirt with me which so many games don't other beside light teasing. Yeah I'm not going to lie, one of the reasons I don't like BG3 as much as other is Astarion REALLY pissed me off the wrong way with his lack of respect for boundaries and constant flirting and lack of options to tell him to back off to the point I refused to have him in the party and just ignored the fucker; not helped with much of the fandom expecting me to think the shit is "The Hottest thing ever!" and fans pressuring you to MUST like him).
elbenji

6mo ago
I mean because RPGs like Baldurs Gate usually have a blank blob to create as it's rooted in table top. Like that's really the difference. You're basically making your own personal d&d campaign

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
I'm be pretty pissed if the DM in a real life D&D game straight up said their be no lesbian or gay main characters or romancable characters in their game because it would upset other players. I'm sorry I don't believe Lesbians and gay men should be barred from being companions and romancable in these sorts of games when we know that doesn't have to be the case. The idea that any group LGBTQ+ should be barred from any role in video games because their gender and sexuality and that being considered acceptable is awful.

elbenji
6mo ago
I don't think anyone's barred it's more that

They're gay now. Here.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
But's so superficial (not to mention quite insulting to bi and pan people to imply their sexuality is nothing but a convenient mechanic (which no, I'm not saying BG3 does). As I keep saying I want more from representation then just existing, I want actual Queer stories from my companions, I'd love a bi companion that actually discusses bi-erasure, or a trans woman companion that actually discusses and addresses transphobia and trauma that many of us trans women are facing.

surprisesnek
6mo ago
Yeah, because an IRL D&D game should be tailored to the players. But BG3 is a video game produced for a wide variety of people. It can't be made tailored for individual players.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
A game being made for a variety of people shouldn't mean groups in the LGBTQ+ shouldn't be allowed in certain roles, lesbians and gay men should be allowed to be companions and romance interests. I'd be rather upset if that DM only included lesbian and gay characters just because of me, that to them, they shouldn't just be able to be exist regardless.

surprisesnek
6mo ago
They're video game characters. They're not "allowed" to be anything.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
What? By that logic why bother with any form of representation. I genuinely do not get what you're trying to say, why are people against the idea of lesbian and gay men companions in Character Creation RPGs, I genuinely don't get why people are so against it? Why is this form of exclusion okay?

surprisesnek
6mo ago
That's not my own logic, it's my response to your statement.

But here, let me make it clear: games like Baldur's Gate 3 are intended to appeal to a wide audience. And companions that everyone can romance appeal to more people than companions that only some people can romance. There's nothing "allowed" or "not allowed" about it.

And like I said, Baldur's Gate 3 isn't an IRL D&D game. Of course it's not going to be tailored to an individual's wants. That's beyond the developers. But what they can do is give players the ability to tailor it. And that's what they did.

PlasmifiedKarmelita
6mo ago
If lesbian characters are barred from being companions then so are straight ones.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
Like that's not really the same and you know it, their are tons, hundreds of straight straight companions throughout Video game RPGs while their is only a hand full of gay men and lesbians companions, especially in mainstream gaming. I genuinely do not get why what I'm saying is so controversial.

JmacTheGreat
6mo ago
Can I ask why no player creation games? Cyberpunk 2077 has a really lovely WLW relationship that is only possible if you choose the “female body type” for your character - so even though you can make your character whatever you want, the character will refuse a relationship with you if you don’t fit their physical type.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
Because I hate the idea that lesbian and gay men protagonists can only exist if the player creates them, that their can be million of cis straight men protagonists but lesbians, nah, not allowed. Not saying player created character games or choose your gender/body type games are but that shouldn't be the end all of LGBTQ+ rep in leading roles in video games

BowsettesBottomBitch
6mo ago
Bioware games, Haven and BG3 where much of the time lesbians (and gay men) are barred from being companions or romance options because we "break immersion" or "ruin people's power fantasies", barred because we're an inconvenience for fans and devs of those games.

That's a gross mischaracterization of anything that happens in BG3. Yes, the characters are "player-sexual", as it were, but no one at Bioware is trying to bury us as an inconvenience. No one is barred from being companions due to their sexuality. I'll repeat it again. No one is barred from being companions due to their sexuality. So then tell me, why are you just making shit up to be mad about? Is this ragebait?

It's totally fine to want explicit lesbian representation, and I agree that I'd love more of it! But outright making up lies about one of the most permissive modern games (when it comes to character sexuality) and stirring yourself into a fervor over it is utterly fucking bizarre to me.

Gretnablue
OP
6mo ago
To repeat what I said to another replier, because once again, whether intentionally or not, is another game that makes it clear lesbians and gay men aren't allowed to be companions and romancable, that at best we can be NPCs with some importantance.

It boiled my soul constantly see men complain not being able to have sex with DA:I Sera or ME3's Samantha Traynor with comments that it ruined their power fantasy, "They can be gay in someone else's game" or being gleeful to mod the game to erase their sexuality... And the Veilguard announced their would be no lesbian or gay man companions and seeing the fandom cheer that descion as good and better for representation. It made it very clear, lesbians and gay men aren't welcomed as companions or romancable, not considered good enough to be considered good representation. That stories like Dorian don't belong (again I don't lesbians and gay men to exist I want it to be acknowledged and want our experience, both the good and the bad explored and shown) that lesbian and gay men stories aren't worth it. Many fans wanting us barred from those roles and got rewarded for it

And fuck that, everyone in the LGBTQ+ should get rep in ALL ROLES, from protagonists, companions, romantic interests, important and minor NPCs etc. Why the fuck can't there be lesbian companions in more RPGs or Non-Binary CANON protagonists or gay men protagonists or trans woman romantic interest? Why should I not expect more or better; expected to shut up and be happy lesbians aren't allowed protagonists or companions because it's deemed better by the fandom?

He, in theory, got a massive list of games from the replies, though he only replied to these ones and probably isn't interested in most of what people suggested. Also, elbenji is not me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MortalKombat/comments/15h00ke/a_very_rough_attempt_to_reimagine_reptile_first/

Looks good. Please don’t complete this. Focus on something else.

Also,

REPTILE/KHAMELEON
REDESIN ROUGH SKETCH ATTEMPT
Draft: 1.01 (clothed)

[JoeBoy101]

Don’t you have had to have been holding down a job to know what it’s like to be fired. Not sure Agatha here qualifies.

[HeavenIsAPlaceOnEarth]

Saw a clip of Elliot Page running in full armor and it looks as if he's a little boy in way too big clothes. Mission half successful I guess?

I saw that going around and couldn’t tell if it was an AI video made by chud folk. Then another clip with Matt Damon and it’s shot to make Page look weak and minuscule. Maybe the character is a pre-teen but wanted to skirt around labor laws.

Page runs the same way as Kitty Pryde in that X-Men movie.