'Racially insensitive' computer game faces challenge over title

SMH "Its creator has called it ''one of the great untold stories of the twentieth century'' but the forthcoming Australian-made computer game Whore of The Orient has been slammed by a prominent member of the Australian-Chinese community as an ''attempt to disgrace Chinese culture, history and traditions''."

[maniacmayhem]

I use to have a friend who would get fighting mad whenever someone would call him or refer other Asians as oriental. For the longest time when I was younger I never even knew that that was a wrong and offensive term.

[jony_dols]

But Whore of the Orient isn't a racial slure; it actually refers to Shanghai's strong trading links with the West in the 19th century & the acceptance of western culture by Shanghai citizens.

Shanghai-ans were referred to as Whores of the Orient by Chinese outsiders for embracing this newfangled globalization.

This Australian-Chinese protest group needs a history lesson, which is pretty damn ironic as they are a Chinese community integrated into a Western society.

[Thisisjuju]

This whole 'controversy' = Storm in a teacup.

[TekoIie]

Honestly I only discovered that Oriental was an offensive term last year. Personally I dont think this "outrage" is entirely justified.

Isnt the comparison between "Oriental" and the "N-word" a bit off? Isnt Oriental partially a regional thing whereas the other is purely race? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong because this is a genuine question :)

[iceman06]

From what I understand, the term Oriental should only be used when referring to objects (clothes, food, rugs, etc.). Use of the word was common place, but still considered stereotypical, for years.
Asian should be used when referring to the people. I lived in Japan as a kid, so I kind of missed the "oriental" phase. I was just in the Far East. That being said, the term Whore of the Orient refers to a time when Shanghai was looked down upon for it's trading and links to the west and western culture. It's a tidbit of "controversial" history.

[SilentGuard]

People looking for things to complain and whine about. The title said Orient, as in the Orient Express, referring to the east. It didn't say "The Whore Oriental", as in calling someone oriental. This is like the difference between calling someone African and well, you know. As for the Chinese community take a hike. We'd all be shocked to hear what they refer to everyone else as.

[TheGrimReaper]

"That was a very bad time in China, and people don't want or need to have that dragged up."

Really???

Every WWII game:

That was a very bad time in Germany, and people don't want or need to have that dragged up.

Never heard that one xD

Since when is "Orient" offensive or racist?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

I think he is overreacting. Just remember the countless usage of the N-Word in Bioshock Infinite.

[specialguest]

I'm Asian and I think its an extreme overreaction to compare orient to the n-word. I rarely hear it used these days, but when I do, I know it's not out of insulting intentions. The people who use that word are typically older and unaware that it's an out of date word no longer used to refer to east Asians sorta like the word negro for black Americans.

Unlike the n-word which is tied in with hundreds of yrs of hate, the word oriental is typically only associated with a stereotype of a far east culture of that long ago era.

[iceman06]

I completely agree. The N-word is so completely tied, socially and culturally, to countless heinous acts of hatred, fear-mongering, and oppression that it's difficult to find another word with the same impact. That said, I can't really dictate what is offensive and to whom.

[MadMen]

These articles are pointless and just cause arguments that are not solvable on a forum. Move on, nothing to see here.

[Adolph Fitler]

If you don't like it, then don't buy it....Simples.... It's like me complaining that White Man Can't Jump is an offensive & racial slur for a film title. Get over it freaks......Bet these "ORIENTALS" wouldn't complain if a game was called Qui Lo: Story Of The White Devil.

[plmkoh]

Just show them the 5min leaked footage of the game, the game is an insult in itself.