Double Standards: The Taliban Controversy

WARNING: This post may contain material that can be considered fanboyish, mature language, and common sense. You have been warned.

With the recent backlash about a single name - Taliban, the media is giving much unneeded flack to the game industry. We as gamers should be appalled by the media, especially when they basically force a change in a video game that affects us all. Yeah its just a name, but forcing the change is a violation of our rights and freedoms to say what we want. We should be fighting the media, supporting our love of gaming and the proud men and women who make those games.

Now, looking back at other games there are many other nationalities that are labeled as the 'bad guy' in the game, Germans, Russians, Japanese, Religions, Gods, you name it. What makes the Taliban any different? Because they are killing Americans, thats why, the only reason why the media and moms who have nothing better to do, is complain about a game that you can kill Americans. Whoop-Dee-Fuckin'-Doo. But it is ok for Americans to kill every other nation. I see a double standard here, dont you my fellow gamers?

What should we do about the name change, you ask - I think we should rise up, and speak our mind to the media, contact EA and tell them we want the Taliban in the game, it is their right to have it and they should not listen to the controversy, or the media about the matter, it is us, the gamers, the ones who support them financially that should have the final say, not some news source that just wants ratings, it should not be some woman who has never picked up a controller in her life, it should be the gamers, no one else. WHOS WITH ME?

From this point on, I want every one of you to help bring this game back to the way the devs wanted it, whether it be contacting the devs, or contacting the media and express the right the devs have to freedom of speech, the freedom to do as they want. This is OUR territory, we will not let them take it from us.

[LostDjinn]

This pleases me.

[redDevil87]

The guys at EA must have a massive headache lol

[TooTall19]

If we could be Nazis in CoD multiplayer, I don't understand why playing as the Taliban is so wrong.

[Jinxstar]

You totally miss the point

"What makes the Taliban any different? Because they are killing Americans, thats why, the only reason why the media and moms who have nothing better to do, is complain about a game that you can kill Americans. Whoop-Dee-Fuckin'-Doo. But it is ok for Americans to kill every other nation. I see a double standard here, dont you my fellow gamers? "

So your saying Americans don't die in say Modern Warfare where they get tactically nuked? They don't die when their country gets invaded in MW2. Or BC2 or Any of the WW2 games or WW1 or Vietnam or any other freaking game that has American soldiers in it. Americans die in plenty of games this is a dumb point. You kill plenty of them in online games as well...

The reason it hits home is that 10 days ago 4 US service members were killed. In a war that is STILL going on

http://projects.washingtonp...

That is why it's touchy. It's not History yet and it's not that it's "Americans" because believe me as a former US service member who fought in Iraq I find the fact that they were trying to make a game as realistic as possible to current events to be very honorable of my fallen brethren and friends. It's very touchy and the Media just needs something to latch onto when their bucket runs low. I can guarantee you if a nuke went off in Siberia or a Earthquake killed hundreds of people in Asia right now this would have been overlooked in a heart beat. It's just something to entertain people.

I do believe it's the medias fault but again I don't agree with you

"forcing the change is a violation of our rights and freedoms to say what we want"

Did you make the game? Are you a producer or investor? What "Rights" are you talking about exactly? The right to have someone make you a product? Free speech is a privilege that should not be used simply because you can use it. It should be used to tell the truth for the right reasons. I said it earlier I don't think the US army invaded EA studios with 100 media outlets and started pointing guns "Forcing" EA and Dice to change stuff. I believe they all decided it was in the best interests of the company and everyone else to look more into what could be a touchy subject. A potentially hurtful subject and reevaluate their choices. So they did. Is it going to detract from the game? I don't think so. They are a business and made a business decision. Why is this a bad thing again?

Whose to say the dev's haven't interviewed people who were hurt by the current situations in the Middle East and decided to change it themselves. The problem with your blog is you assume too much and don't really know. People can have a change of heart and I believe thats what happened. I'll still be buying it either way. Looks like fun.

[ReconHope]

yeah poorly written . good idea but horrible execution.

[AuToFiRE]

You are completely missing the point jinx, you know those very famous papers like the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the American Constitution, etc, these give us the right to freedom of speech, the freedom to express our opinion, to show our creative side without being accused of 'promoting terrorism'

The media has other ways of forcing, im not talking in the literal sense which you are clearly missing, the media has untold power, its how the media operates, they report on things and make it seem bad, yeah, its a 'touchy' subject right now, but the only reason its touchy is because of the cops and robbers style multilayer, who gives a fuck? the americans, no one else, and i guarantee you both jinx and recon below are americans, the only two that really care

[ReconHope]

Is a name really going to hinder your experience with MOH ?

[Jinxstar]

"Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the American Constitution"

I think you mean the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. Maybe the United States Constitution as well but since you got them all wrong I will assume it's some mixture of these.

I believe you have probably never read those and what they entail. They were written in a time that was much different then today and a great many of things they have in them are up for debate such as "The right to bear arms" do you believe every man in America should be entitled to a gun? I bet not as most people outside the US think that all we do is shoot each other but those documents you refer to cover things like that...

The freedom of speech has limits. Can a teacher in school preach hate against minorities like blacks or mexicans to his/her students? Can a homeless man stand on your front porch shouting how you have it better then him for no good reason? Can a person stand in time square completely naked and chase any pretty girl he see's around? What do you think about the KKK burning crosses in hate of blacks int heir front yards or "Just off their property"? Thats freedom of expression and they go hand in hand. No because without rules governing this kind of thing you have anarchy. You know what? You just don't get it. Like I said above. and I quote

"Free speech is a privilege that should not be used simply because you can use it. It should be used to tell the truth for the right reasons."

Like Steven Colbert or John Stewart. IMO 2 of the best journalists in US history who tell it like it is. They use their freedom of speech and are very blunt about everything. We don't censor things like that here.

And the United States is one of the least censored and open places in the world to express yourself. You just have to do it the right way...

'promoting terrorism'

Where did I or anyone else talk about this besides you?

"they report on things and make it seem bad, yeah, its a 'touchy' subject right now"

Your damn right it's a touchy subject right now. The media does have a lot of power and video games are the new 'Evil' that older generations just don't get and never will. Just like Books were, Comic books after, Radio, Moving pictures, Television and now video games. It's history repeating itself. Do I agree they should have changed the name? No but I wont belittle their choice to appease the families who have lost loved ones in this terrible war that I too wish we would find resolve with.

"who gives a fuck? the americans, no one else, and i guarantee you both jinx and recon below are americans, the only two that really care "

Except for EA which is an American company... Dont buy their games then. As a matter of fact stop buying American products all together eh? Since you despise us so much why do you care so much as opposed to letting it go. EA is doing what it believes is right and sometimes social mediums such as the media have influence on their decisions. Get over it. You confuse freedoms with straight up indignation and malcontent. EA is trying to show it's own humility in the situation they put themselves by being the bigger 'person' and all your doing is crapping on their choice to respect the recently deceased. The deceased who died for their right to free speech by the way...

[Jinxstar]

Yes I am an American. A very proud one. I have lived in Europe for 8 years of my life. I speak 4 languages and served in US Intelligence and I am now a firefighter/paramedic. I have culture, Class and sophistication to go with all I have told you. I am extremely physically fit and volunteer helping kids in school whenever I can. I am not some ignorant idiot like you probably assume of all Americans. We are not the stereotype you think. All I am saying is don't make assumptions about anything and imply ignorance and who does and who doesn't "Give a fu**?" without knowing what your talking about. I give a fu** and I won't stand for your racism, Slander and stupidity when talking about my country. I have not insulted yours or your people wherever they may be from. Please stop insulting my heritage.

[coolbeans]

The charters you mentioned involve what the gov't cannot do. Those same charters don't stretch to the media (although they have ethics and codes to abide by). You're making it seem like this example from the media is infringing on EA's 1st amendment rights, which is not the case.

[ReconHope]

I respect your opinion autofire but i don't like your attitude . You generalize all americans because of some videogame company and media outlets. You think we like censorship? There are plenty of people in the u.s that dont want this. We can't all be politicians. so don't just classify us like we are.

Edit-
I think that the american people get way too much flak from people that dislike U.S politics. We are just normal people like you but your making us innocent bystanders.

[LostDjinn]

WTF happened to the comments?
I was happy Auto was reaching out to all gamers. Regardless of platform.
Now look at it!

Nobody should have to justify their heritage or culture.
I don't know what to say.