kotaku.com— Minecraft's head developer has elaborated on how a racial slur made it into a "snapshot build" of Minecraft's PC version, noting that it was not pushed to all users.
Jan 29, 2012View in Crawl 4
Ironically Afrikaans is a Germanic language and an Afrikaner is a descendant of the white German and Dutch settlers in Southern Africa. Not that I'd expect racists to be knowledgeable about history of anything like that.
Seems to me that America was a lot more free, and people blew off steam more healthily, when they could spout curses like these in brief moments of anger or irrationality. Do you think your parents could have imagined an America where a single mean word can ruin your life forever, wreck your career, and even endanger your life? Especially when total strangers can walk around kids and public places saying "f**k this and f**k that" without any repercussion whatsoever?
But in the context of how it was used in the game (linking it to "Afrikaans" in the language settings) was meant to be racist....and we should probably not chalk this instance up to a forgivable "moment of anger" or "literal use of the word". This isnt a PC kneejerk reaction, it is one of the few instances where righteous indignation is warranted.
Agreed. I wish the headline made it more clear that it was inserted by some outside "crowdsource" translater and not a company programmer. This was the equivalent of Wikipedia vandalism or outrageous 4chan postings. Probably not even done out of actual racism, but for the shock value and subsequent attention from sneaking in what has become the most forbidden of words.
Making these words so forbidden actually invites more pranks by attention-starved misfits.
barackalypseJan 29, 2012
Ironically Afrikaans is a Germanic language and an Afrikaner is a descendant of the white German and Dutch settlers in Southern Africa. Not that I'd expect racists to be knowledgeable about history of anything like that.
CrescentSkies_2Jan 29, 2012
Wow...just take responsibility "we f**ked up" and fix it immediately.
meribianJan 29, 2012
LMAO!
Crimson622Jan 29, 2012
Oddly enough all the publicity got me wondering what is this game....now im gonna have to try it and find out.
specimen7Jan 29, 2012
gentlemenjewcrackergentlemen****spicchink,
Now shut the f**k up.
Closed AccountJan 29, 2012
"Now shut the f**k up."
Keep telling yourself that and always remember to do so.
odkinJan 29, 2012
Seems to me that America was a lot more free, and people blew off steam more healthily, when they could spout curses like these in brief moments of anger or irrationality. Do you think your parents could have imagined an America where a single mean word can ruin your life forever, wreck your career, and even endanger your life? Especially when total strangers can walk around kids and public places saying "f**k this and f**k that" without any repercussion whatsoever?
igorunchainedJan 29, 2012
I am with you 100%....and I know that "gentlemen" is defined as:
a victim of prejudice similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gentlemen
But in the context of how it was used in the game (linking it to "Afrikaans" in the language settings) was meant to be racist....and we should probably not chalk this instance up to a forgivable "moment of anger" or "literal use of the word". This isnt a PC kneejerk reaction, it is one of the few instances where righteous indignation is warranted.
odkinJan 29, 2012
Agreed. I wish the headline made it more clear that it was inserted by some outside "crowdsource" translater and not a company programmer. This was the equivalent of Wikipedia vandalism or outrageous 4chan postings. Probably not even done out of actual racism, but for the shock value and subsequent attention from sneaking in what has become the most forbidden of words.
Making these words so forbidden actually invites more pranks by attention-starved misfits.
igorunchainedJan 29, 2012
Well said.