-=Hispanic Comunity in Gilgamesh=-Follow

Nonomee, how would you feel if someone said something to you along the lines of "So how can you afford to pay for FFXI when you work in a slant-eye sweat shop making $1 US dollar a day?" You wouldn't like that very much. I know I wouldn't. Now let's say the person who said that was North Korean. I'm pretty sure you would respond with an equally racist and condescending remark as WayOfTheThief responded to a similiar remark from FFXINETBoshi. You would be lying if u said you wouldn't. Anyone, regardless of their moral values, would lash out at a racially condescending remark.

There isn't a character named "Spanish" in the game because the name would be a violation of the Playonline User Agreement.

Article 4: Ownership, Rights, and Restrictions

4.3: Restricted Material

As used in this agreement, "Restricted Material" means, collectivly:

a) Any copyrighted material, unless you have first obtained the copyright owners express written permission to use that material.

b) Any material that defames, abuses, or threatens others, or violates the privacy, intellectual property, or other priopretary rights of any third party.

c) Any material that violates any U.S. or foreign law or regulation, or that promotes illegial activity.

d) Any material that contains obscenity or images or content that exploit children under 18 years of age.

e) Any statements or images that are bigoted, hateful, or racially offensive or.

f) Any material published for commercial purposes, including without limitation, any offering of products or services for sale, any solicitation of advertisers or sponsers, or any display of sponsership information.

While the word "Spanish" is not bigoted, hateful, or racially offensive when used to name a language, it is considered bigoted and racially offensive when used to describe a person of hispanic origin. If such a character existed, a GM would have notified the player that the name "Spanish" is not appropriate under Article 4.3e and the player would have had to change the name on the spot.

Like I said... the word "Spanish" is appropriate when used to name a language. When used to describe a people... it isn't so politically correct. I grew up in Southern California in a hispanic neighborhood and all my friends and their familites HATED being called "Spanish" and "Mexican" even though they spoke spanish and they were from Mexico. They preferred the term "Hispanic" or "Latino" because it was less racially offensive.

That is the same rationality that SE uses when people create character names. It isn't about what the individual playerfind racially offensive... but what other players as a whole find racially offensive.

And the name "Latinolover" isn't racially offensive or bigoted. Even the name "Spanishlover" wouldn't be considered racially offensive or bigoted because it could be interpreted as a lover of the Spanish language (or the racially offensive lover of Spanish people).

The only time "Spanish" could be used as a character name without being in violation of Article 4.3e is if the player is living in Spain. And even then, it's sort of a grey area because how are people in the game going to know where the player is from? It would be a grey area and certainly would end up falling upon the discretion of the GM.

I am cuban, my char name is Varuka. I'm in Gainesville, FL. Just adding myself to the list. I just started playing 3 days ago and I love the game but I haven't felt the "community" presence. Most people just run away when I talk to them or answer: I dont understand English. Hope to meet some of you in game. Send me a message!

Varuka
Level 8 HUME WAR
Gilgamesh