"Spook" - still too racist?

Bren · December 14, 2014, 05:43:12 PM

Quote from: Ladybird;804565Fair enough. I'm British, WW2 tends to come up on a daily basis...

It was just a nit picky point. But I think you are right about WWII. That was one thing I noticed living there. WWII is even more central to your conciousness than it is here in the US. But the Poppies for Remembrance Day date back to Flander's Fields and WWI.

tuypo1 · December 14, 2014, 07:28:32 PM

in Australia interest in the first world war is kept up quite a lot by our interest in the battles at Gallipoli (although some people for some reason think that was the second world war) its a bit of a shame really we focus so much on gallipoli you would think we have no other military history

RPGPundit · December 20, 2014, 01:21:41 AM

I think it's silly to really worry about this. "Spook" is a totally known and common piece of spy-jargon. Only idiots with massive amounts of bad faith would have a problem with it in that context.

tuypo1 · December 20, 2014, 02:31:09 AM

Quote from: Simlasa;804559Me too... it seems too close not to be intentional... not that the intent was racist... and maybe not expecting anyone to make the connection to the original powerful image it used as a template.

holy shit i just worked it out i have never been able to work out how they are similar but i think i worked out why.

i was focusing on the position of the woman which was nothing like the origional image but i just worked out its about the face (and of course the fact the guys black because somehow German=black)

Simlasa · December 20, 2014, 03:07:52 AM

Quote from: tuypo1;805269i was focusing on the position of the woman which was nothing like the origional image but i just worked out its about the face (and of course the fact the guys black because somehow German=black)

The woman's position is different, but the dress and color of dress seems pretty close. The man's stance and expression... his tones vs. hers.
I can't believe it's pure coincidence... but I see no harm in it.

Omega · December 21, 2014, 03:06:26 PM

Quote from: Simlasa;805274The woman's position is different, but the dress and color of dress seems pretty close. The man's stance and expression... his tones vs. hers.
I can't believe it's pure coincidence... but I see no harm in it.

Yep, just like the old TSR symbol was satanic because of the wizard head and the pattern of the stars. :banghead:

Simlasa · December 21, 2014, 07:25:05 PM

Quote from: Omega;805443Yep, just like the old TSR symbol was satanic because of the wizard head and the pattern of the stars. :banghead:

Whatever... bang away... I see what I see. It's not like I've got some SJW agenda, they just look similar, to me, and I kind of like how Ms. Leibovitz pulls from iconic images that way. It's something she's known for.

tuypo1 · December 22, 2014, 01:40:04 AM

fair enough i still dont really see it but like you said it is not a problem if it is the inspiration really

Matt · December 23, 2014, 12:22:27 PM

If it is used in a game about spies or ghosts, anyone offended by it is deliberately looking for something to bitch about. And those types are never happy anyway, so eff 'em.

I'm sure there are a-holes upset about "dwarf" being used in fantasy games instead of "Little People (tm)(R)(patent pending)."

Warboss Squee · December 23, 2014, 02:10:52 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;805265I think it's silly to really worry about this. "Spook" is a totally known and common piece of spy-jargon. Only idiots with massive amounts of bad faith would have a problem with it in that context.

You just described 90% of the internet as we know it.

Regardless, there is a certain subsection of the online culture that might be up in arms about the term, either due to ignorance, or more likely, malicious boredom.

Ignore them, and they'll eventually go away.

Omega · December 24, 2014, 08:22:14 PM

As ill-luck would have it. While looking up an old Spanish western movie I ended up finding some mental rejects rant about proving how "racist" the movie was because... Someone playing cards has three kings = KKK. A town called "White Rock". and so on ad stupidium.

Teazia · December 25, 2014, 02:41:44 AM

Spooks is fine. Now if you named them Bluegum Spooks that would be different.

tuypo1 · December 26, 2014, 09:31:47 AM

Quote from: Omega;805964As ill-luck would have it. While looking up an old Spanish western movie I ended up finding some mental rejects rant about proving how "racist" the movie was because... Someone playing cards has three kings = KKK. A town called "White Rock". and so on ad stupidium.

i would think there are some people (im looking at you jack chick) who would cry Satan the moment they saw 3 6s