Community Update #114

Posted 2023-10-21 00:12:22

#1081389

I prefer the blue jay feather decor as is, especially since its become a key part of a bunch of my wolves designs including ones that have been in the dynasty for a long while. It's a nice, simple accent decor. However, if change is going to be made, I suppose I'd prefer to see the decor redesigned as a necklace.

Food?
#20022

Posted 2023-10-21 00:19:31

#1081390

I would prefer the feather to stay as is, while I am not native american it appears just even showing such a shred of their culture is now hidden/treated as if it is taboo which is a shame, culture should be shared not gate-kept and it's so difficult to have a genuine appreciation for it because of the growing stigma of "If you aren't apart of XYZ culture you have no right to touch it" which is just massive zoinks because culture needs people to survive and if it's just hidden away then how can people outside of the culture grow appreciation for it? Even then not all feathers are distinctively linked to one specific culture, all cultures at one point or another have used feathers in the past, for religious, heritage, or heck even aesthetic purposes even then not all people of a specific culture are going to have the same opinions, will some find this problematic? Yes however just as many would probably dismiss this/have no problem with it and I think that needs to be taken into equal account

🐸AngyFrog🐸
#3122

Posted 2023-10-21 01:36:53

#1081401

There are multiple decors that feature feathers behind the ear (owl, grouse etc).. are they all up for redesign too?

Metric
#43755

Posted 2023-10-21 02:14:03

#1081407

This is not the cultural appropriation staff seems to be convinced that it is. Hundreds of cultures wear feathers, for starters. If this were an eagle feather war bonnet, or the zia sun symbol, or the inuit facial tattoos, then we might have an actual problem needing fixed but a single blue jay feather is inconsequential. I'd urge the staff to listen to the Native voices here speaking up about how this is not harmful and leave it unchanged/simply add an alternative version.

Moki ❀lav breeder❀
#15263

Posted 2023-10-21 05:04:42 (edited)

#1081438

I would also still like the feather decors to stay behind the ear.

Native American culture isn't the only one that traditionally wears feathers behind their ears. I would understand if the decor was a full headdress but I've also seen a few people who grew up with native culture who are baffled by people claiming this is cultural appropriation. Edit: there's one in your own comments!

While I would like other feather decors all over the body, I'm a fan of simple behind-the-ear decors like feathers and flowers. I would hate to see the site move away from things like that. Especially since Wolvden is (thematically) based in North America.

Why don't you actually reach out to one of the Native American organizations to see what's bad and what's not instead of relying on popular Internet opinions?

Leafelora
#652

Posted 2023-10-21 05:09:56

#1081439

Adding to the voices saying that this isn't cultural appropriation. Feathers have been worn by cultures all across the globe throughout human history. Why shouldn't they get to express themselves through decor? If you're going to take this stance, surely you should just remove all feather decoration for fear of infringing on one culture or another? It's a game about neon wolves. I love it, but it's not a serious reflection on the realism of our world, and if you try to design the decor to appease every person and never take influence from any culture, well we may as well just not have decor at all. I don't like using feather decor all that much, so this change won't affect me and I won't be voting on it, but I don't think this is fair to people who do use it.

RustyEyron
#731

Posted 2023-10-21 06:23:35 (edited)

#1081447

As others have pointed out already, one single feather is not cultural appropriation, and feathers are a thing in many cultures around the world. I could understand the need to change it if it was a whole headdress, but it is not, and since there's no option to vote "no change" I also will not be voting on this

Newlyn
#3450

Posted 2023-10-21 06:27:55

#1081450

As a person with native heritage, I agree that this representation isn't bad. This single feather, while not much, helps us to proudly express our heritage and if it's gone, we'll be back to hiding like our culture is something to be shamed for. If some demand a change, then you can redesign it somewhere else or as a necklace, but don't take the original away completely

EndlessEclipse
#125973

Posted 2023-10-21 07:11:16

#1081458

NEWSSSSSS