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Community Update #114

Posted 2023-10-21 07:32:57
#1081464
Hi all,

We hear you about Native representation.  The backstory is that we received a multitude of complaints and a long-running campaign from certain members to get this decor removed or changed in the name of cultural appropriation.  The same thing happened with Herbert's original design.  We opted to remove Herbert's design for a plain bear, and we have attempted to change this decor now with the desire to not offend marginalised groups.

Based on the comments here, it seems like we've misstepped.  We are now reaching out to a cultural consultant and will discuss with them regarding the issue.  We hope to hear back shortly and we will update you in another news post when we have made a decision.

I hope that you can understand we are trying to do the right thing.  We would love to celebrate Native culture more on our game, and we hope to do so in future with the right guidance.

Thank you for your impassioned responses
This member is an Admin. Abbey
#1
Posted 2023-10-21 07:36:29 (edited)
#1081465
Thank you Abbey. We appreciate the response and hearing that you'll be talking to a Cultural Consultant.
Mistakes happen and hopefully this situation can come to a nice little conclusion. Thank you again for listening to our voices !
8 Point Buck
#113195
Posted 2023-10-21 08:21:48
#1081475
As someone who's dealt with unreasonably agressive "cultural defenders", I agree its a good idea to consult with Cultural Consultant, preferably someone outside of the game not involved in the actual game process. If someone is being pushy about "a sensitive topic in their culture", its a great idea to reach out to an independant someone from that culture and ask if its actually true. Sometimes people are being dramatic and overreactive, and attack for smallest things, things other people from their culture wouldnt even pay attention to. So its a great idea to reach out to an independant consultant not involved in the game to ask if that thing actually is a sensitive topic, or someone using a nonexistant problem as an excuse to raise drama, or even making it up to "whiteknight" something they have only very vague idea about. 		Mad Hyena
#7152
Posted 2023-10-21 08:25:47 (edited)
#1081476
REALLY appreciate y'all listening to the concerns about the feather decor <333 As a white person I've never felt comfortable crafting or using any of them due to the placement behind the ears, so I'm super excited to see them getting updated! 		AnimalCrazy
#13179
Posted 2023-10-21 08:38:38 (edited)
#1081486
Thank you so much for the transparency, Abbey. It's always appreciated to feel listened to, and have the hope that we may be able to keep this small memory of home and childhood alive and well. We understand that you are ultimately looking out for the health of the game in efforts to make it as warm and inviting to every player that chooses to sign up and would never fault you for as much!

Hopefully there is a solution where at least most parties involved can be happy, since not everyone can be. I know I and others would personally love to see most or all of the newly proposed decors to be added, alongside the current one staying the same
💀 Maladi idalaM 💀
#1568
Posted 2023-10-21 08:43:26 (edited)
#1081487
POST REMOVED having read new previous one. I had not understood rhere were so many complaints.
mALEc 🌸🐰 🌸
#121180
Posted 2023-10-21 09:19:04
#1081501
I love the ear one a lot tho
Kazoo
#23985
Posted 2023-10-21 09:54:46
#1081511
I do not feel properly qualified to speak on the topic of whether having a feather placed behind the ear is appropriate, as I am not a native American, nor am I a part of any other culture that uses feathers in this fashion; however, I appreciate you listening to the community, and I am happy to hear that you will be speaking to a cultural consultant regarding this matter.
TheClassCalico
#3096
Posted 2023-10-21 10:31:20
#1081534
Thanks for this update Abbey :) It's good to know players are being listened to but that you'll make your decision based on independent consultation too.
RustyEyron
#731
Posted 2023-10-21 10:46:48 (edited)
#1081551
I am confused by the complaints, I will admit. While not native myself, my partner of 20 years is Lakota. There is no additional Native iconography used. It's ONLY a feather, not a feather with specific patterns of beads or other items that would mark is as "native". (Like MAYBE if it were an EAGLE feather it might be pushing the line. Would also be an issue if you just stuck a feather behind the ear as the only design element then CALLED a character Native American but that's a whole other can of worms this site is unlikely to run into.) I kinda feel like assuming feather-behind-ear automatically means "Native" is in itself kind of stereotyping. It's not like, for example, certain popular furry artists who also use the clothing and accessories of Native cultures alongside the feathers in a generic Disney-fied mashup - which likely is what spurred all the comments, because it's a hot topic in the community recently but some people do tend to misunderstand what is and isn't meant to be included in that conversation.

I'm glad you're reaching out to a cultural consultant on this one. Because I have noticed a trend on the internet of well-meaning white people white-knighting and getting it wrong regarding what does and doesn't count as appropriation. (And just checked in with my partner, his comment was "it's... a feather??? that's not appropriation. That's just a feather." But also he says yeah please don't remove possible representation either. There's respectful and disrespectful ways to use Native elements even if the feather placement WERE strictly a Native American thing. Cultural erasure is as big a problem for the indigenous community as cultural appropriation.)

*sorry I keep editing this, my partner and had a continuing conversation about this for a bit. He was further incredulous that the feather causing the kerfluffle was a *blue jay* feather of all things.
Lyrak
#18619