As it's Valentione's Day, I ask do we even need in-game marriage; period!

[Yshnal]

Still, I have no idea why anyone playing a video game involving gods, goddesses, dragons, weapons and a made up world would have a problem with same-sex pixel marriage. *shakes head sadly*

Because of lore. If SE says that there aren't same sex marriages in Eorzea, then so be it. I don't see anyone complainig about not being able to roll Empìre, or saying that having the Twelve in the game is an heresy because of [insert religious complaint], or requesting that there should be pink elephants. In the end, it has nothing to do with equality or anyone hating same sex couples. It's as simple as respecting the world and story that SE has created for us, and their own creative vision.

Anyway, if I was them I wouldn't implement it. It would save everyone from headhaches that would undoubtedly happen otherwise.

[Naunet]

Anyway, if I was them I wouldn't implement it. It would save everyone from headhaches that would undoubtedly happen otherwise.

Please, show me the "headache" that "undoubtedly" happened when Trion implemented their marriage system in Rift without any gender restrictions.

[Lumiin]

Please, show me the "headache" that "undoubtedly" happened when Trion implemented their marriage system in Rift without any gender restrictions.

That's just THAT community, every community is different. I've played games where they allowed same sex marriages and people started crapping bricks.

Seeing how people here over reacted about a freaking event quest I wouldn't implement it either.

[Naunet]

Seeing how people here over reacted about a freaking event quest I wouldn't implement it either.

That quest (assuming you're referring to the Valentiones quest) stirred certain negative feelings in parts of the LGBT community. Why on earth would that be a reason to implement marriage with gender restrictions? If anything, it should tell Squeenix that they should try not to leave out segments of their playerbase.

[Lumiin]

That quest (assuming you're referring to the Valentiones quest) stirred certain negative feelings in parts of the LGBT community. Why on earth would that be a reason to implement marriage with gender restrictions? If anything, it should tell Squeenix that they should try not to leave out segments of their playerbase.

Did you not read some of the replies from the hetero people?

[Destrolyn]

Because of lore. If SE says that there aren't same sex marriages in Eorzea, then so be it.

If SE started to enact segregation amongst players who have selected a darker skin tone for their characters that would be ok, because it's lore? Absolutely not.

Themes of racism and xenophobia are dealt with in the game already. Because it's exclusively amongst NPCs, this does add colour and depth to Eorzea and it's society. However, the parts of the story that deal with this always see's the NPC realise the error of their ways, closing the topic by adopting a globally accepted norm: racism is bad. However, it is another thing to enable players to indulge in their own prejudices. Taking such a draconian stance isn't going to add anything to gameplay or the narrative, thus serving no purpose. It will also put it out of line with the attitude towards same-sex relationships which many countries around the world where the game is played don't have an issue with.

[Destrolyn]

It's as simple as respecting the world and story that SE has created for us, and their own creative vision.

There would be outcry if SE had glorified and/or fetishised the rape incident in Little Ala Migho, or if the storyline required players to participate in racism in order to progress. Any piece of art or literature that is racist, sexist, or other, is deplored and condemned by the communities it hurts and their allies. Just because it's a "creative vision" does not mean it can be excused for being offensive or unfair.

It's all or nothing when it comes to a global game allowing players to express their globally enshrined human rights. Putting defining parameters for in-game relationships is just silly unless it forms an integral part of the game, like in "The Sims". Even then, Maxis don't force players to enter into opposite sex relationships and you can still produce children outside of "marriage". So why can't SE either allow marriage for all?

[BlueMage]

Because of lore.

There is no anti-gay lore in Eorzea. SE has even said their sole reason for not allowing same-sex marriage if its added is because they're afraid of upsetting all the IRL homophobes who get upset that gay people even exist.

[Yshnal]

There is no anti-gay lore in Eorzea. SE has even said their sole reason for not allowing same-sex marriage if its added is because they're afraid of upsetting all the IRL homophobes who get upset that gay people even exist.

It's their game, and nothing is set in stone. If in the end they decide that there wouldn't be same sex marriages, it's their call to set that in the lore and even change it later if they want. That's the whole point of it, it's their fictional world.

If SE started to enact segregation amongst players who have selected a darker skin tone for their characters that would be ok, because it's lore? Absolutely not.

I love how you have nitpicked what you felt like from my post to "prove" your point, disregarding whatever else I said after the quoted text that would have made your response... illogical. But whatever, I'll tell you what's wrong in that reasoning anyway. That example is bad as, like you said, it would actually enact segregation among those players that had selected that choice presented in the game (giving a stat bonus to all white males of a given race and just the white ones, for example, because it would go against the rules that all other races follow regarding stat allocation). However, not having homosexual marriages in Eorzea (a fictional world) would be akin to not having black elezen, if the writers had chosen to put that restriction in the world. And it wouldn't be racism at all, as it would simply be their choice for that fictional race. Now go tell me that because Santa is portrayed as being a white guy and having a wife then the Christmas are sexist, racist and against homosexuals, please.

To make it clear, and keep in mind that I'm NOT against the LGBT community. If they decide that same sex marriages exist in Eorzea, then so be it. And if they decide that they don't, so be it too. It doesn't really matter, it's a game based on a fictional world created by themselves, and complaining and making pressure against the devs serves no purpose and is a bit tiring (see Valentione's) for a majority of both heteros and homosexuals alike (those that see the game for what it is and don't look for strange things where there is none). The very moment that they start charging you more for your sub (for example) because you -not your character- are [insert sexual orientation, etnicity, or religious belief], I'll go up in arms with you. Until something like that happens, try to see things from a more logical and calmed point of view, please.

But anyway, I won't post anymore. It's always the same posts over and over and I've already stated my opinion and the reasons as of why it wouldn't matter at all (key words here), in both my posts. If people want to keep blowing things out of proportion and continue arguing over a non issue, they're free to do so. I hope that at least someone has understood what I was trying to say.

P.S.: If anything, I like the option of just implementing some rings that can be engraved with another character's name, and letting everything else for the players to RP. It would solve all this for everyone without directly compromising the lore nor SE (as with the chocolates in the event).

[L-D-Omlette]

Stuff

You are absolutely right. It is a fictional world. If one creates a fictional world, they have complete control over whom they choose to represent. As such, not representing a group of people is also an active choice. If they include a same sex only marriage system (if one is created at all) they are making an active choice that explicitly states "In our world, not all people are equal." How is this ok?

Santa being white and married to a woman doesn't make Christmas racist or homophopic. Individuals saying that he can't be portrayed any other way would be.

You mention that it would be ok if the creators decided not to have black Elezen, and that would be ok. What if they made the decision that all characters had to be white? Would that still be ok? What if they all had to be males? Still ok? At what point isn't it?