Do you think taking up-skirt shots of peoples characters is creepy?

[Iscah]

I'm firmly on the "it's not okay" side of the debate.

Yes, they're "just characters" but it's a character being piloted by a person as a direct way of interacting with the game-world. It's different to a person playing with an RC car because they're not the car - they're still them, and their primary experience of the world is not coming from the car; nor is it a "human-equivalent" object in the same way an avatar is.

In the game our avatar is the primary point through which we experience the game-world, and we're still "people" having social interactions with each other - therefore I feel like social rules still apply. We wave hello/goodbye, we target people that we're having a conversation with so our avatars will look at each other and make eye contact. At least that's my experience with people in my FC. If someone makes an emote towards my avatar, they are at some level making it towards me, the person they are interacting with via our avatars.

So in the same way, if people act towards my avatar in a way that I don't like, it makes me feel uncomfortable. (There was a guy in my FC who would basically insist on hugs every time he met anyone - and never got the hint how many times I refused that I didn't want to do that. Minor example perhaps, but I didn't want to do it and hated getting asked.)

And while it's true that we don't [fight monsters / cast spells / etc.] in real life, using a character in that context seems like a separate thing to me. It's like two things in one - they're a character we use for the experience of interacting with the grand fantasy story and world, and simultaneously they're an avatar representing our presence in the game-world interacting with other people through it. Killing enemies is "character stuff"; talking to other people is "avatar stuff" and my character wouldn't be having that conversation.

By the same logic, if another character in the story does something to my character, that's directed at her. If another player does the same action-via-emote, that feels directed at me, at least to some extent.

It all comes down to respecting others - not just assuming they should be okay with it because you don't see anything wrong with it yourself.


As for the argument that we don't own our characters and the person 'looking' could just as easily remake that character for themselves... why don't they do that, then? Why stare at the character representing another person (who wants them to stop) when in a few minutes they could have an identical or even more-to-their taste character made in the character creator and under their full control?

[RoyalBeef]

This whole discussion started based on the assumption that people might be doing it, because someone's friend had the feeling they might. Can we stop acting as if there is a mass phenomenon of human rights violations going on? ^^

[JackHatchet]

I'm surprised how many people take the time of day to complain about other people discussing this topic.

"This conversation is stupid, and you guys shouldn't have it!"

Yet, they take the time to post comments and read the conversation. If it really didn't matter to you--then skip over it. That's what I do with the "show off your Elf" forum post. You think I'm stupid enough to make a post on that thread

"man, you guys who all play elves are weird, I don't get why this is even a thread! Y'all should just delete it, because I'm arrogant and have weird hang-ups on things that have absolutely no value to me. Boy, but I am entitled and self-righteous enough to make a post in said thread to belittle and insult those who enjoy it!"

Seriously, what's the point of making a post like that? You're not going to magically sway others to your side by being weirdly negative about it. And if you're trying to force or shame the world to better fit your view-point--then you'll only end up disappointed in the end. The world ain't give two-gil about your self-entitled attitude. Welcome to the internet. Join in the conversations you enjoy, and ignore the ones you don't care about it.

[SenorPatty]

I love the compliments, and am hoping I get some on my beautiful Elezen alt. I switched her back to Elezen not too long ago. The weird ones would be even better, would make me think I did a good job on her! I get them daily on my au ra, got some more this morning as well. Not exaggerating.



No, it isn't! I'm gorgeous and I'll show off my curves!

Idgaf about yo curves. Why u hiding dat giraffe neck? I can't appreciate the splendor that are elezens without it.

[SturmChurro]

Idgaf about yo curves. Why u hiding dat giraffe neck? I can't appreciate the splendor that are elezens without it.

I get neck shamed in whispers all the time, and it can get very creepy. I have my hair styled in a way to cover it, maybe... maybe I'll cut my hair and show off my natural elezen gifts.

[SenorPatty]

I get neck shamed in whispers all the time, and it can get very creepy. I have my hair styled in a way to cover it, maybe... maybe I'll cut my hair and show off my natural elezen gifts.

Aww, that's a shame. I have a dream that one day, Elenecks will appreciated, not just by neck connoisseurs like me but everyone. From afar of course. Too close and we enter stalking territory. Which is bad. Sort of. I mean yeah, of course it's bad. I would never purposefully follow someone across different maps and hide behind street lamps to ogl--I mean look at necks for almost an hour. That's just creepy.

Unless it isn't?

Nope totally creepy.

Sort of? I mean, if we really think about it, it's not like...

Er, you know what, nvm. I've said too much already.

[Deceptus]

This whole discussion started based on the assumption that people might be doing it, because someone's friend had the feeling they might. Can we stop acting as if there is a mass phenomenon of human rights violations going on? ^^

Pretty much this. Unless people are posting them, how do you even know it's going on?

Or is this just simply yelling FIRE! over a lit match (few fringe cases)?

[Machi_Machiavelli]

Reminds me of that game that released a few years back.

[Kobalos]

This thread still going on? Oh no what have I started *panics*

[Shiiyun]

What we need is for gender locks on glamours to be removed and put dudes in skirts around Ul'Dah.


You know. As a social experiment.

Like so?



On my server I need to go to Limsa though, Ul'dah is kind of empty.