Please remove Shark Fin Soup

[MeeDeggiThePunisher]

I may not agree but I actually respect that lady. She got off her ass and did something instead of forum posting.

[Shougun]

My issue is the language in the description of the item. It perpetuates an old tired lie that justifies a barbaric practice. I can't help but believe it was put their on purpose.

It's just a game vs it's a powerful medium that can make change. I believe in both, and I can see an angle you're coming from - but I think on some of these issues like life and death... it is very impractical to discuss that sort of particular and strict morality in a game that takes the generic game stance of it (beyond the general difficulty of many minds working on moral relativism, that's already a mountain challenge lol).

If game actions could be crimes, I, we, would be monsters that the world could not contain, but of course we don't see or play the game like that (or at least most of us, as the argument games makes you a killer is crappy). Like when PETA freaked out about whaling in AC, the useful sense of arguing against an era appropriate retelling (they take liberties ofc).. well the use is little like complaining about racism in a slave era movie.

I appreciate your passion for animals, those with sentience* being tortured for something like a small bowl of soup - it is sad, at least for those who care, but I don't think this game should be sought out for its intense desire for perfect peaceful harmony and morality of all Eorzeanlings *(plants are not sentient, at least so far - what a development and possibly scare that'd be)

Imo, at least. :P

[PokingAround]

Just because people disagree with you makes them trolls? If you don't want disagreements to a post, dont make the post on a public forums as everyone has different opinions, some will agree, others wont. If you post ONLY expecting acceptance and agreement, you are on the wrong planet.

No, what makes them trolls is being condescending dickheads about it.

[Cyruance]

I could not care less about there being shark fin soup in Eorzea. In fact, I wouldn't mind being able to fight a shark. Lure it close to shore and crash down upon it from above with my lance - for no other purpose than the experience of slaying it. I'd just leave the corpse there to rot, hell if a fin fell off I'd probably just toss it since I'm not a culinarian and it would likely sell poorly.

*ahem*

That being said, I don't see any particular need to object to the OP myself. They already brought real life politics into the game world when they turned marriage into "eternal bonding" out of respect for homophobia. (Or tainted the marriage system by allowing same sex couples, whatever your stance is)

This one at least has some legitimacy to the cause.

[Lamentations]

But didn't you know? People's lives aren't anywhere near as important as animals' and plants' lives. Thus, it's perfectly fine to kill other living, sentient beings.

Funny you should mention this as the radical global climate folks taking it to it's logical conclusion have at least in minority suggested that the only solution to problems like the one that OP has decided to crusade on is for humanity to be reduced in population by as much as 90%, their doom and gloom forecasts and the "researched" need for quick action have brought about such warm solutions as "global warfare" to see it done.

Most "activists" are unemployed self engrossed individuals who feel the need to conjur up demons and saviors to justify existence.

[XNihili]

People who tried to catch the Giant sawfish will support every torture you can imagine on (virtual) sharks. Really.

[Kiroh]

There is so so much stupid in this thread, it's like a lodestone version of youtube comments.

[Gurpsmeister]

The tumblr social justice is strong with this one.

[TheRogueX]

snip

Is this a troll post? This has to be a troll post. This is a video game. Yeah, shark finning is bad in the real world, but this is Eorzea. Oh, and your claim that the Shark Fin Soup's description is a lie because there isn't a recipe in-game for what it describes? Hilarious assumption that the only foods in the entire game world are foods that the CUL class can make.

This is a troll post, right?

EDIT: In all seriousness, if we should remove shark fin soup from the game because of what it "represents" in the real world... we should just shut the whole game down. And do so with all games. Everywhere. Because there are representations of all sorts of other major issues and atrocities, but I don't see you calling for them to be removed. Does it not bother you that we have to SLAUGHTER sheep to get their wool? What about the fact that we kill animals like crazy, but then just leave their corpses to rot? What about Hunts? The A and S rank hunts are sometimes very similar to big game hunting, going out to take out that prize beast that is legendary and unique in the world. Other times it's killing some sentient creature, and thus flat-out sanctioned murder for sport. Hell, the non-elite hunt bills sometimes send you up against the Beast Tribes, when they're not actively attacking or at war. That's cold-blooded, sanctioned genocide. For sport. Should that be removed?

Ultimately, I respect your underlying thought about the sharks. I hate that the Japanese thumb their noses at international pressure to stop whaling, too. But a game is a game. They don't usually exist for the purpose of selling politics or morality.

[Nephera]

I've done work for a shark related charity event two years running now and i can say with confidence: what the hell is going on in this thread.