Man, i love being misinterpreted...
Well, let me get my bat to strike some misdirections...
[I find it kind of gut-wrenching that you're comparing sexual orientation to racism and pedophilia. What on Earth makes you think that is remotely appropriate?]
That was me kidding, it's an internet principle that every forum discussion may end up being confronted with Hitler if any of the parts are too strongly defensive about their opinion =P
Don't stump your toes 'cause of me.
[I'm not entirely sure what point you're trying to make here. That dwarves wouldn't be exclusively straight or gay? Because that's an option too. I have no clue what you mean by the "100% straight shirt" comment.]
That was another shot in the dark, i'm referring to the "Gay and Proud" and such things sometimes i see ppl wearing, it's just like someone here said, the relationship would be the only clue to this fact, they don't need to be separated into a trait or something, or be in the closet, they just hang out with whoever they want, in society, there's no need to keep anouncing your sexual orientation, you do what you want, intimate relationships are just that... INTIMATE!
[I never said that every single cultural and social aspect of the real world be incorporated into Dwarf Fortress.]
But you know when the social/culture arc starts, ppl will say some minority is not being representated, and if you want to add realism to a game solely on adding the "gay option", you would have to portray it completely, that's what the Hammerer is for... Someday in the future, the law won't be just beatings, chains and such, many kinds of crimes should be there, so you'd get the most immersive game ever, you should shun who does that, F.E. Orcs are known in some fantasy worlds to rape the conquered, that's just it... What about xenophobia? Many races look down upon other, that's racism to you and it's been there, in every fantasy book you ever read...
[When has this ever, ever been true in real life?]
Well, not legally, but just look at some middle eastern cultures, they do nasty things to gays, in medieval times, gay relationships were "criminal" because that would offend the church... Really? It was there mostly because the kings needed their freaking slaves, more hands on labor meant they'd be greater than others, i don't think it's nice, but that happens on many cultures, just they don't label... OH! By the way, some US states actually prohibit gay sex... Look for a site, named stupid laws or something like it...
[Yes, because they are capable of doing so, and people should strive to be socially conscious in all aspects of their life and work. It isn't right to dodge the question of homosexuality simply because some people are ignorant or intolerant about it. Or I should say, it is meaningful and worthwhile to respond to that question despite people's intolerance. The social situation concerning sexual orientation must get better, and part of it getting better is people stepping up to the plate and acknowledging the existence of various sexual orientations without treating them as something wacky or special, rather just as another aspect of people like any other. I don't necessarily think that Dwarf Fortress has some moral imperative to do this, just that it would be a very good thing if it could.]
I'll have a quick one there, you just invalidated one of your points, ppl also have to know MANY other things happen in society, and i like how you end this comment, that's just what i'm saying... Sure, you saved a lotta letters =P
[And again, a big part of my argument here is just that normalizing non-heteronormative behavior is a positive thing. It's wrong, in my opinion, for casual entertainment to apparently avoid non-heterosexuals unless they're camp gay or it's some major aspect of their personality (more than being heterosexual would be). I want to see a brainless action movie where the hero just happens to be a gay guy, not because it would be trying to hammer home a message, but because we need more examples of sexual orientation being treated realistically and naturally without it having to be some core defining aspect of the character (again, any more than heterosexuality normally is). Speaking about society in general, we need more cultural understanding of the fact that gay people aren't magically different from the rest of us.]
There, that's pretty much what i wanted to hear, being gay or anything else would be something that just happens, i don't think we need gay marriage, i'm pro gay rights and all but i don't really see a point... They can be gay just as much as they can be straight, no problem in there, no need to shout out loud... Being gay should be as normal as being short or tall, and i said before, putting sexual orientation as a focus rather than a fact is just overrating a game that's about FUN, in all polyssemic ways of fun, survival is the focus, while you're kept alive, funny or interesting things happen, that's the great thing about DF, i'd really LMAO if i saw Dorf farmers going a strike or mason's refusing to work for some disrespectful noble... That's the thing, as a fantasy universe sim, it's the journey that counts...
I am silly, i sometimes like so much of some of my dorfs that i feel bad when i make a mistake and some of them get seriously beaten and such... That's what a game must be, you HAVE to feel connected to your characters...
[It's kind of disheartening that I have to be considered an "activist" just because I don't think DF should refrain from including non-heteronormative sexuality simply because some ignorant people might be offended by it, or because some 13-year-olds might find it distasteful. I simply think that's a bad reason to exclude something that would otherwise be included, particularly when it's an issue with important social ramifications.]
Never said a name, i was just pointing out the obvious, if ppl get too passionate on their point, they may just leave their reason behind, and don't worry, i'm too old to be sweating over an online discussion =)
Keeping on my schedule...
[I assume you mean that the only reason people care about gay relationships is religion. So your point is that the only way they can have any effect is by being culturally allowed or forbidden. But Spartans were encouraged to have gay relationships so that they'd fight better : that's a pretty interesting way for homosexuality to be important. It makes your soldiers better fighters, but makes pregnancies less frequent so you that might have to rely on immigration.]
I don't give a rat's furry buttock about who's on top of who for instance. I meant what i said, i was just saying that gay marriage wasn't that important back then, they did what they did, everyone knew, nobody gave a damn about it, it was common as it's turning nowadays and THAT's what DF should do, show it as just a fact, no need for much noise... Spartans did it because if a soldier loved the shield next to them as much as they'd to a lover, they were surely going to fight their hearts out to prevent them from dieing, not because they'd be better fighters, just care more about the others...
[You're not the one deciding what the focus of the game is. Combat got most of the attention so far, but ultimately Dwarf Fortress is a fantasy universe simulator, and relationships are a very big part of this. You don't give a crap if the goblin you just killed was gay. Okay. But if some king's wife turns out to be, it might destroy an empire.]
Again, the lack of emoticons took my joke from me... I was not defining the focus of the game, but definitely, sexual orientation would never ruin an empire, if the Queen likes girls and married the king, there can be more to it, but surely, human history is filled with cases of gays that did what they had to do without giving up their liking... That would make things more interesting? Sure, but definitely the world wouldn't stop just because they don't know where you like to swing your bat...
[Why not ? You're free to kill goblins however you like, that's not the goal of the mechanics Toady coded, merely things you're free to do. I'm sure homosexuality done in a tasteful way would draw a lot of positive attention on the game.]
Still, i think DF is not edutainment, i agree that it would be positive, but that's beside the point, games are to be fun, not some kind of world changing platform... As Jeoshua said, "This is the biggest thing. Once we have lovers/friends/family hanging out together, we can then ask the question "what gender is that lover" and the rest should flow naturally." No need to point out, you should have the option to investigate or not... For example, some ppl just like the gobbo shredding, some like to see more, i read many profiles in my fortresses, but that's just me, some ppl might avoid seeing those if you put the explicit warning, what's the next step? A warning for megabeasts and another for "The Gay Hammerer has arrived"? Saying ppl is ignorant for not wanting to see is something that i do not like, everyone's entitled to an opinion, my parents are ultra conservative about it, i'm not, i'm straight and i had (because she moved and we lost contact) a lesbian friend and i hang out with her and a bi friend of hers... Didn't matter to me, they're normal ppl like everyone else, they just like to eat indian or japanese food, just like that... No magical power, no newly acquired fashion taste...
The last one
[DF has always been great because of the stories you get out of it ; as a game to be beaten it's not bad, but I'm pretty sure Toady wants it to be more than that. If you think homosexuality wouldn't fit into the stories you want to see unfold, then you're free to. But a simulation so deep than who bones who can ultimately win or lose a war, I'd personally find that pretty fun.]
Never said it, never meant it... I never said i'm against gays, i just think that sorting out who's gay and who's not is just a matter of looking who he loves, there. DONE! No need to say "He is flamboyantly gay", just leave the little dorf to check the beards around...
There, i hope some of you understand a little more of my chaotic speech... I know i'm not gonna have everyone's opinion, but i just want to speak up and rest my five cents in there... No rage or stark raving madness was caused by your dearest opinions.
Thanks for the contribution