Bring back the Dark Men of Odus

[ya.dingus]

Originally Posted by CrazyPro [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Can you please explain to me what is "dark" about them if not the color of their skin? Because it sure doesn't have anything to do with the kind of magic they use as the guild wasn't exclusive to paineel factioned erudites. Even if that's somehow not the intent of the name, it flattens the identity into something merely visual and racialized.

When someone says "dark men", even if literally describing skin tone, the cultural baggage makes it sound like you're conflating race and morality, even if that wasn’t your intent.

There are so many other words you could pick that couldn't be construed as racist.
Why not <High Men of Odus>? <High Council of Erudin>, <Disciples of Erud>, literally anything else.

It just seems like an insensitive thing to name an Erudite-only guild.

Let's break this down from multiple viewpoints, as I believe your argument is intrinsically flawed from multiple facets.

1) Dark doesn't need to be defined. It can be left mysterious, just like how certain texts rely on interpretation of the reader, part of that interpretation adds to the mystery and the fun of it.

However --

2) Let's hypothetically grant your point and say Dark is linked to skin color, and that is what it refers to (this is hypothetical, I will reiterate, this is not what I am claiming).

My question is, what is your point if it is?

That's not racist, that's a descriptor. It's not assigning character qualities neither positive or negative, it's a physical descriptor speaking to a demographic. There is nothing inheriently racist about this.

It's the same thing as asking about a person's race on a population census. There is neither positive nor negative qualities about this, merely used as a tool in human languages as a descriptor.

The problem is that it is YOU that are assigning some kind of nefarious meaning to a certain type of physical description. Your personal (and illogical) inference betrays exactly what you think about certain types of people, and that simply by mentioning a physical descriptor that it carries a negative connotation.

The only logical justification to explain your interpretation is that you have some kind of inherent bias and racism you are applying to the term, and that you are projecting that interpretation on others.

You're actually the problem here, assuming that's what you meant.

I'll be charitable and assume you don't actually mean that however, do you?

These sub 100 Int Antonicans man. Gotta spell out literally everything for them.