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[Vaga]

I have a confession. I.....had no idea coon was a racial slur until this thread. I didn't know that was the joke in South Park. I've never once heard that term used as a racial slur in my life. I don't know if it's just an American thing or it's just a term from before my time but yeah I'm as oblivious to that as Cartman is.

I always thought it was short for racoon but then again english is a 2nd language.

 

[Casimir]

Not really.

The joke is that superheroes, in this case Batman, usually follow an animal motif. Batman and many other superheroes usually name their personal crime fighting repertoire after said motif, which is kind of egotistical. In this case it's the Coon, which in any other scenario would be completely fine, EXCEPT that 'Coon' has a history as a racial slur. So now the trope is turned on its head; EVERYTHING gets the word Coon in front of it, because that's what would happen with any other animal. It's a completely normal part of the superhero mythos turned into something awful, because the person doing it is naming everything after himself to stroke his own ego.

Maybe you and Austin and others who have a problem with it would have a leg to stand on if say, the character Token or any other black character in the show was The Coon, or if The Coon was shown doing any stereotypical 'black' things, but as it stands, I don't see it. It's SUPPOSED to be bad. It's telling you that this character is a clueless asshole.

On the show, Cartman's character is a caricature of a racist and bigoted sociopath. And in the series, it is apparent that he fully knows not only what he is doing is racist and/or bigoted but that whatever he is doing is morally and/or ethically wrong. The fact that such a main character is on a show that is broadcast on both basic cable, and now OTA television, is the meta joke. But in context of the show, there is a nuance and he is an actual character, not just a one note joke. His traits, sometimes only one of them displayed, are reasons for how and why he acts related to the bigger message and story line.

The biggest principle about the show, and creators motivation, is that nothing is sacred enough to be spared from being satirized. Because of that, just like they excoriate conservative or religious institutions for setting social standards, liberal values that seek to instill their own subjective social norms can be the direct or meta target of their jokes. The fact that this philosophy plays into their personal amusement garnered from messing with people is an additional bonus that should not be forgotten.

What makes no sense is that people, here and on twitter, are offended that such a deplorable character is actually depicted as being deplorable. Would they all be so angry if a character who was a member of the KKK was depicted as exhibiting racist beliefs? South Park has always been an adult show, so other than people having a dumb expectation that "cartoons are only for kids," this anger seems unfounded.

--------------

As an aside, "The Coon" is a seven year old character. What is it with gaming personalities being years late to pop culture?

I always thought it was short for racoon but then again english is a 2nd language.

It probably is, the etymology of coon as a racial slur is debatable. The Coonhound is a breed of tracking dog that was mainly used to hunt Raccoons and other small animals, and when they escaped, adapted to track runaway black slaves. It's likely that blacks were compared to 'coons' due to being considered subhuman and tracked just like Raccoons were. The other theory is that blacks were already called 'coons' and the breed of dog were named after their secondary use in tracking runaway 'coons'. The former theory seems more plausible, but it is all up to personal interpretation.

 

[hwy_61]

I'm sure it's been repeated ad nauseum, but the fuckin ghost recon demo with the guys talking to each other? In what fuckin universe do people communicate like that in an online game of any kind?

Holy shit man

 

[Cathcart]

The only thing that makes me cringe is the extreme overuse of that word. I'm ready for the next stupid language trend, please.

 

[hwy_61]

The only thing that makes me cringe is the extreme overuse of that word. I'm ready for the next stupid language trend, please.

Yeah I kinda agree. Gets thrown around a lot, only to disappoint. CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO ITS FULL OF CRINGE

but it's not. Like at all.

 

[onanie]

The only thing that makes me cringe is the extreme overuse of that word. I'm ready for the next stupid language trend, please.

You triggered?

 

[RS4-]

I'm sure it's been repeated ad nauseum, but the fuckin ghost recon demo with the guys talking to each other? In what fuckin universe do people communicate like that in an online game of any kind?

Holy shit man

Apparently everyone at ubi. Same shit happened with Division, and most likely r6 Siege.

 

[Phoenix944]

The woman doing the vocals during Sony's presentation. It was so weird

 

[SpaceWolf]

The woman doing the vocals during Sony's presentation. It was so weird

This was the best moment of E3 though.

 

[dumbo]

I'm sure it's been repeated ad nauseum, but the fuckin ghost recon demo with the guys talking to each other? In what fuckin universe do people communicate like that in an online game of any kind?

Basically anything at E3 that involves a "conversation" during a presentation is cringeworthy and terrible.

 

[wesleyshark]

I think they're making a cheap joke under the guise of satire.

Satire :

- the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

The satire in Southpark is layered. It has been for a long time.

 

[Baron von Loathsome]

The woman doing the vocals during Sony's presentation. It was so weird

I'm a fan of Mike Patton. I can't complain about people making weird vocalizations for musical effect.

 

[Lys Skygge]

The woman doing the vocals during Sony's presentation. It was so weird

That was fantastic! It fit with God of Wars Norse theme.

 

[Cake Boss]

The annoying fanboys/employees who wooed and cheered after each single little thing during the MS conference.

 

[Human Trashcan]

The word "Cringe" now being thrown at everything and people thinking that South Park demo was actually funny. That's kind of depressing.

 

[Nokterian]

Damn South park still rustlin feathers for almost 20 years

right on

Magical ain't it?

 

[ravn0s]

It probably is, the etymology of coon as a racial slur is debatable. The Coonhound is a breed of tracking dog that was mainly used to hunt Raccoons and other small animals, and when they escaped, adapted to track runaway black slaves. It's likely that blacks were compared to 'coons' due to being considered subhuman and tracked just like Raccoons were. The other theory is that blacks were already called 'coons' and the breed of dog were named after their secondary use in tracking runaway 'coons'. The former theory seems more plausible, but it is all up to personal interpretation.

Coon is a racial slur used here in Australia to refer to indigenous Australians. We don't have racoons so not sure how the slur came about here. Maybe it was brought over from other countries.

Coon is also a brand of cheese here.

 

[Omnistalgic]

Yo wtf is up with this mods?

no offense OP, but what was “Cringe worthy” at E3 is pretty reactionary. My threads got closed and told me to post again next Friday? I see this thread, Quotes from executives about E3. Who won E3 etc...all up?


http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1234360&highlight=

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1233603&highlight=


Particularly the who caught who off guard one was really interesting, and I was hoping some insiders would chime in.

 

[Alchemist]

Sea of Thieves presentation
Minecraft demo
Everything Ubisoft that wasn't Watch Dogs 2.

 

[tomato shrub]

I have a confession. I.....had no idea coon was a racial slur until this thread. I didn't know that was the joke in South Park. I've never once heard that term used as a racial slur in my life. I don't know if it's just an American thing or it's just a term from before my time but yeah I'm as oblivious to that as Cartman is.

Wait what.

 

[SerTapTap]

• 'Cringey' is also not an adjective, nor in fact is it a word at all. 'Cringeworthy' or 'cringe-inducing' are adjectives. Use them where appropriate.

I'm sorry but the English language is no longer purely defined in a dictionary in the year 2016. Language moves too fast and the OBVIOUS verb/adjective/noun forms of non-verb/adjective/nouns are easily understood and used by anyone who is not being unreasonable. The reason English has rules about verbs/nouns/adjectives is exactly why you can "noun verbs" etc.

Wait what.

Outside of media, "Coon" is very rarely used as a slur these days. At least in the US. I never heard of it until someone explained the joke in Forrest Gump. (South Park's use of the joke is basically identical)

 

[PtM]

I'm sorry but the English language is no longer purely defined in a dictionary in the year 2016. Language moves too fast and the OBVIOUS verb/adjective/noun forms of non-verb/adjective/nouns are easily understood and used by anyone who is not being unreasonable. The reason English has rules about verbs/nouns/adjectives is exactly why you can "noun verbs" etc.

This is so lol.

 

[Cynn]

I always thought it was short for racoon but then again english is a 2nd language.

I live in the southern United States where hunting Raccoons is very common and popular. Universally Raccoons are referred to as "Coons". Coon Hounds, Coon Hunts and other terms are common and have zero racial reference when used. Typically racists will use other more common hate speech as opposed to "coon". While Coon has been used in some movies and remote areas as a racial slur long ago, it would simply confuse people here today.

Raccoon Hunting is a lot like Fox Hunting. You release the hounds and they track the Raccons up into trees where the hunters then shoot them down. (or just get points and let the animal live if it's a competitive match)

I find any type of sport hunting where the prey animal has absolutely no ability to kill the hunter to be cruel and pointless. That said, Raccoons and other animals like Deer would overpopulate these areas and wreak the ecosystem without seasonal hunts being allowed so it's not too far from the exterminators that would be required to cull them anyway.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

I'm sorry, but I couldn't even make it through the first page of this thread, as a virulent infection I've seen spreading across the worldwide web seems to have have struck GAF as well. Allow me to go off on something of a lecture.

• 'Cringe' is not an adjective. It is a noun. Use it as such.

• 'Cringey' is also not an adjective, nor in fact is it a word at all. 'Cringeworthy' or 'cringe-inducing' are adjectives. Use them where appropriate.

• Consequently, 'cringiest' is not the superlative. 'Most cringeworthy' or 'most cringe-inducing' are the correct superlatives. AT A PUSH, I will accept 'cringeworthiest'.

Thank you for your time. If you, the internet at large, would kindly adhere to these rules going forward, you will make my online life considerably less stressful and more, ahem, cringe-free. Thank you in advance.

Okay, to address the actual topic... I've only watched Nintendo stuff this year, and nothing really jumped out at me. Potentially cringeworthy moments were generally leavened by the relaxed, somewhat carefree attitude of the Treehouse gang; had similar things happened on a conference stage, I feel like they could easily have come off worse (Bill Trinen's first demo of Zelda still having the time-limit active, for example).

Cringey post right there. I dare say one of the cringier posts I've seen, too

Spoiler

Sorry xD

 

[LookAtMeGo]

I have a confession. I.....had no idea coon was a racial slur until this thread. I didn't know that was the joke in South Park. I've never once heard that term used as a racial slur in my life. I don't know if it's just an American thing or it's just a term from before my time but yeah I'm as oblivious to that as Cartman is.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

I'm French Canadian and even I knew about coon being a slur... ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

 

[charsace]

Square Enix had the worst E3 by far in regards to presentation. They weren't trying to be funny, but everything that involved them just came off as "OMG, hard to watch right now, I feel sick," cringe. They have really lost touch with everything. Its like the tv show "Hello Ladies," except its real and not being done for laughs.

 

[Mooreberg]

Having Carmack show up at the MS press conference only so say "Hi, Minecraft in VR looks really nice" and nothing else. What a freaking waste of the guy's time and the chance to hear him talk about intelligent stuff.

I remember thinking how odd it was that Doom is back on top of the FPS heap, and here is John Carmack doing this incredibly awkward shill of Minecraft.

Also, somebody saying the word "spaz" was being used to make fun of mentally retarded people (?).

 

[PIMPBYBLUD]

Minecraft Presentation, Ghost Recon presentation.

 

[John Rabbit]

• 'Cringe' is not an adjective. It is a noun. Use it as such.

• 'Cringey' is also not an adjective, nor in fact is it a word at all. 'Cringeworthy' or 'cringe-inducing' are adjectives. Use them where appropriate.

• Consequently, 'cringiest' is not the superlative. 'Most cringeworthy' or 'most cringe-inducing' are the correct superlatives. AT A PUSH, I will accept 'cringeworthiest'.

Thank you for your time. If you, the internet at large, would kindly adhere to these rules going forward, you will make my online life considerably less stressful and more, ahem, cringe-free. Thank you in advance.

gives grammar lesson.

doesn't acknowledge language is a fluid, organic thing.

 

[Zackat]

I'm sure it's been repeated ad nauseum, but the fuckin ghost recon demo with the guys talking to each other? In what fuckin universe do people communicate like that in an online game of any kind?

Holy shit man

tango down

 

[Xaero Gravity]

I'm sure it's been repeated ad nauseum, but the fuckin ghost recon demo with the guys talking to each other? In what fuckin universe do people communicate like that in an online game of any kind?

Holy shit man

Ubisoft does that a lot, and I can't stand it. It never comes off good. Although the chick from Mojang was my least favorite part of E3, just last year. From now on, whenever she shows up on stage, I'm just getting up to make sandwich or something. She's absolutely atrocious.

 

[charsace]

I remember thinking how odd it was that Doom is back on top of the FPS heap, and here is John Carmack doing this incredibly awkward shill of Minecraft.

Also, somebody saying the word "spaz" was being used to make fun of mentally retarded people (?).

He's not schilling though. He is legit into Minecraft and pushed for the Minecraft vr project. He also worked on it.

 

[Two Words]

The woman doing the vocals during Sony's presentation. It was so weird

She was great.

 

[Seik]

I have a confession. I.....had no idea coon was a racial slur until this thread. I didn't know that was the joke in South Park. I've never once heard that term used as a racial slur in my life. I don't know if it's just an American thing or it's just a term from before my time but yeah I'm as oblivious to that as Cartman is.

Are you serious?!

I didn't know about that either...though I'm not used to English slang like that as a French native. Still, I never heard the expression 'Coon' anyway else than South Park.

Good to know though. :lol

I'm French Canadian and even I knew about coon being a slur... ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

Same here, I assume you're from Quebec, right?

 

[weemadarthur]

I remember thinking how odd it was that Doom is back on top of the FPS heap, and here is John Carmack doing this incredibly awkward shill of Minecraft.

Also, somebody saying the word "spaz" was being used to make fun of mentally retarded people (?).

Apparently that's a more British colloquialism, according to previous gaf discussions. Spaz = spastic = prone to seizures.

 

[faint.]

The FFXV gameplay on Microsoft's stage. Whenever a "win button" needs to be pressed you know you fucked up.

 

[Laughing Banana]

Are you serious?!

I didn't know about that either...though I'm not used to English slang like that as a French native. Still, I never heard the expression 'Coon' anyway else than South Park.

Good to know though. :lol



Same here, I assume you're from Quebec, right?

I don't know that term either.

Maybe because where I live English is not a 1st language or anywhere near that.

 

[Mega Caprison]

Bethesda.

is that andrew zimmerm?

 

[Aselith]

I'm sorry, but I couldn't even make it through the first page of this thread, as a virulent infection I've seen spreading across the worldwide web seems to have have struck GAF as well. Allow me to go off on something of a lecture.

• 'Cringe' is not an adjective. It is a noun. Use it as such.

• 'Cringey' is also not an adjective, nor in fact is it a word at all. 'Cringeworthy' or 'cringe-inducing' are adjectives. Use them where appropriate.

• Consequently, 'cringiest' is not the superlative. 'Most cringeworthy' or 'most cringe-inducing' are the correct superlatives. AT A PUSH, I will accept 'cringeworthiest'.

Thank you for your time. If you, the internet at large, would kindly adhere to these rules going forward, you will make my online life considerably less stressful and more, ahem, cringe-free. Thank you in advance.

Okay, to address the actual topic... I've only watched Nintendo stuff this year, and nothing really jumped out at me. Potentially cringeworthy moments were generally leavened by the relaxed, somewhat carefree attitude of the Treehouse gang; had similar things happened on a conference stage, I feel like they could easily have come off worse (Bill Trinen's first demo of Zelda still having the time-limit active, for example).

Biggest cringe in the thread :s

 

[NESpowerhouse]

I have a confession. I.....had no idea coon was a racial slur until this thread. I didn't know that was the joke in South Park. I've never once heard that term used as a racial slur in my life. I don't know if it's just an American thing or it's just a term from before my time but yeah I'm as oblivious to that as Cartman is.

I remember first hearing the term from one of my uncles soon after Obama got elected. Long story short, it kicked off a series of events that led to two sides of that family refusing to talk with each other.

Spoiler

I live the southern US btw

 

[Paradicia]

You stole that joke from the Kinda Funny stream!

No. It's called using your imagination to see the funny side of a situation.