Because they're ideals, there's a difference between being attractive in general and being conventionally attractive like a super model.
Combating sexism and racism in the industry are equally valid goals.
I agree, wholeheartedly! However, they aren't equally valid as compared to combating sexism and racism in other, more important fields. That's the point I was making.
That's what it seems like people are saying when they photoshop game characters to fit very specific standards of beauty.
While it's not what you said in the slightest, please be aware that you're "defending" a very specific standard of beauty. I use quotations because it's not really a defense, no one is actually attacking FemRyder for looking the way she does. Point is, it could be inferred that you're saying one very specific standard of beauty (FemRyder how she is now) is better than another very standard of beauty (FemRyder as she could be, Schrodinger's FemRyder, perhaps). Which is the exact thing you're arguing against people doing.
That picture is all that needs to be said.
This is generalizing. You're now trying to group me (and others) in with other people because of some things said, regardless of the persons actual viewpoint. You just flat out admitted that you're dismissing people for viewing things differently than you.
The hell is perceived sexism. Men not getting sexist shit is how this industry ended up in this state in the first place. Just because you don't get it doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist.
Perceived sexism would be something that is inherently sexist, without the intent of being sexist. Perceived racism would be, for example, in the Horizon gifs posted, Varl having significantly bigger lips than other characters. The intent behind that design choice doesn't come from a racist, or negative place. Regardless, it could be used to argue as to why or why not Horizon is a racist game (which I don't think it is, in the slightest). So, perceived sexism would be, for example, Bayonetta. Bayonetta is without a doubt sexist, but because the intent is to empower her with those sexist elements, it's not taken as an offense.
I don't believe for a minute that men don't get sexist stuff done to characters in the entire industry. That's another generalization. If discussions about FemRyder not being attractive enough or too attractive are sexist, then there's DEFINITELY been similar discussions about men in video games. I think the Bruce Wayne model in the Arkham games is ATROCIOUS, I mean, Batman looks like a freakin' goober! Nah, Batman gotta be super handsome, you know? He's Batman.
I'm not saying that I do or do not "get it," or that the problem doesn't exist. However, again, by continually insisting that your viewpoint is the only valid one, you're actually invalidating any progress you could be making with anyone who doesn't share that viewpoint. You're actively working against your own causes, man.
Fem Ryder and Peebee need v shaped chins, thinner faces, and more makeup like other video game characters is pretty authoritarian.
Again, you're generalizing. I actually said, and I quote:
"I think FemRyder is unattractive, personally. I don't care if she's a self-insert for the player, because I'm going to be staring at her face for countless hours. If Steve Buscemi was the target for Joel in TLoU, I probably wouldn't have played TLoU.
Now, a good counter-point to this, which is the reason
I don't really give a crap if she's attractive or not, is that
you can customize the character. So if I want to be Shrek, the Pathfinder, I can be-- green skin and all. Or, I can be <insert your celebrity of choice>. In ME1, I made my male Shepard super attractive. I was Hotty McBody."
I didn't say anywhere that FemRyder and.. Peebee, whoever that is, need x characters from my favorite animus. I said that I didn't find FemRyder attractive. Which.. I don't. And that I can customize the character, which I can.
And again, as I've tried to get across several times, there's a thin line between progressive and forcing people to view things through the lens that you view stuff through. If FemRyder was statistically the ugliest character to ever exist, people would say it was sexist. If she was statistically the most attractive character to ever exist, people would say it was sexist. And there are people that feel that FemRyder's current design is sexist, because it's still more attractive than the majority of people. Can you say factually which of these groups is right or wrong? No, because it's not a social thing. It's personal preference. What matters is the intent behind the action, as I've said repeatedly.
People tend to make movies they like, songs they like, food they like, in general, stuff they like. A gay writer will probably have more success writing a gay character than a straight writer-- they can relate to specific issues and viewpoints that someone else might miss or not know how to handle. And even then, that's going to change down to the invidual, because they have different life experiences.
If you're a man and feel like you're better than a woman, you're wrong. If you're a woman and feel you're better than a man, again, you're wrong. I sincerely think that you're assuming a lot of malice and evil intent where there is none, but rather just ignorance to issues.
