OP
OP
This is true! You have to pick your own personal battles.
That's why the "But EVERYTHING is made by someone terrible, are you going to boycott EVERYTHING?" argument doesn't hold.
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Boycotting a game due to a voice actor/celebrity?
- Thread starter DJGolfClap
- Start date
This is true! You have to pick your own personal battles.
That's why the "But EVERYTHING is made by someone terrible, are you going to boycott EVERYTHING?" argument doesn't hold.
Exactly. Some of the greatest artists and musicians and directors have done and said terrible things. That doesn't necessarily mean you support the person when you embrace the work they've created if it's agnostic of their views.
That's a tough question. I've never boycotted anything. I think it would be easier to boycott on indie game if the person is shitty (Phil Fish), but a game made by hundreds of people shouldn't be boycotted because of one persons minor involvement.
If something gets in the way of me enjoying a piece of entertainment, then I won't play/read/watch it. It's a very personal case by case thing here.
I haven't boycotted a game or film though, primarily because they're the work of more than one or two individuals.
I haven't boycotted a game or film though, primarily because they're the work of more than one or two individuals.
Alright, it might be a little different if it's the actual creator (not just some random developer) personally attacking me while using my own name.
However, if they said some general bullshit like "I hate Hispanics," then I wouldn't care and would buy it anyway. (I say this as someone who is part Hispanic, btw)
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You know when someone accidentally nails it but probably doesn't realise?
People ought to think about why this statement is true.
No I won't boycott because a shitty person or two is involved. Well maybe I would, but it would take something more than a low level voice actor or random dev being a bigot or asshole. Maybe if was the person that owned studio or directed the game
I wouldn't boycott something like a game or movie unless they were, like, the main actor or the director. Where their presence is just impossible to avoid. Hades is such a small role that I am not that bothered, even though I am LGBT - but if it came out that Tetsuya Nomura or Haley Joel Osment were being openly homophobic, I might consider passing it up. In general though, I don't boycott art that much.
I cannot because art doesn't exist in a vacuum. My interpretation and consumption of art rely on context, which the creator is a part of. Trying to divorce the art from the artist isn't some great accomplishment or something we should be trying to do.
James Woods has also been accused by multiple actresses of sexual misconduct, including those who were underage at the time. He's more than just "problematic tweets" when he uses his platform elsewhere as well.
This thread has seemingly been more defensive posts from those who seem bewildered by the idea that someone would boycott a game.
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People are free to boycott whatever as long as they don't force their opinions and boycotts on anyone else or start talking shit to peoplenwho don't boycott.
Boycotts don't work like that, you're meant to show solidarity.
Even if I felt that boycotts are useless, the involvement of certain individuals often sours the entire experience for me. I have no interest in Kingdom Hearts 3 but Roger Stone's small role probably wouldn't bother me as much but knowing that I paid for something with that shitheel on it would bum me out. I also think Sugiyama is an extremely vile person so I got DQXI used but that doesn't make his music go away (I mean, it didn't help that the music was garbage tier either).
It's a complicated topic because a lot of things and feelings, many not very rational, come together. I fully support people's right to speak up and boycott these products and people though.
It's a complicated topic because a lot of things and feelings, many not very rational, come together. I fully support people's right to speak up and boycott these products and people though.
You can "separate art from the artist" and still avoid supporting the artist monetarily if you buy used.
Nah. A voice is just a voice. I will not boycott a game for that. Because as always, boycotting the work of hundreds if not thousands of people because of one involved asshole seems unfair to the others who didn't do anything wrong.
The only reasons i could have to "boycott" a game is if it's filled with anti-consumer practices to a point it ruins the fun of it or if the entire game is meant to glorify something really vile.
If the game is good, i don't care.
The only reasons i could have to "boycott" a game is if it's filled with anti-consumer practices to a point it ruins the fun of it or if the entire game is meant to glorify something really vile.
If the game is good, i don't care.
So you saying with a boycott you meant to force your opinions on others and call them out for supporting the said product or service. Imagine if the world worked like that, people talking shit to you because you own a iPhone, shop in Primark, use Amazon, and bought Kingdom Hearts 3. You can find a ton of things where a person in the company has done something bad, or has bad views. Imagine boycotting everything that's corrupt in this world. I'm not saying it's impossible but it will be hard. I come to a conclusion where people find one thing to boycott easier than another thing, or they feel more strongly about one particular boycott. And that's fine. Just don't force your opinions on others. It's like those crazy vegans that go around telling people who are not vegans they need to get fucked lol.
James Woods is a terrible person.
However, ultimately, boycotting is a personal choice and if you boycott one product because of one terrible person, you'll soon find that when you really dig into it, there's a lot of horrible people working on every product or horrible policies in place to let you get the products you have.
As awful as Woods is, you'll probably find your electronic device you used to type up that he's awful uses conflict minerals to keep costs down. That the people who constructed your device are underpaid workers in horrible conditions. The provider you use for internet/mobile data likely has connections or interests in other companies that exploit the environment or people.
Fact is, nothing is pure. Someone horrible has had input at some stage in everything you use or consume.
That's not me dismissing it, either, just always worth being aware that there's also non-horrible people who work on these things too.
However, ultimately, boycotting is a personal choice and if you boycott one product because of one terrible person, you'll soon find that when you really dig into it, there's a lot of horrible people working on every product or horrible policies in place to let you get the products you have.
As awful as Woods is, you'll probably find your electronic device you used to type up that he's awful uses conflict minerals to keep costs down. That the people who constructed your device are underpaid workers in horrible conditions. The provider you use for internet/mobile data likely has connections or interests in other companies that exploit the environment or people.
Fact is, nothing is pure. Someone horrible has had input at some stage in everything you use or consume.
That's not me dismissing it, either, just always worth being aware that there's also non-horrible people who work on these things too.
I mean you'll probably end up kicking James Woods' ass in that game, but I see what you're saying. He's a vile little fart of a man.
It's difficult to separate artist from art for me, and I know not everybody feels the same. It was a point of debate at our Christmas this year; when, on the old compilation CD, Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Christmas" came on, do we skip? I personally said yes, but my Dad was adamant that his memories were of the song, not the artist.
I find it tough though, really tough; I'm still pissed because Morgan Freeman potentially being a creep has spoiled his role as a kindly (criminal) friend in Shawshank. Despite being a big Beatles fan, I find John Lennon's peace and love shtick hard to absorb anymore after finding out he was a bastard most of the time. And yes, James Woods, despite his silky smooth voice, is a gigantic turd.
YMMV on this sort of thing. If you want to forego something as a statement, you can. But If you can look past it, that's fine too.
It's difficult to separate artist from art for me, and I know not everybody feels the same. It was a point of debate at our Christmas this year; when, on the old compilation CD, Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Christmas" came on, do we skip? I personally said yes, but my Dad was adamant that his memories were of the song, not the artist.
I find it tough though, really tough; I'm still pissed because Morgan Freeman potentially being a creep has spoiled his role as a kindly (criminal) friend in Shawshank. Despite being a big Beatles fan, I find John Lennon's peace and love shtick hard to absorb anymore after finding out he was a bastard most of the time. And yes, James Woods, despite his silky smooth voice, is a gigantic turd.
YMMV on this sort of thing. If you want to forego something as a statement, you can. But If you can look past it, that's fine too.
I'm not boycotting any game. I don't care how vile and evil are people behind it if the game is good and is not vile in itself.
Hercules is one of my favorite movies in the DAC. I despise James Woods, in spite of his inarguable acting talent. He's a complete dirtbag.
However, Woods is not the sole person responsible for a movie like Hercules. He's not in charge of redistributing the movie on rereleases, and he's not in charge of determining who develops what mechanics in Kingdom Hearts. He's just Hades.
It'd be like me boycotting Injustice on the basis on Adam Baldwin being in the game. He's a piece of shit, not unlike Woods, but he's not the sole person who stands to benefit from sales of the game. Actors like Kevin Conroy and Tara Strong also gave it their all for the game, and I think it's really unfair to deny the creative efforts of those actors (not to mention the rest of the development team) based on the casting of one unsavory individual.
Now, if this were a game made by developers with notoriously shitty studio heads (like Stardock) and they cast a shitty person in a major role in the game, then I'd be completely against the product. Well, I'd be against the product by virtue of it being made by Stardock, because the head of that studio is a colossal douchebag, but I digress.
However, Woods is not the sole person responsible for a movie like Hercules. He's not in charge of redistributing the movie on rereleases, and he's not in charge of determining who develops what mechanics in Kingdom Hearts. He's just Hades.
It'd be like me boycotting Injustice on the basis on Adam Baldwin being in the game. He's a piece of shit, not unlike Woods, but he's not the sole person who stands to benefit from sales of the game. Actors like Kevin Conroy and Tara Strong also gave it their all for the game, and I think it's really unfair to deny the creative efforts of those actors (not to mention the rest of the development team) based on the casting of one unsavory individual.
Now, if this were a game made by developers with notoriously shitty studio heads (like Stardock) and they cast a shitty person in a major role in the game, then I'd be completely against the product. Well, I'd be against the product by virtue of it being made by Stardock, because the head of that studio is a colossal douchebag, but I digress.
Very different circumstances, but I refused to purchase Life is Strange 2 because they replaced Ashley Burch during the strike.
Does it count if the publisher was shit?
Does it count if the publisher was shit?
Yep. I mean, it's such an easy choice to make to not buy this one game, when there are so many other great games to buy. There's no need to play a game I feel uncomfortable playing and supporting.
I honestly think boycotting a game because of one particular voice actor is a scumbag is a shit thing to do. Voice talent has no involvement in the product other than how it sounds. James Woods didn't code the game. He didn't make models. He didn't compose music. He didn't write the scenario. He said some lines
Just mute the audio when he's on screen and don't punish the people who did the real work.
Just mute the audio when he's on screen and don't punish the people who did the real work.
For me it would depend on how big a part it is. A game is developed by hundreds. It's like movies. What is your favourite game? What is your perfect movie, or TV show. Even if all of the principle cast are amazing, even if the directors and writers are great, do you know that like the costume designer or a character modeller hasn't done something awful?
For me it's about trying to send a message. If someone released a game or movie and James Woods was the main character- no way. House of cards that shit (or just cancel, dear lord). But he's one character of hundreds, and not a big one.
EDIT: Of course in the end do what you want. However I agree with others that in this case the boycott I don't think sadly sends the right message. If somehow it did, I would definitely be on board.
For me it's about trying to send a message. If someone released a game or movie and James Woods was the main character- no way. House of cards that shit (or just cancel, dear lord). But he's one character of hundreds, and not a big one.
EDIT: Of course in the end do what you want. However I agree with others that in this case the boycott I don't think sadly sends the right message. If somehow it did, I would definitely be on board.
I have been torn about posting this as I don't want to get ripped apart but can someone explain to me how a dev PAYING someone who apparently is a piece of shit homophobe/transphobe (I didn't read the links) doesn't cause as much outrage as some other things recently (nazi youtubers etc).
Is it because James Woods is just one SMALL part of a huge machine and they had no choice to use him?
Please be nice - I genuinely just want to be educated and don't understand why people get mad at X and not Y.
For the record I could't care less about Kingdom Hearts so won't be playing it either way or certain youtubers.
Is it because James Woods is just one SMALL part of a huge machine and they had no choice to use him?
Please be nice - I genuinely just want to be educated and don't understand why people get mad at X and not Y.
For the record I could't care less about Kingdom Hearts so won't be playing it either way or certain youtubers.
How do you feel about buying used + japanese dub? I don't think you should let one asshole deprive you of the joy you could get from playing the rest of the game
I don't think I would ever boycott a game / movie because of that. If there are more than 10 people working on a project, it's always likely that one of them is an asshole in some way.
In this case I am actually glad that they didn't recast him because he does such an amazing job as hades
In this case I am actually glad that they didn't recast him because he does such an amazing job as hades
This, this, this all over.
Perhaps we should avoid the use of the word "boycott" for these individual decisions, as it brings all the "keeps politics out of my game" people out of the woodwork.
It is totally reasonable to not buy something for whatever reason, you are not betraying the development team just because you like the series in the past.
Your reasons for buying or not buying a disposable entertainment product are completey valid.
There's almost definitely a homophobe/racist/general shitheel involved in literally everything you consume. Everything - even that progressive company/person you love. So unless it's the CEO or something, I just don't see the point in boycotting. James Woods probably isn't making much from this, and your one withheld sale will go completely unnoticed.
Where is the fallacy? I think 'separate the art from the artist' is ridiculous to work as a universal policy.
I don't really get the point? It's two horrible individuals that are involved in media that are some-what highly rated for the enjoyable content they produce(d).
If I'm trying to use your example for content I actually enjoy (because I'm not a hip hop nor a family sitcom fan) I liked kevin spacey in se7en.