On Patriot and Freedom badges...
By
artphobia,
Posted on: 2004-09-13 11:34 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
LOL...
thanks for injecting some much need humour to my day 
[/ QUOTE ]
to --> Miss_Impossible
So that's probably why... I mean, who goes on Infinity anyway, ewwww.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well all truth be told, I actually joined Infinity because it sounds the least polictically inclined (In the sense that it isn't thrown around in crappy political addresses to the nation just to stir up the masses).
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
LOL...
thanks for injecting some much need humour to my day
[/ QUOTE ]
to --> Miss_Impossible
So that's probably why... I mean, who goes on Infinity anyway, ewwww.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well all truth be told, I actually joined Infinity because it sounds the least polictically inclined (In the sense that it isn't thrown around in crappy political addresses to the nation just to stir up the masses).
[/ QUOTE ]
Wait, when was Pinnacle politicaly inclined?
This is the coolest "fix" ever for a very bad episode in CoH that we'd all like to forget. Seriously, outstanding job Statesman.
[ QUOTE ]
If this game was made by Brits, in Brittain, and it took place in London, and all the buildings were flying the Union Jack (that's what ya call it, right?), and they made a badge called the "Patriot" badge whereby you had to stand and salute the flag atop the Parliament building? I'd either do it to earn the badge, or not.
[/ QUOTE ]
Technically it is the Union Flag not the Union Jack, common parlance calls it that, but its wrong. As far as I recall, although it has been a while since I have been to London, there isnt a Union Flag on top of the Houses of Parliment so you would have a hard time saluting it. We don't do flags in a big way over here.
[ QUOTE ]
Yes, if it was a russian game, based in russia, and my freakin' comic book character had to salute the good ol' hammer and sickle? Ya damn skippy, I'd do that too.!
[/ QUOTE ]
Again, you would have a hard job doing that as the current Russian Federation flag is made up of White, Blue and Red vertical bars and doesn't have sign nor sight of a hammer or sickle.
Thanks Statesman for thinking about your fans and the general CoH community.
Ignore the few sour pusses and know that the vast majority support you.
Oooo boy... funny stuff going on in here. Seriously. Are people that insecure that something as insignificant as an OPTIONAL TRINKET in a GAME upsets them?
Eh. There's no point argueing about it. People bring to CoH what they want to bring and see what they want to see. Some people are looking for an excuse to be offended no matter where they are. Some people define themselves by the reactions they get from other people for outlandish statements.
Anyways, props to Statesman for being a better man than I would be. If I had his job, I would likely be screaming profanities and vaporizing accounts left and right as a sort of 'proactive online Darwinism.'
May cooler heads prevail.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Uhhh... all the non-Americans that play this game need to stand beside a foreign flag to what???
[/ QUOTE ]
The game is set in the US. Paragon City is located in the US. Your character resides in the US. Your character is licensed under US law and, as such, works for and is rewarded by a US government agency. Don't like the fact that an US agency gives a character in the US fighting for a US city a badge for expressing loyalty to the US by standing next to the US flag? Tough.
[/ QUOTE ]
I like the (intended) wording of the badges now. (But I certainly didn't find the original offensive.)
As an English superhero I won't be standing next to the American flag as a show of *loyalty*. However I am in Paragon city fighting for the *freedom* of the USA and the Earth. So a Freedom badge makes more sense.
A bit like when both nations helped liberate France during WW2, the fight was for World freedom, not any particular loyalty to the French.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Uhhh... all the non-Americans that play this game need to stand beside a foreign flag to what???
[/ QUOTE ]
The game is set in the US. Paragon City is located in the US. Your character resides in the US. Your character is licensed under US law and, as such, works for and is rewarded by a US government agency. Don't like the fact that an US agency gives a character in the US fighting for a US city a badge for expressing loyalty to the US by standing next to the US flag? Tough.
[/ QUOTE ]
I like the (intended) wording of the badges now. (But I certainly didn't find the original offensive.)
As an English superhero I won't be standing next to the American flag as a show of *loyalty*. However I am in Paragon city fighting for the *freedom* of the USA and the Earth. So a Freedom badge makes more sense.
A bit like when both nations helped liberate France during WW2, the fight was for World freedom, not any particular loyalty to the French.
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know, I think you could easily argue that both would be instances of loyalty to our allies. We have an almost 100 year long tradition of standing shoulder to shoulder with the US, sounds a lot like loyalty to me.
i like welsh rarebit. and steak and kidney pie. but british/canadian bacon is just ham, not bacon. 
please rename the patriot badge. the premise of it now has nothing to do with patriotism.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
No offense to the British. I love the English, just not the food
[/ QUOTE ]
None taken. I can rest assured knowing however that we have decent bacon. Something the US sadly lacks 
British food is uninspired at best, thankfully though you are never far from a decent Chinese, Indian, Itallian, French or Mexican restraunt!
[/ QUOTE ]
WHAT!? US Bacon is better than sliced ham that you pass off as Bacon.
Yes this entire thread now that I have read the entire thing is just stupid...People have an axe to grind against the USA...fine.
This game is set in the United States...it is a work of Fiction...The Badge is OPTIONAL...you do not have to get it. So once again this thread is not about the badge but about beating a dead horse. Some of you here do not like the United States....that is fine. But seeing as this in no way shape or form actually forces you to do anything...I must say to those who have issues with it....[censored] and play the game.
Now here is something I could get behind....Add an Embassy for each nation this Game is played in. Could even use this as sorta gate ways for TF missions to go to other countries. Just a thought.
As a side note, yes British food is bad but what exactly IS American food?
Here is my take on this new "freedom badge".
As long as this badge is not linked in any way to any bonus or extra thing that comes with gathering other badges. I have no problem with it.
Otherwise, if it is linked in some manner, then I take issue with it. Stating folks have the "freedom" of choice to take it is not truly "free" if you link it to a need or something else. It would be no different from a now dead political regime that wouldn't allow the citizens of its country to gain good jobs or other securities unless one registered as a member of its political party (I think most of you can guess). You have the "freedom" to choose not to, but you lost alot in return.
Thus, don't make this badge -that- kind of "freedom".
-Storm Revenant-
Fires Within: Lvl 50 Fire/Kinetics Controller (Champion)
Steamed: Lvl 50 Thugs/Dark Miasma Mastermind (Freedom)
[ QUOTE ]
As a side note, yes British food is bad but what exactly IS American food?
[/ QUOTE ]
Hot dish and you should be afraid of it. Very, very afraid.
/sigh
[ QUOTE ]
Oooo boy... funny stuff going on in here. Seriously. Are people that insecure that something as insignificant as an OPTIONAL TRINKET in a GAME upsets them?
[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed. An optional trinket that serves only as a role-playing device. Which means that if you have objections to the idea behind it, you can refuse to get it and not be penalized in terms of gameplay. And it only has to have political ramifications if you want it to.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
There is a bit of turnabout as well - I live in Texas now and while back home we lump all Americans (as in, people from the USA) into the term 'yank', down here they would only consider it refering to those from the north. Learn something new everyday
[/ QUOTE ]
I was about to mention that. Actually it's only people from the northeast United States that are considered "yanks".
[/ QUOTE ]
You know, are you really certain that the British term for Americans is a contraction of the word "Yankee"? It could just be a coincidence 
[ QUOTE ]
As a side note, yes British food is bad but what exactly IS American food?
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, there isn't really any such thing as "American food", mainly because American styles is actually a mix of every other culture out there. Of course, we do have real bacon.. , on the flip side, ya'll have real football... (Yes, an American that dispises American football. I'm a hockey guy myself...). Cajun, Creole, and TexMex food could be considered American food, but even they have influences outside the U.S..
And the word "Yanks" has a interesting meaning depending on who you ask. According to the rest of the world, every American is a "Yankee". According to the people in South Louisiana, everybody in North Louisiana and further north is a Yank, everyone to the east is a redneck (except for Florida), and the people to the west are hicks. According to the rest of the south, everybody in the NE U.S. is a Yank. According to the New England states (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, etc), a Yankee is from New York City and is the worst scum in the world...
Add: Ooh! I forgot about Buffalo wings. Wonderful stuff! Atleast some good stuff that came out of Yankee territory...
I say we re-rename the badges to the "Pie Badge" and the "Bacon Badge."
You will obtain the "pie badge" after having visited every hidden diner location in Paragon City (INCLUDING the ones that are blown up in Boomtown).
You obtain the "bacon badge" by having been hit with enough fire attacks by enemies to qualify as "extra crispy."
Doh! Wait. I just remembered. Bacon and pie are distinctly U.S./Canadian/Western European foods. We'll also have to have a cous cous badge, a Mongolian Barbecue badge, a platanos fritos (fried plantains) badge, a sushi badge, a moo goo gai pan badge, a borscht badge..... Man, Paragon City is gonna need a LOT of national/ethnic restaurants....
Look, if you're REALLY that up in arms about all this, I have some advice from noted comedian and prophet for the ages, George Carlin.
Calm down. Have some dip.
Seriously. I KNOW you all have better things to do with your time than rant about a supposed "political" issue in a video game. I KNOW there are worse, more offensive things happening in the world today than this. If you're offended by this so horribly, you need to develop thicker skin. Life will hand you FAR worse trials and tribulations than this, and if it hasn't, it will.
For my perspective, if this game was set in some other country and I had to stand by that country's flag to get a badge, I would not be offended. If this game were set in Paragon City (or the rough translation thereof) in the Soviet Union, and all the flags were red with yellow stars or hammers and sickles, and chest details and costume patterns were the same, and Statesman was The People's Commisar or Rodina-Man or whatever, I WOULDN'T CARE. It's a game in a particular setting. Find something better to get worked up about. And if you can't, here's a few suggestions for things to tick you off:
For Americans:
1.) American political campaigns, regardless of which side you're on in this election, are increasingly about style over substance. Candidates do not provide detailed plans or explanations for how they will solve the nation's problems. They do not discuss "issues" as much as they discuss non-issues like "character." Many people vote, not for the person who could best do the job, but for the person that appeals to them the most on an emotional level. Think about the negative implications of this problem.
2.) Again, regardles of political affiliation, the electoral college system remains in place. The net effect of this is that some people's votes are "worth more" than other people's votes. If, for example, you live in Ohio (20 electoral votes), the value of your vote is dramatically higher than if you live in Alaska (3 votes). In a country where, ideally at least, everyone's vote is equally valid and valuable, why does this system persist?
3.) Oprah is going into her 19th season, and reality TV continues to be popular. Meanwhile, the media would rather pander to the public with salacious stories, rather than focus on serious, meaningful concerns, because those concerns are "boring" or "not good for ratings." Again, think about the negative implications of this.
For our International Friends:
1.) Global terrorism is on the rise. Regardless of the cause of that rise, terrorists are becoming increasingly aware of the effectiveness of highly public acts of violence or the threat of violence as a means of drawing attention to themselves and their cause.
2.) In civil-war-torn areas of the world, the practice of "ethnic cleansing" still goes on. As bad as you may think conventional war is, try to imagine what it means that someone is willing to at least try to wipe AN ENTIRE PEOPLE out of existence.
3.) Scientists have recently discovered radio waves from space that they think MAY evidence intelligent extra-terrestrial life. Think about this planet's history. If they're anything like we are, we should all be very very frightened. (try to think about what's happened when explorers from far-off lands have come to visit)
Now, put it in perspective, people. You're getting worked up about a doohicky in a video game.
[ QUOTE ]
Anyways, props to Statesman for being a better man than I would be. If I had his job, I would likely be screaming profanities and vaporizing accounts left and right as a sort of 'proactive online Darwinism.'
May cooler heads prevail.
[/ QUOTE ]
OMG what a great phrase...lol. A litte proactive online Darwinism might make the game better; who knows. I know I've teamed with a few ppl I would consider too stupid to be saved even by a remedial "courtesy-and-common-sense 101" class...zap them. Zap them all, I say!! MUAHAHAHA!
*ahem*
Got a little carried away there...
This has to be the dumbest issue I have ever seen in any game. I see people arguing over a badge that does not enhance your character and is optional if you do not want it. This FICTIONIAL game is set in America so having the US Flag in the game makes sense. When you visit cities in the USA and go to the City Hall you will see the US Flag flying. It is like that in practically ever city in every state. So would it make sense to have the <insert any country here> flag flying over City Hall?
Do players think that Cryptic is some how trying to enforce the America way of life on to everyone just for playing this game. Do you think that they have some secret agenda to take over the world and make everyone American? Or maybe you think that you will revoke your citizenship and be forced to swear allegiance to the USA when you get this badge. Or maybe Cryptic just wanted to make a fun game that just happen to be set in the USA. If you do not like the badge dont get it.
If this game were set in England, France, or any other Nation it would make perfect sense to see the flag and symbols of that country in game. Also if there were a badge that you could get by standing next to that countrys flag I would do it with pride. And the wording of the badge didnt bother me because to us the US Flag is a symbol of freedom and liberty. I would expect the wording of the badge to reflect the country that the flag represents. Each countrys flag stand for something.
Christ, people it is just a game stop trying to find some political reason behind this issue. .
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
No offense to the British. I love the English, just not the food
[/ QUOTE ]
umm i'm confused, since when does British mean English, there are 3 other countries in Britain you know and us other countries tend to find being called english insulting sorta like calling some 1 from U.S.A canadian or vice versa.
[/ QUOTE ]
3 Countries? Scotland, England, Wales, Oh!!!! and N.Ireland, or are you one of them thats been asleep for the past God knows how many Years of fighting.
Oh and Statesman, thanks for yet another swanky badge.
[/ QUOTE ]
oops my bad was meant to have 3 other countries not just 3 countries, my brain works to fast fingers
edit:that's meant to be to fast for my fingers
I am an Aussie and I dont really care about this new feature.. I just want my free copy of the comic book!!! 
[ QUOTE ]
I am an Aussie and I dont really care about this new feature.. I just want my free copy of the comic book!!!
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you that desperate for toilet paper?
[ QUOTE ]
Good deal. Now this whole mess can go away. I can now get two badges!
Oh, and for the Canadian player who seemed to think that I (as an American) would somehow be
"on the edge of taking offense at the fact that I am supposed to stand beside a meaningless (to me) flag as a symbol of my character's concept of "Freedom"."
It wouldn't bother me one bit. You know what? I liked Alpha Flight. I thought they had cool costumes. There's a canadian guild on my server that has people from all over that have cool, canadian flag inspired costumes and you know what? They look very cool. It wouldn't bother me *one bit* to wear the leaf on my costume if a mission was about saving Canada. If there was an expansion centered in Nova Scotia, I'd be all over it and singing Oh Canada till the cows come home.
[/ QUOTE ]
/agree outstanding post. 5 stars for you.