What is too offensive?

I figure I might as well ask this here before I devote time into making this toon just to be generic-ed.

I am going to make an MM named Admiral Allahu Akbar, and he's blatantly going to be a middle-eastern terrorist. No hiding it. I am doing it largely as a joke toon made for laughs, but also because it compliments one of my other toons nicely. Just wondering off-hand if NC soft is... cool with that.

Generic Rule: If you have to ask, you probably should avoid it.

Edit:
Come on, use some common sense, you already KNOW people will be upset about that character. It is bound to be reported, and bound to cause GM action against the character.

Triumph: White Succubus: 50 Ill/Emp/PF Snow Globe: 50 Ice/FF/Ice Strobe: 50 PB Shi Otomi: 50 Ninja/Ninjistu/GW Stalker My other characters

The name is actually a parody of Admiral Akbar from Star Wars. His catchphrase is going to be "It's a trap!" and everything.


The reason why I ask this isn't just because I probably should avoid it, but because it sounds like I would have a really fun time with this and I really want to do it. Everyone gets a kick out of my joke toons, and last I checked everyone still gets a kick out of Achmed the dead terrorist.

The rule of thumb isn't that simple. There is an equation to it; how much you will enjoy something is weighed against the potential consequences of that act as follows.

F(P1) - C(P2) = A

Where F is the potential fun you'll have, P1 is the probability of that fun happening, C is the consequences from that action, and P2 is the probability that you'll have to endure those consequences. If A > 0, the act occurs, and if A < 0 or A = 0, the act does not occur. This is a not-so-basic mechanism for weighing deviant behavior in individuals. Unfortunately I read the equation a long time ago, so I have a strong feeling I have butchered it from the thesis I originally read it in.

Though if I just need a name change, I suppose I could go with it. It'll be hard to match the genius of the exploding fish military captain.

It's a grey area. I advocate for making it much more blatantly offensive and enjoy the short hellish ride.

I agree. Basically, the terrorist theme should fly, but the name will not. It's too close to a copyrighted character and too close to being racially insensitive at the same time. I like Admiral Itzat Rahp though, going with a mixed alien and middle eastern theme should avoid the copyright and political correctness issues without ruining the joke. Still wouldn't guarantee you won't be generic'ed though. It just takes one sensitive person to ruin a joke.

Ya, if you got a fish headed guy you call Akbar you are toast. I had a couple days e-mailing back and forth with GMs over my character "Zerg". In the end I was approved, and the GM said specifically it was because I was not (and there is no way to!) make him look like the Zerg race. But if You name a character Adm Akbar and make him a fish? Like CoH needs a Lucasfilm lawsuit. NOT! In fact, I am kindly asking you to delete that. Please.

I see this thread is still going. I have already abandoned the project for now, and made another toon. However, a lot of things said here just irk me... It is like you guys are taking it personally and are all panicking and stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Morbid Yes it is. A 'rule of thumb' is by definition simple and not universally true. You also shouldn't bother asking a question if you don't really want to hear the answers.

There is something interesting about the demographic of players who go to forums. Mostly they are made up of people who complain about things, and because of this a lot of negativity rides in the air any time anything of this nature shows up.

I didn't make this thread to see whether or not the idea drew ire, but how much ire it will draw. There are always those people who are going around looking for something to ruin their day (and boy did they show up), so by ignoring them and gauging the response of the rest of the people here, I can get a rough estimate of how the general playerbase will react to the concept.

"Rule of thumb" falls into the same category as "common sense" here in which it is little more than subjective on the manner. At least it isn't as derogatory and useless as "common sense" though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue_Centurion Ya, if you got a fish headed guy you call Akbar you are toast. I had a couple days e-mailing back and forth with GMs over my character "Zerg". In the end I was approved, and the GM said specifically it was because I was not (and there is no way to!) make him look like the Zerg race. But if You name a character Adm Akbar and make him a fish? Like CoH needs a Lucasfilm lawsuit. NOT! In fact, I am kindly asking you to delete that. Please.

The description fit the name only. His actual would've looked like a navy captain, to give the impression that he is actually an admiral. BTW, what is it that I am supposed to delete? The thread is about considering making the character, so how do I delete something that doesn't exist?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ardrea If this is true, why put "Allahu" in it? And why spell it "Akbar" instead of using the Star Wars spelling of "Ackbar"? And to be honest, quite a few Star Wars characters' names and characterizations have been considered offensive -- I wouldn't use them as a role model. Name him Admiral Salmon Head, or Admiral Itzat Rahp, instead.

Did not see wut I did there... The whole reason for the extended name is because it was multiple puns compressed into one name. It is an MM (and thus comes with a commanding rank) that uses self-destruct power for comical purposes (which is why Allahu Akbar is there; it is a famous phrase in the west because a suicide bomber said it), and Admiral Ackbar from star wars has Ackbar in the name and has a navy rank. It will be a villain, so it sets traps for heroes (thus, the catchphrase where he states that it's a trap), and his appearance would look like someone rolled a terrorist and the YMCA together into one.

Ackbar with a C is one letter too long. Otherwise, I would've rolled with it.



For all complaints about the equation: That isn't about whether or not the toon would get reported. It is why the whole "rule of thumb" thing isn't helpful. One of its caveats, if you will.

I'm sorry but

do you honestly not see where equating a terrorist with a person of Middle Eastern descent and/or vice versa is offensive and honestly a pretty terrible thing to do

I realize I'm sinking this thread just by asking but seriously

seriously

Feel free to make what you want, but if you get generic'd over something blatently offensive (even if you can't see it), don't come crying on the forums about it.