Swastikas and Manji

[JasonFireson 9]

On 9/26/2021 at 4:54 PM, EvaPooh said:

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, because it's not a swastika (wrong direction) and even if it was, it's no longer banned in video games...

"The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika, which means “good fortune” or “well-being." The motif (a hooked cross) appears to have first been used in Eurasia, as early as 7000 years ago, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day, it is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Odinism. It is a common sight on temples or houses in India or Indonesia. Swastikas also have an ancient history in Europe, appearing on artifacts from pre-Christian European cultures." Source

 

It is a swastika, just not with red behind it symbolizing as a Nazi symbol, therefore not an offensive image.

[MrChan 337]

As someone who thinks Nazi uniforms with no swastika on them are toxic, racist shit designed to trigger people that should be banned (cos deleting one detail doesn't change what it is), gotta say I think this one's been called wrong by the mods.

 

As presented in the OP's outfit, the swastika does not appear to be part of racist iconography in this instance. I'm not familiar with the source material, maybe whatever anime it's from is racist as hell, although I doubt it and it certainly doesn't look like an overt intention to offend. I'd lean towards allowing it.

 

Then again, maybe it's just easier for LO to have a straight, clear rule rather than have to argue about context with the pathetic manchildren who want swastikas (not the OP, obviously) just to be edgy.

Edited October 17, 2021 by MrChan

[Hexerin 1140]

15 hours ago, MrChan said:

I'm not familiar with the source material

It's about traditional Japanese biker gangs. Nothing inherently racist or objectionable at all.

 

Further info about the anime adaptation:

https://myanimelist.net/anime/42249/Tokyo_Revengers

Quote

Takemichi Hanagaki’s second year of middle school was the highest point in his life. He had respect, a gang of friends he could count on, and even a girlfriend. But that was twelve years ago. Today, he’s a nobody: a washed-up nonentity made fun of by children and always forced to apologize to his younger boss. A sudden news report on the Tokyo Manji Gang’s cruel murder of the only girlfriend he ever had alongside her brother only adds insult to injury. Half a second before a train ends his pitiful life for good, Takemichi flashes back to that same day twelve years ago, when he was still dating Hinata Tachibana.

After being forced to relive the very same day that began his downward spiral, Takemichi meets Hinata’s younger brother. Without thinking, he admits to his seeming death before flashing back to the past. Takemichi urges him to protect his sister before inexplicably returning to the future. Miraculously, he isn’t dead. Stranger still, the future has changed. It seems as though Takemichi can alter the flow of time. Given the chance to prevent his ex-girlfriend’s tragic death at the hands of the Tokyo Manji Gang, Takemichi decides to fly through time to change the course of the future.

 

Further info about Japanese biker gangs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bōsōzoku

Quote

Bōsōzoku (暴走族, literally "running-out-of-control (as of a vehicle) tribe") is a Japanese youth subculture associated with customized motorcycles. The first appearance of these types of biker gangs was in the 1950s. Popularity climbed throughout the 1980s and 1990s, peaking at an estimated 42,510 members in 1982. Their numbers dropped dramatically in the 2000s with a reported number of under 7,297 members in 2012.

Bōsōzoku style traditionally involves boilersuits similar to those of manual laborers or leather military jackets with baggy pants, and tall boots. This uniform became known as the tokkō-fuku (特攻服, "special attack clothing") and is often adorned with kanji slogans. Typical accessories to this uniform are hachimaki, surgical masks, and patches displaying the Japanese Imperial Flag. Bōsōzoku members are known for taking a Japanese Road Bike and adding modifications such as over-sized fairings, lifted handle bars shifted inwards, large seat backs, extravagant paint jobs, and modified mufflers. Bōsōzoku styles take inspiration from choppers, greasers, and Teddy boys.

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Hexerin

[Haganu 104]

Quite sure before OP even made a post about it, if he wore the suit in front of a GM they would do nothing with it, if they would even notice the symbol at all.

 

Not like there's actually any effective measures taken ingame against racism, discrimination or other things that do the game more harm than good.

[Hexerin 1140]

8 hours ago, Haganu said:

if he wore the suit in front of a GM they would do nothing with it

That would be because they can't do anything about it. One of the first things MattScott did when he took over is strip all powers from the ingame GMs.