Terra maps, are they racist?

[timcrewgreen]

Hello all, love this site, I'm generally always lurking on it and plagiarisings everybody's strategies. That aside, I was wondering if anybody else was worried about the implications of terra maps. The fact that it is purportedly a "realistic" world where the entire populace of one land mass consists of "barbarians" seems a bit off to me. Come to think of it, isn't the term "barbarian" quite derogatory in the first place?

 

[Protozoan]

It's realistic in the sense that when you meet them they are so backward that you roll over them.

A la the Spanish and the Aztecs and Mayans.

 

[jabberwalkee_]

That depends if you consider it racist to say that the peoples of the new world were primitive.

 

[diegovelasco45]

Im southamerican and I don't consider them racist at all... i mean, germans were barbarian for most of their history, but it doesn't mean they are now.

 

[Revenant]

I don't see why it could be racist. Barbarians are there so the land isn't completely empty and safe, and replacing them with actual civs wouldn't work too well. Worrying that Terra maps are racist seems overly politically correct to me. It's just a game

 

[CHEESE!]

They are incredibly racist. Suggesting that the New World was technologically backward! It's horrible such pockets of hatred exist in our world. I personally believe every Civ game ever made should now be banned. Sid Meier ought to be hanged for being so narrow-minded.

 

[diegovelasco45]

^_^ jajajajajajaj... well, the new world did know agriculture, animal husbandry, monarchy, bronze working, archery, etc... but so do barbarians.

 

[Kullervo]

Well, depends on what you mean by racist... if you mean that generally, the civs in the New World are tiny and underdeveloped? Or do you mean that a lot of barbarian cities spring up in the New World and Africa? It's more realistic than racist. There's a reason that civilization flourished so late in the New World. There's a reason why southern Africa was largely empty until the 500's or so.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Hello all, love this site, I'm generally always lurking on it and plagiarisings everybody's strategies. That aside, I was wondering if anybody else was worried about the implications of terra maps. The fact that it is purportedly a "realistic" world where the entire populace of one land mass consists of "barbarians" seems a bit off to me. Come to think of it, isn't the term "barbarian" quite derogatory in the first place?

You should probably check the definition of "racism" and try again.

 

[acivguy55]

Im southamerican and I don't consider them racist at all... i mean, germans were barbarian for most of their history, but it doesn't mean they are now.

I am from South America as well and I really do not feel offended at all; it is just a game.

 

[PreLynMax]

I play Terra maps alot (95% of the games I play now are Terra maps), and that's why I usually play on revolution maps on Terra. Usually, there are 1-2 newly devoloped civs (usually almost backward) there. If you even think you could take them over, they would usually have a well-established nation waiting for you. Only if you're fast enough will you be able to take them.

 

[Lone Wolf]

AI's can't play Terra maps well.

As to the OP:

 

[Challs]

Well the fact that the New World is populated by barbarians, might offend some. Not me though, as i think of it in a gameplay perspective. If the american civ would start on the american continent, then they would have a huge bonus, compared to the other civs starting in the old world.

 

[JoeHollywood]

Check the definition of Barbarian as well...

It was originally coined as one who was not a citizen of rome.

 

[Julian Delphiki]

Check the definition of Barbarian as well...

It was originally coined as one who was not a citizen of rome.

Actually it originates from Greece.

 

[need my speed]

Yep, bar bar speaking folk, barbarians. Or better, barbaros.

 

[timcrewgreen]

Let me explain my position here. I am interested a little in postcolonial theory, and part of what that works to dispell is the attitude that certain people are "uncivilised" until somehow straightened out by European powers. I take the point about some civilisations being more advanced than others, but to imply those that haven't urbanised themselves to any massive degree are backwards and worthy of the label 'barbarian' which implies bloodthirsty, smelly, uneducated warmonger is just wrong and historically innaccurate (even if it is for convenience). Also, aren't we supposed to be rewriting history here? Maybe calling it racist is a bit harsh because I enjoy this game as much as the next person, but I think it bears thinking about, even if for just a second.

 

[Lone Wolf]

In Civ context, "barbarian" just means "not belonging to any Civ".

Also, aren't we supposed to be rewriting history here?

Yes, that's why we can have Shaka's stacks conquering a definitely not amused Victoria (in fact, given Shaka's effective warmonger AI personality and Victoria being a rather weak AI this scenario is more probable then the reverse).

Terra maps, however, are designed to simulate the New World discovery experience. They are quite bad at it, sadly, mostly because of AI being rather incompetent at settling the new continent.

 

[awesome]

on terra maps, the native americans can start in italy, among other random combinations, so no.

 

[timcrewgreen]

That's just what I mean though. Who is this new world new to? European colonialists. It's not the new world to the people that lived there, the supposed barbarians. There should be a map script that mirrors the experience of being colonised, just for balance