I've recently run afoul of some of the regulars in the Skyrim forum by http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1541458-why-do-i-get-bored-of-skyrim/?p=24428406 This was quite unintentional on my part, as the term (IMHO) has zero inherent derogatory connotation. I picked it up from playing EVE Online where, if memory serves it is used almost exclusively in lieu of "character" (at least by the other players around whom I skulked )

I've started this thread mainly as a "pressure valve" for that thread -> basically if folks have more they want to say about the "toon" vs. "character" terminology and whether or not the term "toon" is somehow inherently derogatory or dismissive, why don't we keep that kind of discussion here.

I figured, to open the discussion up to users of all gamesas's games, and not restrict it to Skryim regulars, why not put it here in the General discussion thread?

The goal here is to keep it civil, and allow anyone who has a thought about the 'debate' to speak their mind. I'm honestly not that engaged with the discussion, but I found that when I referred to _MY_ player character as a "toon" it sparked quite a bit of arguably "off-topic" posting in that thread, so I figured an 'outlet' for that discussion might be warranted.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/36069651/JUST_LIKE_THIIIIIS.jpg

"NOT JUST ANY TOON!!!"

Lol I love that movie, I need to find it again.

"Toon" is for other games, not for ES games. Our characters are people, at least mine are; toons are not people. That's all there is to say actually.

I don't think I've ever seen that one, and I was completely lost initially. Amazing what you can easily learn with a quick Google/Advanced_Search: exact string

http://orig10.deviantart.net/d43e/f/2013/190/b/b/remember_me__eddie_by_drearthwormrobotnik-d6cq9zs.jpg

It's not derogatory. It's that people get too hung up on the word since it has a whole other meaning that applies to something like...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv6dWhBlsoM. And they tend to take this subject way too seriously. Especially since a lot of people in that topic don't appear to have any real respect for cartoons as a medium either.

Granted, I have no idea why people went around calling their in-game characters "toons," but whatever. I have bigger things to turn my nose up at than video game terminology.

I respect your opinion Lady, and do not begrudge it at all.

But does that therefore mean that, I should not refer to YOUR player entities as toons? Obviously, telling you that you must (or even should) refer to your player entities as "toons" would be excessive on my part; I think I did border on saying that in that previous thread, though I don't think I ever _meant_ it. Apologies if it came across that way. If anyone finds "toon" offensive, they certainly should not be compelled to call their toons that way.

But then lets take the discussion a step further: we've accepted the premise that some folks find the term "unpleasant" somehow, does that mean that I should not refer to YOUR player entities much less MY player entities as toons? Should I, out of respect for your opinion NOT use that particular word when engaging in dialogue on the gamesas or Elder Scrolls forums??

No don't care people offended by it might be have been touched in the head with a brick.

Well, it's up to you to make up your mind. Why would you call your characters "toons" instead of "characters". What's your personal definition of "toon" versus "character"?

And yes, please, never call my characters "toons".

Is there any real difference between that and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymc1eww7od0

Human actors + special effects, no "animations" or other technical instances of a "cartoon" but caricatures that are beyond natural reality nonetheless.

I think it sounds silly personally. It doesn't bother me when people use it though, its just a more mmo-ish way to say character.

It seems to be more of an MMO thing then anything. And if playing ESO has taught me anything about MMO players, it's that they play games for a much different reason than me.. so I'm just gonna let them do their thing.

I suppose a major difference is that the Terminator is not a product of illustrated animation in that clip, but portrayed entirely by the rapidly photographed movements of Arnie shot and edited together in a way to make him look and feel larger than life. Of course, things get murky once the character is reduced to a robotic skeleton at the end, which was a product of both puppetry and stop-motion animation. And then we take the sequels into account, which throw in computer animation. And there are also of course techniques like motion capture and rotoscoping that muddy the waters between man and toon even more...