Don't take the perk? If on PC, remove it via console.

I do completely understand the sensitivity for some players, because of factors beyond their reach. How I see it though, as stated above; just don't use the perk if you find it offensive?

I recently have been through a national tragedy, directly affected and lost a close family member. I found it hard to use the 'Bloody Mess' perk; personally hard because of what has happened for me.

I soon realized that it's just a game and Bethesda has/had no idea that I was affected by this.

Currently, I do not use the 'Bloody Mess' perk; but you don't see me complaining about it or writing about it <---Besides now.

There is a world of difference between bullying and an absent minded giggle. Ask any tinkerer if they have ever discovered something really cool or had an awesome idea, then ask them if they chuckled stupidly...yes they did. Happened to me when I came up with a great logic-gate timer for my coilgun (still psyched, sorry). If anyone would have been around to hear my laugh, nobody would have thought it stemmed from anything intelligent. That being said, bullying someone is not cool at all and deserves our disdain. I don't believe bethesda meant any offense, and I for one am all for an option to disable the giggle.

Then why doesn't Preston eat chicken and water melon, or Piper refuse to fight because her nails are drying? Seems like they've been careful to cater to groups of people and then went and done this...

I think overall the perk is just badly thought out.

They could have called it "street smart", or "intuitive genius" and used a different sound effect (or no sound effect), but instead they used an obsolete term for a specific mental illness and a stereotypical "[censored] laugh". Really either of thoee changes might have been enough.

I doubt they did it intentionally, I think it's meant to have the same toung in cheek/all in good fun tone as "Nerd Rage", but it's not a very successful attempt.

This.

I wholeheartedly agree with you.

I get why it could be seen as offensive, but I think Beth should stick to their guns on this. I guess I'm a liberal and too much PC starts infringing on freedom of speech which leans more toward progressive thought. Sure, there are millions of more important things that where the first amendment should be applied, but I just don't want PC in my vidja games.