I'm sure they (Midway/MKTeam) would say for diversity. I believe it was as well, and sort of comical, cuz I laughed when I heard him say that...cuz it sounded ghey (not gay as in homo, but ghey as in .....funny...gay...well you know, like stupid)

1.) Not all black people talk like that. Saying/thinking that is actually being stereotypicla yourself. Just like saying all black people are democrats, or are all "gangstas." It's just NOT true.
2.) Jax is in the military, which means he's trained to speak loud and clear, not like he did in MK: DA. He's also suppossed to act like a military officer, not like he's the "stereotypical black guy from the neighborhood."
3.) Cultural diversity? As I already pointed out, not all blacks act the same. Just like not all white people act the same. Not all asians act the same, not all hispanics, latinos, or any other ethnic group does. Period. That's the problem with people who think they need to have ever single ethnic group represented at ever event--just because people look the same does NOT make them act or think the same. I can't stress that enough.

I feel this very topic is absurd, and I really don't think you should try to start a diversity topic when diversity cannot be realized in the way that universities/the media/your local (mostly extremely liberal) politicians would make you think.

The essence of cultural diversity is labeling people based on their ethnicity and pretending they should all act and be represented the same way. It's wrong, and shouldn't even be mentioned.

johnny_cage_win Wrote: 1.) Not all black people talk like that. Saying/thinking that is actually being stereotypicla yourself. Just like saying all black people are democrats, or are all "gangstas." It's just NOT true. 2.) Jax is in the military, which means he's trained to speak loud and clear, not like he did in MK: DA. He's also suppossed to act like a military officer, not like he's the "stereotypical black guy from the neighborhood." 3.) Cultural diversity? As I already pointed out, not all blacks act the same. Just like not all white people act the same. Not all asians act the same, not all hispanics, latinos, or any other ethnic group does. Period. That's the problem with people who think they need to have ever single ethnic group represented at ever event--just because people look the same does NOT make them act or think the same. I can't stress that enough. I feel this very topic is absurd, and I really don't think you should try to start a diversity topic when diversity cannot be realized in the way that universities/the media/your local (mostly extremely liberal) politicians would make you think. The essence of cultural diversity is labeling people based on their ethnicity and pretending they should all act and be represented the same way. It's wrong, and shouldn't even be mentioned.

I know not all black people, or people of any ethnic group, act the same. You're not going to here someone like Colin Powell speaking Ebonics; nor would you probably here any high-ranking black military official, such as Jax, using that kind of language.

But there's a difference between stereotypes and cultural patterns. If you were to say that all black people should act the same way whites do, that would be just as bad as saying all black people act the same. Blacks and other minorities have unique subcultures; diversity doesn't stop at skin color, and if minorities are portrayed acting the same as whites, it's really not much different from not portraying minorities at all. I will say that Jax was a poor choice for a "prototype" of diversity in MK, since he's a disciplined military man. I guess the issue isn't as cut and dry in a video game like MK as it is in a TV show or a movie, since characterization in MK is limited to a short bio and ending, and the very limited gameplay dialogue. Of course, with the new Konquest mode, this may very well change.

johnny_cage_win Wrote: 2.) Jax is in the military, which means he's trained to speak loud and clear, not like he did in MK: DA. He's also suppossed to act like a military officer, not like he's the "stereotypical black guy from the neighborhood."

Jax can say and act however the fuck he wants to. Jax because Jax acts and talks black does not mean he's a stereotype. If he doesn't want to act like a boring military person so be it, Jax is his own character, if you want a military character, play as Hsu Hao.

I don't have a problem with Jax being "Gangsta" but he was part of the military and he is a high ranking officer.

I remember Jax was considered the strongest man on Earth and that should be implemented in his character. Jax's character could be improved in so many ways.

I would never picture a military general screaming Awww Yeah! I always pictured Jax as a quiet character that let his strength do the talking. Jax is also a leader, If I were to fight to the death with an ally I would not picture my ally as someone that screames GOTCHA SUCKA!! while fighting to the death.

Jax to me should be a serious character that would not think twice about killing an enemy, and would not say a word about it.

jax..actin "ghetto"??..lol da hell...y do u guys call it ghetto?????

anyway well 2 me mk:da jax soundly like a white dude tryin to act black

Cyrax having Sambo didn't bother me. It's a Russian (I think) style that's been around ages, and has nothing to do with the offensive term. The word is just coincidence, I don't see anyone being offended by this. I'm mixed race, half Carribean (Guyanese) myself.

As for Jax's "rapper" style makeover in MKDA, yes he's a stupid stereotype, but it was more annoying and unintenionally hilarious than offensive. Jax went from being the serious, straight laced soldier to this, like someone said, a white guy trying to act black. I'm sure we've all seen those types, my reaction's to laugh at them.

Digital_Assassin Wrote: jax..actin "ghetto"??..lol da hell...y do u guys call it ghetto????? anyway well 2 me mk:da jax soundly like a white dude tryin to act black

But the point is, if a white guy tries to act black, how does he do it? He uses black stereotypes!

red_dragon Wrote: Cyrax having Sambo didn't bother me. It's a Russian (I think) style that's been around ages, and has nothing to do with the offensive term. The word is just coincidence, I don't see anyone being offended by this. I'm mixed race, half Carribean (Guyanese) myself.

I know Sambo is a Russian wrestling style. The problem is its other meaning: back in the early 1900s, "sambo" referred to a popular depiction of blacks as lazy, dumb, and child-like, eating watermelon and fried chicken all day. This and similar depictions were used to make whites who didn't witness first-hand the inequality and discrimination of Jim Crow laws think blacks lived simple, pleasant, happy-go-lucky lives, so that it wasn't a matter of concern for them. Even today, many comedy TV shows about black people could be said to draw people's attention away from serious issues still facing blacks. White conservative America likes the Bill Cosbys, the Clarence Thomases, the Colin Powells; not the Jesse Jacksons, Al Sharptons, and certainly not the Amiri Barakas. They're trouble-makers, the latter even a nutcase. But, I'm getting off topic here...

Anyway, the thing about the whole Sambo issue is that, as someone suggested in a thread several months ago, it could have been a racial joke, since Cyrax, in his alt costume and his MKGold ending, appears to be black (although some say he could be Arab or dark Latino). Coupled with the fact that, as a Lin Kuei "ninja," a Russian style isn't an especially logical choice for him, it's fairly rational to question the MK team's motives in giving him this style.

Oh please god....not this again.....