[bspammer]

It seems to me that there are two distinct types of cards being banned here: cards that actually have real-world racist connatations (Invoke Prejudice, Jihad, Stone-Throwing devils, Pradesh Gypsies), and cards that have unfortunate wording when read by someone who doesn't play the game (Crusade, Cleanse).

I'm glad they're taking a stand on the former, but the latter seems rather silly. I'm no Magic expert, but black and white in the context of the game have literally nothing to do with the skin colour of humans, but are just a label representing the classic fantasy tropes of light and darkness.

That is, assuming I'm not missing something racist in the tiny thumbnails, which is very possible.

[toyg]

What is the racist connotation of Stone-Throwing devils?

Btw, if Pradesh Gypsies is racist, we better start torching a ton of Marvel comics - Dr. Doom is a gypsy and all the (often excellent) stories around his background use the exact same imagery, all the way to the cyberpunk Doom 2099.

[duskwuff]

The name and art for Pradesh Gypsies wasn't the problem. The card text was the issue -- it had an ability which could temporarily reduce the strength of an opponent's card, invoking the stereotype of a thieving gypsy.

[toyg]

Applying a negative modifier to opponents is “invoking stereotypes of thieving”...?

That modifier might as well come from outwitting or befuddling, particularly with a text that evokes mystery.

Sounds to me like this choice says more about the actual prejudices of whoever made it, rather than objective parameters.

[kthejoker2]

The issue is using "Gypsies", period, when there's no need to do so.

If you replaced it with "Wanderers" nothing of value is lost.

Using a real group name is thr only reason your comment (and this one) exists.

It literally creates tension where none should be by its very existence. That's problematic.

[lsiebert]

The name IS problematic.

[duskwuff]

You're right, that's a fair point. I wouldn't be surprised if WotC had avoided "Romani" because it felt like a demonym which wouldn't exist in their universe. :/

Are there any great substitute terms which focus on the lifestyle commonly associated with the Romani? "Nomadic" (or "nomads") is associated more with peoples who live away from civilization; "travelers" is a little weak, as it can imply a temporary activity.

[lsiebert]

Vagabond, Wanderer, Wayfarer, Rover, Roamer, Drifter

[Cerium]

I am not finding that much information on the Stone-Throwing devils, but I think it could be a reference to the Muslim tradition of "stoning of the devil" in which small rocks are thrown by pilgrims at a wall. People who are racist against Muslims might question who is the devil. That the card is part of the Arabian Nights expansion does not help the cause.

[brmgb]

Given the age of the card, it's most likely a reference to the first intifada which was notable for widespread throwing of stones by the Palestinian.

[lsiebert]

Gypsy is a racist term for an ethnic group called the Roma or Romani, who have long suffered from prejudice in Europe, and whom the Nazi's killed in the Holocaust along with Jewish people and other groups.

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

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

[brmgb]

> Gypsy is a racist term for an ethnic group called the Roma or Romani, who have long suffered from prejudice in Europe

It is an exonyme, so shouldn't be preferred but is not a racist term in itself. It wasn't coined as a slur and isn't in itself derogatory. It is built in the same way Roma is from a time people thought the ethnic group came from Egyptia (well most likely what was then called small Egyptia so Epirus in Greece). It also often tends to be used as a synonym for nomads with people referring to the Irish Travellers as gispies.

The card effect however seems to refer to the stereotype attached to Romani which is very much racist.

As an aside, it is a lot less clear to me as a foreigner why crusade and jihad are seen as racist cards. They refer to historical conflicts which were motivated by religion not ethnicity. It might be because my native language hasn't stretched the definition of the word racism as much as American English did. The world now seems to encompass any form of prejudice in America but confusingly to me sometimes strangely not things which would be considered extremely racist in my native language like applying the world race to humans. Sometimes I feel like a cultural gulf is opening between both sides of the Atlantic regarding what is and isn't appropriate.

[sanchostache]

It won't stop, bud. Everything must be sanitized.