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  1. #1

    Post Flynn x Shaw short story wasn't released in Russia: additional context

    Terror by Torchlight wasn't released in Russia, because of LGBT-stuff, but I translated it myself for the fandom (spare link). But the Exploring Azeroth book is getting released and printed in Russia, which shows that Russian gay propaganda law is a bit tricky.

    I wonder, if there were ways for Blizzard to post the story somewhere, because that law is murky and it serves to “protect children from being exposed to homosexuality". So, gay media is more or less allowed, if it gets a higher age rating.

    Shadows Rising was released in Russia, and the EK book will be released soon. But it's printed media. Not Blizzard website. WoW books get age rating 16+. The travelogue will be 16/18+, cause LGBT. But WoW itself, even the site, is 12+ (yet Pelagos and gay NWs weren’t cut either).

    So, publishing that story on the site could’ve been viewed as propaganda amongst minors. None of the OW stories with LGBT-stuff were posted on the official site (blizz's own decision without any local officials telling them anything).

    When the OW anthology book was released, the local Russian publisher claimed to cut the comic with Tracer and her gf from the book, because Blizzard told them to. They proposed Blizzard to simply change the age rating of the book, but the idea was declined.

    Seems that the lesson with OW book was learned, since WoW books with LGBT characters do get released in Russia now (but with 16/18+ age rating). Hence why I wonder, if Blizzard could've posted the story on some other hosting or at Twitter with big warning of the events being "18+".
    Last edited by Kiraser; 2020-11-05 at 01:39 PM.

  2. #2
    Can't wait to see them cut their veins when they'll learn about Pelagos

  3. #3
    To be fair, Shadows Rising had nothing gay related to Flynn and Shaw.
    Shaw was speaking to himself about Flynn for a page but nothing romantic or sexual ever happened in it.
    The kinda thing that you 'read into'.

    Granted, it did have a mention of a Zandalari lesbian couple that was an actual confirmed case of homosexuality.

    Then again, I don't get what the big fuss is about these things.
    Randomly mentioning "gay" side characters just to make Zandalar more diverse? The exciting part of the Zandalari culture is not whether they are gay or not, but the loa, the golden city, the troll stuff etc.

    I just started watching Brooklyn 99 and I think the gay police chief there is the best gay character I have ever seen in any media: He is gay but that is not his personality. He has his own personality and goals but he just happens to have a husband, no big deal.

    This is the kind of feeling books/movies/whatever should aim for, not going out of your way to mention how someone is gay every second sentence.

  4. #4
    I liked it a lot. However, this thread won't be civil at all.
    "You know you that bitch when you cause all this conversation."

  5. #5
    predictable, it's illegal in russia to market homossexuality to children IIRC.
    ...that's just my opinion, anyway.

    All of this cosmological stuff is too boring for me. I'd like to get Warcraft back, please. my thing is killing defias and orcs.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Kiraser View Post
    Terror by Torchlight wasn't released in Russia, because of LGBT-stuff, but I translated it myself for the fandom. But the Exploring Azeroth book is getting released and printed in Russia, which shows that Russian gay propaganda law is a bit tricky.

    I wonder, if there were ways for Blizzard to post the story somewhere, because that law is murky and it serves to “protect children from being exposed to homosexuality". So, gay media is more or less allowed, if it gets a higher age rating.

    Shadows Rising was released in Russia, and the EK book will be released soon. But it's printed media. Not Blizzard website. WoW books get age rating 16+. The travelogue will be 16/18+, cause LGBT. But WoW itself, even the site, is 12+ (yet Pelagos and gay NWs weren’t cut either).

    So, publishing that story on the site could’ve been viewed as propaganda amongst minors. None of the OW stories with LGBT-stuff were posted on the official site (blizz's own decision without any local officials telling them anything). https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...acter#comments

    When the OW anthology book was released, the local Russian publisher claimed to cut the comic with Tracer and her gf from the book, because Blizzard told them to. They proposed Blizzard to simply change the age rating of the book, but the idea was declined https://vk.com/wall-80197218_307879

    Seems that the lesson with OW book was learned, since WoW books with LGBT characters do get released in Russia now (but with 16/18+ age rating). Hence why I wonder, if Blizzard could've posted the story on some other hosting or at Twitter with big warning of the events being "18+".
    While I am not your target audience (I'm neither russian, nor can I read the language), I can appreciate that you did this for others. Do you have a link you can share with the work in it for others to read? Either through dropbox, Google Docs, or something else? Of course, don't put yourself in harm's way if you could get in trouble for posting such a thing.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by guisadop View Post
    predictable, it's illegal in russia to market homossexuality to children IIRC.
    I guess.. I'm torn over this though, on the one hand, it shouldn't be, yet on the other hand it should.

    But is selling the book deemed as marketing homosexuality? Sure it's got a gay interaction, but it's hardly about that.

    Anyway, they are wise ot remove it, I don't blame htem, it's the laws in Russia and they must abide, whether I agree with them or not, like them or not.

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Edlarel View Post
    While I am not your target audience (I'm neither russian, nor can I read the language), I can appreciate that you did this for others. Do you have a link you can share with the work in it for others to read? Either through dropbox, Google Docs, or something else? Of course, don't put yourself in harm's way if you could get in trouble for posting such a thing.
    Yeap, I posted the translation on my blog and it was also spread by another fansite. So, blog links:

    https://vk.com/wall-97800267_202704
    http://kiraser.blogspot.com/2020/11/blog-post.html

    Fansite link: http://wow.blizzgame.ru/source/stori...-by-torchlight

    But, yeah, maybe I should put the "18+" warning, just as the fansite did.

  9. #9
    Considering that kids have free access to all types of porn through internet it feels rather pointless to censor any such stuff.

    Its more about political points and getting easy favor with the lowest common denominator.

  10. #10
    Merely a Setback Kaleredar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kiraser View Post
    Terror by Torchlight wasn't released in Russia, because of LGBT-stuff, but I translated it myself for the fandom (spare link). But the Exploring Azeroth book is getting released and printed in Russia, which shows that Russian gay propaganda law is a bit tricky.

    I wonder, if there were ways for Blizzard to post the story somewhere, because that law is murky and it serves to “protect children from being exposed to homosexuality". So, gay media is more or less allowed, if it gets a higher age rating.

    Shadows Rising was released in Russia, and the EK book will be released soon. But it's printed media. Not Blizzard website. WoW books get age rating 16+. The travelogue will be 16/18+, cause LGBT. But WoW itself, even the site, is 12+ (yet Pelagos and gay NWs weren’t cut either).

    So, publishing that story on the site could’ve been viewed as propaganda amongst minors. None of the OW stories with LGBT-stuff were posted on the official site (blizz's own decision without any local officials telling them anything).

    When the OW anthology book was released, the local Russian publisher claimed to cut the comic with Tracer and her gf from the book, because Blizzard told them to. They proposed Blizzard to simply change the age rating of the book, but the idea was declined.

    Seems that the lesson with OW book was learned, since WoW books with LGBT characters do get released in Russia now (but with 16/18+ age rating). Hence why I wonder, if Blizzard could've posted the story on some other hosting or at Twitter with big warning of the events being "18+".
    I don’t know about the youth of Russia, but if I saw that an OW comic was rated +18 and all it had was tracer kissing a girl in one panel, I know I’d feel a bit led on.
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  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Aleksej89 View Post
    Considering that kids have free access to all types of porn through internet it feels rather pointless to censor any such stuff.

    Its more about political points and getting easy favor with the lowest common denominator.
    It's obviously only about political points.
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  12. #12
    Bloodsail Admiral melkesjokolade's Avatar
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    Im so sick and tired of these stories from Blizz, its all just fanservice. It doesnt further the story at all with all these side love stories. Its so uneccessary and making characters gay just for «flavour» is disgusting. We dont need to know characters sexual orientation ffs or what they do and who they do it with. Unless it has anything actually to do with the story, I dont think it should be put out. Put it on a fan service site instead, its just another cliche. I really dislike these new writers for Blizz, not only cause of this but the story doesnt even feel like Warcraft anymore. Its all a fucking mess. Im sure someone will call me homophobic, go for it.

  13. #13
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  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Beloren View Post
    I guess.. I'm torn over this though, on the one hand, it shouldn't be, yet on the other hand it should.

    But is selling the book deemed as marketing homosexuality? Sure it's got a gay interaction, but it's hardly about that.

    Anyway, they are wise ot remove it, I don't blame htem, it's the laws in Russia and they must abide, whether I agree with them or not, like them or not.
    Responding to the emboldened part. Does it have gay interaction or just interaction?

    I feel like all these terminologies used to categorize people; gay, black, trans, white, Jewish, straight, etc, keep us separated.

    I mean we’re all just people, what’s with categories of people? Human first, trait secondary and kind of unnecessary to even note.

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by melkesjokolade View Post
    Im so sick and tired of these stories from Blizz, its all just fanservice. It doesnt further the story at all with all these side love stories. Its so uneccessary and making characters gay just for «flavour» is disgusting. We dont need to know characters sexual orientation ffs or what they do and who they do it with. Unless it has anything actually to do with the story, I dont think it should be put out. Put it on a fan service site instead, its just another cliche. I really dislike these new writers for Blizz, not only cause of this but the story doesnt even feel like Warcraft anymore. Its all a fucking mess. Im sure someone will call me homophobic, go for it.
    This only makes sense if you consider romance in stories a distraction in general.

    If you see some version of the traditional "boy meets girl" trope in your fantasy story, then you're being forced to confront the character(s) sexuality.

    Of course, side love-stories have proven popular (pretty much in every genre/format), so you can expect to see them, which means you should expect to see representative versions of those stories.
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  16. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Aleksej89 View Post
    Considering that kids have free access to all types of porn through internet it feels rather pointless to censor any such stuff.

    Its more about political points and getting easy favor with the lowest common denominator.
    Its a bit of a fight over who has influence over your children.

    I think of it as when Joe Cool (Smoking Camel) became a major issue, but those same kids parents can smoke in front of their children. Which is more influential?

  17. #17
    Thank you for the translation, I hope you're not in any danger because of it!

  18. #18
    I mean...was there that much explicit gay in it that they couldn't have just cut the kiss and posted it as "They're just really good friends guys."? Seemed to me that it until the last line, it was perfectly possible to read it as two totally straight dudes just broing out.
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  19. #19
    I find the "relationship" between Shaw and Flynn absurd. Flynn was a great character in BFA and his quest lines were a ton of fun, and everything in them pointed to his desires being... not Shaw. That said...

    Quote Originally Posted by Kiraser View Post
    Terror by Torchlight wasn't released in Russia, because of LGBT-stuff, but I translated it myself for the fandom (spare link).
    it's very nice of you to put forth the effort free of charge.

    Quote Originally Posted by NabyBro View Post
    I just started watching Brooklyn 99 and I think the gay police chief there is the best gay character I have ever seen in any media: He is gay but that is not his personality. He has his own personality and goals but he just happens to have a husband, no big deal.
    Brooklyn 99 is great, and Holt is probably my favorite character on there. He and Kevin (and Cheddar) are fantastic.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by StillMcfuu View Post
    Its a bit of a fight over who has influence over your children.

    I think of it as when Joe Cool (Smoking Camel) became a major issue, but those same kids parents can smoke in front of their children. Which is more influential?
    Studies have shown that a child's peer group is a far greater influence than their parents. Parents can set rules and guidelines, but their power comes from an ability to restrict influence.

    I do not support this kind of censorship in any way, but this is not about political points - it's about true social control.

  20. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by Lixaris View Post
    Can't wait to see them cut their veins when they'll learn about Pelagos
    They will simply change the text in the Russian translation and say that it was always straight and long live mother Russia!

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