Sims 4 introducing "disabled sims"?
I watched the University trailer, and I was very puzzled when I saw people wearing robotic arms. I thought did the sims 4 just hint at the addition of prosthetic arms, therefore sims missing limbs??? ...
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I could go on a lengthy, vociferous diatribe about this but I'll try and contain myself.
As someone with a disability I can appreciate the sincerity with which people raise concerns of how exactly representation would manifest but at the same time I feel compelled to point out that this, somewhat paternalistic, sincerity results in the exact same thing as people who whine about any kind of representation, namely: maintaining the status quo.
Whether you are actively opposed to the inclusion of disabled people (tick the box that applies: PC/ebul SJWs, it's 'too real', it makes me uncomfortable, I don't want disabled people in my game etc. Seriously TRY applying that strain of reasoning to the broad representation of the LGBT, non-white or religious minorities in the sims and see how quickly you get banned. WHY is it allowed for people with disabilities?) or you raise the passive concern of exactly how it would manifest and whether it would be respectful enough without offering any meaningful insight or idea of what your interpretation of respectfully enough would look - both parties are enforcing an absence.
I happen to be of the mind that any kind of representation, even the most milquetoast, that isn't actively offensive or reinforcing of negative stereotypes is preferable to the alternative which is always none at all. Disabled people are the only minority which don't get active, visible consideration of the importance of their representation in contemporary media and a big part of that is because it's evidently entirely fine to just say you would prefer not to be reminded of their existence in your ~leisure time~ or because sincere yet misguided people end up thinking themselves in a loop of "Yes but is it RESPECTFUL enough?"
Now I have no clue what is actually up with these robotic limbs. I've seen some people say that they're just clothing items that you apply on top of your sims arm or w/e and you can see their arm underneath it. I think that's most likely what this is so I'm not holding my breath. If it's a CAS item that makes it look like a legitimate prosthetic it'll only be meaningful if it can be paired with every outfit. Choosing to replace a limb with a robotic one would be a slightly adjacent discussion, maybe more transhumanism than disability, but I'll take it. I also don't think it's immensely meaningful to introduce disability if your method for doing it immediately elides the tangible consequences of that disability (ie you can roleplay someone who lost their dominant hand but challenges that would theoretically represent immediately vanish because ROBOT HAND).
Regardless, I realize the dev team can't be expected to create an entirely new set of animations. It's something. Maybe.
As someone with a disability I can appreciate the sincerity with which people raise concerns of how exactly representation would manifest but at the same time I feel compelled to point out that this, somewhat paternalistic, sincerity results in the exact same thing as people who whine about any kind of representation, namely: maintaining the status quo.
Whether you are actively opposed to the inclusion of disabled people (tick the box that applies: PC/ebul SJWs, it's 'too real', it makes me uncomfortable, I don't want disabled people in my game etc. Seriously TRY applying that strain of reasoning to the broad representation of the LGBT, non-white or religious minorities in the sims and see how quickly you get banned. WHY is it allowed for people with disabilities?) or you raise the passive concern of exactly how it would manifest and whether it would be respectful enough without offering any meaningful insight or idea of what your interpretation of respectfully enough would look - both parties are enforcing an absence.
I happen to be of the mind that any kind of representation, even the most milquetoast, that isn't actively offensive or reinforcing of negative stereotypes is preferable to the alternative which is always none at all. Disabled people are the only minority which don't get active, visible consideration of the importance of their representation in contemporary media and a big part of that is because it's evidently entirely fine to just say you would prefer not to be reminded of their existence in your ~leisure time~ or because sincere yet misguided people end up thinking themselves in a loop of "Yes but is it RESPECTFUL enough?"
Now I have no clue what is actually up with these robotic limbs. I've seen some people say that they're just clothing items that you apply on top of your sims arm or w/e and you can see their arm underneath it. I think that's most likely what this is so I'm not holding my breath. If it's a CAS item that makes it look like a legitimate prosthetic it'll only be meaningful if it can be paired with every outfit. Choosing to replace a limb with a robotic one would be a slightly adjacent discussion, maybe more transhumanism than disability, but I'll take it. I also don't think it's immensely meaningful to introduce disability if your method for doing it immediately elides the tangible consequences of that disability (ie you can roleplay someone who lost their dominant hand but challenges that would theoretically represent immediately vanish because ROBOT HAND).
Regardless, I realize the dev team can't be expected to create an entirely new set of animations. It's something. Maybe.
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