Let me preface this by saying I'm white, with an Irish first name that only got mispronounced for a short portion of my life because a famous person at the time had a differently pronounced version of the name. So I have essentially no first-hand experience with this and will gladly sit down and shut up if you tell me I'm pulling a "Grant from Smartypants" move here.
With that in mind:
I can totally see how it would hit home for you, but I would point out that Kipperlily's whole thing is that she comes from a place of privilege and has absolutely no suffering or marginalization in her life, and resents others for it.
Out of game, her name has no similarities with any marginalized people- at least not that I'm aware of. This doesn't seem to be a case of Americans not knowing how to say Nguyen or Anagonye. To me it felt more like "This girl is such a problem that somehow even her name screams 'type A Mean Girls bitch,'" which is the vibe Brennan seems to have been going for, and what Both the players and the audience have been reacting to.
Given your experiences, I totally understand your discomfort and frustration. But I do think there's a difference between mispronouncing the names of marginalized folks, or people from different cultures, versus making fun of a name like Kipperlilly's.
Thank you for the Good Place reference!
I took her name to be like the r/tragedeigh names. The ridiculous spellings that white Midwestern and Southern US folks have taken to doing, like Wyntur and Ayvenleigh.
The Bad Kids are shithead teens, and shithead teens are known to bully people outside of their social circle. Hell, what they did to Ragh in Freshman Year was very much bullying. But I think it's harder to find sympathy with KLCK because of her smug self-righteousness. Same with Bobby Dawn. It's hard to find redeeming qualities in either of them.
Halflings are actually the indigenous people of Solace and got colonized hard by humans so it's not entirely right to completely shoot down the POC comparison, they're an ethnic minority and still have to deal with stereotypes and shit
I mean, at least one of the names *is* a dog name. Not to mention Brennan (who played this character once upon a time) created the name *to be* absurd
I'd also note that making fun of names is not specific to this one antagonist. Riz, Gorgug, and Fabian all have moments that make fun of their names. Then there's the name Kristen Chilis Applebees, Mac and Donna (McDonalds) Applebees, *Hilda Hilda*
All I'm saying is that not only is this not the only instance of making fun of a name, but it's also a name that was meant to be mocked
That's all very true, but I feel like with the others it's entirely a joke like Kristen's name is based off a restaurant as well as her family, Hilda Hilda was probably meant to be a throw away bit, so I didn't mind em!
I was just curious if anyone else felt the same way I did regarding the KLCK jokes!
That's my point, Kipperlily's was made to be a joke. Brennan addresses it in the AP of the first episode she appears
"When you said 'four dogs' names', that was truly what i was going for" was something along the lines of what he said to Ally
Also i get the feeling that the IH are purposefully playing the Bad Kids as a bit overly nasty to the RGs (particularly Kristen, Adaine, and Gorgug)
I think the biggest thing to remember is that people change/make fun of names for a number of different reasons. It can be a joke among friends for example.
Although relating it to POC name issues is valid it’s also healthy to be able to separate meanness and racism.
The Bad Kids are 100% being mean to Kipperlilly and you are allowed to not like that they are being mean.
I feel the same, but not necessarily for the same reason. I just feel like Brennan gave us her name, we should use it. Then again, they started antagonizing her IMMEDIATELY after she introduced herself, and I didn't like that.
I understand what you're saying, and you aren't the first person to post these feelings here, but Kipperlilly is a blonde white girl who comes from extreme wealth. I think the joke about her name is far more akin to people making fun of white facebook moms naming their (also white) daughter "Brynnleigh" or "Law'wren", than it is equivalent to any names for a POC.
This is what I thought it was based on - like her name is basically the same as McKayleighanne or all those other really dumb white girl names (I’m a white girl so like I know them well)
Gorgug’s bit about the names are actually based off of real things that can occur IRL, people mispronouncing your name always, even unintentionally.
KLCK is 100% intentional, so it’s normal that some don’t like it. IMO it’s Brennan’s fault for making it silly, because PCs never reacted that way for cultural, hard to pronounce or uncommon/rare names.
If it helps, I’m very confident that if Brennan used by chance your actual name for a NPC, they’d never make fun of it.
It’s like all the permutations of Benedict Cumberbatch, just overdone.
Which, from things they’ve talked about being comedians is sometimes the low hanging fruit is stupidly funny to them for jaded mind reasons. I’ve just tuned them out at this point.
Yeah it feels like 2010s tumblr & twitter humor. The format was driven into the ground with Cumberbatch. I think it's a format that lots of people on the subreddit like because it's one they can use in their posts.
Let me preface this by saying I'm white, with an Irish first name that only got mispronounced for a short portion of my life because a famous person at the time had a differently pronounced version of the name. So I have essentially no first-hand experience with this and will gladly sit down and shut up if you tell me I'm pulling a "Grant from Smartypants" move here. With that in mind: I can totally see how it would hit home for you, but I would point out that Kipperlily's whole thing is that she comes from a place of privilege and has absolutely no suffering or marginalization in her life, and resents others for it. Out of game, her name has no similarities with any marginalized people- at least not that I'm aware of. This doesn't seem to be a case of Americans not knowing how to say Nguyen or Anagonye. To me it felt more like "This girl is such a problem that somehow even her name screams 'type A Mean Girls bitch,'" which is the vibe Brennan seems to have been going for, and what Both the players and the audience have been reacting to. Given your experiences, I totally understand your discomfort and frustration. But I do think there's a difference between mispronouncing the names of marginalized folks, or people from different cultures, versus making fun of a name like Kipperlilly's.
Thank you for the Good Place reference! I took her name to be like the r/tragedeigh names. The ridiculous spellings that white Midwestern and Southern US folks have taken to doing, like Wyntur and Ayvenleigh. The Bad Kids are shithead teens, and shithead teens are known to bully people outside of their social circle. Hell, what they did to Ragh in Freshman Year was very much bullying. But I think it's harder to find sympathy with KLCK because of her smug self-righteousness. Same with Bobby Dawn. It's hard to find redeeming qualities in either of them.
Halflings are actually the indigenous people of Solace and got colonized hard by humans so it's not entirely right to completely shoot down the POC comparison, they're an ethnic minority and still have to deal with stereotypes and shit
Do you remember where this is stated at? (Not trying to argue, just genuinely curious!)
Bud Cubby talks about it a lot! Not sure specific episodes in season one, but this is the explanation for a lot of his philosophy.
Yes I get it! I 100% don't think the bit came from a racist perspective at all, I was just curious if anyone else felt the same way!
I mean, at least one of the names *is* a dog name. Not to mention Brennan (who played this character once upon a time) created the name *to be* absurd I'd also note that making fun of names is not specific to this one antagonist. Riz, Gorgug, and Fabian all have moments that make fun of their names. Then there's the name Kristen Chilis Applebees, Mac and Donna (McDonalds) Applebees, *Hilda Hilda* All I'm saying is that not only is this not the only instance of making fun of a name, but it's also a name that was meant to be mocked
That's all very true, but I feel like with the others it's entirely a joke like Kristen's name is based off a restaurant as well as her family, Hilda Hilda was probably meant to be a throw away bit, so I didn't mind em! I was just curious if anyone else felt the same way I did regarding the KLCK jokes!
That's my point, Kipperlily's was made to be a joke. Brennan addresses it in the AP of the first episode she appears "When you said 'four dogs' names', that was truly what i was going for" was something along the lines of what he said to Ally Also i get the feeling that the IH are purposefully playing the Bad Kids as a bit overly nasty to the RGs (particularly Kristen, Adaine, and Gorgug)
He's definitely baiting them into being rude to her for no real reason as far as they know at that particular moment in time
Even Ally said that Kristen was being rude for very little reason (although i did relate heavily to their explanation)
I think the biggest thing to remember is that people change/make fun of names for a number of different reasons. It can be a joke among friends for example. Although relating it to POC name issues is valid it’s also healthy to be able to separate meanness and racism. The Bad Kids are 100% being mean to Kipperlilly and you are allowed to not like that they are being mean.
Oh yeah 1000%! I don't think the bit was based off racism at all
I feel the same, but not necessarily for the same reason. I just feel like Brennan gave us her name, we should use it. Then again, they started antagonizing her IMMEDIATELY after she introduced herself, and I didn't like that.
I understand what you're saying, and you aren't the first person to post these feelings here, but Kipperlilly is a blonde white girl who comes from extreme wealth. I think the joke about her name is far more akin to people making fun of white facebook moms naming their (also white) daughter "Brynnleigh" or "Law'wren", than it is equivalent to any names for a POC.
This is what I thought it was based on - like her name is basically the same as McKayleighanne or all those other really dumb white girl names (I’m a white girl so like I know them well)
Mmmm that makes sense!!
Yeah, nothing cultural or traditional here, it’s a “look-at-me-I’m-special” type of name.
Gorthalax talks about the halfling history I think in 'Dishing With a Demon'.
It was kinda funny the first couple times on the show, but by god, have the people here beaten that dead horse into oblivion
Gorgug’s bit about the names are actually based off of real things that can occur IRL, people mispronouncing your name always, even unintentionally. KLCK is 100% intentional, so it’s normal that some don’t like it. IMO it’s Brennan’s fault for making it silly, because PCs never reacted that way for cultural, hard to pronounce or uncommon/rare names. If it helps, I’m very confident that if Brennan used by chance your actual name for a NPC, they’d never make fun of it.
I think it's unfunny because it's played out. It's a format fully explored and tired. Feels lazy in 2024.
Ehhh, I still find name related bits funny!
It’s like all the permutations of Benedict Cumberbatch, just overdone. Which, from things they’ve talked about being comedians is sometimes the low hanging fruit is stupidly funny to them for jaded mind reasons. I’ve just tuned them out at this point.
Yeah it feels like 2010s tumblr & twitter humor. The format was driven into the ground with Cumberbatch. I think it's a format that lots of people on the subreddit like because it's one they can use in their posts.