[Resolved] My character's name.(2)

[Ganjaa]

BYOND Key: Ganjaa

Staff BYOND Key: Not a certain admin

Game ID: what? Kunta?

Reason for complaint: Name

Evidence/logs/etc: down below.

Additional remarks:

I wouldn't really call this an actual complaint to anyone, just seemed like the best place to place this topic.

I think I've been playing on this server for about half a month and actually really enjoy it, most people are friendly, and the rounds are long. My character's name was at first originally "Kunta Eze" and for some time I was using that name and it was of course past the time I could even change it. After thinking on some things and reading on a few things, I decided I wanted to change my name. This was sometime yesterday at night. I clicked the adhelp button and said "I have a question". That question was if I could change my name or not. That admin asked how would you like your name changed I replied with "Kunta X". I gave him my reasoning and everything, to keep this short, this link will provide everything on why I chose that name: http://yourblackworld.net/2017/03/20/whats-in-a-name/. That admin then agreed to the name change and I said thank you and went on bout my night. I was playing as the chef now known as "Kunta X" and everything was fine and then another admin questioned my name, instantly, I replied with my reasoning's and the link, they thought on it and said it was just fine. Went about my round, finished it and went to bed. Next day(today) I went back on around 6 in the afternoon, same name "Kunta X" and another admin questioned my name and said he will have to change it. Quickly again I replied with my reasoning and meaning behind the name, He was very reasonable and tried to reason with me but still changed my name back to "Kunta Eze". Now again, please read most things on the link, and understand why I insist on my last name containing an "X". Thank you.

[Mappel6]

As this isn't an in-round incident but instead an incident regarding this character's name, I feel like myself posting here and talking about this might skirt the guidelines but I think I can provide some insight onto this.

As soon as I saw Kunta Eze's name changed to Kunta X, I ahelped it thinking that Kunta here had decided to become more of a meme than he already was. This was late last night, and I believe it was [mention]CakeIsOssim[/mention] that responded to that ahelp I made? I'm not 100% sure, but basically I asked if Kunta's new name was legit. Cake (again, I believe, but I know it was a mod) responded saying that it was legit, an admin had approved it and changed it for him. It seemed that all staff on at the time had no problem with it.

I can definitely see a character that has a lot of cultural influence like Kunta either having a name like that or going for a legal name change to Kunta X. It's definitely not unbelievable, and while Kunta has become somewhat of a meme, it's not like he tries to chucklefuck or mess with people all too often (and I'd say what I have seen from him outside of antag rounds was in good fun). So, with the character and the admin approval, I personally say the name change should be allowed.

[Scheveningen]

I read the link there and I admit I was really interested right away, I think it is a bit of a shame it was changed, I think it should be allowed to be changed back. There are people modern day who change their name for this reason, particularly for their own agency's sake as an individual. If anyone doesn't know the story of Malcolm X, I implore you to read up on him, he was a very influential figure during the civil rights period in the United States.

Likewise, I can see the reason why it was changed to X initially, it is a powerful IC message in itself to drop one's surname for another, particularly "X" which had significance in the old line-up organization of the Nation of Islam which advocated black men (in particular, considering it was still the 50-60s and suffrage had already passed but most blacks felt the issue was with race and not sex-centric) to "free" themselves from certain oppressive systems they felt existed in America as white-centric in design, such as immigrants from other countries receiving Americanized names that often dissolved the cultural significance of their origin place.

I do not personally see Kunta as a "meme", I think it's a character concept with a lot of rich potential that hasn't quite been tapped into its fullest yet. In due time it'll get there.

[mention]Ganjaa[/mention] Do you know which administrators you spoke to in order? We can check notes anyway to see but there are some odds that it wasn't noted down, so it's helpful to have your side of who you spoke to.

Edit: It seems the final administrator in particular was [mention]SirCatnip[/mention] , not sure who else spoke to you, it mostly doesn't matter though as I'd like to have Catnip weigh in on this.

[Catnip]

Hi. I'm honestly personally all for allowing this, it's by no means an unrealistic name, or directly against the rules regarding character names. At the same time though, single letter names aren't usually allowed.

I'll have a chat with some other admins and we can come to a conclusion shortly. Thank you for bringing this to attention.

[Ganjaa]

I just want to say thank you to all of you that support my name, I am truly grateful, just tell me if I get the okay. I appreciate it full heart

[Catnip]

Alright. We've talked this over and landed on a yes, the name is fine. I'll go ahead and modify the note to account for this to prevent any future misunderstandings, and the name has been set to Kunta X serverside.

Apologies for the misunderstanding, thanks again for bringing this here.