Changing skin colour

[Fey]

as a white European, I'd like to point out that skin color matters as much here as it does in the US. we just don't admit that it does. we like to believe that colorism is a US-only phenomenon, but it's really, really not. the only difference between white racism in the US and in Europe is that at least in the US there's a chance that people will rightfully call it out. and white people are increasingly co-opting black fashion and black aesthetics in Europe, so that's definitely not a US-only problem either. when it comes to the issue of white people appropriating blackness in Europe, I'd listen to a black American before a white European any time.

sorry if this is veering too much into irl politics, I just think that this idea that racism is relative and doesn't manifest in Europe in the same way as it does in the US is very, very dangerous. Europe has a problem with calling out racism as it is, we don't need to encourage white Europeans to think that they shouldn't think critically about how they see race.

I don’t think you’re being too political at all, but I don’t want to get into a political discussion here myself.

Too be clear though, my point was never about encouraging Europeans—or anybody else—to not think critically about race. I also didn’t say that racism was relative. What I meant was that the awareness of its effects is different from country to country, and that people will therefore have different reactions to the OPs question.

 

[Dinosaurz]

I have a white skin tone because I am white lol

but i don’t see anything wrong with designing your character how you want to express it you do you

 

[meggiewes]

Without reading everybody else's opinions on the matter and not knowing if I'm repeating things: yes, it is fine to look drastically different from your character if you want to. In FFXIV (a MMO I like to play), I am a grey-skinned cat person. I definitely don't have grey skin in real life. I was planning on giving my in-game character a tan during the summer months in ACNL. I am porcelain white in real life and I don't let it stop me playing Sims with all sorts of characters ranging from traditional European looking to African to Asain to any other race it was designed to create (including green-skinned aliens with big black eyes and small pointed up noses).

Honestly, not many people would care as long as you aren't being jerky about it. That is when you start ruffling some feathers.

 

[R. Planet]

My character's skin is darker than mine. It just looks better. I also don't exactly see Cuthbert as me though...idk.

 

[JKDOS]

However, I find it weird or fake for me to change my skin colour to something it isn't in real life.

You're not playing as yourself, so it doesn't matter if you use a different name, skin, or gender

 

[stiney]

So I'm Asian but not super light skinned so I usually play with a medium light skin tone in ACNH (first colour on the bottom row). However, sometimes, I really want a darker character cuz I think some outfits would be very pretty on a darker skin tone. However, I find it weird or fake for me to change my skin colour to something it isn't in real life. But I sometimes see people with characters who are darker and I keep thinking how pretty and adorable they look and I get kinda sad that I can't make my character look like that because it's not me.

Do you guys play as a character with your own skin tone and do you ever change your skin tone in the game? Do you think it's okay for someone to use a different skin tone other than their real one? It's just been a thing that I've been thinking about lately and would like to hear what other's have to say about it. I don't know if this is going to be a controversial topic, but please be respectful and kind to each other when discussing this!

I'm white and I a) think some of the darker skin tones are very pretty especially in some outfits and b) want to use them so Nintendo sees that there was in fact demand for darker skin tones and why did it take so long to add it? and also c) am worried it would be inappropriate for me to pretend to be someone I'm not. (I don't need a debate on this or reasons why I should/shouldn't just go for it--it's something I need to decide for myself.)

The people I play with are mostly IRL friends, so they know I'm pasty white, so I don't have anonymity to hide behind.

 

[SheepMareep]

If you are making the character to be you then I strongly advise against it.
Colorism is very strong throughout the world in which darker skin tones are most often discriminated against by people with lighter skin tones. (Hence why skin bleaching is SO common in many countries) black face and darkening your skin tone has become common in more recent years to emulate black people in the USA for fashion, while still oppressing them for being dark skinned/black. (I.e. white people are dressing black/in clothing that emulates black culture because it's "cool" or "aesthetically pleasing" but will treat actual black people as thugs or lower than them.) I highly doubt this would be your view as you are asking if it is alright, but its better to not encourage this even if your intentions are not of Mal intent c:

If this is an OC or based on someone irl (I have a character that represents my bf who is black.) It is fine to a degree. (Dont use them as a caricature for example.) But if this character is meant to be you then. No. I do not think it would be appropriate.

 

[daisyy]

i just want to say i appreciate all the thoughtful discussion on this post. i definitely understand there are different ways to play the game, including as a 'persona' or as an OC, and therefore i also understand both arguments...

 

[Mephala]

I totally appreciate and understand everyone's opinions & I see where everyone is coming from, but I personally feel this sort of argument just makes a problem out of nothing. As long as you aren't choosing a certain skin tone so you can create weird racist caricatures and stereotypes on your island (which I can't really imagine many people doing), you're not affecting anybody. It's a game and like every customisable game out there, you can make your character look however you want. It doesn't have to represent you -- I don't live on a deserted island with talking animals, after all, lol. Again, like other games, AC is a fantasy and a way to escape real life, so I prefer not to bring RL issues with race and skin tones into such a fun light-hearted game.

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

If you are making the character to be you then I strongly advise against it.
Colorism is very strong throughout the world in which darker skin tones are most often discriminated against by people with lighter skin tones. (Hence why skin bleaching is SO common in many countries) black face and darkening your skin tone has become common in more recent years to emulate black people in the USA for fashion, while still oppressing them for being dark skinned/black. (I.e. white people are dressing black/in clothing that emulates black culture because it's "cool" or "aesthetically pleasing" but will treat actual black people as thugs or lower than them.) I highly doubt this would be your view as you are asking if it is alright, but its better to not encourage this even if your intentions are not of Mal intent c:

If this is an OC or based on someone irl (I have a character that represents my bf who is black.) It is fine. But if this character is meant to be you then. No. I do not think it would be appropriate.

My character isn't really supposed to be me per se but I do dress her to look similar to me usually (skin tone and either black/brown hair) but I also change her hair a lot and sometimes dress up as a guy or cosplay my fave characters with her so it isn't actually me. I use her as whatever character I feel like being that day. I've even spent a few days as Jesus cuz it was just too cute. But the skin colour is the only thing I haven't ever changed so I never changed her to anyone darker than me. It would be cool to maybe have her be Rihanna for a day or something. So I guess her identity is pretty fluid but her default everyday look mirrors my own.

Post automatically merged: May 6, 2020

I'm white and I a) think some of the darker skin tones are very pretty especially in some outfits and b) want to use them so Nintendo sees that there was in fact demand for darker skin tones and why did it take so long to add it? and also c) am worried it would be inappropriate for me to pretend to be someone I'm not. (I don't need a debate on this or reasons why I should/shouldn't just go for it--it's something I need to decide for myself.)

The people I play with are mostly IRL friends, so they know I'm pasty white, so I don't have anonymity to hide behind.

Same. I don't really have anonymity because my circle of friends are fellow streamers/viewers and hence they know what I look like from my streams. So that adds to me feeling like a fraud if they ever saw me change my skin colour.

 

[Mello]

So I'm Asian but not super light skinned so I usually play with a medium light skin tone in ACNH (first colour on the bottom row). However, sometimes, I really want a darker character cuz I think some outfits would be very pretty on a darker skin tone. However, I find it weird or fake for me to change my skin colour to something it isn't in real life. But I sometimes see people with characters who are darker and I keep thinking how pretty and adorable they look and I get kinda sad that I can't make my character look like that because it's not me.

Do you guys play as a character with your own skin tone and do you ever change your skin tone in the game? Do you think it's okay for someone to use a different skin tone other than their real one? It's just been a thing that I've been thinking about lately and would like to hear what other's have to say about it. I don't know if this is going to be a controversial topic, but please be respectful and kind to each other when discussing this!

I see absolutely nothing wrong with making your character in whatever image you like. If you think a darker skin tone is beautiful, then please, go right ahead and apply that darker tone. This is a game- your own getaway island; you don't have to represent yourself, you can re-imagine yourself, express yourself in whatever way you like. Personally, in games I go for lots of dyed hair options because I typically can't do that in real life, or lots of alternative clothes because most of the time I have to conform to a more professional image due to work. I personally love the freedom of expression I have through my game characters; to be what I cannot always be in real life. That's my solace.

In short, I'd say please go right ahead and do what you like with your character. You're not doing anything wrong or inappropriate here. I've seen people make themselves dark, and wear custom shirts with deragatory slang on them; now that is an entirely different story.

Oh, I've been dark before too because I find it to be beautiful, but I'm back to being pale now only because I've made a bunch of custom designs with rips/ low collar shirts that show a bit of skin and it would be a pain to keep editing my clothes to match my skin color, so I left it pale.

 

[kjetta]

Some people use avatars as an extension of their expression of self, and some use avatars as an entirely unrelated characters. It would be absurd to suggest that it is wrong for a white person to play a game where there is a non-customisable black main character. It's a similar thing with games with customisable avatars. The argument could be further extended to a game like Animal Crossing. Animal Crossing has numerous (if not a majority of its content) tailored around Japanese culture and lifestyles. I would never wear a kimono IRL, but it wouldn't be insensitive or appropriation for my avatar to wear a kimono. I know that's a reductive argument, but I feel the sentiment stands.

Expression of a character isn't akin to expression or extension of a sense of self. I completely understand and respect the opinions of others in the thread who disagree (and value a world where we can have these conversations).

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

I totally appreciate and understand everyone's opinions & I see where everyone is coming from, but I personally feel this sort of argument just makes a problem out of nothing. As long as you aren't choosing a certain skin tone so you can create weird racist caricatures and stereotypes on your island (which I can't really imagine many people doing), you're not affecting anybody. It's a game and like every customisable game out there, you can make your character look however you want. It doesn't have to represent you -- I don't live on a deserted island with talking animals, after all, lol. Again, like other games, AC is a fantasy and a way to escape real life, so I prefer not to bring RL issues with race and skin tones into such a fun light-hearted game.

I completely understand this. The only reason I brought it up was because I didn't understand why I felt like such a fraud. I would sometimes start customizing with my hair colour and eyes and then see what she would look like in the darker skin tones and I loved it. But I felt as though my friends might get offended or find it weird that I did that. It just felt weird and I kind of needed to see if I was alone in feeling that way or if it was a thing that other people did. I just don't want to make the people I play with uncomfortable I suppose.

 

[Mello]

(I.e. white people are dressing black/in clothing that emulates black culture because it's "cool" or "aesthetically pleasing" but will treat actual black people as thugs

What do you mean by "black clothing?" How does one dress black?

 

[Bluebellie]

My players are not what I look like in real life anyways. My animal crossing town is make believe. I create multiple playable characters and they don’t necessarily resemble me. Sure, they have my aesthetic going on, but they don’t have my name or anything. I sort of see it like you would in any Sims game (there’s multiple characters and families to play as....all different color). I just have one character right now, but I do plan on making more later on. If I decide to create to create a darker skin character I don’t necessarily see it as offending. To me it’s just a playable character. Just like if I were to create a male character as a side character, I’m not male, but but I might want one on my island. These are just original characters to me, so I don’t think necessarily that it’s offensive in any way.

 

[SheepMareep]

What do you mean by "black clothing?" How does one dress black?

Exactly
Its more so just people seeing popular black culture and emulating it in a ****ty way to seem cool/relevant. Didnt really know how else to word it honestly lmao.
The only way I can describe it is being similar to white girls wearing box braids bc its "trendy" then turning around and calling a black girl who has them ghetto for it. (Or then acting like they are "ghetto" and pretending to act/talk like a very wrong and stereotypical black person.)

 

[BigBadButterfree]

I don't think it matters if your character looks like you a lot, not at all, or anywhere in between. My character looks just like me except I give him green hair. I don't have green hair. My brother's character looks just like him except he gives himself green eyes. We both have blue eyes. My friend looks just like herself except she uses a dark skin tone, though she is white. She's not trying to offend or appropriate anyone, she just thinks it looks nice on a fictional character she made. Our other friend also plays as a black character out of nostalgia: she used to play NL so much that her character was always tanned as much as possible, and she wants to honor that with the customization tools available to her.

 

[Pickler]

Follow up question. If my character is changing his skin tone at a mirror, is it just makeup? Body paint? What's going on here?

 

[Aronthaer]

I personally don't subscribe to the idea of cultural appropriation. I think as long as what you create is tasteful and not founded on stereotypes, it's totally okay to admire other cultures and to want to emulate them. That being said skin tone isn't necessarily a cultural thing and I get why it's sensitive, but I still think there's a way to do it tastefully. Your animal crossing character doesn't have to be you at the end of the day: and if you find people with darker skin tones to be beautiful, I don't think there's any harm in emulating it as long as it comes from a point of admiration.

 

[Mello]

Exactly
Its more so just people seeing popular black culture and emulating it in a ****ty way to seem cool/relevant. Didnt really know how else to word it honestly lmao.
The only way I can describe it is being similar to white girls wearing box braids bc its "trendy" then turning around and calling a black girl who has them ghetto for it.

My apologies; you seemed kinda prejudice before.

Although, keep in mind that goes both ways. People toss around "cultural appropriation" a lot these days. The mere fact that a white girl has box braids already draws the ire of black girls because "that's not a white hairstyle." Despite that, black girls straighten their hair, which isn't possible for them naturally.

My point is, white or black, people demean you for your look.