Thoughts About the New Hairstyles (Gatekeeping and Restrictions)

[RileyRose]

Acnh Twitter say white people can't use them but Acnh reddit says that we can. I posted on reddit that I like them but I won't be using them out of respect because I'm white. I got a bunch of downvotes for saying that.

I want to make a point and saying I have seen people on Twitter go through irl pictures of people and color match them to make sure they aren't using darker characters... they can be very vicious about things like that so if you are going to use them use them with caution I guess.

 

[-Blue-]

First mistake was looking at Twitter. Twitter has only one hobby & it's complaining about everything even when it has a positive side.

Honestly I think it's pretty simple. If you don't use it with bad intent, then there shouldn't be anything wrong with that. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Twitter will find a way to argue about everything. Even if it doesn't offend them in any way, I hate that place.

I like that bald is now an option. I can now make Lex Luthor.

Acnh Twitter say white people can't use them but Acnh reddit says that we can. I posted on reddit that I like them but I won't be using them out of respect because I'm white. I got a bunch of downvotes for saying that.

I want to make a point and saying I have seen people on Twitter go through irl pictures of people and color match them to make sure they aren't using darker characters... they can be very vicious about things like that so if you are going to use them use them with caution I guess.

Do what you want to with your character. People get so hung up about everything these days. You aren't disrespecting anyone by having your character look a certain way. Unless it is done maliciously, which in your case I doubt it is. Social media is toxic af. Twitter, reddit, ect. They're all a bunch of children.

 

[nightglow]

Don't worry about them. Hair styles and even textures aren't locked behind one ethinicity, race, gender, or color. Plus like you have mentioned, lots of people are mixed. That's a ton of variety genetically.

 

[Berrymia]

Yeah , and I bet y’all there will be cancel sprees on people who used them and are not black IRL or not even “black enough”. It makes me sad

 

[RileyRose]

Twitter will find a way to argue about everything. Even if it doesn't offend them in any way, I hate that place.

I like that bald is now an option. I can now make Lex Luthor.


Do what you want to with your character. People get so hung up about everything these days. You aren't disrespecting anyone by having your character look a certain way. Unless it is done maliciously, which in your case I doubt it is. Social media is toxic af. Twitter, reddit, ect. They're all a bunch of children.

I would never just make my character black because I'm actually really pale lol but I can see some points lots of people are making. Black people want to enjoy something that should be theirs but I know some people like dressing up as other characters in video games so they might want to do that in acnh.

I didnt make my character pale because I tan in the summer so I'm not always just pale.

 

[naranjita]

imo these hairstyles were added for a very specific reason: giving black people access to accurately portray themselves in game. this is something that non-black people had from day 1, access to a myriad of options to feel represented in their own game.

maybe seeing it this way explains some of the 'gate-keeping' you are seeing on twitter.

as to whether or not you decide you can use it is up to you.

this is my take on it. like, you can use whatever hairstyle you want, it's just a video game lol, but I can understand black people feeling protective over the few options they do get after being overlooked by Nintendo for months

I also think it can look kinda weird. maybe not in AC since the style is so cartoony, but WoW recently added a bunch of textured hairstyles (after like 15 years woohoo) and it's sooo weird to see people combine them with the white people skintones (and they're specifically white people skintones and not just "light skinned PoC", due to how WoW character customization works). like I have to laugh when I see someone's old white man looking character wearing cornrows. king, it's not for you lol

also I feel like, if you're going to make a character who is clearly wearing a type of hairstyle that is very clearly black, why not make your character black too? if your response is "because I want my character to look like me", why are you making your character have a type of hair that you don't have irl? idk, it feels a lot like taking the aspects of black culture that you find cool or attractive or whatever, and ignoring the aspects that have been seen and still are seen as undesirable (dark skin). I'm not black so like take this with a grain of salt, but I feel like that's where black people are coming from.

 

[-Blue-]

Yeah , and I bet y’all there will be cancel sprees on people who used them and are not black IRL or not even “black enough”. It makes me sad

Just do what I do and ignore social media. It's a cyst pool. It used to bother me and how everyone ate up their toxicity, but I can't control them or the people foolish enough to follow in their footsteps. Hopefully they'll one day see the error of doing essentially what they're fighting against, but who knows? If enough ignore them they'll go away.

I would never just make my character black because I'm actually really pale lol but I can see some points lots of people are making. Black people want to enjoy something that should be theirs but I know some people like dressing up as other characters in video games so they might want to do that in acnh.

I didnt make my character pale because I tan in the summer so I'm not always just pale.

I also didn't say make them black just for the hell of it. I meant if you have a character that you want to create a certain way, don't stop because some loud fools tell you that you can't. Like say you wanted to create John Stuart's Green Lantern and Twitter tried to gatekeep you for wanting to create Green Lantern Corp island. Ignore them and create your fantasy super hero island.

 

[Skandranon]

Cultural appropriation is bunk and pushed by white activists more than anyone else. Best example I have of this was in san francisco they opened a new Japanese exhibit and a bunch of mostly white protestors gathered outside it, calling it rascist. Want to know who showed up and told them off? the local san fran japanese community, they said it wasn't insulting to them, it was nice. When you use and appreciate other cultures stuff you are silently saying you think they had a great idea and wish to share in it.

 

[RileyRose]

Just do what I do and ignore social media. It's a cyst pool. It used to bother me and how everyone ate up their toxicity, but I can't control them or the people foolish enough to follow in their footsteps. Hopefully they'll one day see the error of doing essentially what they're fighting against, but who knows? If enough ignore them they'll go away.



I also didn't say make them black just for the hell of it. I meant if you have a character that you want to create a certain way, don't stop because some loud fools tell you that you can't. Like say you wanted to create John Stuart's Green Lantern and Twitter tried to gatekeep you for wanting to create Green Lantern Corp island. Ignore them and create your fantasy super hero island.

Oh, I know you didn't say that lol I was just saying that in my case I wouldn't do it.

 

[-Blue-]

Cultural appropriation is bunk and pushed by white activists more than anyone else. Best example I have of this was in san francisco they opened a new Japanese exhibit and a bunch of mostly white protestors gathered outside it, calling it rascist. Want to know who showed up and told them off? the local san fran japanese community, they said it wasn't insulting to them, it was nice. When you use and appreciate other cultures stuff you are silently saying you think they had a great idea and wish to share in it.

This is the case most of the times, from what I have noticed.

 

[Chris]

As always in these situations, it shouldn't be strictly about the appearance but also about how that person behaves. If you're going to sport something typically associated with another race or culture, make sure you're not reinforcing stereotypical behaviours or otherwise portraying yourself in a way that will make others associate your negative behaviour with that group of people. Be respectful and have some sense of awareness.

Side note: as someone who was bald at the launch of ACNH I'm really glad to see it being added!

 

[Skandranon]

Acnh Twitter say white people can't use them but Acnh reddit says that we can. I posted on reddit that I like them but I won't be using them out of respect because I'm white. I got a bunch of downvotes for saying that.

I want to make a point and saying I have seen people on Twitter go through irl pictures of people and color match them to make sure they aren't using darker characters... they can be very vicious about things like that so if you are going to use them use them with caution I guess.

that is crazy, your avatar in the game doesn't have to look like you. its an escape from reality where you can be anything you want. My character is a dog thanks to the updates, so comparing my real life photo wouldn't match at all with the pure white skin and white hair

 

[MidnightAura]

I agree with this. None of my villagers in any of my AC games look like me. One or two are even Male and I’m Female.
In my New Horizons game today, Nan gifted me a kimono, it’s very cute. I don’t see anything wrong with it.

At the end of the day, it’s pixelated hair in a video game and anyone is free to use it.

 

[lemoncrossing]

There will always be people who get pissy over things like that, and I’m not surprised that people online have already started gatekeeping hairstyles in a family-friendly video game. Disappointed but not surprised.

I’ve known people in real life who are not black but still have that poofy, textured hair. (Not white people, but several Hispanic and middle Eastern people.) Who’s to say these new hairstyles are only for the black community to use? Also... as long as you’re not making a blatantly racist caricature (which I’m not sure you even can in AC), you should feel free to make your islander look however you want. That’s... literally why Nintendo gave us so many customization options.

I have several human villagers living on my island, some of them being people of color. Does that mean I’m not allowed to use these new hairstyles on them because I am, in fact, a white girl? I think internet people just like to stir up controversy just for the sake of it. Especially people on Twitter.

 

[kayleee]

Tbh people will find absolutely anything to be mad about these days. If they want to waste time/energy being angry about what hairstyles other people choose to wear in a VIDEO GAME then that’s on them... I’m not losing sleep over it.

On another note I think the hairstyles are really cute and I’m really happy they added them. Not allowing non-POC to appreciate them seems... counterintuitive to inclusivity. But that’s just my opinion

 

[DrewAC]

Your first mistake was using Twitter for anything other than updates from companies on their products.

Everyone knows the other side of Twitter is trash, and a complete waste of time when treated anything remote to credible.

 

[ACMike700]

The idea that Nintendo added these hairstyles to be more inclusive is amazing! The idea that the fan base is trying to be less inclusive by restricting them is just sad. People need to calm down and express themselves however they want, it's a game at the end of the day.

 

[ekcomyth]

see, this is why you dont go on twitter. Full of idiots there. Its just a game dammit

 

[tajikey]

That's like saying male characters shouldn't be able to wear female attire, and vice versa. Equality shouldn't exist only when it's convenient, it should exist regardless. Nintendo isn't in the business of making those choices for us, nor should they be (or anyone, honestly).

 

[ACMike700]

That's like saying male characters shouldn't be able to wear female attire, and vice versa. Equality shouldn't exist only when it's convenient, it should exist regardless. Nintendo isn't in the business of making those choices for us, nor should they be (or anyone, honestly).

Exactly this. This is why they took out the dialogue of Mable judging you for wearing opposite gendered clothes, this game appeals to literally everyone so why restrict players from expressing themselves? AC is the most wholesome game and we should all be supportive and friendly to one another, there's no need to tell anyone what they can or can't do in AC.