Treating Villagers Like Items: Why?

[Maruchan]

This is something that's been annoying me for a while? I always see people auctioning villagers because they're their 'dreamy', and I think it's stupid. We're treating villagers like furniture! Why? They're meant to be treated like they're real, and when people sell villagers and do things like that, it sort of makes it seem like people don't care. I don't mind if you do this, but why?

Have you heard of Pokemon? Do you know what they do with the poor Pokemons caught in that game?
I wonder what you have to say about that.

 

[Officer Berri]

I've been creeped out by the villager selling since the moment I found out about it after my first hiatus from the game. Though it's not a 'wow you guys are weird' kind of creepy. I mean, I like to make jokes and express that I want the ability to 'date' villagers like you can in Magician's Quest Mysterious times! I can't exactly call anyone else weird, now can I?

I've played this game since I was pretty young, back when I first started suffering from depression and the were some of my only friends because I was massively bullied by most everyone in school. So when I see villagers, I've always viewed them as my friends since I've always had that mentality growing up. If someone wanted a villager from me while they were visiting, I'd probably let them take them free of charge if I was letting that villager leave. I see the villagers as people and stuff so of course selling them like items would be weird to me! But that's why I stay out of the villager trading section! ^.^

 

[kyrynbunni]

I think this one of those "your thing but not my thing" sort of thing, you know? Villager trading is something that certain players like and others players dislike. It's akin to time travelling - some oppose and some don't. There's no right or wrong way to play this game and this is something that falls under this category. It's just how you personally feel about villagers, you know?

Personally, I don't sell or auction villagers. If there's one I really want and have been hoping to get for a long time then I will try to buy them but I don't ever sell them. Mainly, this is because I honestly can't be bothered to find someone to buy most of the villagers who move out. If I do care enough, I give the villager away and don't sell them. Like when Scoot moved out, I didn't care enough about him and let him void because I didn't want to spend hours trying to find him a new home. But when Merengue moved out (that is what I get for taking too long of a break :c), I did make a thread for her and spent the time to get her a new home. I gave her away for free because I couldn't bear to void the poor dear. I just hope I left Merengue in good hands and didn't give her to someone who used her as bell fodder. *sigh*

So all in all... I think 'treating villagers like items' is a personal thing.

 

[MagicalCat590]

Have you heard of Pokemon? Do you know what they do with the poor Pokemons caught in that game?
I wonder what you have to say about that.

Go watch Digimon. The poor, little creatures in that series fight back against human oppression and can't say I blame them, honestly.

And, seriously, I agree with the OP. When I first joined this site, I was mildly horrified when I discovered the villager trade. I, seriously, thought there was some kinda messed up, slave trade thing happening. I've gotten used to it, though, and I still treat the villagers as though as they are people, but I know a lot of people on here don't. So I keep those thoughts to myself.

 

[Officer Berri]

What's funny is when I play Digimon and Pokemon games I always feel horrible if my monsters lose too much HP or feint in battle. xD I'm weird that way.

 

[Shax]

Have you heard of Pokemon? Do you know what they do with the poor Pokemons caught in that game?
I wonder what you have to say about that.

I know someone who would have a lot to say about it.

 

[Maruchan]

I know someone who would have a lot to say about it.

View attachment 88640

Trainer N <3 <3
N is the young Urahara in an alternate Pokemon/Bleach universe....
I almost bought Pokemon Black just because of him.
Thank you Shax for the most excellent eyecandy!! *10 thumbs UP*

Some previous (closed) threads on this very same topic, in case you are interested/bored.

http://www.belltreeforums.com/showthread.php?124362-Why-Are-Villagers-Becoming-Slaves-o-o

http://www.belltreeforums.com/showthread.php?123933-Auctioning-Villagers

 

[HopeForHyrule]

I'm certainly one of those who likes to treat villagers very very kindly (considering I run a "rescue" town for abandoned villagers!), and I like playing the game with that as a focus. But I also fully understand those who sell, trade, and buy villagers. It's like Pokemon - I value my SS starter Feraligatr, my shiny Larvesta, and my traded 6IV Noivern immensely - even if each one came from very different places and for different purposes.

Even if I just wanted to complete my catalogue, have the prettiest town, or just get to know the different villagers, that's all part of playing the game. ACNL certainly encourages you to treat your villagers kindly, just like Pokemon does, but it also invites you to simply the game, with whatever purposes and emphases you want. I think it's alright for each of us to play the game we want. After all, the important part isn't the data within the video game, but the people involved with the video game, from creators to players. It's once we start stepping on their toes, or treating the real people poorly, that things truly get ugly!

This. So much this.

Even if there are villagers I don't really care for, I always make sure they have somewhere to go. And if they don't...I tend to keep them around because I'm sentimental and feel bad voiding them.

 

[FireNinja1]

There's nothing wrong with it, they're just pixels. That's just how other people play. Problem? You're just going to have to deal with it, avoid the VTP. You can play the game how you want, but it's really not something to discuss the playstyles of others.

 

[LoonieToonies]

I agree. I went through a crazy dreamie faze and stalked the forums for those popular little critters, but after I got them all the game became so dull. I was sick of them within a week and it was bothering me so much I restarted the game. Now I let villagers come and go as they please, plot resetting to ensure they're in a good spot and adopting the odd cute villager in need of a home on the forums, but dropping the dreamie thing is beyond liberating and never before have I enjoyed the game as much as I am now.

People can do what they want. Dreamies are a thing that people do because certain villagers appeal to them. People have themed towns and want villagers to fit the concepts, etc. I am not find of the dreamie craze myself, but for those who are, then go for it.

 

[Hypno KK]

Go watch Digimon. The poor, little creatures in that series fight back against human oppression and can't say I blame them, honestly.

And, seriously, I agree with the OP. When I first joined this site, I was mildly horrified when I discovered the villager trade. I, seriously, thought there was some kinda messed up, slave trade thing happening. I've gotten used to it, though, and I still treat the villagers as though as they are people, but I know a lot of people on here don't. So I keep those thoughts to myself.

It's probably far more messed up to compare trading pixel animals to something that has affected people. Regardless of how much you do or don't pretend that the villagers are people when you play the game.

 

[StarryACNL]

They aren't real, but even so I still have a problem with people that sell Egyptian cats for 20 million bells!

 

[Jarrad]

.........................because they're characters in a game..

are you gonna start a charity to fight animal crossing villager neglect?

 

[Sanaki]

Because it's a game.

 

[MagicalCat590]

It's probably far more messed up to compare trading pixel animals to something that has affected people. Regardless of how much you do or don't pretend that the villagers are people when you play the game.

Right. I was being over-dramatic. I apologize.
This does affect people, though. Artificial intelligence is a thing, you know. Even Stephen Hawking said that robotics would be the end of humanity, and when the robo overlords raise to rule over us....Oh, crap, who am I kidding? They aren't gonna take pity on someone cause they're a Digimon fangirl. I'm just as dead as everyone else.

 

[Hypno KK]

Right. I was being over-dramatic. I apologize.
This does affect people, though. Artificial intelligence is a thing, you know. Even Stephen Hawking said that robotics would be the end of humanity, and when the robo overlords raise to rule over us....Oh, crap, who am I kidding? They aren't gonna take pity on someone cause they're a Digimon fangirl. I'm just as dead as everyone else.

The AI system in ACNL is actually pretty simple, just look at the very limited and very obviously pre-programmed responses your villagers have to the way you interact with them. Even if you do believe that robots will be the end of humanity, that's not going to be ACNL villagers.

 

[MagicalCat590]

The AI system in ACNL is actually pretty simple, just look at the very limited and very obviously pre-programmed responses your villagers have to the way you interact with them. Even if you do believe that robots will be the end of humanity, that's not going to be ACNL villagers.

Dude, you can't take a joke, can you?
Obviously, I don't expect the ACNL villagers to raise up and overthrow humanity. Well, not unless Nintendo manages to work out some AoS system that got, like, hacked or something. Then I'd be twice as terrified of Stitches.
But I meant more like the weird robo dolls that have been showing up at robotics conventions and stuff. They look and act like actual women. It's like something out of Chobits. Can you imagine if the wrong, POed programmer got ahold of one of those? I mean, I don't think he'd be able to do too much damage with today's technology, but it's still creepy to think about.

 

[Airysuit]

My sister studies AI at universitety, and she thinks there is no such thing (yet) as data/robot/pixels with feelings.
We give things feelings, we like to give things a face and a name and a personality, but that is part of human nature.
They don't actually feel or think, because they simply just can't.

That being said, I do care for my villagers to, a lot. In game I'm really convinced they're real and my friends, but when I stop playing they just become data again. But I guess that is just the line between reality and fantasy, and everyone should decide for themselfs where the line is, of even if there is a line.

 

[ATotsSpot]

Cuff me, take me away and lock me up I suppose. Guilty as charged.