Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account makes transphobic joke (READ OP)

[MadLaughter]

MOD EDIT:

There were originally two concurrent threads about this which resulted in a record shattering 12 permanent bans and numerous smaller infractions. If that gets your attention then please read carefully:

"Did You Just Assume My Gender?" is a well known meme that has been used to trivialize and make fun of LGBT concerns since 2016. It specifically mocks transgender people for having preferred pronouns, even though no one ever actually uses the quote in real life. It's a derogatory stereotype and is inherently transphobic. Any internet search will bring up numerous examples.

Given that the intent of the meme is to mock the feelings of a marginalized group, it is particularly poor form to dismiss their feelings on this matter. If you do not think you can engage that perspective seriously and respectfully then you should not post. Thank you.

Update: Tweet has been removed

This really sucks.

As for why it's more than just a dumb joke:

Mod Edit: CD Projekt has responded in this tweet

https://twitter.com/CyberpunkGame/status/1031930291772899329

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[Cerium]

Thread rebooted.

 

[Aprikurt]

Yeah people really need to more thoroughly vet the guy that runs their Twitter account. What a moron.

 

[MadJakeChurchill]

Welp. Hype gone until they do right by this.

 

[ara]

12 perma bans in less than an hour, huh. You gotta put that on a plaque or something.

But yeah, hope this is just some random twitter PR person, cause if they're trying to make a serious cyberpunk story and still post jokes like this, well..

 

[NoblesseOblige]

If anything this presents the question of whether CDPR knows what the fuck they're doing with Cyberpunk. How you going to make some shitty joke aimed at alienating transgender people while making a cyberpunk game? The genre is full of transhumanism that include concepts such as postgenderism. Also it's a genre made to challenge the status quo, not take part in it. Learn what the fuck you signed up to make.

Best case scenario it's just some idiot in their social media dept. Worst case it speaks about the organization's culture.

 

[Deleted member 36578]

I didn't even see the other thread, nor would I have known that phrase is a shitty meme. Whoever wrote it certainly knew it was meme right? Such poor taste.

 

[AriesM4rch]

That social media guy is definitely fired.

 

[Moobabe]

If anything this presents the question of whether CDPR knows what the fuck they're doing with Cyberpunk. How you going to make some shitty joke aimed at alienating transgender people while making a cyberpunk game? The genre is full of transhumanism that include concepts such as postgenderism. Also it's a genre made to challenge the status quo, not take part in it. Learn what the fuck you signed up to make.

Best case scenario it's just some idiot in their social media dept. Worst case it speaks about the organization's culture.

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Worth noting that GoG also got in hot water recently over the Gamergate tweet with an image from Postal.

It's not out of the realms that both accounts could be managed by the same person, or there's some organisational level idiocy in play.

 

[Deleted member 8861]

Really, really, really disappointing.

It reflects especially poorly on Cyberpunk 2077 because cyberpunk heavily involves deconstruction of norms about identity, which should naturally include gender expression.

Particularly if this isn't just the PR guy being an outspoken fluke among CDPR staff (or if this isn't met with that person's swift termination from PR), it really makes me doubt if they have what it takes to construct a cyberpunk setting that is respectful to both marginalized people and the genre itself.

 

[KingSnake]

What a moron. Totally uncalled for.

 

[Sasliquid]

Really starting to worry that CDPR Just thinks Cyberpunk is a cool setting and won't engage with the highly political elements.

I love Witcher 3 but between this and their poor labour practises I'm seriously reconsidering whether I pick this up day one.

 

[Deleted member 4260]

I hope this isn't reflected in the game itself, because that tweet is dumb and gross.

 

[mario_O]

Not too surprising, sadly. Poland is a very conservative, extreme-right, catholic, country.

 

[boris_feinbrand]

I didn't even see the other thread, nor would I have known that phrase is a shitty meme. Whoever wrote it certainly knew it was meme right? Such poor taste.

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Being a social media manager claiming ignorance isn't an excuse. If you know what it meant and used it anyway, you're an asshole, if you don't know what it means and just parrot it, then you aren't fit to do the job.

Edit: just to make this clear, I wasn't attacking you for not knowing, but the social media person behind the twitter.

 

[Jerykk]

If anything this presents the question of whether CDPR knows what the fuck they're doing with Cyberpunk. How you going to make some shitty joke aimed at alienating transgender people while making a cyberpunk game?

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You do realize that games are made by large teams of people who have nothing to do with social media posts, right..? Like, programmers, environmental artists, character artists, level designers, systems designers, gameplay designers, technical artists, vfx artists, sound designers, etc.

People need to calm down and think rationally before pulling out their pitchforks and condemning people who have nothing to do with any given controversy.

 

[1upsuper]

If anything this presents the question of whether CDPR knows what the fuck they're doing with Cyberpunk. How you going to make some shitty joke aimed at alienating transgender people while making a cyberpunk game? The genre is full of transhumanism that include concepts such as postgenderism. Also it's a genre made to challenge the status quo, not take part in it. Learn what the fuck you signed up to make.

Best case scenario it's just some idiot in their social media dept. Worst case it speaks about the organization's culture.

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You hit the nail on the head perfectly here.

 

[Ferrs]

Wouldn't be surprised if they don't see anything more in Cyberpunk style other than just cool art. These are the guys that did a collect and fuck card minigame for Witcher 1.

 

[Deleted member 8861]

I didn't even see the other thread, nor would I have known that phrase is a shitty meme. Whoever wrote it certainly knew it was meme right? Such poor taste.

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Even in the best case scenario of this being a meme that was referenced by CDPR without knowledge of its transphobic nature, it was reckless and unacceptable behavior (and incompetent PR) by a company like CDPR who have enough resources to prevent this from happening.

 

[Adree]

Was real shitty to see a variation of that "joke" appear like 30 seconds into The Messenger as well.

 

[pswii60]

If anything this presents the question of whether CDPR knows what the fuck they're doing with Cyberpunk. How you going to make some shitty joke aimed at alienating transgender people while making a cyberpunk game? The genre is full of transhumanism that include concepts such as postgenderism. Also it's a genre made to challenge the status quo, not take part in it. Learn what the fuck you signed up to make.

Best case scenario it's just some idiot in their social media dept. Worst case it speaks about the organization's culture.

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Best case scenario? That's the obvious reality.

But CDPR needs to publicly fire that person to save their own reputation - otherwise they will be forever associated with this. And on the back of that, they need to issue a genuine apology. And it'll be a bad look if they wait until this escalates with the media before they do that.

 

[enkaisu]

Please get whoever runs this twitter account gone. They have no idea what tf they're doing.

 

[Deleted member 8112]

If anything this presents the question of whether CDPR knows what the fuck they're doing with Cyberpunk. How you going to make some shitty joke aimed at alienating transgender people while making a cyberpunk game? The genre is full of transhumanism that include concepts such as postgenderism. Also it's a genre made to challenge the status quo, not take part in it. Learn what the fuck you signed up to make.

Best case scenario it's just some idiot in their social media dept. Worst case it speaks about the organization's culture.

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This is also the game that calls itself Cyberpunk and only has two gender options, so I don't think it's just some idiot in their marketing department but even that without an apology is enough for people to make a decision. And while I'd love it not to be the case I'd bet that if an apology were to happen it would be like a three word tweet and not because that they understand where they went wrong, and because they saw a lot of backlash. That's how these things usually go unfortunately.

 

[Pancoar]

If anything this presents the question of whether CDPR knows what the fuck they're doing with Cyberpunk. How you going to make some shitty joke aimed at alienating transgender people while making a cyberpunk game? The genre is full of transhumanism that include concepts such as postgendeerism. Also it's a genre made to challenge the status quo, not take part in it. Learn what the fuck you signed up to make.

Best case scenario it's just some idiot in their social media dept. Worst case it speaks about the organization's culture.

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I lost faith reading that except about naked bodies in tubs and about bodies being "profane". I honestly don't think they have a real grasp on what Cyberpunk actually is. Seems the more I learn, the more disappointed I get. You can't just have the cool skylines and neon lights and say it's cyberpunk.

Overall I'm feeling pretty soured on CDPR, this and that Postal tweet from GOG :/... Yeah, nah.

 

[Kenzodielocke]

It's disgusting. That attempt of a joke is not Cyberpunk, either. Second strike for them.

 

[C++]

These threads reminds me Fahrenheit 451

 

[Deleted member 36578]

Being a social media manager claiming ignorance isn't an excuse. If you know what it meant and used it anyway, you're an asshole, if you don't know what it means and just parrot it, then you aren't fit to do the job.

Edit: just to make this clear, I wasn't attacking you for not knowing, but the social media person behind the twitter.

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Yeah I hear ya. That's why it seems pretty certain that they knew it was a shit joke meme right? No way to deny it. Even if they weren't trying to be malicious, whoever is their social media person has the worst sense of humor .

Even in the best case scenario of this being a meme that was referenced by CDPR without knowledge of its transphobic nature, it was reckless and unacceptable behavior (and incompetent PR) by a company like CDPR who have enough resources to prevent this from happening.

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Agreed. What a screw up.

 

[Datajoy]

Is the tweet not deleted yet? What the fuck

Pretty damning evidence that this is more than just a low level marketing grunt and may he reflective of the broader culture there.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

You do realize that games are made by large teams of people who have nothing to do with social media posts, right..? Like, programmers, environmental artists, character artists, level designers, systems designers, gameplay designers, technical artists, vfx artists, sound designers, etc.

People need to calm down and think rationally before pulling out their pitchforks and condemning people who have nothing to do with any given controversy.

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Calm down and finish reading a post before you respond.

 

[Dwebble]

It's a stupid joke for a corporate account to make, and it's even more stupid when that account is advertising a cyberpunk game.

Ignorance rather than malice, I'm sure.

 

[BrassDragon]

Much as I love their games, this is a misstep that should be acknowledged and corrected. Between that, ignoring the problem or doubling down, it seems the most reasonable and easiest course of action.

I admit I'm ignorant of the links between gender fluidity and cyberpunk as a genre that critics refer to. The classics I've read growing up weren't very forward thinking when it comes to LGBTQ. Did this change in the genre or did CDPR commit to better representation in this regard?

 

[Mondy]

Can Twitter be launched into the Sun now?

 

[Dice]

Even in the best case scenario (and way too much benefit of the doubt) where someone just said something familiar/silly for the sake of social media brevity and didn't know the context behind it.... it's a not even actually funny.

Yeah. Hope that tweet gets scrubbed. It's awful.

 

[KelticNight]

Just because the PR guy is an insensitive twunt doesn't mean the game is made by idiots as well. Try to keep some perspective here. I'd be very surprised if the person handling the Twitter account has any influence over the game itself.

 

[Boiled Goose]

Gross and disappointing....

Shame on whoever is managing that Twitter account. Not only gross but stupid... Why would you think this was a good idea???

 

[Deleted member 46641]

I'm side-eyeing this game, and am expecting it to be conservative and very cishet. Can't wait to see what equivalent to "Aug lives matter" we get.

 

[joylevel11]

stupid comment but doesn't affect my interest to purchase the game whatsoever.

 

[liquidtmd]

I've very reluctant often to call for this in these instances, but publicly whoever posted this needs to be let go.

 

[nillansan]

Oh for fucks sake.

 

[Jerykk]

Calm down and finish reading a post before you respond.

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I did. Your entire post was so absurdly reactionary that one sentence didn't somehow make it reasonable. CDPR made Witcher 3, one of the most critically acclaimed games of this generation. They've been working on Cyberpunk for years with the direct involvement of the the IP's creator. I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing.

 

[Alioth]

I really do not want to go into the details of the topic but I feel the need to talk about the mod point in the OP.
To me, it reads like: This is what happened and this is how you are supposed to feel about it.
If you don't feel like this please do not post.
My point is then, why having a discussion? to have 15 pages of people saying: "I'm not gonna buy this game because a homophobic person dealing with a twitter account invalidate the work of thousand of people?"
I really really really dislike when people do not state fact or their opinion about them but tell me what is the "right" way to feel about them, even if I agree with them, it feels extremly dictatorial.

 

[texhnolyze]

I believe this is not the first time, right? How could this have happened again? They need to fix their social media policy.

12 perma bans in less than an hour, huh. You gotta put that on a plaque or something.

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Unfortunately, most of them are alt accounts judging by the lack of avatars.

 

[1upsuper]

Just because the PR guy is an insensitive twunt doesn't mean the game is made by idiots as well. Try to keep some perspective here. I'd be very surprised if the person handling the Twitter account has any influence over the game itself.

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True, but the whole point of PR is that it's a (curated, carefully crafted) reflection of the product/company/whatever. Buying into it when PR reflects positively and handwaving when it reflects poorly means you're trying to have your cake and eat it too.

 

[Arcia]

I hope this is just some idiot who is running the twitter account and not the opinion of the developers. Kind of making me wary about the game now.

 

[Jintor]

i've got two takes, the 'do they know what cyberpunk is' take and the 'why is their PR team fucking garbage' take. Both takes look pretty bad for them.

 

[Deleted member 46641]

These threads reminds me Fahrenheit 451

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Ah yes, that well known classic in which people... criticised a bad tweet and wondered whether its transphobic message is reflective of the game they're marketing.

 

[Deleted member 8861]

I did. Your entire post was so absurdly reactionary that one sentence didn't somehow make it reasonable. CDPR made Witcher 3, one of the most critically acclaimed games of this generation. They've been working on Cyberpunk for years with the direct involvement of the the IP's creator. I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing.

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Too bad their PR guy didn't get the memo.

 

[Hilarious_Bearious]

This will cost them my purchase if they don't make it right.

 

[HMS_Pinafore]

As I said in the previous thread, I'm expecting the inevitable "CD project red OWNS SJW'S" videos to start appearing on my YouTube recommendations.

 

[Pyro]

For a team that's tackling a genre dealing with subjects like transhumanism and as they themselves have said is "inherently political", this was disappointing to read.