Does Space Police III promote racism and xenophobia?

[Bobskink]

I finaly found the topic, started exactly a year ago

Offensive stereotypes I thought I was the only one back then, I'm happy that other people think the same way.

Like Mister Blisterfists tells, some alien cops would fix the whole deal.

[Aanchir]

Yeah, I never had a problem with "Life on Mars" -- that series seemed to promote inter-species cooperation.

"Mars Mission" seemed like a pretty violent theme, with both humans and jellies being armed to the teeth and ready to kill and pillage. I suppose this reflects more accurately the International system today, but I feel that a toy series from Denmark of all places should reflect better aspirations.

Mars Mission didn't seem to have much in the way of violence besides the lasers and such that most stuff tends to have. It's the ethics of it that concerned me... the way we were kidnapping and imprisoning aliens in those tubes, and performing grisly experiments on them, it seemed almost as though the humans were deliberately portrayed as the bad guys (after all, those roles traditionally fall to aliens in sci-fi human vs. alien stories). Yet none of the story info suggested such, so you really had to question the ethics of the theme.

I agree an alien cop would be a nice change of pace, as would human baddies. Although human baddies would make decidedly less exciting minifigs than the current aliens, I still wouldn't mind a few. After all, Agents got away with human vs. human while keeping the bad guys decidedly evil-looking.

[Zzz]

The obvious racism in Lego toys made me become a different person during playing with it. Now, whenever I meet

- green jelly aliens

- SP Aliens

- Trolls

or

- Underwater atlantian creatures

in real life, I will get into my bricky vehicle and flick-fire the hell out of these guys!

[lightningtiger]

Are we trying to read too much into this are we ?

Lego racist ?

Now come on now, next people will say Barbie is no good for girls because it promotes a body image - oh I'm so scared !

OMG !

It's a &**^%^ TOY, gee if we are that worried about this we would not let children play cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, Jedi vs Sith !

Children learn the positives and negatives of us human beings - any negatives are born out of fear and greed !

SPIII racist - okay so what if Lego takes a new angle and involves Ben 10 would that be better.

The Plumbers are a mixed bag of Human and Alien space police plus Ben himself goes alien all the time !

I think the next time my son see his doctor for ADHD problem I'll show him SPIII images and ask him, hopefully I'll get a children's medical specialist's opinion on this matter.

I'm a conformist! everyone !

[vexorian]

Mars Mission didn't seem to have much in the way of violence besides the lasers and such that most stuff tends to have. It's the ethics of it that concerned me... the way we were kidnapping and imprisoning aliens in those tubes, and performing grisly experiments on them, it seemed almost as though the humans were deliberately portrayed as the bad guys (after all, those roles traditionally fall to aliens in sci-fi human vs. alien stories). Yet none of the story info suggested such, so you really had to question the ethics of the theme.

I agree an alien cop would be a nice change of pace, as would human baddies. Although human baddies would make decidedly less exciting minifigs than the current aliens, I still wouldn't mind a few. After all, Agents got away with human vs. human while keeping the bad guys decidedly evil-looking.

I would settle for an occasional alien civilian faction.

[Piterio]

Ah u see u forget about one little theme...

...called Agents

... where Villans are also people, but they're wicked ones with full of artficial joints.

Long time ago Aquazone had several sub-series, where all divers were fighting with each other with knives and harpoons. Nowadays we got FANTASY divers (or how do we call them) so we can't kill poor, little mermaids (no copyrights xD) because THAT would be immoral. "Fight with people, not with funny monsters, that are just defending their teritorry but are completely unreal".

I know, I know, nowadays we are overexxagerating and taking care of children too much, and for me this is ridiculous. In 90s nobody would even think about it - cowboys were shooting to villains, robbers, Ninjias were slaughtering themselves (nobody was good there? xD), Pirates are fighting against law for over 2 decades now (they're bad or good? You can't tell) and even city Divers Red were competing with divers Blue.

So, if TLC was creating such themes (excluding producing war-related ones) for years, why they can't do fantasy themes where enemies are UNREAL? Tell me, where you can find Squidman race on Earth? Why we all hear legends about furious Kraken, which was also mentioned as a bad. Poor sharkmen - they really wanted to be polite sharkies, befriended with divers, armed with harpoon launchers, wrecking machines etc. Poor big Crystal King has to face with cold-hearted miner with metal implant on forehead (gee, terminator in lego!) who is using hand-drill to smash him to dust!

It's imagination, not racism. For children is easier to understand that "this funny frog is robber! Our brave hero (played by ME-HUMAN) will quickly catch him!". Got it?

I know, my post is full of irony and has quite vulgar tune. But try to understand me, I am now grownup and when I was a child, there was nothing like "racism". You had your ninja/pirate/spaceman/cowboy/diver that wanted to be. And always needed someone to oppose you. It doesn't matter wheter is Imperial Guard or Kranxx, the Ashoka Brother.

Remember - Ackbarr could join the Empire. But he wanted to make his remarkable line among Rebel side xD

[lisqr]

Too much PC. That's all I have to say.

[Stash2Sixx]

From trends we have seen, it sure looks like it. But as others have said, that could be said about many themes. I do find it funny though.

Amusing topic guys!

[Shadows]

We're talking about groups that don't exist! It's like hating people from a country that never existed, or Canada.

The obvious racism in Lego toys made me become a different person during playing with it. Now, whenever I meet

- green jelly aliens

- SP Aliens

- Trolls

or

- Underwater atlantian creatures

in real life, I will get into my bricky vehicle and flick-fire the hell out of these guys!

You have just earned a title.

[Knightsword]

Mars Mission didn't seem to have much in the way of violence besides the lasers and such that most stuff tends to have. It's the ethics of it that concerned me... the way we were kidnapping and imprisoning aliens in those tubes, and performing grisly experiments on them, it seemed almost as though the humans were deliberately portrayed as the bad guys (after all, those roles traditionally fall to aliens in sci-fi human vs. alien stories). Yet none of the story info suggested such, so you really had to question the ethics of the theme.

I agree an alien cop would be a nice change of pace, as would human baddies. Although human baddies would make decidedly less exciting minifigs than the current aliens, I still wouldn't mind a few. After all, Agents got away with human vs. human while keeping the bad guys decidedly evil-looking.

After years of stealing cows, and kid napping rednecks and the probings and what not, the aliens had it long coming :P Also I thought the official fiction was the humans were mining on mars first and the aliens came from out side the system looking for new sources of their fuel that happened to be the same crystals the humans had found and decided to attack and take the crystals. Which goes with the whole no life on Mars fact, save for possible bacteria. Also you're forgetting about Indiana Jones.

Edited February 14, 2010 by Knightsword

[Aanchir]

After years of stealing cows, and kid napping rednecks and the probings and what not, the aliens had it long coming :P Also I thought the official fiction was the humans were mining on mars first and the aliens came from out side the system looking for new sources of their fuel that happened to be the same crystals the humans had found and decided to attack and take the crystals. Which goes with the whole no life on Mars fact, save for possible bacteria. Also you're forgetting about Indiana Jones.

The only problem with that theory (that the aliens arrived after the humans) is that the alien ships are all designed to run on the crystals. Kind of implies that the aliens have been doing this for a bit longer than us.

[Sonic Screwdriver]

So, if TLC was creating such themes (excluding producing war-related ones) for years, why they can't do fantasy themes where enemies are UNREAL? Tell me, where you can find Squidman race on Earth? Why we all hear legends about furious Kraken, which was also mentioned as a bad. Poor sharkmen - they really wanted to be polite sharkies, befriended with divers, armed with harpoon launchers, wrecking machines etc. Poor big Crystal King has to face with cold-hearted miner with metal implant on forehead (gee, terminator in lego!) who is using hand-drill to smash him to dust!

It's imagination, not racism. For children is easier to understand that "this funny frog is robber! Our brave hero (played by ME-HUMAN) will quickly catch him!". Got it?

But try to understand me, I am now grownup and when I was a child, there was nothing like "racism". You had your ninja/pirate/spaceman/cowboy/diver that wanted to be. And always needed someone to oppose you. It doesn't matter wheter is Imperial Guard or Kranxx, the Ashoka Brother.

Whether the enemies are "unreal" or not misses the point. The implication of Space Police III is that people who are different from humans are "bad". I also think kids see things in society that adults do not think they see.

I also think that having aliens serving in the police force would make more interesting sets.

[Peppermint_M]

Someone use the search function. We had this discussion way back before wave one hit shops...

[Shadows]

Whether the enemies are "unreal" or not misses the point. The implication of Space Police III is that people who are different from humans are "bad".

And the fantasy Castle line breeds unfair hatred of the undead. And Agents promotes the concept that people with disabilities and those who choose to have unusual hair colours are all criminals.

Well don't worry. New Castle will have good, old fashioned human on human violence to make everyone happy.

I also think kids see things in society that adults do not think they see.

I think adults see things in toys that kids don't and try to apply their own feelings of societal guilt where they don't belong. It's the knee-jerk reaction to things like Cowboys and Indians that will guarantee we never see another Wild West line, and might even make the return of Ninjas very unlikely.

I also think that having aliens serving in the police force would make more interesting sets.

As far as I'm concerned, all of the SP3 characters should be aliens, the criminals, the cops, some crime victims, a judge, 12 jurors and a news team reporting on the crime wave. Bring on the aliens, humans are boring.

[Dunjohn]

And the fantasy Castle line breeds unfair hatred of the undead. And Agents promotes the concept that people with disabilities and those who choose to have unusual hair colours are all criminals.

Well don't worry. New Castle will have good, old fashioned human on human violence to make everyone happy.

Unless they're monsters mutated to look like humans. Then it's, like, double-speciesism.

[Oky]

The obvious racism in Lego toys made me become a different person during playing with it. Now, whenever I meet

- green jelly aliens

- SP Aliens

- Trolls

or

- Underwater atlantian creatures

in real life, I will get into my bricky vehicle and flick-fire the hell out of these guys!

Good luck finding those in real life. By the way, you forgot Rock Monsters and Robots.

[EspEth12]

Sometimes I see a topic and I just have to shake my head at how silly you guys are.

Are we seriously worried about the poor, downtrodden and mistreated aliens now? Do we know any actual aliens who might be discriminated against or abused because a child grew up playing with LEGO? Do we think this is less acceptable than, say, abusing a real human who might resemble one of the former human factions, like the Native Americans?

While I will agree that the "go steal their stuff and kill them" plot is bad in themes like Rock Raiders, we're talking about criminals and cops here, and just because the criminals are aliens we're bothered? Personally, I wouldn't buy any of the line if it was human vs human, the aliens have been the only draw for me at all, but whatever... Carry on.

I agree. This is a silly topic!

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You've got to be kidding. Am i right or am I right. It's a buildable plastic toy. SHEESH. What the hell is up with this. It's as KimT would say "loads of meh." This is loads of meh! I hope you people aren't serious about this! . Like I'm going to blast the hell out of a robot, alien, sea creature, rock moster with plastic rockets! . And I seriously doubt this would lead to all this -all those unspeakable things some of you mentioned- in real life. THIS IS BLARGHMACHY!

Are we trying to read too much into this are we ?

Lego racist ?

Now come on now, next people will say Barbie is no good for girls because it promotes a body image - oh I'm so scared !

OMG !

It's a &**^%^ TOY, gee if we are that worried about this we would not let children play cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, Jedi vs Sith !

Children learn the positives and negatives of us human beings - any negatives are born out of fear and greed !

SPIII racist - okay so what if Lego takes a new angle and involves Ben 10 would that be better.

The Plumbers are a mixed bag of Human and Alien space police plus Ben himself goes alien all the time !

I think the next time my son see his doctor for ADHD problem I'll show him SPIII images and ask him, hopefully I'll get a children's medical specialist's opinion on this matter.

I'm a conformist! everyone !

I couldn't agree with you more.

Edited February 15, 2010 by EspEth12

[Sonic Screwdriver]

I agree. This is a silly topic!

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You've got to be kidding. Am i right or am I right. It's a buildable plastic toy. SHEESH. What the hell is up with this. It's as KimT would say "loads of meh." This is loads of meh! I hope you people aren't serious about this! . Like I'm going to blast the hell out of a robot, alien, sea creature, rock moster with plastic rockets! . And I seriously doubt this would lead to all this -all those unspeakable things some of you mentioned- in real life. THIS IS BLARGHMACHY!

I couldn't agree with you more.

I'm only partly serious about this.

I don't think Space Police III will turn children into racists. I just thought the overall tone of the series seemed to paint those who look "different" in a bad light.

[Aanchir]

I'm only partly serious about this.

I don't think Space Police III will turn children into racists. I just thought the overall tone of the series seemed to paint those who look "different" in a bad light.

I agree; people are taking this a bit too seriously. Nobody's trying to say that it will train your kids to hate other races, but it is indeed odd that (unlike themes like Fantasy Castle) crooks come in every breed under the sun but only the humans are good guys.

[Tereglith]

There is a fairly good reason that most non-liscensed themes involve non-humans as the villians - It's because Watchdog groups composed of American moms that have discovered the internet are more concerned about their children being influenced to kill other people than learning that things that aren't human are bad. In other words, leaving out the human-vs-human and having it mainly be human-vs-other means that LEGO is less likely to be sued, because people are more offended when a toy "teachers children how to kill" than when it "teaches children to be racist", even though I doubt that any toys cause anything of the sort (except possibly video games, which engage the mind in a different way, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I really dislike America for the very reason that it's full of watchdog groups with lawyers.

[gotoAndLego]

One thing I noticed about Space Police III is that the Space Police seem to be all human, while the criminals are aliens. Does this not promote racism and xenophobia?...

That would be speciesism, not racism.

[Rocketbilly]

I think it's just Lego being cautious, with illusions of Xenophobia or whatever you want to call it as a side effect.

I've also noticed that the Space Police are unusually agressive towards those who sport a skull belt buckle.

I can hear my little squad of SP officers all conspiring against me as we speak. I'll be bombarded by trans green.

Seriously though, I think it's jsut Lego's way of keeping the "bite" intheir action themes without Lego seemingly encouraging youngsters to laser each other.

As many people have said!

Will/Rocketbilly

[Capt. Redblade]

It's just a case of people being too sensitive about man-on-man violence and being too thickheaded and scared to see the irony in the fact that they themselves are pushing for toys where the good guys beat up creatures that are different. There should be a special holiday where every person in the world teams up with their most hated rival and fish-slaps at least three PC thugs to death.

[Lord LOLrus]

Whether the enemies are "unreal" or not misses the point. The implication of Space Police III is that people who are different from humans are "bad". I also think kids see things in society that adults do not think they see.

And the fantasy Castle line breeds unfair hatred of the undead. And Agents promotes the concept that people with disabilities and those who choose to have unusual hair colours are all criminals.

Undead awareness! Equal rights for the deceased! Remember, the undead are were people too! I demand an appropriate representation of skeletons and trolls in the Crownie Armed Forces!

Seriously though, it would be nice to see a few aliens in the police force, and maybe also a human crime ring whose attempts at megabloks-trafficking must be stopped by the brave Space Police.

[Inertia]

As Peppermint M said, we've had this discussion before.

As far as I'm concerned, people will look for an underlying trend, theme or problem with anything going, it doesnt matter what it is and what the initial theme was about, people will always find something wrong with it.

So, judging from this arguement, when the aliens come and attack Earth, wont we all be happy that our little kiddies grew up in a society where they were trained from birth to be Xenophobic from the little plastic toys that they played with.

Its a silly topic and a silly argument, overthinking things ultimately leads into things becoming much worse than they should be.