Home Gaming Borderlands 3 removing the word “midget” as it was deemed offensive

Borderlands 3 removing the word “midget” as it was deemed offensive

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Ahead of the highly anticipated Borderlands 3 gameplay reveal last night, Gearbox producer Chris Brock stated that the studio was making an active effort to shy away from some of the more questionable naming decisions in the past in order to promote a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all players. Brock stated that Borderlands 3 will not be incorporating the word ‘”midget” as the word was deemed “not super sensitive”. “Midget” was a term used in previous Borderlands games to denote an enemy type that was much smaller and sprier in nature, often sprouting ridiculously high pitched dialogue at the player.

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The miniature enemy type will still appear in the game, only under the new classifier of “Tinks”, a neutral term meant to sound synonymous with the behaviour of the enemy type whilst not poking fun at any real-world groups. On a personal note, this decision strikes me as an important and influential one made by Gearbox that I think many little people will generally appreciate. Language is a powerful tool and when used flippantly in a way that may offend people in any marginalised group it’s important to change our usage to accommodate them. Despite no outspoken controversies caused by the use of the word in previous Borderlands games, the dev team clearly viewed its inclusion as demeaning and offensive, prompting the shift to different terminology.

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The gameplay reveal trailer can be found here and has been met with varying levels of positivity from audiences and critics.

Last Updated: May 2, 2019

20 Comments

  1. SagatatiaRZA

    May 2, 2019 at 13:24

    “Language is a powerful tool and when used flippantly in a way that may offend people in any marginalised group it’s important to change our usage to accommodate them”

    It was at this point I could tell that Brad wrote this article.

    Reply

    • Brad Lang

      May 2, 2019 at 16:46

      I have an SJW brand

      Reply

  2. RinceThis

    May 2, 2019 at 13:24

    And yet you will all still use derogetory language about gingers…

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      May 2, 2019 at 13:24

      Preach, you flame-haired munchkin.

      Reply

    • HvR

      May 2, 2019 at 14:12

      Whatever you soul stealing tink

      Reply

  3. Kromas

    May 2, 2019 at 13:33

    I will still call them midgets.

    #NoRegrets

    Reply

    • HvR

      May 2, 2019 at 14:11

      • Kromas

        May 2, 2019 at 14:19

        His shows are Brilliant!

        Reply

  4. Quentin Huggett

    May 2, 2019 at 13:33

  5. Original Heretic

    May 2, 2019 at 13:48

    Tink sounds more insulting than midget.

    Reply

    • HvR

      May 2, 2019 at 13:55

      What if this creates a new derogatory term int he real world?

      Biggest political correctness backfire ever.

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        May 2, 2019 at 13:56

        It’s kinda close to “dink”, which I think HAS been used as a derogatory term.
        The word “midget” has become offensive, even though it was never intended that way.
        But yay, go humanity, we’ve changed a perfectly good word into an insult.

        Reply

        • Kromas

          May 2, 2019 at 14:28

          That is just retarded …. oh wait. 😛

          Reply

  6. Caveshen Rajman

    May 2, 2019 at 13:33

    Generally when you murder something after laughing at the squeakiness of its voice, you do need to consider whether the word used to describe it is something that deserves some thought.

    Reply

  7. Enturax/Turbotrup

    May 2, 2019 at 18:35

    I hope SJWs and people who support them will really regret all this.

    Reply

  8. Kurt

    May 3, 2019 at 00:16

    Midget literally means a small person, that’s it. It’s a good word, use it!

    Reply

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