Before I get into it, I am saying this off the bat.
I am on the side of I don't like that they removed Valko fully! The reason I'm stating this now is because what I am about to say, I don't want to make people angrier or aggressive, but I wanted to share my view on this from someone who prefers to be neutral and gather everything and considers every possibility over letting my emotions dictate how I see this. Reason I am stating this? I noticed that a lot of people are looking at this black and white when it isn't straightforward, however I am still on the side that wishes they didn't remove Valko even tho I don't really care about the dude that much.
Now getting into it, I am very anxious of typing this due to my social anxiety. I usually avoid talking in communities and fandoms because I am afraid of being targeted all because one thing I say may not be what someone agrees with. IF you do not fully agree with me, that is ok! I still respect your thoughts, and I hope you would show me the same respect.
First off, I want to address something. IF you were gonna main Valko or were excited to get to know him, you have every right to feel hurt, and betrayed! I woke up to finding the news through my friends. It didn't feel... right... Like I said, I don't care for the dude, but that is because I am demisexual and demiromantic. The thing I cared about however, was getting to learn about him and see who he was as a character. Any player (regardless of where you are from) who was excited for him, I hope you all will be ok...
So why did people hate Valko? I have seen people hating him and being racist, I have seen people hating him because he was "too buff to be straight" which is both homophobic and sexist at least in my eyes (I believe always there is no wrong or right way to be a man or a woman). IF you hated him for these reasons, I would ask why the hell are you playing LaDs?? The men all variety in personality for a reason! And in my eyes, its no different from a series like MLP. A series that shows there more than one way to be a person. When I saw this stuff being talked about whenever I came online, I was furious. But then I learned something today....
I am linking a post I came across on instagram. DO NOT harass anyone in the post, but I think everyone should look at it:
It goes into details on how minus the problems people had that felt really shitty, it went over things that made me go "I wish.... this voice was heard more."
And thank you to the person who made this post for reaching out to people and learning more and thank you to the those who shared this side of the story.
I don't agree that this is a good reason for Valko to be Thanos snapped from existence, but it made me pause a solidify my original thought.
There is a lot more to this that we need to be mindful of.
Because in those people's eyes? It wouldn't be much different to how some of us in America can't and won't be alright with certain symbols used. Then again, if there was something that had stated by Infold somewhere that these things were clearly not intentional or in reference to these situations stated, then I don't see an issue with Valko staying. Heck I named a character in a series I am making Elona, a name that means alone but is associated with a certain plane. I didn't pick it because of the plane thing, I picked it cause all my character's names meant "alone". I would understand if it made people uncomfortable, but I would hope they would also be mindful in turn that I never meant it like that. This applies to everything else I am into in a way.
Now this next section is more of questions I want people to think of.
Another thing had came to my mind on Infold listening to the CN players more than us.
What is the percentage of CN players to Global players? Which players in which countries give Infold more money?
Am I saying Infold is greedy? Yes and no. Yes they want money, but if they lost a huge percentage of players that gave them the fundings already to keep the game active and running? What would happen to LaDs? Would they still have enough money to do the things they do? How much money are they making from the game?
And on the topic of the percentage thing, if the Global players were more than the CN players, or they just decided to listen to the Global members more. Wouldn't that then make the CN players feel unheard? Unseen? Like we have? Especially when considering the Instagram post. While I know that LaDs has trigger warnings in the game already, wouldn't they want to limit it so that everyone can be able to enjoy it?
I do want our voices heard. I can't help but also feel bad for the players, regardless of where you're from, who feel like they don't matter.
On top of that, lets go into the threats and harassments that came up. NO ONE deserves to be threatened or harassed over if you are excited for a character or not. Everyone will be different. As long as nothing is illegal about it, then why threaten and harass people over Valko? Due to the internet, do we know if people weren't SPAMMING the emails of Infold with hate?? or spamming to creators or normal players? Considering how extreme LaDs fans will be regardless of location, I have no doubt there would be going to such extremes. This is dangerous. I have also been in a situation myself of creating things, wanting to share the love, but for people to hate and harass me for the thing I worked hard on, that my only option to stop it was to end the thing I was creating. ON the topic of spamming, I have seen people go "spam Infold till they bring back Valko!!" That is technically also harassment...
I have then seen people go "release him for the Global only!" Which first off, please tell me you understand just how difficult that would be! Considering Valko was gonna be part of the main story, so he was playing a HUGE part, that would mean it would take longer to figure out how to deal with this for other places that cant have Valko cause they hate him! That also then says that the people who are CN players that DID like Valko can't have him either, and they have to be hidden on liking him to avoid hate among their own peers. It would also take up a lot more managing to have just Valko when he isnt just a love interest. It would make it harder to advertise at times on social medias. It would still also have CN players that do hate Valko, still continuing the hate towards players that can have him.
So in my eyes, I don't blame Infold for removing Valko nor do I find it "sus". I agree it is not good on Infold for removing it (the amount of money that went into it... the amount of fans that could leave if they keep him in or not...)
But I don't think they removed Valko "just cause the CN players hate him". I feel there was a lot more and they thought the best idea to try and stop what is happening was to take it away. Kind of like how parents confiscate toys from kids.
I am not saying any of this to discourage people, or to victim blame one side over the other. I wanted to state what I have noticed and the ideas that came to me.
So now left with, what can we do?
I saw a petition going around. While again I am worried about things, I do think a petition is a nice start to not add on to the drama and fights happening over Valko, nor bothering and harrassing Infold when I feel it would make things worse. It allows people to be heard in a way that doesn't cause fighting! To the person who made the petition, feel free to link the petition in the comments!!
Other idea, make fan art! Make short stories! While we may never see Valko again, I think a great way to show there was love to Valko is by showing that love. I believe that a good way to wash out hate is by getting people together to counter it. I myself plan to draw Valko soon (if I have time during Art Fight).
And to those who are sad? Dont give them hate or make fun of them. I remember someone saying "waht if they delete our other men?" This is a good concern, even tho it is very extreme. Keep this in mind. If this was your main, wouldn't you feel hurt?
Anyways, those are my thoughts at the moment. I hope we continue to learn more about all of this instead of let our emotions drive us. Let me know what you'd like me to do in my Valko art (keep it pg obviously!!)
This is Gloria, coming to you from the side of someone who wanted to speak up despite her fears. I hope you all will remain respectful. I love this game and I love those of you I have met through it! Keep spreading good in this community!
