New PCC - Stunticons, Undertow and Salvage

[FFN]

Makes their politically-correct removal of Slag as a modern character name silly.


That said, if "Spastic and the Stunticons" are somehow released here or even exist with that name, I will try to get it for the novelty.

[Bartrim]

That said, if "Spastic and the Stunticons" are somehow released here or even exist with that name, I will try to get it for the novelty.

Same. I have stopped collecting for a couple of years for financial reasons but if they make their way out here I'll have to get them for the novelty

[Sky Shadow]

The thing is, I cannot see how anyone at Hasbro could use that word to name a toy without knowing its meaning. There's no form of that word that doesn't either refer to the medical condition, or directly derive from the medical condition as an insult. What were they even going for, and how was there no-one in the entire creative process who went, "Hold on... Spastic? WTF?"

[kup]

The thing is, I cannot see how anyone at Hasbro could use that word to name a toy without knowing its meaning. There's no form of that word that doesn't either refer to the medical condition, or directly derive from the medical condition as an insult. What were they even going for, and how was there no-one in the entire creative process who went, "Hold on... Spastic? WTF?"

Tells you how much regard there is for the franchise at some levels over there.

[FFN]

Tells you how much regard there is for the franchise at some levels over there.

Actually, this has more to do with the fact spastic (or the more common slang abbreviation, spaz) doesn't carry with it much controversy in the United States. Apparently, it's not used in the US as a derogatory pejorative for people who suffer from cerebral palsy like it is in say, the UK.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spastic..._United_States

So it's more to do with Hasbro being an American toy company (and not being aware that term is offensive in some regions), essentially a cultural misunderstanding, than any lack of regard for the Transformers franchise.

[kup]

They couldn't do a US Google search?

http://www.google.com.au/#sclient=ps...d7755179fb1733

[Sky Shadow]

Actually, this has more to do with the fact spastic (or the more common slang abbreviation, spaz) doesn't carry with it much controversy in the United States. Apparently, it's not used in the US as a derogatory pejorative for people who suffer from cerebral palsy like it is in say, the UK.

Yeah, but it's still naming a Transformer after a medical condition. I mean, imagine the uproar if there was a Transformer called "Cancer"...

Actually, never mind.

[FFN]

ゴッドジンライ ・ キャンサーを救う!?

"God Ginrai - Save Cancer!?"

[GoktimusPrime]

Actually, this has more to do with the fact spastic (or the more common slang abbreviation, spaz) doesn't carry with it much controversy in the United States. Apparently, it's not used in the US as a derogatory pejorative for people who suffer from cerebral palsy like it is in say, the UK.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spastic..._United_States

So it's more to do with Hasbro being an American toy company (and not being aware that term is offensive in some regions), essentially a cultural misunderstanding, than any lack of regard for the Transformers franchise.

But "slag" is chiefly a derogatory term against women in the UK, and yet Hasbro USA decided to avoid using that name in fear of offending people in their non-American markets.

And also, the word "slag" has other non-derogatory meanings, which makes sense in the context of the character as a flamethrowing robot. The word "spastic" is defined as a person who has spasms (from the Latin "spasticus" meaning "to be afflicted with spasms"). So... in what context does this name suit the character? Is he prone to having violent seizures during mid-transformation? (KREMZEEEEEEK!)

What's next? A character whose Speed is 1 and always runs late... let's call him Retard!

[FFN]

Not somebody prone with seizures, but they are most likely referring to a character who is super-energetic, wound up, rapidly moving and clumsy, possibly in an amusing fashion, like Movie Frenzy. That's likely what they're going for, and generally, what North Americans refer to when they describe somebody being "a spaz".

From what I understand in discussion with (generally left-wing, politically correct) Americans and Canadians, their usual usage of spastic or its slang variety spaz is usually not referring to somebody with cerebral palsy or associated conditions, nor is it meant to be the derogatory term it is in some other countries.


It's an honest mistake, not one of malice or stupidity or, as Kup suggests, a lack of caring for the franchise. Even Gok's own cited dictionary definition doesn't suggest that it is a derogatory term at all. After all, in a culture where the word seemingly doesn't have any negative connotations (and is unrelated to serious illnesses), it would seem to be excessive to check if, on the off chance, it was offensive elsewhere?

With hindsight and coming from a different culture, we can say it's a mistake on their part, but it's not as stupid a mistake as some of you are suggesting.