WoW Moviewatch: Ni Hao (A Gold Farmers Story)
by Dan O'Halloran 
Aug 27th 2007 at 12:00PM
I'm on the fence on this one. On the one hand, Madcow Studios has done a funny parody song about gold farmers. On the other hand, it could be perceived as borderline racists. So, I leave it to you, gentle readers. Watch this music video about Chinese gold farmers and let us know if it has crossed the line from entertainment to insensitivity.
For the record, Ni Hao is Mandarin chinese for Hello. It's a common greeting received when approaching a gold farmer.
Previously, on Moviewatch...
Filed under: Machinima, Humor, WoW Moviewatch
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Trees Aug 27th 2007 12:11PM
How is this racist?
10 cents an hour IS good money in that oppressive, freedom-hating sorry excuse for a country.
bigdelite Aug 27th 2007 12:11PM
Painfully funny
dreadlorde Aug 27th 2007 12:13PM
Not racist.
The Cannabis Connoisseur Aug 27th 2007 12:17PM
ROFL I just shat myself with laughter
Ryan Aug 27th 2007 12:23PM
I was thinking "That's not too racist.." as well until the part with the dogs and cats...
Then it turned to.. "o.O Oh wow... that's pretty damn racist!" Hah.
Lothy Aug 27th 2007 2:06PM
ROFL! Genius! And no, it is not racist. Racism would be the video saying that our race is superior to theirs. Plus, 10 cents = 1 yuan as of today give or take. I guess the OP has never had a farm bot in the middle of SMV when farming primals. Lord knows the Plateau is filled with real people and horribly overpopulated.
ghlellin Aug 27th 2007 2:10PM
Ni Hao is literally Chinese (as in Mandarin is the official language) for "You Good?" It's like saying, "What's up?" in English.
vern Aug 27th 2007 12:36PM
What a fucking racist video.
So where is the one about the jews, the blacks and the arabs ?
One of the worst hate video I ever saw in WOW.
MonkeySlayer Aug 27th 2007 12:37PM
@2
I don't know if you're joking or not but if not you're one of the most ignorant people I've ever seen. 10 cents is not good money in China, sure there's human rights violations but they exist in the USA as well, remember when you were a developing country and oh...I dunno, enslaved an entire race to farm your cotton for you? What about when you forced the Japanese/Chinese by military force to open trade, then proceeded to extract unequal trade and territorial rights from the Chinese and exploiting them because they were militarily inferior?
As for a sorry excuse for a country, I don't know what your definition of a "country" is, but to me a country that tries to govern the world, is constantly embroiled in wars, sells weapons covertly and openly to all countries of the world, is insensitive to cultures other than its own, has a president who has teh intellect of a 10 year old, and has a population where the majority of people don't know what exists outside of their own state, is not an example of a "good" country.
China has the largest population of any country in the world, is fast becoming the 2nd largest economy in the world, produces and manufactures 50% or more of the world's clothing, toys, has $1 trillion USD in foreign reserves, has a substantial holding in US treasury bonds, has the largest military force in Asia, holds a spot on the UN security council and is a major player on the world stage with regards to trade and security, if thats a "sorry excuse for a country", then by your definition over half the world is not a country.
Get your head out of your butt and go read the news please because your ignorance is an embarassment to the human race.
Sargentd Aug 27th 2007 12:38PM
I don't find it racist, I didn't understand the dogs and cats but the rest it TRUE.
Sargentd Aug 27th 2007 12:41PM
Ok, they don't get just 10 cents but it is a substantially lower number than what we here in America make.
futura Aug 27th 2007 1:16PM
@7
What makes you think we're from the US?
Idiot.
Hollywood Ron Aug 27th 2007 12:45PM
Sadly, one of the best gamers I ever grouped with was a Chinese gold farmer. It was that quest where you have to kill a certain number of Bloodsail Bucs, and as a warrior trying to solo it I was getting pwned until this guy showed up, zerged the guys who were clobbering me, and offered to group. I was so grateful I didn't mind that he needed all the good drops, and he was so grateful having a tank around he gave me several ups that I needed.
Of course, I'm sure I'm the exception.
-----
Ron
http://www.flektor-blog.com
Juliah Aug 27th 2007 12:46PM
I've seen more offensive things on South Park, and I like South Park. I recognize that it is satire: it pokes fun at everyone.
I consider myself someone to be easily offended over certain things -- yes, you read that right ;) -- however, I also respect the right of people to poke fun, and recognize the importance of not taking things so seriously all the time.
I have met a lot of people who find things like South Park and this video funny until the lens is aimed at one of their own pet subjects. I'm not one of those folks.
While what #7 says in his/her third paragraph is true, I fail to see how it is relevant to this video. It's simply not that deep, and it relates to a single issue in World of Warcraft: players expressing frustration with farmers.
I will say one thing, though: I'd like to see a video addressing the heart of the problem: buyers. I want to see an attack on those people who are fueling the supply with their demand. If nobody bought any gold, the farmers wouldn't exist.
Bobby Hansen Aug 27th 2007 12:48PM
@6: Until we see massive Kenyan, Israeli or Saudi gold-dealing sites, discrediting the Chinese gold farmers will be the norm. THis isn't racist, it's rather factual (well the dogs and cats thing was a bit racist, but given what Asian Gold Farmers do to server economies, I can't blame people getting frustrated.)
@8: The Dogs and Cats part refers that in some Asian countries, Dog and Cat are eaten as regular food. Some inexpensive Chinese places in the US are said to use stray cats in their food as well.
Excellent production values on the video, great singing too - I just wish it was something other then QQing about Gold Farmers.
Caleb Archon Aug 27th 2007 12:50PM
People should really be pissed off at the companies that sell gold and the American/European players who buy it. The farmers are just Chinese because it means cheap, cheap gold for all RMT jerk-offs.
@8, it's a joke about the Chinese eating cats and dogs.
Dean Aug 27th 2007 3:43PM
I've never had a problem with the phrase 'Chinese Gold Farmers' - a lot of gold farmers are Chinese, and most Chinese players on US and EU servers will tend to be gold farmers, as those playing for fun will likely use the local servers (there are exceptions of course). So that really isn't racist.
That said there was a fair bit of playing to other racial sterotypes in that video. It was still funny though - contrary to popular belief it is possible for something to be both racist and funny. That doesn't mean it's right that people should produce such things, but it also means it isn't somehow wrong to laugh, and finding it funny doesn't mean you necessaryly agree with the sentiment.
Tumples Aug 27th 2007 12:53PM
I lol'd
Trees Aug 27th 2007 12:57PM
"sure there's human rights violations BUT"
I lol'd
Jamar Aug 27th 2007 1:09PM
To be fair, I live in China and *have* seen a few restaurants specializing in dog and cat (quite sad- I'd never eat that stuff myself). Oh, and 10 cents an hour is *not* a decent wage. Food is cheap (I can probably feed myself in the suburbs for $.50/day), but what about housing? You'd get better money manufacturing iPods (some $270/month, from what I hear- I can see the factory ...I think it is... from my classroom window here in Shanghai).
Oh, and FYI- the Chinese servers are ideal for those who play on an on-off basis. It's prepaid (something like $4 for 9 hours or something) instead of billed monthly. On the other hand, someone that likes the billed system would go with the US/EU servers, I'd guess.