If Clementine was a boy...
Assuming the same personality-wise, do you think you would all have the same attachment and affection as you do for her now? Obviously we view females as being weaker then males and more in need of protection but a child is still a child regardless of gender. Clem and Ellie (from TLOU) are two young characters with major roles in recent memory and both are female. I assume this is because the majority of gamers are male and therefore fathers/brothers/uncles and can instantly relate with the desire to protect young women.
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Yes. Just as innocent and weak and unlikely to survive without protection from others
I think it would be slightly harder just because Melissa Hutchison probably wouldn't voice him anymore. Her voice has truly made Clementine a very memorable and believable character with a lot of personality and some great lines. These lines wouldn't be nearly as cute and great if they were to come out of a boy's mouth.
Meh, I think Carl ruined my vision of male children during the apocalypse.
No, because i like only little girls.
If Clementine was a boy.. then his name wouldn't be Clementine anymore. :P
Debatable. I mean look at Duck, there were quite a few people who had an attachment to him and were sad when he was bitten and eventually died. I think the affection would still be there, just in a different way. Kinda like he was your little brother. They could make it work.
You stated that all creepy like, you noticed that right?
You're kidding right ?
While I agree, I have to admit when I first met Clem I thought her voice was a bit too high and slightly strange sounding. But after the interaction in the drug store and that adorable way she always stands in the background I officially elevated her to "MAH BABEH!" status.
Then Lee would be a woman. A black female professor, who killed state senator because he slept with her husband.
I doubt people would've hailed The Walking Dead as game of the year were it not for Clementine being a girl. There's only one work of fiction that comes to mind where the gender of the child character didn't matter at all. The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Jesus, that book makes TWD seem like an optimistic, happy-go-lucky post-apocalyptic world.
In the "Claymore"-Manga (http://www.mangareader.net/485/claymore.html) we got a situation which is very simular to a female Lee and a male Clem. And, as far as i know, alot of readers really hate that boy. Maybe the reason for is, like someone already stated, that most gamers are young males who identfy themself with the boy and not with the main protagonist. Of course every 12- 18 year old boy out there would think that he would be a great help and able to handle nearly every situation himself. A Charakter which shows them that this might not be the case angers them.
If she was a boy, this thread would be: if ---- was a girl
What do you mean 'Obviously we view females as being weaker than males and in need of more protection'?
Not all of us are sexist, you know.
downvotes from people thinking that saying women are weak isn't sexist incoming
Why? Are men not allowed to look after young male children?
I don't know.
CreedBratton, why don't you take a sit, right over there?
I'd protect everyone of my group, especially family members.
Technically, even a weak man could beat most average women. And lots of women also have problems with their emotions, much more than men do.
But call me a sexist, I don't care, it's not like I'm stating my opinion with my real name, so I don't have to fear persecution from reddit feminists that are aiming to destroy my workplace.
Actually, the statement "obviously we view females as being weaker than males and in need of more protection"
It isn't necessarily sexist - it's pointing out "we view," meaning not the poster but the culture as a whole. Now, that culture is sexist, but the OP isn't forcibly stating his own beliefs. It might just be an acknowledgement of the existence of gender roles and the effects that would have on the gamers' perception of the characters.
Consider the opening "assuming the same personality-wise" - don't you think many people would find it strange if a little boy were to act like Clementine? I think those preconceptions need to be gotten over, but they can't be ignored.
Edit: Retraction of "(that said, the op does seem to, at least tacitly, have absorbed such mores)" - I stand corrected.
Thanks for coming to my defense Sarangholic. Indeed I didn't mean for it to sound sexist, it was what society as a whole seems to think. And yes, I did think about the reversal of gender but who says a boy can't be sweet and polite too? Sadly if they had made Clem a boy with that personality most people would be quick to point it out and label him as "a little faggot" or some other derogatory label.
Sorry dude, clearly it wasn't your intention
However it's not like you said 'society thinks' or even 'we think', you said 'we know' as if it's certain unquestionable knowledge
I don't really like little boys that much as girls, boys tend to be more negative I should say. I'm not saying that all are like that, from real life experience it's kinda true, just look at Duck from TWD. So if Clementine wasn't a girl I'd wouldn't be here in the first place, but don't get the wrong idea.
Beyonce anybody? If i were a boyyyy....
Are you shitting me? Carl is great.
That's the joke
I meant Carl from the show.
It's an interesting question, actually. Human nature makes you protective of the young - and, from what I've gathered, more so young females. The protective, sympathetic part of the mind just seems to fire off easier with them.
So, if her personality was exactly the same we would probably have a similar attachment eventually; just not immediately like so many did with her as a female.
Carl from the show is a watered down Carl and on the show its not Carl its "CORAL!".
she* (since we're gender switching)
If Harry Potter was a girl would it be as successful just speculation really never know
Sorry but first thing what pops into my head when say if clem was a boy is Carl and my instant reaction is NO not sure but like Clem the way she is
Well Harry Potter defeated Lord Voldmord, Dragons, Monsters, whatever when he was like 10-16 years old. Its just what boys of this age dream about. This would work with a girl of that age too cause boys would still be able to replace that girl with themself in their own dreamworlds. This girl would be as old as them, goes to school, usw. the scenario just fits perfectly.
Clem on the other hand is a (child-)character in a post-apocalytic world and finds herself in an situation which is not very similiar to our everyday life. TWD is a dark and "realistic" fantasy were children will be pretty helpless at the beginning even thought they will adapt faster to the situation then adults do.Nobody wants to play the role of the helpless one. So they rather identifiy themselfs with Lee. And if we would switch genders it would became alot harder to identify with him, cause (s)he is not only an full grown adult but although a female.
Plus it would be easier to see yourself in the role of clem when you are male yourself and (s)he would be too.
Just look at all the comics, manga, movies and novels out there. I don't think there are alot of male characters who depend on others and can't defeat the big boss on their own.
This is so much better then all those other threads out today.
I think she would be the same, but maybe the group would have less sympathy for her, because often sometimes girls are seen as weaker. Even though that isn't exaculy true.
Source?that way I can ban this shit and destroy it
Greats points personally have no preference to lead male or female my favorite games I played this year Beyond Two Souls, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider also the last of us etc where actually play as female character Ellie was so badass. These games all females characters were leaders could defeat any big boss etc so this year in gaming proved all gamers want female leads just as much even more as male as fresh idea in my opinion.
Except that Lara Croft has been whored out so many times, and is just a cliche now. Beyond two souls was garbage. But TLOU was fine.
'Lot's of women have problems with their emotions, much more than men do'
I would LOVE to see a source for that.