That whitewash thread has a lot of young nerds trying to grapple with some issues that extend beyond their current reach. They think, according to their cultural sphere, that they should be outraged. A few think this is challenging, but not realizing in what way. The actual issue discussed is less interesting than watching the neo community try to make face. PoP as a game is already whitewashed, if you want to think Persians are arabs(which they would say no to, they are some white mofos). The Avatar part is more legit, but it begs the question as to why we are upset that skin color is not retained, and why do we think it is that important to their character? Hollywood's decision is based on marketability and acting ability. For every fictional character to have to retain their skin color in order to have 'legitimacy' is so racialized a view that I wonder how it comes to be the moral high ground.
