Should the clown emote be changed?

[Capybara Jones]

Hey everybody!
Recently, I have started to notice that the jester reaction is used in a disrespectful way. In this context it is often used to ridicule people for their views and to spam it onto community contributions to shame the creator. Needless to say, that is pretty toxic and probably not the intended use of the award. I like the design and the idea behind it comes from a good place. So, it should probably only be changed fulfill a more encouraging, positive function.

[Tanoomba]

Originally posted by legit:

I'm not quite sure about that. The intention of giving an award doesn't matter, when the award itself award is derogatory by definition, and that's the case with the jester.

It most definitely is not. The appearance is cutesy and inoffensive, the description is positive, and it gives the recipient points just like every award. There's nothing inherently malicious about the Jester Award. In fact, it's absurd to suggest that Steam would intentionally provide an award for people to insult each other with.

Originally posted by legit:

there is not a single positive thing associated with it, especially in the context of a discussion.

It could easily have a "class clown" association, where one acknowledges that someone has a way with clever quips or humorous observations.

Originally posted by legit:

Steam has very high demands on their forum rules, as far less "offensive" posts tend to get removed all the time, but a clown "award" is okay, sure. Love the double standards.

There is no double standard. It's a cute clown face and free points.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Tanoomba:

Originally posted by legit:

Which one? Which one will replace the jester?

No way to know for sure, but I'd wager it's be Hilarious because it's the only most likely to be seen as mocking when given to a post with no humor.

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

And yet we've never seen threads asking to remove them.

Why would there be? Again, the Jester is currently the de facto "insult" award. The de facto "insult" award would change if the Jester was removed or altered. THEN we'd see threads asking for the new one to be removed.

Because some people are offended by them?

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Aachen:

:homelol: “Jester” is not, in fact, derogatory by definition.

That's true.

We could say the same about the word "baby"...

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Originally posted by legit:

Insult awards should be removed, if the hilarious award is found to be one, it should go too. I personally don't see it very problematic though.

I hate the fancy pants. It seems derogatory to me. Get rid of that too?

:qr:

Why tho? You don't like wearing pants?

[Tanoomba]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Why tho? You don't like wearing pants?

What, you don't like cute clown faces and free points?

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Tanoomba:

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Why tho? You don't like wearing pants?

What, you don't like cute clown faces and free points?

How is that related to my question?

No one likes being called a clown, do you?

[Kiwi {JESUS IS LORD}]

No.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

I hate the fancy pants. It seems derogatory to me. Get rid of that too?

Why tho? You don't like wearing pants?

superior or high-class in a pretentious way

Just because I own my own house and land and shop at the better grocery store.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Why tho? You don't like wearing pants?

superior or high-class in a pretentious way

Just because I own my own house and land and shop at the better grocery store.

:rrazz:

Well, I guess you can relax, I see no one using that award... I mean, I've seen it in some reviews, screenshots and stuff, but posts? Once in a bluemoon.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Just because I own my own house and land and shop at the better grocery store.

Well, I guess you can relax, I see no one using that award... I mean, I've seen it in some reviews, screenshots and stuff, but posts? Once in a bluemoon.

I have 5 now.

[Tanoomba]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

No one likes being called a clown, do you?

It's a cute clown face and free points. It doesn't inherently call anyone anything.

[Bored Peon]

Someone running behind every post made with a private profile trying to downplay and justify why people should be allowed to give out jester awards as a form of harassment.

The latest excuse is "not seeing it as harassment." It does not matter whether or not you see it as harassment does not change the fact it is harassment behavior.

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:

There are some who are already offended at when getting a Hilarious, Mad Scientist, Deep Thoughts, or Mind Blown. It doesn't matter which one it'll be. Someone assume malicious intent no matter which is used.

And yet we've never seen threads asking to remove them.

Targeting Jester, Hilarious, Saucy, Hot Take with a list of others "up for discussion":
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/10/3758850762507619158/

Targeting Jester, Hilarious, and marking reviews as Funny:
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/7/3761103414985410727/

That's just two that I bothered to respond to and could easily find. There are more.

[Tanoomba]

Originally posted by Bored Peon:

The latest excuse is "not seeing it as harassment." It does not matter whether or not you see it as harassment does not change the fact it is harassment behavior.

It matters a lot, actually. I disagree that what you're describing is "harassment behavior".

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Bored Peon:

Someone running behind every post made with a private profile trying to downplay and justify why people should be allowed to give out jester awards as a form of harassment.

Every post? Am I behind a private profile? Should be allowed? There is so much bias in this one statement.