Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-26213507-20150715194939/@comment-26896471-20150925013540

Two points on the use of "outlander": Firstly, it is worth noting that almost every Dunmer you meet in Morrowind will call you an outlander. Now, I'm not saying "look they're just as bad". I'm saying that such terms are symptomatic of an attitude prevalent throughout all of Tamriel. Secondly, the term is used to refer to someone not from the same land of origin, as opposed to race. Therefore, a Dunmer not from Morrowind, as explained in-game, is an outlander. In the same way (and also intentionally), a Nord Dragonborn is referred to as a foreigner and an outsider in certain dialogues. Galmar is not talking along racial lines in his use of the word.

I know you acknowledged it, but I'll reiterate that Galmar sending the Dragonborn on a suicide mission is in no way shape or form related to race.

You also point out that we would react differently if confronted with the accusation of being racist. Well, obviously. We live in a society where being suspected of being a racist makes you a pariah. One hundred years ago and in Skyrim, people would not be familiar with the word or the concept. Tamriel is almost entirely defined by races and the differences between them. I can think of, possibly, only the Bretons who do not show signs of being inherently distrustful of outsiders. Indeed, each race expresses this distrust in different ways: In Online, the Bosmer isolate themselves and turn to ancient Gods. The Altmer, as expressed through the Thalmor, are far more purist and inclined to eugenics. The Nords are far more aggressively outspoken; blunt as they are in most things. The Imperials and Dunmer express there distrust of others through haughtiness and elitism.

Tullius is so distant and almost disdainful of provincial customs: "Where is that place you people go to when you die?" "Without us to keep order, the provinces would fall to barbarism, particularly Skyrim". To make your choice in the Civil War based on who seems more tolerant in a world where distrust of the unknown is so omniscient is very misguided.

Whoever wins the Civil War:

The Thalmor will still be genocidal, the Argonians will still hate the Dunmer for their millenia of enslavement, and we will still be "outlanders" to Dunmer. Argonians will still be "lizards" and Khajiit will still be "cat-people" who are not allowed to enter the city gates. The Reachmen (living in an Imperial controlled province) will still work the smelter in Markarth and the Forsworn will not be allowed to worship Daedra. The Grey Quarter will continue to exist as it had done under centuries of Imperial then Stormcloak rule. Rolff Stone-Fist (unfortunately) will still hate the stench of Grey skins, Redguards and Nords alike will continue to distrust anything that smells of magicka, and Proventus Avenicci will continue to make us feel inferior with our "Nord nonsense".

I will maintain that the Stormcloaks are hardly more guilty of racism than either most Nords or most Dunmer or Imperials. That, however, is not the point. To base your decision on the Civil War based on who is or is not "racist" in the realities of Tamriel is sheer folly. I'll say again: the debate needs to lie in the question of best outcome. Which outcome will leave Skyrim in the best position to fend off the Thalmor threat?