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What Video Games Can Teach us About Racism | Dori Adar | TEDxVienna


imagine the following sin summer Monday

imagine the following sin summer Monday afternoon you are the golden swimming

afternoon you are the golden swimming

afternoon you are the golden swimming pool the most famous and beautiful

pool the most famous and beautiful

pool the most famous and beautiful swimming pool in Israel located less

swimming pool in Israel located less

swimming pool in Israel located less than 200 metres from the beautiful sandy

than 200 metres from the beautiful sandy

than 200 metres from the beautiful sandy beaches of Tel Aviv you are surrounded

beaches of Tel Aviv you are surrounded

beaches of Tel Aviv you are surrounded with like-minded people tel-aviv

with like-minded people tel-aviv

with like-minded people tel-aviv hipsters some tourists some pensioners

hipsters some tourists some pensioners

hipsters some tourists some pensioners people who can afford spending a regular

people who can afford spending a regular

people who can afford spending a regular weekday at the pool you get up you

weekday at the pool you get up you

weekday at the pool you get up you stretch and as you are about to go into

stretch and as you are about to go into

stretch and as you are about to go into the water for another swim something

the water for another swim something

the water for another swim something strange catches your eyes a group of 50

strange catches your eyes a group of 50

strange catches your eyes a group of 50 work immigrants from Africa has entered

work immigrants from Africa has entered

work immigrants from Africa has entered the pools gates they look so different

the pools gates they look so different

the pools gates they look so different than anyone else that a fuss is created

than anyone else that a fuss is created

than anyone else that a fuss is created around them who are these people the

around them who are these people the

around them who are these people the guard at the gate is confused but they

guard at the gate is confused but they

guard at the gate is confused but they all have paid tickets and brand new

all have paid tickets and brand new

all have paid tickets and brand new bathing suits and are about to go in the

bathing suits and are about to go in the

bathing suits and are about to go in the establishment now if you were in that

establishment now if you were in that

establishment now if you were in that pool that day what would you do a stay

pool that day what would you do a stay

pool that day what would you do a stay in the water nothing unusual happens or

in the water nothing unusual happens or

in the water nothing unusual happens or be leave the pool at once that event

be leave the pool at once that event

be leave the pool at once that event happened a few a few years ago it was an

happened a few a few years ago it was an

happened a few a few years ago it was an organised event it was organized by a

organised event it was organized by a

organised event it was organized by a group of right-wing activists who hired

group of right-wing activists who hired

group of right-wing activists who hired the immigrants to go to the pool that

the immigrants to go to the pool that

the immigrants to go to the pool that day they wanted to demonstrate the

day they wanted to demonstrate the

day they wanted to demonstrate the hypocrisy of Tel Aviv’s white and

hypocrisy of Tel Aviv’s white and

hypocrisy of Tel Aviv’s white and privileged who speak so highly on human

privileged who speak so highly on human

privileged who speak so highly on human equality but will not want to share

equality but will not want to share

equality but will not want to share space with black people from Africa and

space with black people from Africa and

space with black people from Africa and I remember reading about this thinking

I remember reading about this thinking

I remember reading about this thinking that if I was there that day no doubt

that if I was there that day no doubt

that if I was there that day no doubt that I would have stayed in the water

that I would have stayed in the water

that I would have stayed in the water and tried to befriend the newcomers and

and tried to befriend the newcomers and

and tried to befriend the newcomers and how strange it is that so many people

how strange it is that so many people

how strange it is that so many people that were there went out I was always

that were there went out I was always

that were there went out I was always fascinated by the gap in how people

fascinated by the gap in how people

fascinated by the gap in how people perceive themselves and their actions

perceive themselves and their actions

perceive themselves and their actions they sometimes tell a different story

they sometimes tell a different story

they sometimes tell a different story and I want to make games that will

and I want to make games that will

and I want to make games that will confront players with actions and maybe

confront players with actions and maybe

confront players with actions and maybe tells them something new about them

tells them something new about them

tells them something new about them so it’s a little bit like these

so it’s a little bit like these

so it’s a little bit like these BuzzFeed’s personality quizzes but

BuzzFeed’s personality quizzes but

BuzzFeed’s personality quizzes but instead of telling people which

instead of telling people which

instead of telling people which character of the TV show friends they

character of the TV show friends they

character of the TV show friends they resemble the most show them how racially

resemble the most show them how racially

resemble the most show them how racially biased they might be so the game that we

biased they might be so the game that we

biased they might be so the game that we came up with was a game that is called

came up with was a game that is called

came up with was a game that is called protect the neighborhood because this is

protect the neighborhood because this is

protect the neighborhood because this is what you do in the game in the game you

what you do in the game in the game you

what you do in the game in the game you are a cop you have a gun and you’re

are a cop you have a gun and you’re

are a cop you have a gun and you’re supposed to shoot threats as fast as

supposed to shoot threats as fast as

supposed to shoot threats as fast as they appear and spare the innocent

they appear and spare the innocent

they appear and spare the innocent targets

targets

targets however while some targets look like

however while some targets look like

however while some targets look like this average white high tech dude others

this average white high tech dude others

this average white high tech dude others look like this stereotypical Arab so

look like this stereotypical Arab so

look like this stereotypical Arab so players are trying to do their best and

players are trying to do their best and

players are trying to do their best and shoot the threats as fast as they appear

shoot the threats as fast as they appear

shoot the threats as fast as they appear and not shoot the innocent ones however

and not shoot the innocent ones however

and not shoot the innocent ones however we didn’t really care about misfires we

we didn’t really care about misfires we

we didn’t really care about misfires we measured one importer to metric that we

measured one importer to metric that we

measured one importer to metric that we called time to trigger how much time

called time to trigger how much time

called time to trigger how much time does it take the player to shoot an Arab

does it take the player to shoot an Arab

does it take the player to shoot an Arab looking target versus a white looking

looking target versus a white looking

looking target versus a white looking target and as it turned out the majority

target and as it turned out the majority

target and as it turned out the majority of players shot Arab looking targets

of players shot Arab looking targets

of players shot Arab looking targets faster than white looking targets how

faster than white looking targets how

faster than white looking targets how fast thirty five percent faster now the

fast thirty five percent faster now the

fast thirty five percent faster now the reaction of players that have played the

reaction of players that have played the

reaction of players that have played the game was complete disbelief denial this

game was complete disbelief denial this

game was complete disbelief denial this cannot be the game is rigged but it was

cannot be the game is rigged but it was

cannot be the game is rigged but it was not we measured real performance data

not we measured real performance data

not we measured real performance data moreover I did not make this up this

moreover I did not make this up this

moreover I did not make this up this phenomena is called implicit racism and

phenomena is called implicit racism and

phenomena is called implicit racism and it was verified in various experiments

it was verified in various experiments

it was verified in various experiments the biggest was an online experiment the

the biggest was an online experiment the

the biggest was an online experiment the two million people engaged in over the

two million people engaged in over the

two million people engaged in over the Internet and it showed clearly that

Internet and it showed clearly that

Internet and it showed clearly that participants showed targets more often

participants showed targets more often

participants showed targets more often and faster when these targets were black

and faster when these targets were black

and faster when these targets were black rather than white

rather than white

rather than white I just localized this experiment to the

I just localized this experiment to the

I just localized this experiment to the Israeli test the game is not rigged we

Israeli test the game is not rigged we

Israeli test the game is not rigged we are rigged however the game proved this

are rigged however the game proved this

are rigged however the game proved this point successfully we failed miserably

point successfully we failed miserably

point successfully we failed miserably in distribution it turned out that

in distribution it turned out that

in distribution it turned out that people are proud to share online quizzes

people are proud to share online quizzes

people are proud to share online quizzes that through

that through

that through that there are Ross from friends rather

that there are Ross from friends rather

that there are Ross from friends rather than online games that cause them racist

than online games that cause them racist

than online games that cause them racist to their faces well you live you learn

to their faces well you live you learn

to their faces well you live you learn but I wanted to make another game and

but I wanted to make another game and

but I wanted to make another game and around that time in Israel there was a

around that time in Israel there was a

around that time in Israel there was a lot of fuss because of an israeli

lot of fuss because of an israeli

lot of fuss because of an israeli parliament member who called for

parliament member who called for

parliament member who called for segregation in hospitals delivery rooms

segregation in hospitals delivery rooms

segregation in hospitals delivery rooms he said that the Arabs were making too

he said that the Arabs were making too

he said that the Arabs were making too much noise and it is only natural that

much noise and it is only natural that

much noise and it is only natural that his wife would not want to share rooms

his wife would not want to share rooms

his wife would not want to share rooms with an Arab baby who might grow up and

with an Arab baby who might grow up and

with an Arab baby who might grow up and kill her own in 20 years he said that

kill her own in 20 years he said that

kill her own in 20 years he said that and my mind was blown away because

and my mind was blown away because

and my mind was blown away because nobody really condemned the guy maybe

nobody really condemned the guy maybe

nobody really condemned the guy maybe because it’s just words you know people

because it’s just words you know people

because it’s just words you know people speak I speak everybody speak this is a

speak I speak everybody speak this is a

speak I speak everybody speak this is a natural thing we talk so I wanted to

natural thing we talk so I wanted to

natural thing we talk so I wanted to attach actions to these words and

attach actions to these words and

attach actions to these words and another depressing game was in the

another depressing game was in the

another depressing game was in the making and this new game the players

making and this new game the players

making and this new game the players were requested to help this parliament

were requested to help this parliament

were requested to help this parliament member now in doctors uniforms to do the

member now in doctors uniforms to do the

member now in doctors uniforms to do the segregations

segregations

segregations in the hospital Jewish mothers to be

in the hospital Jewish mothers to be

in the hospital Jewish mothers to be would go right

would go right

would go right Arabs mothers to be would go left and

Arabs mothers to be would go left and

Arabs mothers to be would go left and says racism is racism Ethiopian would go

says racism is racism Ethiopian would go

says racism is racism Ethiopian would go up to the attic and Sudanese down out of

up to the attic and Sudanese down out of

up to the attic and Sudanese down out of the hospital the game mechanics are

the hospital the game mechanics are

the hospital the game mechanics are fairly simple ID cards pop on screen and

fairly simple ID cards pop on screen and

fairly simple ID cards pop on screen and by the patient’s picture surname name

by the patient’s picture surname name

by the patient’s picture surname name and other data players who determine

and other data players who determine

and other data players who determine which race this ID belongs to and swipe

which race this ID belongs to and swipe

which race this ID belongs to and swipe at the right direction so when we just

at the right direction so when we just

at the right direction so when we just came out with the game it was perceived

came out with the game it was perceived

came out with the game it was perceived as twisted power they may be a joke but

as twisted power they may be a joke but

as twisted power they may be a joke but players that play the game report on an

players that play the game report on an

players that play the game report on an intense experience because you cannot

intense experience because you cannot

intense experience because you cannot play this game without this inner voice

play this game without this inner voice

play this game without this inner voice telling you what to do she looks like an

telling you what to do she looks like an

telling you what to do she looks like an Arab she should go left she looks more

Arab she should go left she looks more

Arab she should go left she looks more with the European the Sudanese up to the

with the European the Sudanese up to the

with the European the Sudanese up to the attic she goes and this inner voice it’s

attic she goes and this inner voice it’s

attic she goes and this inner voice it’s your voice and it starts speaking at you

your voice and it starts speaking at you

your voice and it starts speaking at you very fast in 15 seconds of play

very fast in 15 seconds of play

very fast in 15 seconds of play you’re already overwhelmed by your own

you’re already overwhelmed by your own

you’re already overwhelmed by your own racist voice

racist voice

racist voice to my surprise this game was a hit we

to my surprise this game was a hit we

to my surprise this game was a hit we became viral in a few hours and not

became viral in a few hours and not

became viral in a few hours and not before long hundred thousand of Israelis

before long hundred thousand of Israelis

before long hundred thousand of Israelis with zina Slee sorting women at the

with zina Slee sorting women at the

with zina Slee sorting women at the virtual hospital I have learned that

virtual hospital I have learned that

virtual hospital I have learned that under certain conditions implicit racism

under certain conditions implicit racism

under certain conditions implicit racism tends to be explicit racism all that is

tends to be explicit racism all that is

tends to be explicit racism all that is needed is a little push towards the edge

needed is a little push towards the edge

needed is a little push towards the edge I can totally understand how ideas of

I can totally understand how ideas of

I can totally understand how ideas of nationalism and discrimination appeal to

nationalism and discrimination appeal to

nationalism and discrimination appeal to so many people because the base is their

so many people because the base is their

so many people because the base is their implicit risk racism exists and it is

implicit risk racism exists and it is

implicit risk racism exists and it is everywhere even if we don’t feel it or

everywhere even if we don’t feel it or

everywhere even if we don’t feel it or see it or want to believe in its

see it or want to believe in its

see it or want to believe in its existence so what can we do I won’t

existence so what can we do I won’t

existence so what can we do I won’t leave you hanging because there is hope

leave you hanging because there is hope

leave you hanging because there is hope and the first step would be to

and the first step would be to

and the first step would be to acknowledge the situation and the second

acknowledge the situation and the second

acknowledge the situation and the second would be to design our conditions

would be to design our conditions

would be to design our conditions differently to design conditions that

differently to design conditions that

differently to design conditions that will force us to communicate conditions

will force us to communicate conditions

will force us to communicate conditions that will force us to build bridges

that will force us to build bridges

that will force us to build bridges instead of walls and it is not easy

instead of walls and it is not easy

instead of walls and it is not easy building these conditions it’s scary

building these conditions it’s scary

building these conditions it’s scary luckily we can practice in virtual

luckily we can practice in virtual

luckily we can practice in virtual worlds before we do it in the real world

worlds before we do it in the real world

worlds before we do it in the real world and again I’m looking at video games and

and again I’m looking at video games and

and again I’m looking at video games and on this castle you see this castle was

on this castle you see this castle was

on this castle you see this castle was built on the Minecraft platform it’s a

built on the Minecraft platform it’s a

built on the Minecraft platform it’s a big online game but the fact unique

big online game but the fact unique

big online game but the fact unique about this castle is that it was built

about this castle is that it was built

about this castle is that it was built by people who were supposed to be

by people who were supposed to be

by people who were supposed to be enemies this castle was built by a 50/50

enemies this castle was built by a 50/50

enemies this castle was built by a 50/50 mix group of Jewish and Arabs youngsters

mix group of Jewish and Arabs youngsters

mix group of Jewish and Arabs youngsters teenagers from all over the Middle East

teenagers from all over the Middle East

teenagers from all over the Middle East that answered a call to put their heads

that answered a call to put their heads

that answered a call to put their heads together fix what the adults have

together fix what the adults have

together fix what the adults have screwed up and built something build

screwed up and built something build

screwed up and built something build something together and they were

something together and they were

something together and they were speaking in three different languages

speaking in three different languages

speaking in three different languages Arabic Hebrew English they had to

Arabic Hebrew English they had to

Arabic Hebrew English they had to structure blocks in the 3d space they

structure blocks in the 3d space they

structure blocks in the 3d space they had to plan they had to communicate and

had to plan they had to communicate and

had to plan they had to communicate and it was not easy but here it is big and

it was not easy but here it is big and

it was not easy but here it is big and beautiful Debian – all the hateful

beautiful Debian – all the hateful

beautiful Debian – all the hateful species that are so popular in Israel

species that are so popular in Israel

species that are so popular in Israel and outside of it this initiative by the

and outside of it this initiative by the

and outside of it this initiative by the games for peace organization proves

games for peace organization proves

games for peace organization proves that under certain conditions people who

that under certain conditions people who

that under certain conditions people who are supposed to be enemies play

are supposed to be enemies play

are supposed to be enemies play amazingly well together in games that

amazingly well together in games that

amazingly well together in games that feature guns people excel at shooting

feature guns people excel at shooting

feature guns people excel at shooting other races faster than their own and in

other races faster than their own and in

other races faster than their own and in other games that features and promote

other games that features and promote

other games that features and promote segregation people excel at sorting and

segregation people excel at sorting and

segregation people excel at sorting and discriminating other people and in games

discriminating other people and in games

discriminating other people and in games that features creativity and

that features creativity and

that features creativity and conversation Jews and Arabs build

conversation Jews and Arabs build

conversation Jews and Arabs build wonderful things together it is our

wonderful things together it is our

wonderful things together it is our responsibility to choose which games we

responsibility to choose which games we

responsibility to choose which games we play and if these games do not exist to

play and if these games do not exist to

play and if these games do not exist to go out and create them thank you very

go out and create them thank you very

go out and create them thank you very much

much

much [Applause]

”

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