Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?

[Phil Masters]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

So, some people say Broad-Minded is merely an open mind, while others call it a minor active interest in people of a different culture/ethnicity/race.

In the former case, it has to be a roleplayable open mind - it has to be something that the GM can plausibly penalise you for failing to act on. That's why there's at least a slight sense that it should be disadvantageous; if this is trivially normal behaviour in the setting and there's no incentive for you to ignore the quirk or difficulty in remembering it, taking that quirk is hardly a "contract to roleplay". "Oh yeah, that guy who hangs out with haints and spriggans - bit of a freak, though he seems quite cool when you talk to him."

[Mailanka]

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

In the former case, it has to be a roleplayable open mind - it has to be something that the GM can plausibly penalise you for failing to act on. That's why there's at least a slight sense that it should be disadvantageous; if this is trivially normal behaviour in the setting and there's no incentive for you to ignore the quirk or difficulty in remembering it, taking that quirk is hardly a "contract to roleplay". "Oh yeah, that guy who hangs out with haints and spriggans - bit of a freak, though he seems quite cool when you talk to him."

Right, it becomes the equivelant of "Wears clothes" or "gets upset when people are mean to him."

You have to up those a little too "Really fascinated by clothes and fashion" or "Splutters and stutters when angry" or "curses constantly when angry."

[Wraithe]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

I've always wondered this, especially in a "normal" TL8 type setting (such as our Earth).

Sorry, don't mean to add to it, but I wanted to point out, that "normal" TL8 society still contains a lot of prejudices, which would cause broad-minded to come into play. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of places where the simple phrase:

"Ahh, the Yankees are an okay team of fellas*" could get you in a fair amount of trouble.

*for folks across the pond, please substitute "Arsenal" for "Yankees". :)

I think until you're in an Utopian society, where there are no prejudices, Broad-Minded is still a Quirk, worth -1. And I'm betting the adventures there are a bit slow. :)

[Ragitsu]

Originally Posted by Wraithe

I think until you're in an Utopian society, where there are no prejudices, Broad-Minded is still a Quirk, worth -1. And I'm betting the adventures there are a bit slow. :)

Then why is Chauvinistic worth a -1 in society where prejudice still flourishes? How serious does a view on a subject have to be before it's considered a prejudice anyhow?

[Wraithe]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

Then why is Chauvinistic worth a -1 in society where prejudice still flourishes? How serious does a view on a subject have to be before it's considered a prejudice anyhow?

Sort of a reverse of broad minded;

Broad-Minded: You potentially garner a negative reaction because you don't share a particular Chauvinism.

Chauvinistic: You potentially garner a negative reaction because you make someone a target of a particular Chauvanism. :)