: I'm all for representation and equality in fiction and in life. That said...
: in both fiction and life, I don't go around judging people for being who
: they are. Including straight or cisgendered people. A lot of what I see
: above almost comes across as heterophobic. I mean... do you go around
: judging straight people in real life the way you do in fiction? I think
: most of us just read a story and accept it, or see a person and accept
: them. We shouldn't get mad at them or try to change their mind, just like
: we shouldn't with how a fictional character's written.

: Halo's future has always been very based in contemporary times.
: Transgenderism and even non-heterosexual relationships are just now
: starting to become more openly accepted, so it only follows that Halo will
: catch up as society does. I'm not saying it's where we should be at, but
: you still can't deny the reality of how things currently are.

: I'm not saying to stop being vocal and to stop pushing the developers to do a
: better job at this... I just think you have to keep your expectations
: grounded, and above all be understanding.

I like this community.
I like it because it is small and the members are articulate enough that we get to know each other as individuals. On the Halo Waypoint forums, you don't have a clue who anybody is or what they believe, except for surface details like whether they like Spartans or ODSTs more. There's a few people who rise above it, but they are a few bright shining individuals in a swarm of buzzing drones.

You get to know people here. You know them as neighbors and friends, and you get to know who they are beyond their hobbies. Everyone has beliefs and ideals, which shape everything from their politics to what they like in their fiction. By coming here and talking and celebrating the fiction we love, we slowly learn what the other believes in. Or we think we do.

Sometimes, you read something that makes you re-evaluate what you know about a person. You find that you may share more than just a common interest in a game about a transhuman space marine shooting aliens in the face. And while your beliefs don't overlap, they are at least congruent.

Thank you.

(Also, is there any more where this came from? It's beautiful.)