Novelite
Newcomer
I'm estranged from both of my parents due to neglect and serious psychological abuse.
I understand there are many players with good relationships with their parents who enjoy the letters and gifts, and some who even want more parental contact to be added to the game. I both envy and am happy for those players. I don't object to them getting more of what they want if that's in the plan.
But for me, the letters from "mom" feel like threats. Not just like you would feel about a video game boss threatening your player character; but imagine if a video game were to include dialogue that threatens you, the player, personally, at a level that makes you fear for your actual, real life safety. That's what it feels like.
Consciously, I know that it's just a game. And consciously, I certainly understand that's not the intent of this content in the game. But unconsciously, those feelings are still the result of decades of survival conditioning borne of abuse.
So to say that I don't enjoy getting the letters from "home" in Stardew Valley would be a gross understatement.
I've seen the occasional similar comment on Reddit and such from others who, like me, were mistreated by their parents. I don't and wouldn't ask for the letters from home to be removed from the game, I don't want to deprive those who like this content. But please, for the sake of those of us in therapy for parental abuse, please include an option to turn off any contact from the player character's parents. For us, it ends up being a very jarring and disturbing part of this otherwise wonderful game.
Thank you.
I understand there are many players with good relationships with their parents who enjoy the letters and gifts, and some who even want more parental contact to be added to the game. I both envy and am happy for those players. I don't object to them getting more of what they want if that's in the plan.
But for me, the letters from "mom" feel like threats. Not just like you would feel about a video game boss threatening your player character; but imagine if a video game were to include dialogue that threatens you, the player, personally, at a level that makes you fear for your actual, real life safety. That's what it feels like.
Consciously, I know that it's just a game. And consciously, I certainly understand that's not the intent of this content in the game. But unconsciously, those feelings are still the result of decades of survival conditioning borne of abuse.
So to say that I don't enjoy getting the letters from "home" in Stardew Valley would be a gross understatement.
I've seen the occasional similar comment on Reddit and such from others who, like me, were mistreated by their parents. I don't and wouldn't ask for the letters from home to be removed from the game, I don't want to deprive those who like this content. But please, for the sake of those of us in therapy for parental abuse, please include an option to turn off any contact from the player character's parents. For us, it ends up being a very jarring and disturbing part of this otherwise wonderful game.
Thank you.
