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2021/08/04 22:06:49
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
All of their vehicles are named after fish, and some of their mechs are vaguely related, I would assume?
‘What Lorgar’s fanatics have not seen is that these gods are nothing compared to the power and the majesty of the Machine-God. Already, members of our growing cult are using the grace of the Omnissiah – the true Omnissiah, not Terra’s false prophet – to harness the might of the warp. Geller fields, warp missiles, void shields, all these things you are familiar with. But their underlying principles can be turned to so much more. Through novel exploitations of these technologies we will gain mastery first over the energies of the empyrean, then over the lesser entities, until finally the very gods themselves will bend the knee and recognise the supremacy of the Machine-God"
- Heretek Ardim Protos in Titandeath by Guy Haley
2021/08/04 22:26:21
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
I believe that the particular meme group you are referencing is simply another facet of racism regarding anything seen as Asian or Asian inspired.
This is particularly baffling for the Tau, as while they may have some mildly Asian/anime inspired roots, they have evolved far beyond that IMO into something quite interesting and unique.
However, one doesn't expect much nuance from a simple and possibly mean spirited meme.
2021/08/04 22:46:59
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
Man, if the T'au memes are because of racism, people must really hate Romans, because the Blueberries are very much memed.
‘What Lorgar’s fanatics have not seen is that these gods are nothing compared to the power and the majesty of the Machine-God. Already, members of our growing cult are using the grace of the Omnissiah – the true Omnissiah, not Terra’s false prophet – to harness the might of the warp. Geller fields, warp missiles, void shields, all these things you are familiar with. But their underlying principles can be turned to so much more. Through novel exploitations of these technologies we will gain mastery first over the energies of the empyrean, then over the lesser entities, until finally the very gods themselves will bend the knee and recognise the supremacy of the Machine-God"
- Heretek Ardim Protos in Titandeath by Guy Haley
2021/08/05 02:38:34
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
IRRC we've had in-universe examples of Orks referring to Tau "fish face" or some such as far back as 4th edition.
Other than that it's probably some combination of their vehicle naming, visual issues (they basically have a fish-eye effect), their appearance, and some RL racism.
AngryAngel80 wrote: I don't know, when I see awesome rules, I'm like " Baby, your rules looking so fine. Maybe I gotta add you to my first strike battalion eh ? "
I think for the vast majority of people its because they see a race with its vehicle units named after aquatic stuff and has blue skin with no nose so they think its a fish person. They don't pay attention to the fact that they have hooves nor do they know the lore about them coming from a rather arid world.
Feel like the racism angle is a bit of grasping at straws. Tau infantry and suit armor is based roughly on feudal Japanese armor while their usage of battlesuits (and GW leaning into it in more recent years) plays to the anime tropes of mecha (Gundam in particular). There is also Tau sounding like how a western English speaker would initially pronounce Taoism. So the association between the Tau and Asian culture isn't unfounded (maybe the initial designers for the Tau played into stereotypes a bit much) but I don't think the fans saying Tau = fish people is somehow a racist slight.
"Hold my shoota, I'm goin in"
Armies (7th edition points)
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4000 Points
+ + 3000 Points "The Fiery Heart of the Emperor"
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3000 Points "Bard's Booze Cruise"
2021/08/05 03:59:43
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
You don't really see the hooves on most models unless you're looking closely, what you do see is blue people with no nose that name their stuff after fish and wear helmets that look kinda like they've got rebreathers. It's not that hard to figure out, you don't have to go looking for racism as a reason when there's a much more obvious one staring you in the face.
2021/08/05 04:12:28
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
I think it comes from the fact that their mainstay vehicles are all named after fish.
As well as a long time ago they had a tactic called fish of fury where they used devilfishes to wall off their gunline while their troops could shoot through.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/08/05 04:12:46
2021/08/05 04:13:53
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
Just echoing others. The vehicles have fish names. People are trained to think blue = water = fish. The lack of noses doesn't help. People who aren't interested in Tau (beyond the memes) don't know anything about their fluff or anatomy.
ATTENTION. Psychic tests are unfluffy. Your longing for AV is understandable but misguided. Your chapter doesn't need a separate codex. Doctrines should go away. Being a "troop" means nothing. This has been a cranky service announcement. You may now resume your regularly scheduled arguing.
2021/08/05 06:27:00
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
Vehicles have fish names: Piranha, Devilfish, Hammerhead, Skyray, Remora, Manta, Orca, Tetra, Sunshark, Razorshark, Tigershark, Barracuda.
Some battlesuits have sea or ship related names: Riptide, Broadside, Ghostkeel, Stormsurge.
Even the fortification line has a sea related name: Tidewall Gunrig/Droneport/Shieldline.
Associating blue aliens with fish and sea references to "fish people" is easy.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/08/05 07:03:22
2021/08/05 07:06:14
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
Jarms48 wrote: I think it comes from the fact that their mainstay vehicles are all named after fish.
As well as a long time ago they had a tactic called fish of fury where they used devilfishes to wall off their gunline while their troops could shoot through.
All those repressed memories.... Flooding back... Wait, flood...fish...Tau...
*Angry screaming*
Jokes aside its just a meme the community has used for years now and it embedded into fan lexicon. Its same level of meme as Abaddon is a armless failure (Because his original metal model was notorious to keep the arms on, even with pinning sometimes)
2021/08/05 09:00:24
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
Jarms48 wrote:I think it comes from the fact that their mainstay vehicles are all named after fish.
As well as a long time ago they had a tactic called fish of fury where they used devilfishes to wall off their gunline while their troops could shoot through.
yukishiro1 wrote:You don't really see the hooves on most models unless you're looking closely, what you do see is blue people with no nose that name their stuff after fish and wear helmets that look kinda like they've got rebreathers. It's not that hard to figure out, you don't have to go looking for racism as a reason when there's a much more obvious one staring you in the face.
Just an 'ackshually' moment: The Tau don't name their stuff like that. All their vehicles and equipment are named as codes ('XV104' is the Tau name for the Riptide; no Tau ever calls that specific battlesuit 'Riptide'). The 'fishy' names are given by the Imperium, because their appearance or battle role reminds them of ancient Terran aquatic creatures. It really makes no sense whatsoever, but this is 40k and sense has no place here.
The alphanumerical designations for vehicles are fairly recent, I don't believe they were a thing before the 6th edition codex at the earliest.
Battlesuits were always like that though, with names like XV-8 Crisis Suit, at least as long as I remember.
They used to just be called "Devilfish", "Hammerhead", etc etc.
Also, when discussing where community memes came from, deep lore explanations of name origins isn't really important.
2021/08/05 09:45:07
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
The racism comment are hilarious. I've used /tg/ since the day it was created and not once have I associated the T'au fish meme as being racist nor have I seen anyone do so. This is the kind of thing Extra Credits got in trouble for a while ago for assuming that everyone thinks evil orcs are analogous to black people.
2021/08/05 09:59:21
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
leerm02 wrote: I believe that the particular meme group you are referencing is simply another facet of racism regarding anything seen as Asian or Asian inspired.
I don't buy it, at least in regard to this. Stuff like /tg/ talking about the supposed sterilization camps or calling a clearly Indian-inspired caste system "communism" are far more appropriate examples.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/08/05 10:01:43
The thing about 40k is that no one person can grasp the fullness of it.
Sim-Life wrote: The racism comment are hilarious. I've used /tg/ since the day it was created and not once have I associated the T'au fish meme as being racist nor have I seen anyone do so. This is the kind of thing Extra Credits got in trouble for a while ago for assuming that everyone thinks evil orcs are analogous to black people.
I know, cramming racism into everything is so ridiculous.
2021/08/05 10:31:12
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
I didn't knew you could be racist against a non human. The more you learn, the wierder the world gets.
If you have to kill, then kill in the best manner. If you slaughter, then slaughter in the best manner. Let one of you sharpen his knife so his animal feels no pain.
2021/08/05 10:36:20
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
Because they are blue and their vehicles are named after fish.
Even though they have hooves and live on a world described as arid with steppes.
Memes aren't known to be smart.
What I have
~4100
~1660
Westwood lives in death!
Peace through power!
A longbeard when it comes to Necrons and WHFB. Grumble Grumble
2021/08/05 10:38:27
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
Valkyrie wrote: Just jumping on this one, can someone also explain where the whole "Blood Ravens are thieves" meme comes from as well?
In the Dawn of War games you unlock relics, these relics are often from other chapters. So you might find Guilliman's sword or Dorn's helmet or whatever.
Hence the Blood Ravens have been stealing other people's relics.
Automatically Appended Next Post: 40k has a lot of memes. Some of these memes have been around for so long and have lost so much humour that people forget or don't even realise they're memes.
I had a discussion with someone the other day that genuinely believed if Orks painted themselves purple they turned invisible.
It's bizarre. I thought that was a relatively recent meme and was so obviously an absurd meme. But nope, that was proper canon to this guy.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/08/05 11:03:34
2021/08/05 11:05:39
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
Valkyrie wrote: Just jumping on this one, can someone also explain where the whole "Blood Ravens are thieves" meme comes from as well?
In the Dawn of War games you unlock relics, these relics are often from other chapters. So you might find Guilliman's sword or Dorn's helmet or whatever.
Hence the Blood Ravens have been stealing other people's relics.
Automatically Appended Next Post: 40k has a lot of memes. Some of these memes have been around for so long and have lost so much humour that people forget or don't even realise they're memes.
I had a discussion with someone the other day that genuinely believed if Orks painted themselves purple they turned invisible.
It's bizarre. I thought that was a relatively recent meme and was so obviously an absurd meme. But nope, that was proper canon to this guy.
When mechanicus anoint machines with holy waters some interpret it as oil being used to lubricate the machine as normal; others read it as actual holy water from a holy well with magical properties
And in the Grim future of the 41st Millennium - both are likely correct
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/08/05 11:10:04
Valkyrie wrote: Just jumping on this one, can someone also explain where the whole "Blood Ravens are thieves" meme comes from as well?
In the Dawn of War games you unlock relics, these relics are often from other chapters. So you might find Guilliman's sword or Dorn's helmet or whatever.
Hence the Blood Ravens have been stealing other people's relics.
Note that reading the descriptions of the various weapons/wargear in Dawn of War II reveals that the vast majority are just named after other Chapters/Primarchs, but there is no indication that they originated from them.
2021/08/05 11:14:39
Subject: Can anyone explain how the 'tau are fish' meme comes from?
40k has a lot of memes. Some of these memes have been around for so long and have lost so much humour that people forget or don't even realise they're memes.
I had a discussion with someone the other day that genuinely believed if Orks painted themselves purple they turned invisible.
It's bizarre. I thought that was a relatively recent meme and was so obviously an absurd meme. But nope, that was proper canon to this guy.
Lore Youtube channels presenting theories as facts have a lot to answer for. Orks being able to make guns work just by believing they do is the biggest IMO. It was a theory presented by a techpriest who was to dumb to understand how ork weapons work so he comes to the assumption that orks must be able to warp reality. It was mentioned once in a 3rd Ed codex and never again until some fa/tg/uys thought it was funny and talked about it.
What was once a small lore snippet about a techpriest's arrogance towards what he considered a lesser kulture is now absolute canon to a lot of people.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/08/05 11:15:48