Reading some of the responses here about wanting to play the original foursome in this DLC has reignited concern I have for some of our fellow gamers and their responses to the characters.

From my in-game experiences and forum surfing over the last year, the three characters that get the most "complaints" by far have been Rochelle, Coach and Louis (not necessarily in that order). Do these characters have anything in common?

I have heard and read the word "nigger" in-game A LOT in reference to these characters. I am astonished not so much by the word's usage, but the casualty with which its used. As a black gamer, I'm occasionally offended, but almost never say anything because to each his own. I'm not going to get into an argument with some random individual over it, or try to "educate" them. However, offending players somehow never seem to receive healing or rescue for me unless I'm their only option ... strange. :)

What does this say about us in general? Does the fact that the characters are black actually have that much of a negative impact on your ability to play as the character? I mean, I'm not saying that Rochelle should have mounds of praise heaped on her, but why the disdain?

I know that in this desire for the original 4, Louis is getting some props, but I haven't forgotten the nasty things I've heard and read that outweigh the positive or indifferent. Let's not be revisionist. And let us have a mature conversation on this subject.