... I don't think the game producers should whitewash history for today's sensibilities. It's only by understanding how things were actually done in the past, that we can improve on what we ourselves are doing today.
But but but history is being whitewashed and distorted all the time in this game. Some things are close enough to be endearing, but it's hardly a realistic depiction of European history.
Some people are letting the developers/artists know they find the graphics and/or concept of the whale-oil plant disturbing. The developers/artists can do what they want with that input, obviously, but saying that particular depiction needs to remain in order to preserve some sort of "historical accuracy" isn't a very strong argument.
The argument that the building "needs to look distinctive" by portraying strung-up animals isn't a very convincing one either - there's nothing particularly distinctive about the other Industrial Age goods buildings. I don't see any heaps of guano, miners coughing their lungs out, filthy child labourers, etc.
And "I'm not offended by it so no one else should be" isn't any more persuasive than "I'm offended by it so everyone should be". Attempting to change other people's sensibilities isn't (or shouldn't be) the point. It's simply information for the artists/devs: That part of the game is troubling to some people, so they may want to tone down the graphics, or think up an alternative industry (like steel or opium - for medicinal purposes only, of course! :cool
, or let people "trade in" an unwanted whale deposit for one of the other goods. What would be wrong with that (other than "it's too much trouble")?
In which case they can also opt to simply ignore the fact that some people don't want strung-up animals festooning their towns.