Comments | theotherbaldwin: How Penny Arcade Made It Worse

theotherbaldwin

How Penny Arcade Made It Worse

Feb 02, 2011 15:19

Originally posted as a comment by me at metafilter:

)TRIGGER WARNING for discussions of rape, requoting of rape humor, and rape survivor shaming)

( Cut for triggers )

Comments 46

pretzelcoatl February 2 2011, 21:48:07 UTC

This whole thing has infuriated me as it has escalated. I was only an on- and off-again fan of the comic but otherwise thought that they were less obnoxious than this; I can only imagine how it feels for the people who were originally fans but feel attacked because of how this whole thing has been treated.

I'm really proud of you and my other friends, though, for speaking out.

theotherbaldwin February 3 2011, 06:39:48 UTC

It's weird because they're had reasoned responses to previous comic fan pushbacks. They've eloquently addressed issues like mentalillness and anxiety and medication. Tycho called out Gabe before on sexist stuff, and Gabe learned from it. So, it's like... there was hope!

Thank you for the support. Coming from someone I often look up to, that means a lot.

ren13 February 2 2011, 22:19:12 UTC

Boo. Hoo.

theotherbaldwin February 3 2011, 04:06:35 UTC

I'm sorry, I don't think we've met.

(The comment has been removed)

narratorsmiles February 3 2011, 04:37:28 UTC

I don't know if targeting advertisers would be the smartest thing only because the aim isn't to take down or destroy pax or anything

(The comment has been removed)

theotherbaldwin February 3 2011, 03:58:44 UTC

BP, I am sorry that I hurt you. I figured that the caps-warning and text line would be sufficient. This is not an excuse, it is an explanation. While my intent was not to hurt or trigger anyone, that wasn't obviously not what happened. I didn't think it all through, and my actions hurt you. It is inexcusable and indefensible. I am very sorry, and very ashamed.

I would hate to lose you as a reader, or a friend, especially for all the good you have done for me. I will make absolutely sure that in addition to explicit textual trigger warnings that I place all potentially triggering material behind a cut.

anonymous February 5 2011, 23:05:02 UTC

Jeezus, the dude forgot the LJ Cut tag; does it really warrant quite so much drama from you?

theotherbaldwin February 6 2011, 18:18:59 UTC

Hey, nbda1997 is you're going to after someone, you might want to try signing in first. As you can see, signign in anonymously requires the extra step of a captcha. I can also see the IP address of everyone that posts a comment, so this one matches the exact same IP address you've used the last several times to make comments.

Anyhow, I address the matter of trigger warnings and why a simple textual one doesn't offer the same warning or ability to skip over potentially triggering content in comment further down here:

http://theotherbaldwin.livejournal.com/294753.html?thread=1125985#t1125985

Thread 6

mneko February 3 2011, 03:07:06 UTC

Honestly? I don't you're going to be satisfied with anything less than total supplication, and I don't think you're going to just let bygones be bygones even if they give you the kind of groveling apology you demand. This should have ended with "your comic disgusts me and I refuse to read it," rather than escalating into the shrill melodrama it's become ( ... )

theotherbaldwin February 3 2011, 04:01:17 UTC

You have a pretty impressive collection of strawmen here, but this was the line that surprised me the most.

"Honestly, this is crossing the line from legitimate dissent to outright harassment."

Are you fucking KIDDING me?

mneko February 3 2011, 04:44:20 UTC

Ooh, the classic "strawmen" response! I bet that makes you feel smug and intellectually superior, but what you're conveniently missing is that Penny Arcade is not your comic. You don't own the rights to it, you don't write the scripts for it, and you don't draw the artwork for it. If you don't like what the authors do with the strip, stop reading it. That is the extent of your control, and if you believe otherwise you're kidding yourself ( ... )

theotherbaldwin February 3 2011, 07:11:14 UTC

"What frightens me most about the way you're acting is the notion that words and ideas can not only offend someone, but TRAUMATIZE them; literally do them grievous emotional harm. What does that mean for free speech? If you can't say X because X will make someone curl up in a ball and cry themselves to sleep, X quickly spreads to Y, then Z, and so on until the topics of discussion are limited to "How's the weather?" and "Boy, I hate Mondays ( ... )

Thread 16