[Trigger Warning] So this whole thing with Penny Arcade and the rape jokes

[justira]

In case you haven't heard, just in case, Penny Arcade published a strip with a rape joke and there was a reaction post on Shakesville, with two follow-ups so far.

This, I realize, shook me pretty badly in terms, of well. Nerd culture, gaming culture. I sequester myself in areas that try, with however much fumbling, to at least think about social justice issues. So it's kind of a kick in the face every time I realize how small those islands are and how not in the same place even intelligent people like Tycho and Gabe are.


But let's set all of that aside for a moment.

I really, really, really want to ask every single person who jumped to the strip's defense one question; one question and its corollaries:

Do you find rape funny?

I mean. Seriously. Do you find rape funny? If you were raped, would you find that funny? Would you like your friends to find it funny? If your friend were raped, would that be funny?

I mean, I really wonder. In my head I know that there is a collection of people out there who can stop, think, and say with complete honesty, "Yes, I think rape is funny." But in my heart I just can't accept this, and I definitely can't accept the idea that all, or even most, of the people who defend the Penny Arcade strip are like that.

I know, I know: the problem is that they refuse to frame the question to themselves that way. There's always a "but" involved. No, rape isn't funny, but these are imaginary characters! No, rape isn't funny, but you see this joke isn't about rape. This is where all the tripping-up seems to happen and I know those arguments could go on forever.

But I swear, I really wonder, if these people just sat the fuck down and thought this one out: what would happen?

I don't find rape funny, but this joke is about imaginary rape of imaginary people. But wait, what's funny there if it's a joke about rape?

I don't find rape funny, but this joke isn't about rape. Then why is the rape in it? Isn't rape deeply unfunny enough to kill any joke? So why is this supposed to be funny again?

=|

Comments

[lassarina]

Word.

The thing I find most amazing about this is watching the PA fanboys vehemently proving John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory. Repeatedly. And with vigor. And more vehemence.

I mean--seriously, guys, don't you have anything better to do?

[stealth_noodle]

That vitriolic "can't you take a joke" crowd always seems to consist of people who absolutely cannot take any criticism of something they like. Because apparently responding to a rape joke with "Hey, rape isn't actually funny, and this feeds into some really nasty cultural shit" is beyond the pale, but it's totally justifiable to react to that criticism with death threats and general raging fuckwaddery. >:/

[lassarina]

absolutely cannot take any critcism of something they like - THIS. I mean. I am a pretty fierce fangirl of a bunch of things, but I still manage to admit when they're problematic, at least most of the time.

[stealth_noodle]

Seriously! It should not be so hard to get that criticism of a problematic aspect of something ≠ declaring that something is 100% terrible forever ≠ personally attacking everyone who enjoys it, but emotional over-investment has made fools of us all at one point or another.

[cesy]

Ugh, I missed that one. *sigh*