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Gay epithets in Penny Arcade
kongpl8
__BANNED USERS regular
__BANNED USERS regular
Gabe and Tycho,
I just found your comic strip. At first I loved it. In fact, I thought I had found a new home. Your writing and commentary on the shared experiences of gamers gave me a sense of belonging, but then I continued to read your strip and saw instances where the two of you used “gayâ€, “queerâ€, “homo†and similar epithets in your writing. That’s not uncommon, but most writers include a foil – some character that puts the joke in perspective. Since you don’t do that, I doubted my first impression about you.
Me: I am a gamer. And I am a gay gamer, too. I would like to think I am simply ignored by developers and players, but in order to be ignored, my existence would have to first be acknowledged. I play the same video games you guys do – I face the same challenges and meet the same fictional characters. Despite that, I am not accepted into your group.
If you want to be a truly brilliant comic, stick to what makes your fans laugh – the bizarre world of gaming. Trash-talking is part of that world, but you don’t need to use epithets. X-Play’s “It Came from X-Box Live†segment does a great job of spoofing smack-talk. Most of the actual dialog is bleeped – maybe that’s why it’s so funny.
To sum up – I really want to like Penny Arcade – it’s made me laugh at myself. But after reading back through it a couple of years, I realize that even in the sub-culture of gamers there are cliques and places guarded by velvet ropes.
Last word: In your lifetime, at least one friend you have is gay/lesbian. If you never hear about it, it’s probably because they don’t trust you. Stand up for them because being neutral about an issue doesn’t help.
I just found your comic strip. At first I loved it. In fact, I thought I had found a new home. Your writing and commentary on the shared experiences of gamers gave me a sense of belonging, but then I continued to read your strip and saw instances where the two of you used “gayâ€, “queerâ€, “homo†and similar epithets in your writing. That’s not uncommon, but most writers include a foil – some character that puts the joke in perspective. Since you don’t do that, I doubted my first impression about you.
Me: I am a gamer. And I am a gay gamer, too. I would like to think I am simply ignored by developers and players, but in order to be ignored, my existence would have to first be acknowledged. I play the same video games you guys do – I face the same challenges and meet the same fictional characters. Despite that, I am not accepted into your group.
If you want to be a truly brilliant comic, stick to what makes your fans laugh – the bizarre world of gaming. Trash-talking is part of that world, but you don’t need to use epithets. X-Play’s “It Came from X-Box Live†segment does a great job of spoofing smack-talk. Most of the actual dialog is bleeped – maybe that’s why it’s so funny.
To sum up – I really want to like Penny Arcade – it’s made me laugh at myself. But after reading back through it a couple of years, I realize that even in the sub-culture of gamers there are cliques and places guarded by velvet ropes.
Last word: In your lifetime, at least one friend you have is gay/lesbian. If you never hear about it, it’s probably because they don’t trust you. Stand up for them because being neutral about an issue doesn’t help.
kongpl8 on
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This discussion has been closed.
Posts
Making fun of gays makes us laugh.
Be a gamer. Great. You're with us.
I don't see what orientation has to do with a hobby like this to be blunt
perhaps I should salmon this quote? :winky:
edit: beat'd
Here's the real problem, folks. kong things X-play is funny.
Yeah, I get that. But the fact that it hurts you does not mean you're being persecuted.
Or that other homosexuals lack a sense of humor.
Good luck with this line of logic, while I agree with it and it is the correct one I really must say good luck.
I did, but by starting your post "Gabe and Tycho" I assumed that they where your target audience. If you really want them to know what you think I would email them.
Oh god don't be ignorant now
Plus everyone knows all gay guys are very witty and sharp
I am ever the diplomat. It is my gift and my curse.
Kong: If you know they don't care about your sexual orientation, what is the concern?
Thanks for the advice, but as I wrote previously, I was being cathartic. I don't care if the writers read my post or not.
I really can't remember them using any sort of gay epithets.
Do you have links to the strip so I could understand exactly what you're talking about?
He's also been shown to be the one who wants to have sex with Spiderman.
If I recall correctly, it's pretty much exactly as he describes it.
I wrote in my first post that there are cliques in gaming. I was expressing my disappointment.
there are cliques in everything. I don't know why you expected different.
Yeah, I think scenes like that are hilarious. But an epithet is not funny.
On the black screen
... Describes it where?
He says "uses gay epithets", lists some, and then nothing.
I mean, okay. But I can't for the life of me remember the context...
One of the grammar buddies comics?
So your disappointment really has nothing to do with the comic.
You were reminded of the prescence of bigots in the world and... Uh... Either your train of thought got de-railed at that point, or I just lost it completely.
Could you link one?
I didn't expect it to be different. I am griping about a facet of Penny Arcade.
Make less sense.
Seriously. I'm trying to be understanding. It is my nature. But you have to meet me half-way.
The existence of which you've yet to support with evidence.
The characters, especially Gabe, is intollerant.
The creators are decidedly NOT intollerant.
Are you upset at -fictional characters-?
Geez, did you read my post? ...To sum up – I really want to like Penny Arcade – it’s made me laugh at myself. But after reading back through it a couple of years, I realize that even in the sub-culture of gamers there are cliques and places guarded by velvet ropes.
Yeah, I saw that. Repeating it doesn't serve to clarify the intent or meaning behind it.