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Gay epithets in Penny Arcade

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    DogDog Registered User, Administrator, Vanilla Staff admin
    edited October 2007
    yeah to be honest i'm lost now. Although I would love some context because I haven't dug through the archives in a while.

    Unknown User on
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Incenjucar wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »

    there are cliques in everything. I don't know why you expected different.

    I didn't expect it to be different. I am griping about a facet of Penny Arcade.

    The characters, especially Gabe, is intollerant.

    The creators are decidedly NOT intollerant.

    Are you upset at -fictional characters-?

    Sure. You probably are, too. When you watch a movie, play a game, or read a book, you are experiencing life vicariously.

    kongpl8 on
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    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Sure. You probably are, too. When you watch a movie, play a game, or read a book, you are experiencing life vicariously.

    I've been there, yeah.

    But what we all want to know is...

    What is the purpose of this thread? Is there any purpose at all?

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    IncenjucarIncenjucar VChatter Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Sure. You probably are, too. When you watch a movie, play a game, or read a book, you are experiencing life vicariously.

    Nope.

    Incenjucar on
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    durandal4532durandal4532 Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    robothero wrote: »
    yeah to be honest i'm lost now. Although I would love some context because I haven't dug through the archives in a while.
    Please! Context!

    When was it established Gabe hates gay people? Why are people acting like it's self evident?

    I still can only remember the one or two Grammar Buddies comics making fun of horrible speech patterns online...

    durandal4532 on
    Take a moment to donate what you can to Critical Resistance and Black Lives Matter.
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    _J_ wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »

    there are cliques in everything. I don't know why you expected different.

    I didn't expect it to be different. I am griping about a facet of Penny Arcade.

    The existence of which you've yet to support with evidence.

    I'm too busy posting replies to link. I don't think I want to reply to you anyway, but just this once.

    kongpl8 on
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    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Never you mind him. Incenjucar just doesn't have any feelings.

    J just doesn't know any better.

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    _J__J_ Pedant Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    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.

    What do you mean by "even in the sub-culture of gamers there are cliques and places guarded by velvet ropes."?

    And can you provide evidence to support your claim?

    _J_ on
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Church wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Sure. You probably are, too. When you watch a movie, play a game, or read a book, you are experiencing life vicariously.

    I've been there, yeah.

    But what we all want to know is...

    What is the purpose of this thread? Is there any purpose at all?

    If you feel it has no purpose... move on. Why post here in the first place?

    kongpl8 on
  • Options
    sdrawkcaB emaNsdrawkcaB emaN regular
    edited October 2007
    First of all, not the place for catharsis. This is not your livejournal.

    Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say that it's fairly obvious to everyone here that there's a certain atmosphere of irony in which these things are said (written).

    Similar to the way that The Far Side (who is transgender) calls people "faggot" in SE as much (or more) than anyone else.

    Context.

    Context

    sdrawkcaB emaN on
  • Options
    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Church wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Sure. You probably are, too. When you watch a movie, play a game, or read a book, you are experiencing life vicariously.

    I've been there, yeah.

    But what we all want to know is...

    What is the purpose of this thread? Is there any purpose at all?

    If you feel it has no purpose... move on. Why post here in the first place?

    Because it is my nature to try to understand the viewpoints of others.

    I don't get the feeling that the thread has no purpose. I just don't know what the purpose is.

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    moniker wrote: »
    You do realize that homoeroticism fuels a good bit of the interplay and humor, right? Not to mention the inanity of actually being offended by epithets that aren't being directed at you personally. Even then it's rather idiotic to be pissed off at being called gay by a jackass rather than just being pissed at the jackass.

    There's nothing erotic - homo or otherwise - about Penny Arcade (at least what I've read). An epithet doesn't have to be directed at me to be offensive to me.

    kongpl8 on
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    AroducAroduc regular
    edited October 2007
    What's manlove got to do got to do with it?

    What's manlove but a second hand emotion?

    Aroduc on
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    _J__J_ Pedant Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    There's nothing erotic - homo or otherwise - about Penny Arcade (at least what I've read).

    You can't have read much if you haven't met Fruit Fucker.

    _J_ on
  • Options
    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    suilimeA wrote: »
    First of all, not the place for catharsis. This is not your livejournal.

    Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say that it's fairly obvious to everyone here that there's a certain atmosphere of irony in which these things are said (written).

    Similar to the way that The Far Side (who is transgender) calls people "faggot" in SE as much (or more) than anyone else.

    Context.

    Context

    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    I'm not aware of the reference you made to The Far Side.

    kongpl8 on
  • Options
    durandal4532durandal4532 Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    suilimeA wrote: »
    First of all, not the place for catharsis. This is not your livejournal.

    Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say that it's fairly obvious to everyone here that there's a certain atmosphere of irony in which these things are said (written).

    Similar to the way that The Far Side (who is transgender) calls people "faggot" in SE as much (or more) than anyone else.

    Context.

    Context

    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    I'm not aware of the reference you made to The Far Side.

    A fellow forumer, who's transgender.

    durandal4532 on
    Take a moment to donate what you can to Critical Resistance and Black Lives Matter.
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    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    suilimeA wrote: »
    First of all, not the place for catharsis. This is not your livejournal.

    Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say that it's fairly obvious to everyone here that there's a certain atmosphere of irony in which these things are said (written).

    Similar to the way that The Far Side (who is transgender) calls people "faggot" in SE as much (or more) than anyone else.

    Context.

    Context

    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    I'm not aware of the reference you made to The Far Side.

    He means the forum user The Far Side, not whatever media you're thinking of.

    Now, please, elaborate as to what the purpose of this thread is. You clearly want to debate something, but what? The OP posed no question at all.

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    _J_ wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    There's nothing erotic - homo or otherwise - about Penny Arcade (at least what I've read).

    You can't have read much if you haven't met Fruit Fucker.

    By erotic I mean sexually arousing. The humor in Penny Arcade can be obscene and pornographic but not necessarily arousing.

    kongpl8 on
  • Options
    sdrawkcaB emaNsdrawkcaB emaN regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    suilimeA wrote: »
    First of all, not the place for catharsis. This is not your livejournal.

    Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say that it's fairly obvious to everyone here that there's a certain atmosphere of irony in which these things are said (written).

    Similar to the way that The Far Side (who is transgender) calls people "faggot" in SE as much (or more) than anyone else.

    Context.

    Context

    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    I'm not aware of the reference you made to The Far Side.

    Oh right shit that's a comic. I meant one of our posters.

    Edit - twice beat'd

    sdrawkcaB emaN on
  • Options
    IncenjucarIncenjucar VChatter Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    What, exactly, is your argument?

    Incenjucar on
  • Options
    sdrawkcaB emaNsdrawkcaB emaN regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    _J_ wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    There's nothing erotic - homo or otherwise - about Penny Arcade (at least what I've read).

    You can't have read much if you haven't met Fruit Fucker.

    By erotic I mean sexually arousing. The humor in Penny Arcade can be obscene and pornographic but not necessarily arousing.

    Yeah homoerotic kind of has a different meaning than that. As in, an activity/action/something said which has homosexual undertones.

    In Penny Arcade, both comic and forum (and lo, most any nerd-populated forum anywhere) homoeroticism is a goldmine of humor.

    sdrawkcaB emaN on
  • Options
    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Incenjucar wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    What, exactly, is your argument?

    That seems to be a closely guarded secret.

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Options
    sdrawkcaB emaNsdrawkcaB emaN regular
    edited October 2007
    Incenjucar wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    What, exactly, is your argument?

    Yes, you can't simply say things and expect a debate to spring up around it. You're generally expected to provide a dilemma, a claim, and evidence for said claim.

    Not that that always happens, but at least a clearly-stated one of the three would be nice.

    sdrawkcaB emaN on
  • Options
    DhalphirDhalphir don't you open that trapdoor you're a fool if you dareRegistered User regular
    edited October 2007
    In the context of saying "omg thats so gay" the word has become about as far removed from homosexuality as is possible.

    I would be willing to bet that there are kids out there who picked up on the word "gay" and use it, and don't even know what it means.

    Its become just another swear word.

    Dhalphir on
  • Options
    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Church wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    suilimeA wrote: »
    First of all, not the place for catharsis. This is not your livejournal.

    Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say that it's fairly obvious to everyone here that there's a certain atmosphere of irony in which these things are said (written).

    Similar to the way that The Far Side (who is transgender) calls people "faggot" in SE as much (or more) than anyone else.

    Context.

    Context

    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    I'm not aware of the reference you made to The Far Side.

    He means the forum user The Far Side, not whatever media you're thinking of.

    Thanks for the info. Church: do you know why The Far Side calls people faggot? Some transgender people come from a background of emotional pain, so maybe that is why he lashes out at others.

    kongpl8 on
  • Options
    sdrawkcaB emaNsdrawkcaB emaN regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Church wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    suilimeA wrote: »
    First of all, not the place for catharsis. This is not your livejournal.

    Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say that it's fairly obvious to everyone here that there's a certain atmosphere of irony in which these things are said (written).

    Similar to the way that The Far Side (who is transgender) calls people "faggot" in SE as much (or more) than anyone else.

    Context.

    Context

    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    I'm not aware of the reference you made to The Far Side.

    He means the forum user The Far Side, not whatever media you're thinking of.

    Thanks for the info. Church: do you know why The Far Side calls people faggot? Some transgender people come from a background of emotional pain, so maybe that is why he lashes out at others.

    Ahahahahahah.

    I love this kid.

    sdrawkcaB emaN on
  • Options
    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Church wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    suilimeA wrote: »
    First of all, not the place for catharsis. This is not your livejournal.

    Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say that it's fairly obvious to everyone here that there's a certain atmosphere of irony in which these things are said (written).

    Similar to the way that The Far Side (who is transgender) calls people "faggot" in SE as much (or more) than anyone else.

    Context.

    Context

    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    I'm not aware of the reference you made to The Far Side.

    He means the forum user The Far Side, not whatever media you're thinking of.

    Thanks for the info. Church: do you know why The Far Side calls people faggot? Some transgender people come from a background of emotional pain, so maybe that is why he lashes out at others.

    As far as I can tell, he's not lashing out at anyone. He (Or... She? What pronoun am I supposed to use here?) is just being ironic.

    Stop antagonising the guy, dammit. Wait until he actually tells us what his argument is. Then you can antagonise him.

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Dhalphir wrote: »
    In the context of saying "omg thats so gay" the word has become about as far removed from homosexuality as is possible.

    I would be willing to bet that there are kids out there who picked up on the word "gay" and use it, and don't even know what it means.

    Its become just another swear word.

    True. Gay already has a meaning: happy. But I don't accept the new meaning (that kids use it for) because of the word's history.

    kongpl8 on
  • Options
    nescientistnescientist Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    suilimeA wrote: »
    In Penny Arcade, both comic and forum (and lo, most any nerd-populated forum anywhere) homoeroticism is a goldmine of humor.

    Not just nerd-populated forums.

    nescientist on
  • Options
    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Dhalphir wrote: »
    In the context of saying "omg thats so gay" the word has become about as far removed from homosexuality as is possible.

    I would be willing to bet that there are kids out there who picked up on the word "gay" and use it, and don't even know what it means.

    Its become just another swear word.

    True. Gay already has a meaning: happy. But I don't accept the new meaning (that kids use it for) because of the word's history.

    Tough luck. Atrophy is a part of linguistics.

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Options
    DhalphirDhalphir don't you open that trapdoor you're a fool if you dareRegistered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Society doesn't care whether you accept the new meaning or not.

    Its similar to the word "decimate". It used to mean an exact destroying of 1/10th of something. Now it has come to popularly mean almost total destruction, and not a determinate figure.

    Language purists rail against this, but like it or not, the word decimate now means to almost completely destroy something. Same with "gay".

    And as the others have said. You just stated a fact, and expected a debate to spring up around it.

    Dhalphir on
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    suilimeA wrote: »
    Incenjucar wrote: »
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    The forum said it was open to any debate. If my catharthis fuels a debate, what's wring with that?

    What, exactly, is your argument?

    Yes, you can't simply say things and expect a debate to spring up around it. You're generally expected to provide a dilemma, a claim, and evidence for said claim.

    Not that that always happens, but at least a clearly-stated one of the three would be nice.

    Claim: Penny Arcade has epithets in it.
    Dilemma: I like Penny Arcade but am offended by the epithets.
    Evidence: The strip with "I thought you said all Mac users are gay" and the "chat session" panel in PA with the words "homo" "gay" I'm sorry I haven't posted links yet. Still busy replying.

    kongpl8 on
  • Options
    IncenjucarIncenjucar VChatter Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    edited October 2007
    Solution: Get over it.

    Incenjucar on
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    durandal4532durandal4532 Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    It's not comprehensive, but Penny-Packer says there are 27 strips that mention "gay" or present a situation that could be construed as gay. This includes any time Gabe loses his pants, which let's be honest, is more than average.

    The Mr. Period Returns strip is it, as far as I can tell, that uses any epithets, and it uses them in a humorous context of telling those dicks on XBL or what have you to expand their monosyllabic vocabulary.

    The only other one I can see is The Utility of Rare Erotica. It uses several synonyms for homosexual.

    So. Context.

    As for my opinion: Christ, even the stupid character isn't homophobic.

    Edit: Though, in the context of "I don't mean 'fag' like that", it is my opinion that in mixed company, you should avoid causing offense even if you don't intend a word to be construed that way. I don't think saying "fuck" is particularly damaging, but I'm not enough of a jackass to say it in front of my grandmother. Since you can't immediately ascertain if someone is gay, transgender, etc, it's best not to use derogatory terms in public even if you did grow up thinking gay was another word for stupid.

    Also, I don't like leaving the door open for the jackasses who do mean it as derogatory, but puss out when they're called on it.

    But, either way. That doesn't apply here, as the only thing I could find relating to this was a comic about a fictional XBL user. That's pretty far removed from "This is a hurtful place for gay people."

    durandal4532 on
    Take a moment to donate what you can to Critical Resistance and Black Lives Matter.
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Dhalphir wrote: »
    Society doesn't care whether you accept the new meaning or not.

    Its similar to the word "decimate". It used to mean an exact destroying of 1/10th of something. Now it has come to popularly mean almost total destruction, and not a determinate figure.

    Language purists rail against this, but like it or not, the word decimate now means to almost completely destroy something. Same with "gay".

    And as the others have said. You just stated a fact, and expected a debate to spring up around it.

    The debate over the new word "gay" is being handled by courts and school cases. I'm not a linguist, but just because you think one word isn't an epithet (it's meaning has begun to change) doesn't mean somebody like me won't call it an abusive word.

    kongpl8 on
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    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »

    Claim: Penny Arcade has epithets in it.
    Dilemma: I like Penny Arcade but am offended by the epithets.
    Evidence: The strip with "I thought you said all Mac users are gay" and the "chat session" panel in PA with the words "homo" "gay" I'm sorry I haven't posted links yet. Still busy replying.

    Aipwnd.jpg

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    DocDoc Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited October 2007
    Old hat.

    Doc on
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    kongpl8kongpl8 __BANNED USERS regular
    edited October 2007
    Incenjucar wrote: »
    Solution: Get over it.

    The same advice can be offered to anybody who suffers. Is that really helping them?

    kongpl8 on
  • Options
    ChurchChurch Registered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Incenjucar wrote: »
    Solution: Get over it.

    The same advice can be offered to anybody who suffers. Is that really helping them?

    It is if they take the advice.

    Or, you know, if their suffering is self-imposed and/or petty.

    Church on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    IncenjucarIncenjucar VChatter Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    edited October 2007
    kongpl8 wrote: »
    Incenjucar wrote: »
    Solution: Get over it.

    The same advice can be offered to anybody who suffers. Is that really helping them?

    There is suffering caused by others, and there is suffering caused by oneself.

    This is the latter.

    So, yes.

    Incenjucar on
This discussion has been closed.