tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post4207466440303565872..comments2024-01-31T22:11:39.253-08:00Comments on Feminism/Popular Culture: I Am Angry About Grand Theft Auto IVCortneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872805766270158996noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-5320921170665903202009-12-10T17:32:11.867-08:002009-12-10T17:32:11.867-08:00Nonsense, complete and utter nonsense. The game ha...Nonsense, complete and utter nonsense. The game has specific missions where you must execute people, have gunfights with police, ect. By your logic, our "young men" are being trained to rob banks, and battle swat teams. Nowhere does it goad or reward you for abusing women. Also, the game series has a varied cast of main characters, including a TWO WHITE MALES who are more ethically questionable than Niko. The game explores issues like immigration in an intelligent way that makes you feel for and relate to the character, who deals with discrimination and is forced by circumstances into a criminal lifestyle. Hands on research next time please...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-64789292841872720712009-11-29T15:16:34.475-08:002009-11-29T15:16:34.475-08:00So its wrong to screw hookers and kill them to get...So its wrong to screw hookers and kill them to get my money back? And all immigrants are here to ruin our society? MY GOD!!! Really now; do you believe the crap that you typed? People who bash these games and claim that they promote violence, racism, and hate crimes are wrong. The game is aimed at adults who should be at a point in their life where their views are already their own. Kids who are able to play it and get "corrupted" by it are the normal losers who grow up like that anyway. Their parents are responsible for letting them play this type of game, and parents are responsible for their kids when they commit real life crimes. I've never been arrested and I grew up playing violent games that had alcohol and drug use. I blame my proper upbringing on my parents; a game should not affect a person in anyway that could get them in any form of trouble. On a side note, were you sheltered as a child? One of those kids who couldn't watch anything but lifetime movies?Vinnie the Venus Fly Traphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11396961163124132016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-9335337534246014202008-10-04T01:11:00.000-07:002008-10-04T01:11:00.000-07:00I am 14 years old and go to high school. My dad bo...I am 14 years old and go to high school. My dad bought a brand new copy of GTA4 as a present for me. I was thrilled with it because I knew the success of previous GTA games. The thought of killing someone on it had not even crossed my mind because I was driving around.<BR/><BR/>Killing many of the people in the game is an option, not a rule. If a police officer attacks you, you attack back. If someone throws a punch at you, you fight back.<BR/><BR/>Your description of a bestselling game has one major mistake. You didn't check all of the games features.<BR/><BR/>You can kill lots of people in the game, some for missions, some for defence. I see no reason why you should get angry just because you can kill women like you can kill men.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-24877943606760032552008-09-28T14:26:00.000-07:002008-09-28T14:26:00.000-07:00Nah, Irene, it proves that video games are invisib...Nah, Irene, it proves that video games are invisible to ignorant people who like to discuss them without actually having played them. <BR/><BR/>It might also suggest that such kind of women irritate men and literally invite sexism upon themselves...<BR/><BR/>The point is obvious: if you had actually sat and played (or even watched) GTA IV for several hours, you would realize that the game is not demeaning towards women any more than it is towards men.<BR/><BR/>NOT AT ALL.ZettaiBakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04109029352164423348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-41413125906144328442008-09-27T14:01:00.000-07:002008-09-27T14:01:00.000-07:00Wow, I'm amazed by all that hatred in the replies ...Wow, I'm amazed by all that hatred in the replies to your post. Interestingly, it proves a point, too... that sexism is invisible to those it favours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-14262081066558500312008-07-20T06:51:00.000-07:002008-07-20T06:51:00.000-07:00Your 'review' is bunk. If you're going to get angr...Your 'review' is bunk. If you're going to get angry at something, at least know what you're getting angry at. If you'd played the game you might see that the object is not to defile and destroy as many women as possible. But I guess a feminist wouldn't actually want to know much about what she is commenting on otherwise her stereotypes may not hold weight. There are very few stereotypes that I agree with, but one is that all feminists are angry, uptight, ignorant wenches who can only get dates from submissive, feminine men. That seems to hold true in most cases.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15325202130533661721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-82878434930358272652008-06-26T16:18:00.000-07:002008-06-26T16:18:00.000-07:00I am a woman and I am a gamer. You admit to not be...I am a woman and I am a gamer. You admit to not being into gaming. That's fine, we all have our likes and areas of interests. I ask that if you're going to bash this game, consider looking at the Tomb Raider series. It is an EXTREMELY popular game that has a strong woman female character. And it has been popular with men as well. To be a feminist is not simply about seeing what wrongs are being commited against women, but it is to bring out wrongs that are being committed to human beings in general.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-32316240369459638712008-06-10T08:29:00.000-07:002008-06-10T08:29:00.000-07:00Also, I'm about to blow your mind... I played thro...Also, I'm about to blow your mind... <BR/><BR/>I played through this entire game without picking up (and certainly never killing) one single prostitute. I spent far more time answering in-game cell phone calls from the girls I had met on a dating site (in-game) who wanted to go see comedy shows or go out for a drink. <BR/>Hell, there are guys over on the GameFAQS board trying to get through this game without even ever killing ANYONE. Please stop generalizing about us. You don't like it when people stereotype you, right?Johnny B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00234761324036493364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-84942938523185591162008-06-10T08:24:00.000-07:002008-06-10T08:24:00.000-07:00Hey, once again I'd like to apologize for some of ...Hey, once again I'd like to apologize for some of the more immature comments on here. GameFAQs at its finest... <BR/><BR/>However, your original post was quite a fine example of blatant ignorance. <BR/>I just wonder how you can be so passionately against something that you've obviously not researched whatsoever?Johnny B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00234761324036493364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-11161566149964204292008-06-10T07:22:00.000-07:002008-06-10T07:22:00.000-07:00Truthfully, the game takes a sideways look at a vi...Truthfully, the game takes a sideways look at a virtual city based on several REAL American cities and then basically just stuffs it full of humor, sarcasm, and fun, there is nothing to argue over here. <BR/><BR/>Your time would be much better spent trying to solve some of the worlds ACTUAL problems, (like hunger or poverty) rather than coming into gaming forums to spread your close-mindedness disease.<BR/><BR/>Oh, btw, I don't think that anyone has mentioned that not only do millions of WOMEN play video games, but the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of gamers are OVER 25 years old. I'm not sure how much "growing up" they have left to do, but surely they must be beyond the influence of ANIMATED VIDEO GAME VIOLENCE by now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-38025657517596436972008-06-10T03:45:00.000-07:002008-06-10T03:45:00.000-07:00While the link posted on gamefaqs.com is probably ...While the link posted on gamefaqs.com is probably responsible for most of the immature comments, it is how I found this site, I have to apologis for the pathetic display of sexism. However, I can understand why they would be annoyed by your blog. The fact is that GTA is not a game based on killing women. It is true that murder is the main basis for the game There is a reason and if you had played the game you would understand why. The act that your can have sex with prostitutes and then kill them is a moot point. There is no necessity to kill them. Most of the citizens can be killed to be robbed. In the same way that killing prostitutes can be killed to recover money, so can other people that you give money to such as shop owners or taxi drivers. I think that this is the first time that the main character has not been American except for GTA London.<BR/><BR/>As a Brit, I do find alot of racism towards British people in-games, alot of them are portrayed as incredibly up their own backsides. But I am not insulted as I can accept that there was once some truth in the matter. The same can be said however for French being cowards, American being incredibly fat, irish being stupid. The same can be said for women. The sad fact is that the majority of prostitutes are women in real life and therefore in the game.<BR/><BR/>I can understand the reason for your comments but, if you actually played the game, instead of listening to idiots like Jack Thompson, then you would understand the reason for many of the things you can do in-game. I did not once solicitate a prostitute in the game even after completing it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-74977863364010055892008-06-10T00:42:00.000-07:002008-06-10T00:42:00.000-07:00I read the whole thing. I will not tell you to go ...I read the whole thing. I will not tell you to go make a sandwich or cook a roast. Instead, I'm going to point out a few things.<BR/><BR/><BR/><I>I am scared to live in a culture where this is considered a viable form of entertainment. The protagonist of Grand Theft Auto IV, Niko Bellic, ****'s women, seemingly all prostituted women, and then brutally murders them immediately afterward if he so desires. Bear in mind, of course, that 'he' is controlled by the player. Young men all over the country (and beyond) will learn that the value of women is their capacity to provide male orgasm. That is all.,</I><BR/><BR/>Exactly. Niko is controlled by the player. That means Niko is a puppet. An empty soul. As in: It's not his fault that he wastes his cash. Don't blame anyone other than the players, and really, you should'nt blame the player. Where do you get the "Seemingly all prostituted" women" part from? There are prostitutes, yes. And, the game is realistic about the prostitutes, being that they only come out at night in the dirty parts of town. Now, as for brutally mudering the prostittues, get over it. People are like that. IN A GAME.<BR/><BR/><BR/><I>I am angry that abuses of women are not taken seriously; are not seen as major social problems. In this culture of domination the murder of a prostituted/raped woman cannot be taken too seriously. Yet in video game culture it is not seen as a problem. Stamp an "M for Mature" rating on it and move on.</I> <BR/><BR/>Ok. skip this paragraph, and go down to the next one you wrote. You clearly stated that you're no VG culture expert. What the hell do you know of VG cultures not taking womon's exploited rights as a problem? Ok. Now about prostitution, on R* depicts this, because they're cool like that. No really. In case you have'nt noticed the past 2 years, Hillary Clinton has been trying to ban violent video games for this reason. It's obvoiulsy a problem to a blind monkey, unless you just like being left in the dark like this. Moving on...<BR/><BR/><I>It seems worth examining the otherness of Bellic here as well. Admittedly, I am no expert in gaming or gaming culture, I have only played a few in my life and have never been amused by their seeming androcentrism, exclusivity and extraordinary violence. Bellic is a Bosnian immigrant in search of "The American Dream." I think it is relevant that in a game produced and developed by plenty of white men, Bellic is depicted as 'foreign' and/or not white. It enables white American men to play the game and distance themselves from the extraordinary violence that they are enacting upon women and other men. "Oh American men do not murder, rape or pay for sex!"</I><BR/><BR/>What. Are you joking? Is this a joke topic? Is tha the image that you get when they made Niko an illigal immigrant? If so, then you should leave the country, because it's all over the place. Perhaps you're suggesting that Peter Griffin was made to be Catholic, so Christians can say "Thank god that I'm not fat and stupid," because that's what you're suggesting.<BR/><BR/><I>In a time when immigration is such a heated issue, Grand Theft Auto IV must be placed within its proper cultural context. It is not an accident that Bellic is a violent, over sexed, thuggish immigrant.</I><BR/><BR/>All that crap is false. It's not an accident, and it's not on purpose. It just happens. Like you and I being born as boys/girls. (Maybe people can be mature enough not to joke about it.) All Niko wanted was to live the american dream. he just had to go through a lot of shit before he could get to it. Hopefully, you know what it's like to sell out. That's what Niko had to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-73642401674071840832008-06-09T15:01:00.000-07:002008-06-09T15:01:00.000-07:00try researching before you make slanderous remarks...try researching before you make slanderous remarks against the game. all your doing is making rockstar more money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-59159653744874088012008-06-09T13:07:00.000-07:002008-06-09T13:07:00.000-07:00WOW GOOD FOR YOU, YOUR ANGRY AT AN INANIMATE OBJEC...WOW GOOD FOR YOU, YOUR ANGRY AT AN INANIMATE OBJECT, YOU CLEARLY MADE THIS POST TO BE FLAMED. GO BACK TO WRITING ABOUT THE OXYGEN NETWORK AND LEAVE YOUR VIDEO GAME REVIEWS TO THE PROS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-55071791780811484952008-06-09T13:03:00.000-07:002008-06-09T13:03:00.000-07:00Im so sick of people whining about this game who h...Im so sick of people whining about this game who have never actually played it. 1st off your a hypocrite 2nd off you are the ones who are putting these ideas in peoples heads. In GTA4 the game never once has you go kill or even have sex w/ a hooker. (its not part of the plot). Yes you can do it , but you can do that in real life too. thats just putting freedom in an open ended game. I fully agree w/ the lost turntable.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08577837303659487224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-39800117159029833662008-06-09T02:17:00.000-07:002008-06-09T02:17:00.000-07:00By the way, in case you're interested, this is the...By the way, in case you're interested, this is the message board in which your blog post was linked: <BR/><BR/>http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=933037&topic=43542543ZettaiBakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04109029352164423348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-22718179421565028132008-06-09T01:18:00.000-07:002008-06-09T01:18:00.000-07:00Cortney, a link to your blog post was recently pos...Cortney, a link to your blog post was recently posted on the GTA IV boards at GameFaqs.com. I have a feeling that's where all the hateful comments are coming from.<BR/><BR/>I can't say that their disrespect for your largely uninformed opinion is completely unjustified though. A little knowledge combined with a lot of education is a bad thing. I can see how your choice of graduate study has prompted you to jump on the feminist bandwagon and condemn this game without personally experiencing it first. Not a very wise thing to do, Cortney.<BR/><BR/>I won't point out all the weaknesses of your argument; "The Lost Turntable" has already done that. I'll just tell you that, your feminist agenda towards this game is greatly exaggerated, because there are quite a number of female characters in Grand Theft Auto IV who are portrayed as intelligent, and possibly even as domineering. One woman is actually portrayed as a God-fearing person who suffers the wrath of her thuggish husband (the latter of whom is quickly killed). <BR/><BR/>In fact, <A>for every female who is portrayed negatively, about five men are portrayed as thugs, gangsters, and crackheads</A>. Grand Theft Auto IV may have bad effects on society, but you're barking up all the wrong trees. I believe you've let your education overtake your intelligence, caused you to jump on the bandwagon and make a bunch of gross generalizations. If you want to gain a better understanding of how video games and popular entertainment affect women's issues, direct experience and observation of the issue in question is a necessity. In other words, playing the game for several hours before analyzing it will serve you better than making semi-educated opinions based on hearsay.ZettaiBakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04109029352164423348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-60181657782065361942008-06-08T16:40:00.000-07:002008-06-08T16:40:00.000-07:00Q-What do you tell a woman with two black eyes?A- ...Q-What do you tell a woman with two black eyes?<BR/><BR/>A- Nothing. You've already told her twice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-59347836413694829852008-06-08T15:51:00.000-07:002008-06-08T15:51:00.000-07:00I am not sure what post all of you anonymous comme...I am not sure what post all of you anonymous commenters are reading but you make reference to many things that I didn't say in my post and none of my regular commenters did either... How are you finding this site and why spit such venomous rage at one person's opinion?Cortneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872805766270158996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-59292087859743106362008-06-08T15:44:00.000-07:002008-06-08T15:44:00.000-07:00What's with this "game made by men, for men, that ...What's with this "game made by men, for men, that incentives violence against women"?<BR/><BR/>Do you seriously think there were no women among the developers? Or that women don't enjoy playing it? Heh.<BR/><BR/>And just WHERE the game "incentives" violence against women? No one tells you to beat up women because it's fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-69617464171708916172008-06-08T14:27:00.000-07:002008-06-08T14:27:00.000-07:00"7. If it is true that Bellic does not exclusively..."7. If it is true that Bellic does not exclusively have sex with prostituted women, then I gladly retract that statement."<BR/><BR/>You find that out like 15-20 minutes into the game. Try to research before saying things. Out of all the character in the game, Bellic is the one that treats women better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-50769672591743540832008-06-08T14:18:00.000-07:002008-06-08T14:18:00.000-07:00Where to start? First of all, it looked to me like...<I>Where to start? First of all, it looked to me like Samhita's post was largely about the fact that "not only are the sex scenes very real looking, most of the women are killed shortly after forcibly performing sex acts." It's not just that the game is violent- it is. Yeah, you can kill pretty much everyone in GTA. But, there was a choice made about which characters you could pay for sex with and then murder, and, hint- it wasn't the characters with penises. </I><BR/><BR/>WHAT THE FLYING FUCK?<BR/><BR/>the prostitutes are only killed if they player attacks them, like anyone else. If "most" of them were killed (bullshit, I never killed one, for instance), then it's the players fault, not the fucking game.<BR/><BR/>OMG SOMEONE WAS SHOT, LETS DESTROY THE GUN INSTEAD OF THROWING THE CULPRIT IN PRISON<BR/><BR/>See?<BR/><BR/>And OF COURSE "there was a choice made about which characters you could pay for sex with and then murder, and, hint- it wasn't the characters with penises."<BR/><BR/>THE CHARACTERS ARE HETEROSSEXUAL MEN, OF COURSE THEY WON'T HAVE SEX WITH CHARACTERS WITH PENISES AND KILL THEM.<BR/><BR/>Are you really so fucking dense? This inane commnet would make sense if the character was a gay/bissexual man, but HE'S NOT. SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO HAPPEN.<BR/><BR/>"And, really, this attitude that, because she's complained about the treatment of women she must necessarily also complain about the treatment of men or it's a double standard? It's bullshit. It's a game made by men targeting a male audience about a male character who spends a lot of time doing terrible things to other men. There are complaints to be raised there, for sure- but Samhita, a woman, is under no obligation to discuss them given that the game *also* features nasty treatment of women, too."<BR/><BR/>Of cousre she's not under obligation of discussing it, she only likes to discuss about things that she wants to. Like a little child that only wants to play catch up because it's the only game s/he's good at.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-59863793095230315722008-06-08T13:34:00.000-07:002008-06-08T13:34:00.000-07:00If you have not played GTA 4 then kindly shut the ...If you have not played GTA 4 then kindly shut the fuck up becasue you have no right to critique the game. <BR/><BR/>Its like saying Canada is bad, but if have never been to Canada how can you know? <BR/><BR/>As well everytihng is in the eyes of the beholder if you hate GTA 4 or what you claim it represents that much then make your complaints known to the maker of the game Rockstar. <BR/><BR/>As well to comment on your comment about eastern europeans and the fact the Bellic may or may not have been white. All eastern europeans or Slavic peoples are white. <BR/><BR/>Given the beliefs of some Slavics you better not question the whitness thing to loudly. <BR/><BR/>Also I have to give mad props to the lost turntable for speaking the truth and I know a lot of you feminists dont want to hear that.<BR/><BR/>Bottom line dont bitch about GTA 4 unless you have played it for a minimum of 10 hours and if you are unwilling to do that then go burn your bra and fuck off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-60817467433601301742008-06-08T11:09:00.000-07:002008-06-08T11:09:00.000-07:00You really need to get over yourself. People like ...You really need to get over yourself. People like you suck the joy out of everything because you think you know what is better for people than themselves.<BR/><BR/>And you never even played the game?!<BR/><BR/>Have fun being the old, lonely, senile cat lady, because most men will not put up with your non-stop bullshit.<BR/><BR/>"Feminism is a failed experiment. You wish for equality when it benefits you, but stand up in arms when you don't have doors held open for you. You cannot have it both ways." - zcicecoldAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006133754103433895.post-40343347346804421662008-05-28T01:52:00.000-07:002008-05-28T01:52:00.000-07:00What are you doing out of the kitchen?What are you doing out of the kitchen?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com