That Penny Arcade Controversy

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Wait -- I just heard about this from Morrus' post, so I'm coming in cold -- let me see if I have this right:

- Three years ago, a webcomic made a tasteless joke, then bungled the public response to it, but it was eventually let go;
- The subject came up again recently when the comic was asked about a mistake they'd made in the past;
- They issued an apology, though perhaps not a sufficient one;
- They're still getting boycotted/pilloried.

Hardly seems fair. If they did something stupid, and eventually admitted it an apologized ... move on, people.

 

[the Jester]

Personally, I find that I prefer my humor completely transgressive.

I understand that these things might trigger people, and I do sympathize, but if you're likely to be triggered, you are probably reading the wrong webcomic if it's PA.

 

[Cadence]

let me see if I have this right:
- Three years ago, a webcomic made a tasteless joke, then bungled the public response to it, but it was eventually let go;
- The subject came up again recently when the comic was asked about a mistake they'd made in the past;
- They issued an apology, though perhaps not a sufficient one;
- They're still getting boycotted/pilloried.

Hardly seems fair. If they did something stupid, and eventually admitted it an apologized ... move on, people.

The original hub-bub was seemingly let go - not much direct about it for a while http://debacle.tumblr.com/post/3041940865/the-pratfall-of-penny-arcade-a-timeline

But then on Monday they brought it up in a way that seemed like they were taking back anything conciliatory they had ever said and that the audience in the room was ecstatic about them doing so. The clarification of Monday's comment happened today.
http://debacle.tumblr.com/post/60283610877/the-pratfall-of-penny-arcade-a-timeline-part-2
http://penny-arcade.com/2013/09/04/some-clarification

So, it is still "news" in that the latest installment just happened.

Anyway, moving along.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Wow, I had totally missed this.

Kinda glad I did.

I do agree a strong apology and no merchandise would have probably headed a lot of this off. SOme of the tweets are amazingly insensitive.

 

[mythago]

Wait -- I just heard about this from Morrus' post, so I'm coming in cold -- let me see if I have this right:

No, you do not have this right.

- Three years ago, PA published a comic strip with a kind of dumb joke that bothered many people because it seemed to trivialize something serious and ugly (rape) by making a joke about "d---wolves".
- They issued a somewhat halfhearted apology/explanation, which most people thought at least settled the issue of whether PA was trying to say rape was funny.
- Shortly after the apology, Krahliuk decided the fire was ebbing too low, and poured gasoline on it by putting "Team D---wolves" merch on the PA store. (Regardless of whether or not you thought the original strip was funny, this is, in the context of the strip, the equivalent of a shirt that says "Team Rapist".) PA later took these down because of the uproar.
- Three years later, at a recent PAX, Krahliuk dragged the whole thing up again by whining that he didn't think they should have taken the "Team D---wolves" merch off the store.

The only reason this has not "moved on" is that Krahliuk won't move on. Not that this matters to the fans.

 

[scourger]

They should probably just not comment further on it now.

 

[mythago]

scourger, that's probably true, and if they'd stopped with the 'apology' strip in the first place, it wouldn't be an issue. That's why it's really bizarre to see people here arguing 'well everyone should just move on' or 'geez, they apologized, drop it'.

 

[dd.stevenson]

I've seen a number of game publishers and attendees stating that they intend to boycott PAX until this issue is resolved.

Out of interest, which publishers are boycotting PAX? I hadn't heard of any, and a quick google only turned up the Fullbright Co.

 

[Orius]

Well, I only really skimmed over most of the issue, but it seems that Krahliuk's rather childish responses to the matter are a bigger problem than the original joke. Yes the joke itself could be considered rather tasteless, but it's also pretty typical for PA's humor. Still, I'm more on PA's side here because the arguments against them on this matter smack of censorship, which is something I strongly oppose.

 

[mythago]

Actually, Orius, the arguments for them are the ones that smack of censorship.

Unless you really believe 'no criticism allowed, STFU and move on' is pro-free speech.