NBC and Universal Bring Frakking Battlestar Galactica to the MMO Scene
March 9, 2010 – 3:33 pm | Comments

Something makes me think that the bigwigs at NBC and Universal listen to our podcast, because I am certain that our use of the word “Frak” over and over sewed the seeds for the new …

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Home » Culture, Industry

Juvenile Modern Warfare video attacked, defended, pulled

Submitted by Joe Fourhman on November 1, 2009 – 1:15 pmComments

One of those faked-up viral videos hit YouTube late last week (jeez, aren’t we tired of that “strategy” yet?), featuring Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels stumping for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The video is ostensibly a public service announcement from a group called Fight Against Grenade Spam. Gosh, what’s that acronym spell?

GayGamer.net writer Mixvio wrestled with how to react, wondering if genuine outrage was worth it. The GayGamer posting, more annoyed with Infinity Ward’s shoulder-shrugging “Whoops!” attitude than anything else, ended with this salient point:

“…in the United States if that PSA had been, for example, brought to you by any of the unfortunate racial slurs attributed to African Americans or the sexist titles for women, a half-hearted apology of non-action would be the least of the things this company would be supplicating themselves towards forgiveness for.”

Game Informer’s Phillip Kollar took a more direct approach with the following multi-message post on his Twitter account:

“…it’s an official video released by them that for all intents and purposes says, “Yeah, we think it’s hillarious to use the word FAGS as well! LOLOLOLOL!” Just look at all the YouTube comments saying how totally awesome IW is for that bit. Whether it was their intent or not, that stupid joke condones a part of their community they should be shunning.”

And now, Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling has wiped the adolescent grin from the company’s face and pulled the video. Bowling rather lamely tried to frame the piece as a parody of people who think and talk that way. But judging from the community reaction, their audience did not get the joke. In the Kotaku post, Owen Good neatly capsulizes the entire affair:

“Many gamers, judged largely on what I’ve seen in commenting threads and in behavior online, haven’t expressed a lot of sophistication on this subject or a great willingness to have a mature discussion about it. It tends to break down to “I’m not offended so, no one else can be either,” and accuse anyone who is of politically motivated dishonesty. By no means do I accuse Infinity Ward or Bowling of homophobia or having that same small-minded attitude. But the video was pointlessly provocative, and made not only the studio, but also some of their biggest fans, by their reactions to it, look foolish and reprehensible to the general public. Bowling made the right call in removing it.”

Good also notes one Kotaku reader’s point that simply adding the word “Relentlessly” to the piece would have turned the acronym into FRAGS and perhaps sidestepped the entire controversy. Michael Abbott over at Brainy Gamer adds this:

“If we want to teach boys why compassion and civility are essential to their development as men, we must do it one lesson at a time. We can disapprove of EA and Activision’s despicable choices, but we shouldn’t presume our outrage will impact the underlying reality. It’s not about the games or the ad campaigns; it’s about how we raise and teach our kids. We have created this callous consumer, and we should expect marketers to target him accordingly. Are companies who sell games and music and body spray complicit in all this? Of course. Are they to blame? No.”

And while Mixvio, Kollar, Good and Abbott may take their share of immature shouting over this, I know I stand with them. It was a tasteless stunt that was directly pointed at stoking the most obnoxious, juvenile segment of online gaming fandom. Unlike last year’s Resident Evil 5 teaser trailer flak, it seems very difficult to absolve Infinity Ward et. al. of not being aware of what they were doing.

Plus, I now have another reason to hate the Phillies.

  • Jordan_Snyder
    I suppose this will act as a reply to everyone. Like I said, there's no way I'm going to be able to change anyone's mind on the matter, just like your comments haven't changed mine. I use the word "gay" to mean "stupid" out of habit. I don't try to use the word "fag" a lot, but I do call my brother one when I'm angry. I'm sorry if you're offended by it, but that's not my intent and I probably won't stop saying it. People, and you're all guilty of this, cuss all the time, and I know way more people that would be offended by cussing than "fag" or "gay."

    Also, if you're going by the dictionary definition, I'm somewhat homophobic, though that's not how I would view it. I really dislike homosexuality, but I have nothing against homosexuals as people. I have a gay cousin, who I love, but I'm not going to lie and say that that one aspect of his life doesn't bother me. So am I using the words "gay" or "fag" to bash homosexual people? Absolutely not.

    Why is it that I'm like the only gamer with conservative views?? :(
  • Vanilla-flavored swearing is not designed to ostracize and isolate a minority group. There is a difference between swear words and hate speech. A big difference, a legally recognized difference. You can't paint it all as "offensive" and call it equal.

    What a crazy coincidence that all the words that the gay community have taken on to define themselves ended up with negative connotations to roomfuls of hyper-aggressive adolescent straight males! The evolution of American English continues to astound. I mean, given the innocent pathway to meaning that you seem to have absorbed, any one of those words could have just as likely evolved to mean "awesome" or "smart" or "cool." How unfortunate for homosexuals!
  • Jordan_Snyder
    Whatever happened to the old adage, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?"
  • Mm hmm...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbal_abuse

    That old adage is a folksy and memorable lie.
  • Jordan_Snyder
    Wow... I give up. If people are honestly going to let words hurt them... I'm done with this argument.
  • Ah, you're right. No words have any meaning or carry any actual emotional impact.

    We should just never discuss things.

    These are the Internets! Words are all we have...
  • Jordan_Snyder
    I mean, I do love you Tony. Ugh... And Fourhman, I guess. :P
  • I think that's the heart of the problem. I have no love whatsoever for conservatism. We can't see eye-to-eye, here.

    Two different worlds. And I think your world is wrong.

    Just more words, in the end.

    This is a talk the gaming world needs to have. But changing this problem is going to take a heck of a lot more effort than we'll ever be able to put into it, here.

    Also, I tend not to cuss. Seriously. Just a thing of mine. I think it's unnecessary, vulgar and - worst of all - often a crutch for people who aren't really funny.

    I also like Mario games.

    So, that's me.
  • Why not use ghey with an H. Its in the urban dictionary - http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=...

    Takes the homosexual meaning out of gay while leaving the lameness there.
  • Urban Dictionary FAIL.
  • Jordan_Snyder
    Actually, I do sometimes.
  • Jordan_Snyder
    I wholeheartedly and respectfully disagree, mainly for two reasons.

    A) Infinity Ward didn't point out or shout from the rooftops that the acronym just happened to be a homosexual slur (which is really synonymous with "stupid" or "dumb" rather than "homosexual," these days). If you read the comments on the YouTube video, maybe 1/15 of all the comments were actually referring to the acronym, and the video itself keeps it subtle. Phil Kollar, Lono, Mixvio, etc. are the people who basically said "HEY! THAT SAYS FAGS! YOU CAN'T SAY FAGS! WHY ARE YOU CONDONING THE USE OF HOMOSEXUAL SLURS???!!!?" I mean, no one freaked out this much with Super Mario Galaxy's "UR MR GAY" scandal.

    B) My first reason for disagreeing was just pointing something out, but this one is definitely my opinion, and that's that the world is way too sensitive these days. These days, "gay," "queer," and "fag" aren't even used to target homosexuals. They have basically transformed into synonyms for "stupid" or "dumb," like I said above. But even though probably 95% of people are using it for that reason, people still think of it as only a slur when a situation like this arises. Even the infamous n-word has changed meanings. I mean, I couldn't care less if someone called me a "cracker" because I'm white, a "redneck" because I live in the south, a "nerd" because I do well in school/play video games, or even a "Nazi" because of my German heritage. They are just words, people. Get over it.

    I have a ton of replies headed my way, don't I?
  • The white heterosexual majority does not get to decide what should or shouldn't be offensive to minority groups. Especially not with a callous "get over it." See Owen Good's comment above.

    And since when is "fag" used to mean "stupid"? Nobody says "hey, that's fag" and means "hey, that's stupid." Language does indeed evolve, but the overriding context behind these words is still a perjorative insult with a history far deeper than "dumb."
  • Jordan_Snyder
    I mean, there's no way I can change your mind. One of the strange things about this is that most of the people complaining aren't homosexuals...

    Also, the only time I hear the word "fag" used, it's when teenagers, college kids, etc. are calling their friends "fags," using it as a replacement for "dumb."
  • Since when do you have to be gay to be offended by homophobia? Or, for that matter, be black to be offended by racism or female to be offended by sexism? In the UK equality law covers everyone, regardless of whether or not they are perceived to 'belong' to the equality strand in question. My right to be protected from by homophobia or racism or anything doesn't change because I'm straight.

    As for the rest of it: see my response above (this was supposed to be a reply to Synder's comment but Disqus dicked about with my reply!)
  • There's not going to be a Fourhman big mind-change coming your way, Jordan. I'm 100% with him.

    It's still an insult, and one that has definite roots in a homosexual slur.

    Gaybashing/belittling is still a huge problem in the US, where it's seen as okay to hate and put them at a disadvantage because people just don't agree with their choices.

    I don't agree with the idea of being able to continue to do something hurtful just because it might only make a few people no one in your friend group seems to care about uncomfortable. Of course, you're allowed to think and say what you want...

    ...it's just another example of this sort of thing. All too common, and gamers certainly won't be taken seriously while acting this way.

    That said, movies and TV aren't much better, sometimes...and for some reason users of THOSE media are considered sensible consumers whose interests hold no social stigma. Hm...

    "UR MR GAY" is totally not the same thing.

    And I question people the taste of people who enjoy online gaming or YouTube, anyway. Being steeped in the tea of stupidity that is online communities just doesn't really appeal to me when I think of video games.

    People suck.

    But, anyway, back to topic. I'm w/ Joe. Glad they saw the light and pulled it (only after lots of vocal pressure from offended people...not because anyone over there thought it might be in poor taste, sadly).
  • Tony & Fourhman> Ditto, ditto, ditto and Amen.

    I abhor the use of gay as a synonym for stupid or wrong. Whether people use it consciously or not, the origin of this new use of the word 'gay' was indeed created to offend and whether it's intentional or not, ignorance isn't an excuse.

    Yes, one person's offensive is another's harmlessness, but the latter doesn't negate the former and never will do. And to everyone would said that offense isn't intended when they use this word; well, you know if offends people now. Are you going to stop using it? If you are, good for you. If you're not, stop telling me you're not using it in an offensive way.

    </rant>
  • StephenJMunn
    Very nicely done.
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