Penny Arcade says, "Rape culture is hilarious!"
Has anyone else been following the Penny Arcade Dickwolf Controversy (as I've taken to calling it)? The whole thing started with this comic, posted in August, which many readers took offense to due to an unfunny rape joke. The argument was revived with new fervor recently, and it's still ongoing. Personally, I'm finding it really difficult to enjoy the comic lately, because of the way this whole thing has been handled.

A better and more thorough write-up than I could ever hope to put together has been posted here.

Edit: Via seiberwing: An interesting protest movement has arisen on Tumblr.
Edit again: A couple of comments have indicated that the Tumblr linked in the above post has malware, so tread lightly.

Edit 3: Via lady7jane: This isn't the first time that Mike has exhibited douchebaggy behavior. "I don't know, Love Systems doesn't seem so bad to me."

Edit 4: Via airawyn and alexa: Jerry responds.

Edit 5: Via number13baby, Mike calls for the discussion to end.

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alexa
2011-02-02 05:52 am UTC (link)

I am glad the shirt was taken down, but honestly, the post explaining this decision (bottom of the page) was so condescending and insensitive that, for me, it really soured any possibly sense of victory.

Mike/"Gabe" made it very clear that he felt he had "caved into to [sic] pressure from a vocal minority" (translation: man, all these whiny bitches!), that he would "never apologize for the joke"--which he maintains is "funny"--and strongly implied that he doesn't believe any negative reaction to the joke is warranted. He then scoffs at the people who have said they do not wish to attend PAX because they think he and Jerry/"Tycho" are promoting "some sort of rape culture" (translation: I don't belive in rape culture, or at least, I don't want to take the time to think about it), since he insists this simply "isn't true" (despite numerous actions to the contrary), and tells these people that they just shouldn't come to PAX at all.

But hey, he's not a complete monster: he'll give you a refund!

And finally, even though this post's thesis was that they'd rather just remove the shirt if it would make people uncomfortable at PAX (even though they thought this was an unwarranted reaction), Mike has said that he will wear the shirt to PAX himself. And his tweets to people attempting to engage him on the topic have been flippant and dismissive to the point of cruelty. I don't think Mike could possibly make it and clearer that he doesn't give a single shit about the feelings of rape survivors, or any fan who doesn't condone glib, damaging attitudes toward rape.

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dottiness
2011-02-02 06:11 am UTC (link)

Mostly what's soured me on it is Mike's attitude, yeah. I heard about the shirt being taken down secondhand since I haven't been following PA since the "stop getting offended" shit, so I didn't hear about the condescending post until everything started exploding. Even the post by itself (if they had omitted the "stupid vocal minority" shit) would have just been worth an eyeroll, but the way he continues to act like an absolute asshole on twitter has really left me seeing red. Not to mention his defenses -- "my wife liked it so it can't be offensive," "you're just being irrational," "the internet shouldn't censor itself for you," and my personal absolute favorite, "if you don't like it then don't read it."

That post, now that I've read the whole thing, is really, really gross. Ugh. I don't know why not being an asshole is so hard.

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	alexa 2011-02-02 06:44 am UTC (link)
	I don't know why not being an asshole is so hard. Probably because, in this case, it would involve admitting that they were wrong. Making past efforts to promote PAX as an inclusive, welcoming event and developing a successful charity doesn't earn you an irrevocable "Good Guy For Life" card. I'm not sure either of them understands that. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ekaterinv 2011-02-02 07:38 am UTC (link)
	I bet they'd get along splendidly with Keith Olbermann and Michael Moore. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	sistercoyote 2011-02-02 11:19 pm UTC (link)
	I wonder if Milholland is still selling "Asshole is not an alternative lifestyle" shirts. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	full_metal_ox 2011-02-05 02:18 am UTC (link)
	A possible kindred slogan, paraphrasing Wheaton's Law: "Don't be a dickwolf." (Reply to this)(Parent)

	emily_goddess 2011-02-02 06:51 pm UTC (link)
	he'll give you a refund! And ~~ban you from PAX~~ make sure you don't decide to attend again "in a moment of weakness"! (Reply to this)(Parent)

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