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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caitiedid
2011-02-02 07:21 am UTC (link)

I know what you mean. The original comic didn't really bother me all that much - I didn't think it was funny at all and I definitely rolled my eyes, but I sort of just forgot about it. (I'm sure I would have had a much different reaction if I were a rape survivor or was close to one, though.) The thing that is really disgusting to me and the main problem, I think, is the fallout. Not just the T-shirt, but the reaction Mike and some of the more rabid, misogynistic fans have had to the critics, and Mike's unwillingness to apologize or even stop to see why he should apologize.

(I keep saying Mike, Mike, Mike - there are two guys who make Penny Arcade, but Jerry hasn't been very involved with this whole thing, as far as I've seen. I don't really know if that's a good thing or not.)

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	ekaterinv 2011-02-02 07:27 am UTC (link)
	I've always thought Jerry was by far the smarter one. Whether that means he's crafting a well thought out apology and trying to figure out how to tell Mike he's being a colossal jackass, or whether it just means he'll use bigger words to insult rape survivors, I have no idea. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	blue_penguin 2011-02-02 12:46 pm UTC (link)
	I seem to remember some past unfunny PA wank where Mike made a complete ass of himself while Jerry eventually stepped in to say "okay, you know what, this isn't cool at all" to him, but the time for him to do that in this case is long past, I think. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	youngcurmudgeon 2011-02-02 07:06 pm UTC (link)
	I think I remember that a few years ago they did a thing about pick-up artists, and Mike was like "IDK, guys, I think this is sort of a cool thing" and then Jerry was like "except for the MASSIVE MISOGYNY." Don't have a link, though. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	caitiedid 2011-02-02 08:56 pm UTC (link)
	I remember that too, but damned if I can recall when it was or find the posts. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	lady7jane 2011-02-03 02:01 am UTC (link)
	Here it is. Exactly one year before the Dickwolves comic. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	caitiedid 2011-02-03 02:06 am UTC (link)
	Thank you! Added to the post. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	cmdr_zoom 2011-02-03 06:14 pm UTC (link)
	now that's, uh, timing. (Reply to this)(Parent)

sandglass
2011-02-02 08:49 am UTC (link)

I've heard some people have gotten e-mails from Jerry agreeing with Mike. Jerry is typically quieter, which is why we've heard less, but he's done nothing to show his lack of involvement behind the scenes, nor to disagree.

Also, introducing the second comic ("Go and rape no more, rapers"):
Reaction to Wednesday's comic fell, conveniently for my purpose, into two camps: those who found a phrase like "raped by dickwolves" a stunning return to form, and those who felt that we were somehow advocating the actual rape of human beings. It sounds as though we've already satisfied the first camp, but an effort should certainly be made to assuage the latter.

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	alexa 2011-02-02 01:17 pm UTC (link)
	Also, according to the debacle tumblr, Jerry was the one who announced they would be selling the "Team Dickwolves" shirts. I haven't seen Jerry make any responses that exhibit the same stunningly dismissive (and personally hurtful) attitudes as Mike... so that's something. But like ekaterinv said, if there was ever a time to step in, it was probably a few days ago. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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