SATIRE start/stop

[shattered-minds]

Apparently; putting a penis in the game. That seems to get people's blood boiling.

[Twiggy123]

For me, personally, there are no lines you can cross in terms of satire. I do however observe that killable children is bad form in a game and respect the public's view on it. This isn't me saying I want killable children in a game, it's me saying if there happen to be I wouldn't be a pussy about it.

 

Edit: Also, when people get upset about there being a penis in a game that just goes to show how young they actually are or how immature they are. Anyone who has been to the military has seen at least 50 dicks and have turned out to still be the sexual orientation they were when they joined. So we really shouldn't put any merit into the whining of infantile idiots who get upset over a virtual dick shot.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Twiggy123

[Chekoloco]

No limits!!!

[shattered-minds]

Satire and comedy are difficult to draw a hard line for because the difference between good and bad is subtle. For example, the woman who is deepthroating the Piswaser: I felt it would be funnier if it was a bit more subtle. Carlin had a bit on exaggeration in which he deliberately used something that was too exaggerated so that it wasn't funny, it was a joke on a joke lost to much of the crowd, of course.

 

I love when people get offended at satire, and the only real limit is when people push it so far they become a satire of themself (Saints row 3,4).

I do like how people get very offended about it though, convincing themselves that a satirical piece or concept actually damages society in some way, as if over-seriousness and censorship aren't much more grievous offenses.

 

I think sexual assault is difficult to make funny, but then (high minded sh*t) Alexander Pope 's Rape of the Lock was offensive to many of the people in a class I took and I found it one of the most hilarious things I'd read in years (it's not actually about rape: it's about being so crazed that you cut a bit from someone's hair). I never feel so put off as when people don't find satire crippingly funny, but when they go too far they just get boring and nearly unwatchable (American Space Rangers was the worst bit in the last game, I've never been particularly big on bodily-function-based humor).

 

However, making a genuinely creepy character is also one of the most powerful and memorable things that can be done.

This, also I think you're the first person to actually get what satire is.

[DeadZombie]

Killing children is too much.

This is one thing I don't quite understand

 

Adult killing en masse: completely fine

 

Non-human animal killing en masse: acceptable to a degree

 

Human children: HOW DARE YOU EVEN SUGGEST THAT JESUS CHRIST YOU HORRIBLE MONSTER YOU ARE GOING TO BURN IN HELL FOREVER AAAHHHHH

Really though? You can kill anything you want in this game, why do you want to kill babies? Is it really that important to you to be able to murder a child in the game? What's next, raping people as a minigame? Being able to be a pedophile? Theres a point where things go from being fun and games to being over the top.

Because how many movies depicted the death of children in the most bold and gruesome ways.

 

Its just asking for trouble. Its not good for your PR and it certaintly will hurt your sales when you get a big fat AO rating on your game.

 

 

 

 

[DJ_McLovin]

Honestly, I think we all need to laugh at ourselves sometimes. It really does relieve tension because we get to look at ourselves and see some of the stupid sh*t we do as humans, be it along racial, gender, orientation, age, cultural and/or socio-economic lines. I wouldn't have an issue with the death of children or rape being discussed as long as it's done in a way that doesn't go into graphic detail of the ordeal. If we start going into detail, then it becomes offensive and very awkward.

 

But as with dark humor, as long as it's funny and not offensive, I have no problem with it.

Edited August 22, 2013 by DJ_McLovin

[topdownshooter]

GTA made a name for itself by being taboo. It's what draws people to the game.

[Tupiz]

I'm updating my opinion: I allow sexuality and nudity, but not raping, never.

[manutd36]

"Either everything is okay to make fun of, or nothing is." - Matt Stone & Trey Parker

[black_benz]

You surely making a difference between the real-world and the fun-packed-game-humour in GTA.

The question is, more excactly, what would be (in your opinion) slightly "over the top" in terms of:

 

- curse words

- drug use

- gambling

- sexuality

- prostitution

- racism

- killing children, killing pets, killing at all

- flying aircraft into buildings

- war

- etc. etc.

 

Is there a point where Rockstar should stop?

When will satire end? What would be too much?

 

* somebody mentioned "baby rape time trials" in another thread. i think this makes the question clearer.

Curse words: no limits - but racial slurs should be used in a context to display ignorance and cultural barriers, not in a way that glorifies the use.

 

Drug use: tough one, but I think that hard drugs (coke, heroin, meth) should be depicted but not glorified. Marijuana and alcohol are fair game, though.

 

Gambling: no limits - traditional gambling, of course. No betting your child away, etc.

 

Sexuality: no explicit sexual acts (not even depictions) this is a video game, not pornography. Topless women, and genitalia in a non-sexual context are fine.

 

Prostitution: no limits, again, no explicit sexual acts depicted.

 

Racism: is fine as long as, again, it's not glorified -- but rather exposes cultural clashes/realistic historical context

 

Killing children: shouldn't really be something you can do in free roam. But, like in Max Payne if it's depicted (ie. someone's child was killed and they want revenge) this is perfectly fine, imo. Nothing that glorifies it, or mocks it/pokes fun at it. Pets, I'm a little be more loose about, but it's more or less the same. Hunting animals is fair game, though. Killing is a must in GTA, exposes the reality of the criminal underworld.

 

Flying aircraft into buildings: it should be possible physically, yes. Too much overraction with regards to giving people ideas about 9/11 in my opinion.

 

War: acceptable -- even depicting it in a satirical way. I have respect for soldiers who fight overseas, but I feel that since it ties into political philosophy, it's fair game.

[Dan Karies]

gta wouldn't be gta without breaking barriers. being distasteful and such.

the point is where to stop, everyone has some sort of border in mind between good satire (sarcasm) and simply bad taste.

to be honest, seeing trevor trampling body parts into the loo, was cool, but well, call me a pussy.