Steam User Finds Misogynistic "Joke" Buried in Dead Island Code [UPDATED]

[maninahat]

I bet if it said something against men on a male character, like "pig", nobody would say a thing about it being bad.

I'm sure if it said ChauvanistPigStomp it would definitely get some people in arms. Not as many, but some people.

I'm a feminist, and I would.

I don't. "Chauvinist" is often treated like a compliment to some guys. Makes them think they are James Bond, the "Chauvinistic, mysogynistic dinosaur; a relic from the cold war". As long as they don't literally say "get back in the kitchen" and grab a womans tits, Chauvinists tend to get treated fairly well in media portrayals. Far more so than feminists. Perhaps I should be more bothered that a game has an upgrade that makes it easier for women to murder men? Nah, Fallout beat it to the punch.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

Who gives a shit about misogyny?

exactly. yahtzee, i believe, said that a truly tolerant society is one where we can mock everyone equally without anyone getting massively offended.

 

[jmarquiso]

I bet if it said something against men on a male character, like "pig", nobody would say a thing about it being bad.

I'm sure if it said ChauvanistPigStomp it would definitely get some people in arms. Not as many, but some people.

I'm a feminist, and I would.

I don't. "Chauvenist" is often treated like a compliment to some guys. Makes them think they are James Bond, the "Chauvenistic, mysogynistic dinosaur; a relic from the cold war". As long as they don't literally say "get back in the kitchen" and grab a womans tits, Chauvenists tend to get treated fairly well in media portrayals. Far more so than feminists. Perhaps I should be more bothered that a game has an upgrade that makes it easier for women to murder men? Nah, Fallout beat it too the punch.

I was trying to find an equivalent to FeministWhore. ChauvinistPig is a general insult hurled at males. I'd say that Feminist is treated as a compliment and insult by females as well (as the latter are generally only aware of more extreme feminism).

EDIT: I've never heard Chauvinist as anything but a bad thing, so I don't quite understand who takes it as a compliment other than, well, chauvinists.

 

[Stall]

I only know of two amateur penectomies in the last 30 years, but I don't spend too much time on it. Only one can I kind of recall the names involved.

Neither one was a "feminist" act, but at least one was possibly defendible from being in a bad situation (I don't think it's completely mitigating). There is something to be said for people in abusive situations not being able to fight back until its expressed in the ways above.

Yeah, there have only been two that have gotten a lot of coverage... I probably phrased it a little iffy, apologizes. Anyways, just imagine what would happen if you reversed the gender roles in those cases. Hypothetically, imagine a very abusive woman in a relationship, and the man strikes out in retaliation against her in some horrific crime. Odds say it would the man who would be demonized despite the domestic abuse he suffered. Even if the woman's actions made what the man did "possibly defensible," it probably wouldn't matter much, would it? Without a doubt you wouldn't see people cracking jokes about it, thinking it was funny, or praising the actions of the man for standing up. This has all gotten rather... grim for what was one a discussion about a moronic joke, but the whole dichotomy between misogyny and misandry in society is very pronounced.

Lighthearted, silly things like this thread really just go to highlight this problem in a less... dark way. The fact that a misogynistic joke is considered horribly offensive, but a misandristic joke in the same context might be funny just highlights society's ills, and how far will still need to "progress". Perhaps someday men will be able to make misogynistic jokes without fear of being called a sexist, and then women can make misandristic jokes in the same vein without idiots like me pointing out some double standard.

 

[orangeban]

Well, that's... interesting. Does the Dead Island team have any female programmers?

 

[Thaluikhain]

Anyways, just imagine what would happen if you reversed the gender roles in those cases. Hypothetically, imagine a very abusive woman in a relationship, and the man strikes out in retaliation against her in some horrific crime. Odds say it would the man who would be demonized despite the domestic abuse he suffered. Even if the woman's actions made what the man did "possibly defensible," it probably wouldn't matter much, would it? Without a doubt you wouldn't see people cracking jokes about it, thinking it was funny, or praising the actions of the man for standing up.

What about all the jokes made after Heather Mills claimed Paul McCartney abused her? Admittedly, that might be atypical, celebrities being allowed to abuse women if they are popular, or be abused if they are not (and/or are amputees).

 

[Robert Ewing]

Feminists are horrible creatures anyway. And just to show that I'm not chauvinistic. It will make you happy to know that I freaking hate chauvinists as well.

General equality is the way forward.

 

[Saulkar]

Funny? Yes! In good taste? No. A misogynistic attitude towards women? No. Immature? Yes.

 

[Crazycat690]

Big deal, radical feminism has already affected the world enough, women who rapes and mutilate men are considered heroes, so random feminism hate is only healthy.

 

[Weaver]

There are probably variables named wacky crap in nearly every program you use.
I once worked at a company that used a monitor named "nessMonster" so you could Lock(nessMonster);

This was high profile software, even in use by the Indian Navy.

Another instance, the company I work for now creates laboratory integration software, and we have some strange variables in use. My favourite is probably "the_sizzler". I don't even know what it does.

 

[Denamic]

That's funny, but I fail to see why it's such a big deal.
Misogynists are everywhere.
Just ignore the dipshits and it will be as if they never existed.

 

[theonecookie]

Hang on why are bothered most likely it was a single programer who is one of two things an ass or somebody who had a bad experience with a fem-Nazi (note not feminist) who claims we should have a grand matriarch with all men punt in cages

In both cases it aint newsworthy

 

[Stall]

There are probably variables named wacky crap in nearly every program you use.
I once worked at a company that used a monitor named "nessMonster" so you could Lock(nessMonster);

This was high profile software, even in use by the Indian Navy.

Another instance, the company I work for now creates laboratory integration software, and we have some strange variables in use. My favourite is probably "the_sizzler". I don't even know what it does.

Yeah, I've only taken basic programming classes, and even I know that coding is one of the most soul-crushing things you can do for a living. I can only imagine that this silly little joke was the result of a programmer attempting to mitigate the absolute monotony of his job.

It's a silly, silly thing to get offended about. Laugh at it, don't laugh at it, and move on. It's a simple as that. No need to QQ or demonize the game.

 

[Drejer43]

Double post
Got damn inclip confuses me

 

[Drejer43]

Let me get this straight... she has a skill... that does more damage... when she attacks men... and people are complaining about what it's named in the code more than the blatant misandry of that skill?

Seriously, if there was a male character that had a skill to do extra damage against female enemies (it could still be publicly named Gender Wars and privately named, I don't know, MisogynistAsshole or something) and people would, again, flip out on behalf of women.

Lol i didn't think of that, but that is so true.

 

[cynicalsaint1]

I honestly get the feeling that this was originally done as some kind of in-joke, you know the "Its funny because its in completely poor taste" kind of joke, because hey its just part of the code and no one will ever see it right? Programmers do that sort of thing all the time, something I can say with authority because I am one (for example I happened across a "The cake is a lie" joke in our code once and I work on a product for determining property tax). Now granted I've never seen anyone leave something someone might consider offensive behind mind you - but I can see someone doing it.

That doesn't make it right - I mean even if it was done in good humor, the general public isn't going to be able to tell the difference, or even necessarily care. So while I can spare a bit of sympathy, I'm still going to have to hand out a massive facepalm.

Come on guys, really?

 

[Deathninja19]

I like how people who say this are men and have never experienced personally misogyny and is probably bitter because women won't sleep with him. Grow up man if you acted a little nicer to women maybe, just maybe you will find someone who will not reject you.

As a rather openly irrelgious person in the American Deep South, I can personally testify that I have been discriminated against, and the victim of "hate speech". And you know what? I don't give a shit. When people seriously call me a heathen or tell me I am going to hell, or say things like "Oh, I used to think so much higher of you before I learned you were an atheist/agnostic/whatever," or "I don't know if I can be friends with you anymore," I don't fucking care. They're just words said by people who I have zero concern with. If I can get past people acting like an asshole towards me for my beliefs, then I think women can get past a few misogynistic jokes every here and there.

Are women and feminist so sensitive that a silly joke in a video game is some how deeply offensive to them? Seriously. Stop making mountains out of molehills. Either laugh at the joke, or move on. It's nothing to get so flustered about.

And just because I don't think misogyny is a problem means women won't sleep with me? What kind of fucking logic is that? Oh right. It's not logic.

No what I was saying is that people who think misogyny doesn't exist or is not a big deal often have problems with women themselves, and since you are commenting on a site that mainly deals with video games I am assuming like most of us here you have been rejected or ignored by women from a young age. That period of development can seriously affect your views on gender roles and probably think that women tend to get certain preferred treatments due to men, including you and me, lusting after them and should have no right to complain when a man commits an act of misogyny. I may be wide of the mark but I doubt it.

But what you seem to forget is that misogyny is not just words like your pathetic discrimination about being an atheist or whatever, misogyny leads to physical abuse, lower pay, intimidation and bullying. And as a so called victim of hate speech at the time I bet you thought that it was a big deal I would think that you would have some sympathy for people who have the same experience. But I guess not, it's almost like you're making up the fact you were persecuted, but why would someone do that?

But screw it I'll never change your mind because you'll never experience true discrimination for what you are or what your skin colour is so this is a wasted exercise in futility.

 

[EHKOS]

Haven't we already established some people don't like other people?
Instead how about we talk about my +5 minute loading times hmmmm DI?

 

[Panzervaughn]

"Great, another drunkenly named skill that thinks its gods gift, Stupid git!"
At least now we know Who do she voodoo.

 

[Drejer43]

Oh man i've been looking for the usal kitchen joke but there is no one to be found
(i'm not a chavunist, i'm just immature.)