Stolen Pixels #247: Her Price Is Right

[Dev Null]

Wait, I don't get it.

I mean the ad I _really_ don't get. But Travis is offended because there's no way the game is _cheaper_ than his long-suffering, so shes worth less than thirty whatever-he-thinks-they-ares, but then he finds out the price is in pounds so shes worth more than thirty of those? What did he think the price was in? Metric tons of gold? The UK pound is bigger than most other currencies* - by edict of Her Maj Lizzie, I always thought - so if Mrs Travis is worth less than 29.99 in... US dollars say, then shes certainly less than 29.99 pounds.

*Actually (*derderderder! derder!* Google to the rescue!) the pound is worth less than both the Omani Rial and the Latvian Lat, apparently, so maybe he was thinking of one of those. That might actually explain a lot about Travis' attitudes, come to think of it...

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Oh, hey, howsit Shamus? Hardly see you around these days.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

*Wipes eyes*

Am I seeing things? Has Stolen Pixels returned? Is this a cruel joke?

In anycase....

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!

 

[mexicola]

After months of spewing bile all over ME2 Shamus is turning to his gentler side and decides to work on Stolen Pixels again. Keep them coming!

 

[Ninjariffic]

Clearly the ad is saying that buying a videogame is cheaper than having a girlfriend. It's not saying you should sell her, or pay her off. Nor is it making a comment on her thriftiness.

 

[superline51]

See, I always saw the promotion to mean you have to pay out the ass to appease girlfriends, but not have to spend a lot of money for the game.

Edit: Ninja'd by....well, a ninja apparently

 

[Bram van Os]

finally a new stolen pixels FUCK YEAH, THIS REQUIRES CAPS LOCK!

 

[arealperson]

Ok right, feminism 101: the little things matter. The male gaze in which everything in society is perceived from is an overwhelming accumulation of 'little things' which through a complex mathematical procedure known only to some as 'adding' become a 'big deal'. So whilst presuming that everyone who looks at your advert is male might, in and of itself, be a minor thing, when taken as part of say, 'all of advertising, everywhere' it is a lot bigger. I shouldn't really have to explain this. Also, you know, the whole 'cheaper than your girlfriend' essentially implies that women are financial burdens to men, who are obliged to spend money on them for their fickle loyalty. That's ever-so-slightly sexist, wouldn't you think?

I hope this post was made in light of the holiday. If so, disregard the following:

When you say "the little things matter" you're either stereotyping a woman's viewpoint in saying 'trivial things are most important' or your just completely missing Shamus' point. Shamus' point wasn't that one shouldn't be offended that the ad is targeted at one demographic, one should be offended that gaming as almost an entire medium (or at least blockbuster titles) is targeted at men.

Also, you didn't seem to understand that "cheaper than your girlfirend" was satirical not in the 'poking fun at the support required for a stereotypical woman' way, but in the 'men don't actually reduce their relationships to a cost vs. reward scenario'.

If you're getting caught up in an implied "only women can provide burden or cost in a relationship" then you're reading too deeply into this and are displaying a reason some have distaste for feminism.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Now I can talk properly, good to have Stolen Pixels back

 

[camazotz]

Welcome back! Please don't go again.

 

[MarsProbe]

It's already been pointed out elsewhere, but what makes this ad "offensive" is indeed due to the fact that it is stating that the game is cheaper that ones girlfriend. While for someone not from the UK, the ad just seems to be stating that Black Ops offers better value for money than ones girlfriend, over here that just ain't the case.

In this case the context is cheap, as in "cheap whore". So, perhaps you can now see why everyone with a semblance of well, decency, (and may actually have to see this ad) hates it? Try and bear in mind those all important cultural differences before making swepping statements.

This coming from someone who usually doesn't look too highly on people who complain about ads being "offensive"

 

[Drejer43]

all you people saying "yeah Shamus is back!!"
why don't you read his blog twenty sided once in a while, I mean really come on.

 

[Luke5515]

We missed you.
Please don't ever leave again.

 

[Kermi]

Welcome back! I was just saying last week how I've missed you, Shamus. Granted, I didn't say it out loud to anyone, or write it anyway, but it was in my head.

 

[Logic 0]

It's good to see that stolen pixels is back and hopefully for a while longer.

 

[AWDMANOUT]

HUZZAH! NEW STOLEN PIXELS!
I'm so excited you've returned Shamus, I forgot what your new comic was even about.

Edit: I thought the original post about this advertisement about the girl claiming that they were implying girls are cheap was ridiculous. It's clearly implying girls are not cheap.

 

[Toothache of Sauron]

YEEEESSSSSS!

It's great to see a Stolen Pixels new strip again!. I hope there will be many more!.

 

[Archemetis]

Finally! The comic I can read! It's been too long, excellent return to form, Shamus.

 

[Vesamne]

Hell...It's about time!

 

[Mantonio]

I waited four months for this?

I mean, it's nice to see you back and all but... really? This joke is lacking flow somewhat.