Quantcast
Destructoid - beverlynoelle's Community Blog




About Me
I'm a lady geek who enjoys the finer things in life: Gaming, science fiction (and fantasy too...who can resist a unicorn?!), old movies, vintage (read: Goodwill) clothes, and writing.

I got my undergraduate degree in anthropology and applied archaeology in hopes of becoming Indiana Jones. I dropped out of my fancy graduate school when I realized that archaeologists don't really get to beat up Nazis. THANKS, COLLEGE.

I like cats, Diet Coke and rock music. I currently work for BioWare as a community representative on STAR WARS: The Old Republic. (Clearly my opinions here do NOT reflect those of my employers.) Mostly, I just try to be awesome, and play a lot of games.


This is me.


This is not my dog.

That's it! Oh, and be my Twitter and/or Facebook friend if you want to. Yay, friends!
Gamer Profile
3DS friend code:
Steam:
Battle:
PSN:
Mii:
Gamertag:
Following (21)
Ashley Davis
Blorp
Christine Kendrick
Colette Bennett
DtoidLosAngeles
Elsa
Fame Designer
Gobun
Guncannon
Kraid
Kyle MacGregor
lolita hime
MacAttackNChee
Mark Griffiths
Mike Wuest
Occams electric toothbrush
RenegadePanda
SenorDoucheoisie
Technophile
williampansky
Y0j1mb0
Sterling: Pitchford tells feminist organizations to CRY MOAR over Duke
beverlynoelle | 4:36 PM on 02.22.2011 29 comments


Note: This is a response to the recent front page news article, "Pitchford: Feminist organizations welcome to attack Duke" by Jim Sterling. It is not an examination of his past pieces or stances; honestly, I really don't want to draw any more attention to them. No, for the sake of this post, I am going to take this recent front-page news post and judge it on its own merits (or lack thereof). And yes, I understand how silly it seems to write about this on the very site that employs Jim Sterling--but what better place to post it, really? Now, onward, and bring on the trolls!



Recently, a front-page news article caught my attention: "Pichford: Feminist organizations welcome to attack Duke." Oh man, Randy Pitchford making a statement telling feminist organizations to bring it on for the unapologetic over-the-top chauvinism of Duke Nukem Forever? Scandalous! Juicy! I had to read it!

Imagine my surprise and disappointment to find a very limited snippet of Pitchford's quote (from an interview with Eurogamer) in what appeared to be a platform piece for the articles' author, Jim Sterling, to spout his own views on feminism and misogyny.

Most of the time, this wouldn't phase me. I'm used to many different opinions on feminism, and even if I don't agree with them, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man. So the fact that Jim Sterling has his own ideas about feminism and misogyny is not surprising; what is surprising, however, is his manipulation of Pitchford's quote to further his own agenda.

Part of the issue is grabbing on to Eurogamer's misleading headline ("Duke: Pitchford welcomes feminist anger") and expanding on it. While the original Eurogamer article doesn't insert the author's own opinion much (except for that attention-grabbing title), Jim Sterling certainly does.

Jim Sterling's affection for hyperbole is part of what makes his posts so outrageous and enjoyable to read; however, in situations such as this it can be downright harmful. By downplaying the whole "Dickwolves" fiasco in his post as "some people throwing a hissy fit" (when Gabe himself even said messages to him were from "... people being very reasonable"), he already sets the stage to put a negative spin on Pitchford's interview.



When Pitchford makes statements such as "I'll tell you what, if some feminist organization that is doing a great job advocating women's rights worldwide, which I think is really important, can get some advantage by using Duke... go for it," it's not a challenge for feminist organizations to "attack" him or the game, which is what Sterling's article seems to be suggesting; rather, Pitchford seems like he actually wants feminist organizations to use the game if it can help further the cause of equal rights. To this end he talks about the subject of inequality for several paragraphs in the Eurogamer interview:

"... the fact is there are people in this world who get s*** on for no other reason than just their identity, the color of their skin, where they were born, their gender, and that's f***ing bullshit.

"Now, because of the unfairness in the world, sometimes people get... you know, organizations grow up and they become advocates for those issues, and there's some very legitimate and worthwhile organizations that are promoting everything from women's rights to gay rights to racial equality and religious tolerance, which are all really important things for our world.

"Now, sometimes, an organization that has an agenda and is interested in promoting that, especially when they're legitimate, worthwhile agendas, they need to find ways to get attention and to help people understand the problem."

Based on this interview, at least, Pitchford seems to understand that this game can be used in a way to promote equality and bring attention to serious issues, which is why he welcomes feminist organizations to take a look at it. It doesn't have an air of "haters gon hate" like Sterling claims--or perhaps he is just hearing what he wants to hear, to justify his own misguided stance on feminism?

Sterling is right in the sense that terms like "misogynistic" can be thrown about carelessly, which may desensitize people to actual misogyny (a "boy who cried wolf" scenario). Indeed, "an insidious exploitation of emotionally-charged labels" is a poisonous and unconstructive thing. So tell me, then, why is Sterling's article titled "Pitchford: Feminist organizations welcome to attack Duke," when Pitchford himself never actually said that? The term "attack" is used to discredit feminist organizations--look, they're SO MILITANT and ANGRY!!!--and is an example of the very "exploitation of emotionally-charged labels" that Sterling denounces later in his post.

But, who knows! Maybe slapping around emotionally-charged language to garner buzz for games is somehow different than using it to get page views. Nah, that's not "making a mockery of serious hate issues" at all.



Attached photos:

Photo Photo

Is this post awesome? Vote it up!

16

Those who have fapped:  The Sama  


Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

26 comments | showing # 1 to 26
prev next

Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 17:15
Hamza CTZ Aziz
"And yes, I understand how silly it seems to write about this on the very site that employs Jim Sterling"

FYI: Not silly at all! We welcome any type of articles/comments. :)
EnoSachran's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 17:20
EnoSachran
Sensibility? On my Destructoids? It is more likely than you think.

You're quite right, and quite level-headed---please, keep it up. I'd like to see this approach on the front-page articles more often.
Alasdair Duncan's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 17:22
Alasdair Duncan
See the thing is, Duke Nukem is/has always been pretty crass and immature, so if I heard a woman saying she found the game mysoginistic, I'd probably think "Yeah, you're got a point..."
ScottyG's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 17:34
ScottyG
I thought most of the post either quoted or summed up the Eurogamer interview. As for Jim's opinions I frankly welcome them. If I wanted a straight copy/pasta post and didn't want to hear what he thought I would've just read it at Eurogamer directly. Copy/pasta posts aren't why I go to Dtoid over other sites.

The whole wanting feminist groups to attack DNF just seems like a stupid marketing stunt, a desperate ploy to get more attention akin to the glory days of trainwreck marketing from back when Duke Nukem was relevant. Reading Pitchford's piece it sounds like they expected criticism by now and had a big marketing strategy in place for it, and when it didn't happen he did this interview.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 17:53
Xzyliac
Love ya gurl but I gotta say I stick by the "publicity stunt" reaction. It's just...you can do so much better as a feminist organization to promote your cause than point at a videogame. I don't think Pitchford honestly believes that any good can come out of it. That or he's got a very limited scope.

Can a feminist organization bring awareness to their cause through pointing at Duke Nukem? Well sure. I mean it's not wholly impossible but it is unlikely. And further should that be how a feminist organization exposes their cause beyond those already dedicated? I don't think so. It seems fickle and it's a rather trivial means to an end.

Even if Pitchford could propose an argument, and even if he found some ray of logic with which it could stand (and it does have that small ray), I think at the end of the day it's still just a call to controversy. He justified it...mmm...well enough but I still am inclined to think he wouldn't have said it for any other reason than to boost the chances of publicity.

Maybe I'm being cynical and I'm wrong. Totally likely. But I still can't figure that any true good could come out of what he said and I don't think it takes much to see how that idea could backfire. There's about 10 ways that can go right and 100 ways that can go wrong. BUT it'd push some units.
Blorp's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 17:55
Blorp
@ScottyG : This post is not about Sterling's opinion but more about how he misinterpreted Pitchford's intentions.
Stevil's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 17:58
Stevil
Bev? Is that you?! Must be since somebody finally turned your 360 off after something like two or three days straight!

You know, I wish Game Journalists Are Incompetent Fuckwits wrote about misleading titles in this way, you know, instead of the usual unconstructive way.

Yeah, I'm with Scotty (again today?) about the artificial bad publicity. He's basically got the ball rolling like EA did with "Your Mom Hates Dead Space 2". Sad fact of the matter is, you look deeper into these things about bad publicity and you'll find how all set-up well in advance. There was a brilliant piece on Charlie Brooker's Newswipe that showed you how it was done. If I could find You Tube link, I'd put it up.

The thing is, I don't think Jim's blog helps per se. He (however directly or indirectly) adds to the situation with that title because he ultimately knows the score. He's not stupid. He's getting something out of naff publicity like this for the website. It's a trade-off that he's happy with. That's how these things always work because they're so inconsequential six months to a year down the line.

Though I do admit to wondering if if he's ramped up his selective crusades to make amends for the "femnazi slut" fiasco (which he doesn't need to). I doubt he's done it intentionally, just one of those things that happens. Maybe I am just reading too much into that.

The main gist is if this is all going to make a difference when all the parties involved are probably going to go at this half-arsed.
AwesomeExMachina's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 18:06
AwesomeExMachina
Despite my distaste for a few things Sterling has said, particularly recently, I don't see anything all that slanted about his sum-up of the Pitchford comments. The title of the article, perhaps, I can see. But, even still, one could read the Pitchford comments as a come-at-me-bro statement and that would actually be a legitimate interpretation. He's taking a very strong angle. Rather than putting down any portion of the feminist movement with spite and counter-comments, he challenges. Whether it's really a challenge to attack or simply to adjust your viewpoint is up to the person reading, I suppose.
AwesomeExMachina's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 18:08
AwesomeExMachina
But, everything aside, a crisp and well-written entry. Faps nonetheless.
ScottyG's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 18:18
ScottyG
@Stevil I know! People shouldn't agree with me under any circumstances! To be honest it's kind of scary.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 18:22
EternalDeathSlayer
Actually, any feminist group that has a real problem with Duke Nukem Forever would be ATTACKING the game. What else would they do? Praise it? Discuss it with it's creators or supporters? No.

They'd post a bunch of bullshit rants on their blogs and websites for the attention, and if they aren't satisfied then they'll call some news channels and try to get invited onto a show or two. They'll get some donations from any women crazy enough to give a shit, and then they will move on.

As for Jim, I see no issue with what he said. I see major news outlets do this all the time. So long as he didn't put the "Feminist organizations welcome to attack duke" part in quotes in the headline, I see nothing wrong. If the phrase had been within quotes, then I might have actually expected to see Pitchford say that somewhere.
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 18:41
Elsa
The front page titles are generally meant to grab attention... and they work. Meh, I have no problem with this as he did link to the original interview for people to read if they want to.

As others have noted, there was the whole "feminazi" situation that occured with Jim and it did bring out how the term "mysogynist" is really thrown around way too much.

In terms of the game, I think even the most ardent feminist groups must see that the game is a satire. If anything, I would think it would be men's groups that might be upset over the extreme stereotyping of men. In the end though, it's comedic effect... not unlike Austin Powers. :)

Great to see you blogging again though!!
Arch649's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 20:46
Arch649
I do think Jim has been a bit "tabloid" lately, but honestly how can DNF be used to further feminism? I still don't quite understand this, other than pointing out the (obviously satirical) misogyny.

Anyway have a fap.
The Sama's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 21:18
The Sama
Good counter-opinion, and good points.
Guncannon's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 23:41
Guncannon
YOU'RE GETTING TOO EMOTIONAL!

THAT'S WHY WOMEN SHOULDN'T BE GAME BLOGGERS!
Guncannon's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/22/2011 23:42
Guncannon
Or, should I say, "blogmen".
ScottyG's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/23/2011 01:07
ScottyG
Don't say such terrible things Guncannon! Women are more than welcome to blog... about fashion, makeup, sandwich making, and celebrity gossip.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/23/2011 01:59
Xzyliac
Did someone say celebrity gossip and sandwich making!?
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/23/2011 09:07
Jim Sterling
We have a very limited space for our headlines and as such, struggle to get the message of the article across, and catch a reader's eye, with an incredibly restricted space. If I had my way, I'd have said a lot more in the headline than I did.

Same goes for the quote snippet. I did not deliberately use a fraction of Pitchford's post. I took what I felt were the most pertinent comments and linked to the rest, because I only get so much space. I did not manipulate his comments. I presented what he said, and then provided my own opinion, as my job dictates. Two separate stances, his and mine, were presented. I never said, "Pitchford says feminists are dumb" or anything like that. I'd never WANT to portray all feminists like that, because only a handful of them are dumb (like all groups and people, really).

Your main beef seems to be with the headline, as you more or less agreed with my actual opinion at the end. If you were offended or felt it was misleading, that was not my attention, so sorry for that. I went ahead and changed it, since my aim wasn't to suggest that feminists are inherently a group of aggressors.

Hopefully that clears up some stuff.
ctrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/23/2011 09:44
ctrain
"They'd post a bunch of bullshit rants on their blogs and websites for the attention, and if they aren't satisfied then they'll call some news channels and try to get invited onto a show or two. They'll get some donations from any women crazy enough to give a shit, and then they will move on."

Unfortunately, sometimes the word misogynistic comes to mind, and it's an appropriate description. Very enjoyable blog, however I fear it will fall on deaf ears for much of the audience around this sausagefest.
Mike Moran's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/23/2011 14:59
Mike Moran
Whether or not they were being genuine about using Duke Nukem Forever as an example in favor of feminism I hardly think it would be in anyone's best interest. You don't necessarily need to attack the developers directly, but an organization would likely use this game as an example of what's wrong with media. Frankly Duke Nukem IS pretty brainless and any organization calling it out as such would have every right to do so. That sort of attention would probably taint the public's views of games in general.

I never understood the appeal of Duke Nukem's character and why so many people seem to idealize him. Seriously, I've talked to a number of people who are buying Duke Nukem Forever "just because Duke is awesome. I don't care if the game's gonna be good or not." There's a lot of people out there who thing Duke is just awesome and I can't think of a single video game character I find more boring and unappealing. Maybe that's his appeal. He's the definition of a male power fantasy, only completely lacking in any character. In theory any male could put themselves in his shoes while playing the game since he's so completely void of personality

Is there anything technically wrong with that? Not really, but I'd rather Duke not help make the world think that games are only for slack jawed idiots, so I'd really rather Pitchford not invite anybody to talk about him to a public who could very easily be swayed to see him as harmful.
salamagogo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/23/2011 15:56
salamagogo
so is this hyper-bole like a mega super stromboli or someting?
LsTr Of SmG's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/23/2011 17:56
LsTr Of SmG
Nice, and respectful, blog - and a good response from Mr Sterling up there too.

It's nice to see mature, non-insulting dialogue between people on the internet. It's such a depressing rarity these games. In fact, and as Hamza summed up perfectly, it's the reason I come to Destructoid.
KyleGamgee's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/25/2011 12:19
KyleGamgee
Great blog. I love Jim for being Jim and I love Beverly for being Beverly.

Big hugs all around. :)
Usedtabe's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/27/2011 07:42
Usedtabe
This isn't about Misanthropy? I'm outta here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed57ObXu9fc

Usedtabe's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/27/2011 07:44
Usedtabe
This isn't about Misandry? I'm outta here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed57ObXu9fc




(sorry for the double post. spell check ruined my attempted troll)
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!