If you look up the word “rape” over at UrbanDictionary.com, the second definition is listed as “To utterly defeat another person in any form of competitive activities” with the example sentence being “Dude, I totally raped your ass during that last game of Age of Empires.” While I am not a big fan of that word being used in that particular context, it doesn’t cause me to raise my eyebrows anymore than hearing the other offensive terms people frequently use on Xbox Live. All verbal offenders get the same treatment from me, a quick mute and negative feedback when warranted. Making a Halo-themed machinima about actual rape though and having the gall to classify it as “funny” does more than just rub me the wrong way. It offends me. A video I stumbled upon while surfing YouTube, titled Halo 3 Spartan Rape, has the following description listed in the information area :
FUNNY. Girl spartan gets knocked out and raped by a male spartan. Security guard tries to help but gets killed.
Funny? Really? While the use of the word “rape” has become a normal occurrence in the video game community, has it become so normal that some people think the actual act of rape is humorous as well? I was disturbed when I first watched this video, and that feeling has not gone away. Would it have been better to ignore it and not write about it? Maybe. But more than anything I was hoping it would perhaps create a dialog that would be more beneficial than not. You don’t have to watch the video, the above description is quite accurate. Well, if you ignore the “funny” part that is.
Posted by Ragingterror on July 3, 2008 at 3:28 am
>_<
Seriously, what is the matter with these people?
Posted by FIshd on July 3, 2008 at 4:32 am
Um… o-k.
I’ve sat now for a few minutes trying to think of something to say, but I’m actually lost for words…
All I can think of is, to the guy that made this … seek help dude.
Posted by AusQB on July 3, 2008 at 5:05 am
*sigh*
I’m with you FIshd. I wrote “*sigh*” and then just sat here with the cursor blinking. It’s truly disturbing.
I flagged the video.
Posted by Sigafoos on July 3, 2008 at 5:12 am
I’ve gotten into tons of arguments over ‘rape.’ I’m not sure how or why anyone decided that it could, or should, be used in a positive context. I’ve been told to ‘get over it’ plenty of times, but sorry folks, I refuse to.
Posted by totallysweethalo.com on July 3, 2008 at 5:17 am
Granted the subject matter is ridiculously distasteful, I’m also particularly disgusted by this kids Voice acting and editing skills or lack thereof rather.
Posted by Soulofaqua on July 3, 2008 at 5:22 am
Perhaps he should be raped himself. Maybe he will like it. Shamefull, simply shamefull.
Posted by mendicantbias00 on July 3, 2008 at 5:36 am
I can’t watch this video (no YouTube) at work. But after reading your article, and the comments above I dont think I want to. Rape isn’t funny. It’s one of the most horrible selfish things that can be done to a person. Rape steals ones dignity, causes mental trauma, leaves lasting scars, and shatters self-confidence. People like the chauvinist who made this video should be very glad that the internet offers anonymity…
Posted by CodeMonkey on July 3, 2008 at 6:04 am
There really is no reason for people to speak this way to one another and it seems that all the anonymity on Xbox LIve does it to enable people to do it more freely. Are racism, bigotry, sexism, and hatred really that prevalent in our society, or is it just amongst the gaming community?
Posted by pete_the_duck on July 3, 2008 at 6:31 am
/me signs his name to Hawty’s comment
That video has a complete and utter lack of respect for women.. and what scares me is knowing that he is going to go on to persue a relationship with someone. And there is absolutely no way that someone will be treated like they should by a guy who would even think of making something like this.
Or maybe he’ll end up in jail and get Soulofaqua’s brand of justice.
Posted by Soulofaqua on July 3, 2008 at 6:34 am
Does the internet actually offer anonymity Medicantbias00? To us mere trotters yes but to hackers and governements all over the world there actually is little anonymity. Here in Holland they track down IP’s of torrent and P2P downloaders and contact their Internet provider that they have to send a letter asking the person in question to stop or else he will be suspended from the web. I myself have used places like youtube, myspace, gamespot etc. to track down the housenumber of one of my friends. He always uses the same nickname(as do I) and with searching around I found a post of him telling his phonenumber(house) from wich I could find what street and number he lived on. One can exploit one anothers feelings of safety and even though I am fully aware of this I still freely post that my name is Glenn Kruup and I live in Holland. this would be enough information to find my phonenumber and house adress.
Posted by tanaka sagara on July 3, 2008 at 6:54 am
this guy makes me not want to ware my hayabusa helmet anymore
Posted by mendicantbias00 on July 3, 2008 at 7:06 am
No it doesn’t offer the “Witness Protection Program” kind of anonymity, but I dont want his address. I want his youtube site shutdown, and his XBL revoked. If he honestly thinks that rape should be construed as comedy then he has serious issues, and the less people who feed into these issues the better. Maybe I am overreacting though…
Again I cant go to youtube.com at work, what do the comments under his video say?
Posted by AusQB on July 3, 2008 at 7:46 am
Again I cant go to youtube.com at work, what do the comments under his video say?
“gee, that’s quite a cry for help you have there. looking for attention are we? needed to make something you knew was going yo be offensive so you could get the bad feedback? pussy. why don’t you find something better to do with your life, or even halo for that matter.”
“you suck at life”
“NOT FUNNY.”
“You make me sick. I hope you are raped to death. It would be ironic.”
Posted by mendicantbias00 on July 3, 2008 at 7:53 am
For a second AusQB I thought those comments were from you directed toward me… my face did a > o_0
But after re-reading I see what you did there.
Well at least we aren’t the only people that are disgusted by this. It will probably only be a matter of time before that video is taken down.
Thanks AusQB!
Posted by StealthSpeed3 on July 3, 2008 at 8:13 am
the ‘r’ word is one that i refuse to say, no matter where i am or who i’m talking to. My g/f experienced it at 16/17, and another friend of mine experienced it at 13 0_0. Not to mention i kept it from happening to my 18 yr old cousin back in ‘96 (which i still have occasional bad memories about that day).
Posted by kataztrophy on July 3, 2008 at 8:49 am
Those with a limited vocabulary tend to latch onto specific words. The term rape means someone got violated, so some use it as a general term.
I blame the parents. The same parents who buy M rated games for their kids. The same kids who annoyy the crap out of everyone in said games when playing online.
Posted by BSG Daffy on July 3, 2008 at 9:38 am
Rape isn’t something that should be joked about. It’s a form of torture and IMO can be a worse crime than murder. It virtually goes without saying that whoever made this machinima is an immature idiot.
Posted by Azrylle on July 3, 2008 at 10:07 am
Look at the guy’s YouTube account username.. that ought to give you some more idea of what kind of [disgusting] person he is.
Posted by theeriver on July 3, 2008 at 10:16 am
I think the word is losing it’s value. The mainstream media doesn’t use it anymore it seems like either. Video games are male dominated, so rape doesn’t hold the same perspective as a girl would have. So when a guy says I just raped you we don’t know the horror of it, or even the fear of it. Cause it really doesn’t happen to us. Penny Arcade said it best, Internet+Anonymity=Diskwad
I’m sure a guy though who’s been to prison might not take to kindly to the rape word either though.
Posted by bs angel on July 3, 2008 at 11:34 am
I really just don’t know what to add that hasn’t been said, besides the fact that the person who made that movie is not someone I would ever want to run into in a dark alley. My mind is debating itself over if someone could create a video like that and actually be a healthy, adjusted individual or if that person is no doubt a sicko.
Posted by mendicantbias00 on July 3, 2008 at 11:40 am
In my head I picture him to be much like the “Yellow Bastard” from Sin City.
I hope that if he ever attempts to do what his video portrays, that he meets the same end as well.
castration by fist.
Posted by Louis Wu on July 3, 2008 at 11:58 am
Unfortunately, it could just be that the person is young. (Please don’t think I’m saying ALL young people are like this – just that it’s far more common to see this sort of attitude coming from a 13-14 year old these days than it is from someone older (unless they’re actually sociopathic). It seems that a little bit of reality is enough to cure MOST young people of this kind of stupidity… but I’ve heard pretty awful things coming from my son’s friends, and most of ‘em are actually good kids. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t organize a trip down to the county morgue, just to give ‘em a dose of the reality they might need to stop being so… nasty.)
Posted by bigglesworth on July 3, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I am all for freedom of speech and such but just becuase you can make something like this video does not mean you should.
Posted by mendicantbias00 on July 3, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Technically this video violates the
Game Content Usage Rules.
You can’t use Game Content to create pornographic or obscene Items, or anything that contains vulgar, racist, hateful, or otherwise objectionable content. We can’t help you much here except to say that just like the old saying goes, you know it when you see it.
Posted by bs angel on July 3, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I agree Louis. There is that impressionable age of experimentation with pushing boundaries. While that person’s profile says they are 28, of course I realize that may not be the truth. If I knew that person was a young teenager, I would simply hope his mother somehow finds out about what he did and gives him an ounce of reality. If it is a full fledged grown up on the other hand, … I’d be much more concerned about his moral character.
Good catch on the rules mendicantbias. But who do you report that to? Besides flagging it on YouTube?
Posted by mendicantbias00 on July 3, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I would send an email to gamevids@microsoft.com to start. If enough of us do it, it may get the issue noticed more quickly. Otherwise what about that site Stepto.com (Stephen Toulouse) would he be able to help?
Posted by bs angel on July 3, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I have no idea if his department covers things like this or not. I’ll go ahead and throw an email to the address you listed and I guess we can go from there.
Thanks for finding that mendicantbias. And while bigglesworth brought up a great point about the importance of freedom of speech, it’s nice to know that other people besides myself feel there are definite boundaries that have been crossed.
EDIT:
Well, I can’t get my emails to go through to gamevids@microsoft.com. I have tried twice, each time having my message bounce back saying it had spam-like characteristics. I’m not sure if it is because it included a link or the word “rape” (which I edited out the second time) but I can’t break that spam barrier. Maybe someone else will have more success than I did.
Posted by Soulofaqua on July 3, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I actually would want to meet him in a dark alley. To teach him a lesson about vulgar inappropriate rude disgusting foul behavior.
Posted by mendicantbias00 on July 3, 2008 at 1:58 pm
OH NO! There has to be a way! What good is an email if they wont allow you to mail to it? angel, can you send me your email and I will try to copy and paste it. I wonder if it has something to do with your email address and not so much the content.
Posted by bs angel on July 3, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Forwarded. :)
Posted by mendicantbias00 on July 3, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Got it, sent it! Thanks!
Posted by OcR GimpTactics on July 3, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Just sayin’.
Posted by Yelzan on July 3, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Maybe I’m just insensitive, or maybe over the years I’ve become used to the vile things the internet can spawn, but I can’t really find it in me to be offended by this video. Now, please don’t mistake that as me saying that I condone rape or find rape or this video funny. To me it’s a bit of a stretch to draw a parallel between a crap video of one spartan teabagging another and the horrors of an actual rape. Also: “This is rape hour”? The video is just a little too over-the-top and stupid for me to really get offended by it. That said, this dude definitely has some maturity issues.
As far as the act of rape becoming “humorous” goes; people joke about rape all the time, and it extends far beyond the video game community. I somehow doubt everyone here flips out and posts a blog protesting the evils of prison rape every time they hear a “don’t drop the soap” joke.
Posted by Fezzer on July 3, 2008 at 5:32 pm
….
I wonder if he has actually committed said crime? If he is acting out his fantasies in such graphic ways…..well, who knows what he has done or dreams about doing someday?
Innocent till proven guilty I guess.
This video is an excellent example of the growing depravity of our ridiculous society.
Posted by silvercube on July 3, 2008 at 5:42 pm
rape is NOT acceptable in GAMING language either.
Anyone that does say that word on Xbox Live will be having a wonderful complaint filed. Don’t mess with an Xbox Ambassador. : )
That movie was stupid. Crossed the line. But then again, the line is different for many people. Heck, some people don’t have any lines.
That’s my two cents. :)
Posted by chickachicka on July 3, 2008 at 10:31 pm
My friends know I don’t like that word and if they happen to say it even jokingly I slap them. haha that’s probably not good either but that’s how they learn so it works.
Posted by Jillybean on July 4, 2008 at 1:10 am
“Would it have been better to ignore it and not write about it? ”
No, absolutely not. Good on you for bringing it to people’s attention. I haven’t watched the vid, and I have no intention of doing so, but the summary alone is enough to flash up big red warning signs in my mind.
From what I’ve experienced, the term ‘rape’ when used by players is like when little kids say ‘fuck’. It’s a social taboo that still holds stigma even when commonplace, because it’s an act. So when they use it, they’re aware of the danger they’re courting. That’s why it’s used in a ’safe’ context around males and other males because rape can never happen to a man, don’t you know (and the amount of times I’ve had this argument with people . . .) When girls hear it, to me it seems almost like a bi-product and it becomes like posturing, “look at me, I’m so tough” and the girls take it because they’re working in a male-dominated social culture.
This video, and it’s summary however, paints a clear target as a ‘girl’, specifies the action as ‘rape’ and even victimises an authority figure who would disapprove. The video is deeply concerning from that point of view. I agree with what Wu says in that kids will say the damndest things, but that very deliberate statement is different and if I heard any kid at work talking like that, it would be a talk with the parent, school, and definitely a consideration of suspension if help was not sought.
Posted by SwampFox on July 5, 2008 at 2:23 am
Seriously that is SO not cool. I mean I personally don’t get offended when one of my buddies says “oh man we just rapped your ass” after they win (I’m certain they were cheating anyway) but this is a whole other area of twisted and wrong. Not only does this sick individual find rape amusing he tells the “woman” repeatedly to “take it bitch,” and then tell the person who comes to help “fuck you motherfucker.” I truely can’t comprehend what kind of sadistic person it takes to find humor in that. Oh and I checked out his profile, it’s definitly a kid or an insanely immature twenty-something-year-old, just look at his “hobbies.”
It’s totally a kid who thinks he’s cool.
pathetic.
-Swamp-
Posted by aussie_spartan on July 5, 2008 at 5:28 am
The internet: It doesn’t make you more stupid, it just gives more people access to your stupidity.
Posted by cbd on July 8, 2008 at 7:58 am
seems like somebody at youtube has a shred of decency, the video has been removed
Posted by cbd on July 8, 2008 at 8:08 am
seriously though, that video reminded me of something that happend about a year ago on a discussion board I’m a member of. Someone announced a series of youtube videos where this guy was, um “soliciting” minors and easily got the other 40 members (me included) to report the creep’s videos (and post commentary calling him a perverted child molester, among other things) until he got banned. Took less than a day.
Youtube moderators do their job, you just have to get their attention sometimes
Posted by bs angel on July 8, 2008 at 11:37 am
Oh wow, thanks for the update. I hadn’t checked it in a while. I would imagine it is quite difficult to moderate a website of that size but I’m pleased to see someone took care of it.
Posted by Steve on September 8, 2009 at 11:48 am
I get what you’re talking about, but I can’t wholeheartedly agree with it.
1) Only an idiot would take the Xbox Live meaning of “rape” and go out and actually rape a real person
2) Rape on Xbox Live is just another indirect type of slang.
Like “chill”
3) Even if your points are entirely right, good luck getting that to the every xbox live user.
4) People also say, “You got totally pooped on” or something of relative meaning.
Does that mean that they are actually deficating on someone?
5) Seems odd enough that only people who play Halo can’t take a joke…
I play Halo frequently
“Rape” is barely used compared to Gears 2.
6) Why don’t you make a statement about racism and sexism on Xbox Live before you go jumping on a term that you and like 50 other Xbox Live users don’t like hearing every time you get beat in a Halo match.
7) Here’s another example: If someone is “fragging” does that mean that they will actually find it amusing to go around and kill multiple people with frag grenades?
I did’nt think so.
8) People who use “rape” to technically have the term half right.
Rape means to sexually violate another unwilling human being.
The way Xbox Live users are using the term is just non sexual.
9) If you feel so bad about this, you should be out to stop teabagging.
10) If what you say is right, you’re saying that if I were to say, “You got owned” that it means that I’m implying that I have legally purchased another human being.
And that video is just some idiot way it over his head teabagging another player just for the fact that he can holt RT enough for one kill.
It’s stupid, but not offensive.
I will say that I don’t think women are treated fair enough on Xbox Live, but the one detail that you left out is: Women aren’t the only people who can get raped.
It’s just in the news more often when a woman gets raped.