"Ghettopoly" Outrages Religious Idiots

[Tony]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-10-09-ghettopoly_x.htm ..full article

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cheap Trick Avenue instead of Boardwalk? Hernando's Chop Shop instead of Reading Railroad?

Black leaders are outraged over a new board game called "Ghettopoly" that has "playas" acting like pimps and game cards reading, "You got yo whole neighborhood addicted to crack. Collect $50."

Black clergymen say the game, the brainchild of a Pennsylvania man, should be banned, and have called for a boycott of Urban Outfitters unless the company stops selling Ghettopoly in its chain of clothing stores.



Gimme a break, these people take themselves too seriously.

[Nie Trink Wasser]

sweet

I have a copy of the game myself.

sometime soon they should have redneckopoly available.

[Clancie]

Posted by Tony

Gimme a break, these people take themselves too seriously.
Really, Tony? Unless you think there's just no such thing as racism, this seems a pretty obvious call....

PHILADELPHIA - Cheap Trick Avenue instead of Boardwalk? Hernando's Chop Shop instead of Reading Railroad?

....Black leaders are outraged over a new board game called "Ghettopoly" that has "playas" acting like pimps and game cards reading, "You got yo whole neighborhood addicted to crack. Collect $50."

...Shine displayed the game board, with properties including Westside Liquor, Harlem, The Bronx, and Long Beach City, and squares labeled Smitty's XXX Peep Show, Weinstein's Gold and Platinum, and Tyron's Gun Shop.

....Players draw "Hustle" and "Ghetto Stash" cards with directions like, "You're a little short on loot, so you decided to stick up a bank. Collect $75," and "Steal $$$ if you pass Let$ Roll."
the Ghettopoly board depicts figures labeled "Malcum X" and "Martin Luthor King Jr." — intentionally misspelled — noted Rev. Glenn Wilson, pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.

"This is beyond making fun, to use the caricature of Dr. King in this regard," Wilson said. "There's no way that game could be taken in any way other than that this man had racist intent in marketing it."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031009/ap_on_re_us/ghettopoly_1

[Tony]

Originally posted by Clancie

Really, Tony? Unless you think there's just no such thing as racism, this seems a pretty obvious call....


This isn’t racism. Its disrespect, disregard, and irreverence.

[Clancie]

Tony,

Do really think its acceptable to market these kinds of ethnic slurs? Would it be equally okay with you if the group being grossly ridiculed like this was, for example, Jewish?

Here's another description....

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/news/100203_nw_ghettopoly.html

Instead of a top hat, cane, and mustache, the Ghettopoly guy is a thuggish, bandanna wearing black man with bug eyes peering over dark glasses. He clenches a marijuana cigarette, holding an Uzi in one hand and a bottle of malt liquor in the other.

The game is played like monopoly, but the object is to put crack houses or project buildings in some of the worst neighborhoods in America while trying to avoid being carjacked, shot, or drug addicted.

There are ghetto stash and hustle cards, and the seven game pieces include a pimp, a prostitute, a machine gun, malt liquor bottle, basketball, marijuana leaf, and a rock of crack cocaine.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser
sweet

I have a copy of the game myself.

sometime soon they should have redneckopoly available.


I can't wait for " Holocaustopoly "..:rolleyes:

As always, stuff like this just reafirms the values of someone who happens to think it is funny..

[Tony]

Originally posted by Clancie
Do you both really think its acceptable to market these kinds of ethnic slurs? Would it be equally okay with you if the group being ridiculed was, for example, Jewish?


I wouldnt care, but then, Im a bit more liberal minded than most people.

[Tricky]

My mom tells me that her father was deeply offended by the board game Monopoly and wouldn't allow one in the house. He said that it was wrong to teach kids to try to hoard money and drive others out of business.

Sure Ghettopoly is racist, but our society allows racism, just as it allows greed. Many institutions, like civil service and most private businesses do not allow racism to be openly expressed, but you really can't stop it. First amendment, and all that.

However, if you are offended by the game, don't buy one. I'm pretty sure I wont, unless I decide to get Tony a Christmas present. ;)

[JAR]

The attempt to ban this game is another attempt by leftists to hide the fact that there is something very wrong going on among African-Americans that isn't due to racial persecution among white people.

The black community won't like this game because it holds up a mirror and they don't like what they see.

The leftists want to lower poverty among African-Americans by hiding from the facts.

[JAR]

Originally posted by Clancie

Really, Tony? Unless you think there's just no such thing as racism, this seems a pretty obvious call....

Define your definition of "racism" so I can make sure racism isn't beneficial.

[The Fool]

Originally posted by JAR

Define your definition of "racism" so I can make sure racism isn't beneficial.
You want someone to define thier definition? Isn't that incest?;)

[schplurg]

Incest LOL...man that's twisted...good one!!! But I think defining your OWN definition is actually considered masturbation.

Hernando's Chop Shop instead of Reading Railroad?
Smitty's XXX Peep Show
Weinstein's Gold and Platinum
Tyron's Gun Shop
Hernando's? Smitty's? Weinstein's? Those don't sound "black" to me. And I have a white friend who's middle name is Tyrone (honest). Yet, according to this article, the blacks are the only ones making all the noise. Not only blacks live in ghettos. Based on this article it sounds like many "groups" are being portrayed here. Don't they realize the free publicity they have just given to this game by whining about it? I'd never even heard of it until today. "Banning" a game for these reasons, or for any perhaps, is ridiculous.

...the Ghettopoly board depicts figures labeled "Malcum X" and "Martin Luthor King Jr."
..."This is beyond making fun, to use the caricature of Dr. King in this regard,"
I'm sure they were misspelled to avoid lawsuits, but I'm curious as to how these men are represented. Can anyone who owns this game elaborate? I'm not sure it would really matter to me though.

Black clergymen say the game, the brainchild of a Pennsylvania man, should be banned...
Banned by whom? I agree with you JAR, at least to some extent. Perhaps these groups should worry more about the fact that this game hits pretty close to the truth. It is tasteless, but I don't think it's racist. And so what if it is? Is it illegal? Also, the creator of this game is Asian, but I guess since his minority group as a whole have acclimated pretty well into our society that he is practically considered white. By the way, that last comment is courtesy of the beautiful Chinese woman sitting here next to me...rrrrrOOOWWWWWW!!!!

Would it be equally okay with you if the group being grossly ridiculed like this was, for example, Jewish?
It wouldn't be any worse to me. Actually, "Weinstein's Gold and Platinum" sounds more Jewish than African-American. I'd say the game's creator is poking fun at the ghettos themselves, not any particular racial group. Perhaps "The Sopranos" should be banned, after all I'm Italian. "We" aren't exactly represented in a very good light in that show. But is it accurate? Aaaaah.....I'll never tell... It's funny, people sometimes ask me if my family is in the Mafia...ya like I'd admit that if it were true! I should sue HBO for defamation of character.

The game sounds childish, and it sounds kinda funny. I hear comedians and have seen TV shows that stereotype these folk in exactly the same way. Should they be silenced as well? Should we burn books? There's plenty of racist media that people can buy if they choose. Remember, I'm commenting on the whole "banning" idea. I'm not defending this game, only the right for someone to produce it.

I'm not in favor of racism, I'm in favor of a persons right to make a product and either reap the rewards, or suffer the consequences for their actions. I'd say that after receiving all of this publicity, the guy will get rich.

It's simple...don't buy the game. I won't, but I don't think it should be banned. Complain all you want, but banning a game...oh brother. Can I ban Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson? Where are they anyways? I'm wondering if they'll touch this one or not. Will anyone complain when the Redneck version hits the stores?

I'm just getting a little fed up with people being offended by every damn thing. For the most part, being offended is a decision that the individual makes, and how you handle it shows YOUR character. Sumthin like that.

[Zep]

Don't know what all the fuss is about. The "American standard" version of Monopoly is just as inapplicable to the rest of the English-speaking world as this version is...

[Ed]

Originally posted by JAR
The black community won't like this game because it holds up a mirror and they don't like what they see.

The leftists want to lower poverty among African-Americans by hiding from the facts.

Yup. I think that many problems of the black community are self induced and liberals would rather throw money at their problems than honestly address them. I started a thread some time ago called Blacks are the Pets of Liberals. It certainly seems that they are.

[RPG Advocate]

Originally posted by Clancie

Do really think its acceptable to market these kinds of ethnic slurs? Would it be equally okay with you if the group being grossly ridiculed like this was, for example, Jewish?


So let me get this straight. The First Amendment doesn't apply to commercial speech you don't like? They should be allowed to market the game no matter what race they make fun of. Why ban these types of things when the market will probably kill them on its own?

[Ed]

Originally posted by Clancie
Tony,

Do really think its acceptable to market these kinds of ethnic slurs? Would it be equally okay with you if the group being grossly ridiculed like this was, for example, Jewish?

Here's another description....



Freedom of speech does not apply only to speech that you agree with. A Jew version with Palistinian gangs and suicide bombers would be pretty funny.

Chance

You are strapped in a wheelchair and get thrown off a ship by a bloodthirsty Arab. Go back three spaces.

You pick the wrong resturant and get blown to bits by a 17 year old. Go back 4 spaces.

Spielberg laughs at a yiddish joke that you tell. Move ahead 2 spaces

You overhear Spielberg call you a "Putz" at the same gathering. Move back 1 space.

A black dude steals the diamonds you are delivering at the corner of 47th and 5th. Lose a turn.

Your Mom and Dad decide to get back to their roots and move the entire family back to Warsaw in 1936. Go back to start.

You decide to get a nose job. Move ahead 2 spaces.

Your Goy doctor botches it. Lose a turn.

Pretty darn funny.

[American]

Originally posted by Clancie
Tony,
Do really think its acceptable to market these kinds of ethnic slurs?



The people who use them most are also the subject of them. It's mainly white liberals who dislike games like this.

[MoeFaux]

Originally posted by Clancie
Tony,

Do really think its acceptable to market these kinds of ethnic slurs? Would it be equally okay with you if the group being grossly ridiculed like this was, for example, Jewish?




It's done on television. And not just on Southpark. Look at any network primetime show.
This game is obviously a parody and no one is being forced to buy it.

[Skeptic]

Originally posted by Diogenes



I can't wait for " Holocaustopoly "..:rolleyes:

As always, stuff like this just reafirms the values of someone who happens to think it is funny..

I certainly don't think either are funny, but I don't think either the real "ghettopoly" or the hypothetical "holocaustopoly" should be BANNED. The USA is a free country; you want to make an ass of yourself, go ahead, play those games.

Incidentally, in the 70s, there was a gay version of monopoly--made by gay people, as a deliberate satire. Jail was replaced by "straight city", for instance, and the railroads by "turkish baths". The game rules pamphlet encouraged the players to ignore it and make its own rules.

If you ban "ghettopoly", shouldn't the "gayopoly" be banned, too? After all, the law cannot ban or allow games based merely on taste or intent (satirical or insulting). This is one more reason not to ban "ghettopoly", just to ignore it.

[Ed]

Hmmmm.... Junopoly, Woponopoly ......

[Ed]

Chance:

Good Friday. Go into hiding. lose a turn

[Dancing David]

Originally posted by Ed


Yup. I think that many problems of the black community are self induced and liberals would rather throw money at their problems than honestly address them. I started a thread some time ago called Blacks are the Pets of Liberals. It certainly seems that they are.

Yeah and a hundred years ago it was all the fault of the Oirish that they were poor, and the fifty years ago it was the fault of the jews for being jewish.

There is nothing inherently wrondg with the game, in and of itself, but then there is nothing wrong with people boycotting the game either.

I think that it is in poor taste, but hey this is the country that brought you the Man Show and Hee Haw.

Gee Ed, I thought that PetStop stopped selling blacks as pets, I think that central americans have become the Akita of the new century.

[Ed]

Originally posted by Dancing David


Gee Ed, I thought that PetStop stopped selling blacks as pets, I think that central americans have become the Akita of the new century.

Not for liberals.

[Alaric]

Personally I feel the only way to truly reduce the effects of rascism is the laugh at it-I had friends of various ethnic backgrounds in school and we turned the worst rascist crap into humour. One doesnt mind being called a nazi, kraut or hun when one starts the conversation with "sup Chink?" I mean-this fight against a buard game is just giving those words and stereotypes more power if we make it a sin to laugh at them.

Or am I way out in left/right field here?

[Tony]

Originally posted by Alaric
Personally I feel the only way to truly reduce the effects of rascism is the laugh at it-I had friends of various ethnic backgrounds in school and we turned the worst rascist crap into humour. One doesnt mind being called a nazi, kraut or hun when one starts the conversation with "sup Chink?" I mean-this fight against a buard game is just giving those words and stereotypes more power if we make it a sin to laugh at them.

Or am I way out in left/right field here?


Not at all, in fact, your point of view is the best one to have.

[Leroy]

Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser
sweet

I have a copy of the game myself.

sometime soon they should have redneckopoly available.

I'd buy it!:roll:

[Leroy]

I just took an office vote. We would all buy "REDNECKOPOLY"

Living in redneck territory, we'd relate to it :D

[Nyarlathotep]

I think the game is tasteless and stupid. Not buying it is fine, telling others that it is offensive and that they shouldn't buy it is fine. Angry phone calls and protests to the makers of the game are fine. Calling for it to be banned (presumably by the government, since I don't know who else would have that power) , however, is not fine. I don't care how offensive or tasteless it is. We can not go and have the government forbid people from saying things just because others may be offended. That's a path we really shouldn't go down.......