10/9/2003: Ghettopoly

Undertoad · 10-09-2003, 12:18 PM

This news image turned up on the wires today, and news-googling on it suggests that we have here a rising controversy. Some people seem to have steam coming out of their ears over it.

It's "Ghettopoly", and it looks pretty hilarious. The official website says "Buying stolen properties, pimpin hoes, building crack houses and projects, paying protection fees and getting car jacked are some of the elements of the game. Not dope enough?...If you don't have the money that you own to the loan shark you might just land yourself in da Emergency Room." And the game pieces: Pimp, Hoe, 40 oz, Machine Gun, Marijuana Leaf, Basket Ball and Crack.

And as expected, some people are throwing fits -- in this news image, it's Philly black clergy. Amongst other things, they're unhappy with the intentionally-misspelled "Malcum X" and "Martin Luthor King Jr." They want Urban Outfitters to stop carrying the game.

Quite predictably, this is the most and best publicity that the game could ever hope for. How else would it have made the IotD, for example? It's not funny or striking enough on its own. But with the controversy it becomes interesting.

This controversy reminds me of the Cellar thread where Nic Name could not stand certain tasteless humor. The "Ghettopoly" maker also intends to bring out "Redneckopoly" so it's certainly not a very simple racial matter. My first take is that it's more important to have a sense of humor about one's situation than anything else and that it's important for us to do away with meaningless political correctness, and so I am on the side of "Ghettopoly" at first glance. If we laugh at our stereotypes, we are at least being open about them, which just might allow them to fall away more easily over time.

juju · 10-09-2003, 12:43 PM

Redneckopoly? This is an outrage!!

SteveDallas · 10-09-2003, 12:58 PM

No doubt Geekopoly is next. ("YESSS!!! You landed on the Opteron 64 with a gigabyte ethernet card! You owe me $1000 rent!!")

Jacque Strapp · 10-09-2003, 01:14 PM

Quote:

And the game pieces: Pimp, Hoe, 40 oz, Machine Gun, Marijuana Leaf, Basket Ball and Crack.

As any true pimp knows, Hoe is spelled Ho, as in 'smack my ho up and grab the booty'. Obviously Ghettopoly is not being pimped by real-life pimps!

elSicomoro · 10-09-2003, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juju
Redneckopoly? This is an outrage!!

Shut up, redneck.

daniwong · 10-09-2003, 01:20 PM

"And the game pieces: Pimp, Hoe, 40 oz, Machine Gun, Marijuana Leaf, Basket Ball and Crack."

(Don't know how to quote single lines)

Ok - how many gansta's do you know that instead of saying "weed, chronic, bud, etc." would say Marijuana leaf??!!

Elspode · 10-09-2003, 01:23 PM

Does anyone else think that people getting all pissed off about this is sort of a defacto admission that the things being parodied actually do exist, and they'd just rather not be reminded of it?

Nothing But Net · 10-09-2003, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Pimp, Hoe, 40 oz, Machine Gun, Marijuana Leaf, Basket Ball and Crack.

So what? At one time or another I've been around all that shit and I'm white, mofos!

juju · 10-09-2003, 04:26 PM

When were you around crack?

Pie · 10-09-2003, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juju
When were you around crack?

Ever seen a plumber?

- Pie

elSicomoro · 10-09-2003, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juju
When were you around crack?

He lives in Houston...I hear that whole town is a shithole.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-09-2003, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juju
When were you around crack?

Don't have to be around it. It's all around me.

Stonan · 10-09-2003, 09:31 PM

You have to wonder if there would be this much of a stink if it was Honkytown....

Nothing But Net · 10-09-2003, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sycamore

He lives in Houston...I hear that whole town is a shithole.

Google on <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=shithole+philadelphia+philly&btnG=Google+Search">Shithole Philadelphia Philly</a>

172 results.

Google on <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=shithole+Houston+Htown&btnG=Google+Search">Shithole Houston Htown</a>

1 result, and shithole and Houston weren't even juxtaposed.

Don't dis my 'hood, Slim!

elSicomoro · 10-09-2003, 09:44 PM

Using "shithole Houston": 1090
Using "shithole Philadelphia": 928

Nyah!

10-09-2003, 12:18 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	10/9/2003: Ghettopoly This news image turned up on the wires today, and news-googling on it suggests that we have here a rising controversy. Some people seem to have steam coming out of their ears over it. It's "Ghettopoly", and it looks pretty hilarious. The official website says "Buying stolen properties, pimpin hoes, building crack houses and projects, paying protection fees and getting car jacked are some of the elements of the game. Not dope enough?...If you don't have the money that you own to the loan shark you might just land yourself in da Emergency Room." And the game pieces: Pimp, Hoe, 40 oz, Machine Gun, Marijuana Leaf, Basket Ball and Crack. And as expected, some people are throwing fits -- in this news image, it's Philly black clergy. Amongst other things, they're unhappy with the intentionally-misspelled "Malcum X" and "Martin Luthor King Jr." They want Urban Outfitters to stop carrying the game. Quite predictably, this is the most and best publicity that the game could ever hope for. How else would it have made the IotD, for example? It's not funny or striking enough on its own. But with the controversy it becomes interesting. This controversy reminds me of the Cellar thread where Nic Name could not stand certain tasteless humor. The "Ghettopoly" maker also intends to bring out "Redneckopoly" so it's certainly not a very simple racial matter. My first take is that it's more important to have a sense of humor about one's situation than anything else and that it's important for us to do away with meaningless political correctness, and so I am on the side of "Ghettopoly" at first glance. If we laugh at our stereotypes, we are at least being open about them, which just might allow them to fall away more easily over time.

10-09-2003, 01:20 PM	#6
daniwong Vice-President of Resentment Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 196	"And the game pieces: Pimp, Hoe, 40 oz, Machine Gun, Marijuana Leaf, Basket Ball and Crack." (Don't know how to quote single lines) Ok - how many gansta's do you know that instead of saying "weed, chronic, bud, etc." would say Marijuana leaf??!! __________________ Mistress of all that is claim related.

10-09-2003, 01:23 PM	#7
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Does anyone else think that people getting all pissed off about this is sort of a defacto admission that the things being parodied actually do exist, and they'd just rather not be reminded of it? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

10-09-2003, 09:31 PM	#13
Stonan Do-er of Deeds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada, Earth, Universe #42 Posts: 41	You have to wonder if there would be this much of a stink if it was Honkytown.... __________________ Jesus got it wrong by one letter: The Geek shall inherit the earth...

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10-09-2003, 12:43 PM	#2
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	Redneckopoly? This is an outrage!!

10-09-2003, 12:58 PM	#3
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	No doubt Geekopoly is next. ("YESSS!!! You landed on the Opteron 64 with a gigabyte ethernet card! You owe me $1000 rent!!")

10-09-2003, 04:26 PM	#9
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	When were you around crack?

10-09-2003, 09:44 PM	#15
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Using "shithole Houston": 1090 Using "shithole Philadelphia": 928 Nyah!

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