Proud to be so.

It beats being an unthinking dolt who doesn't care to think critically about society and strive for improving it in whatever way we can so that it is more inclusive and less unequal and discriminatory.

Gillbob316 Wrote:
Aw man... I worked really hard on my last post, and it's gonna get buried in flame war... *Frowny Face*

Gillbob316 Wrote:
True story...

Being a big fan of MK my whole life, I did a speech report on violence in video games in college, and how the media tries to scapegoat video games as the cause of real life youth violence... (I'm sure as MK fans and video game fans, we've all heard more than our fair share of discussion on this topic.)

Long story short, I tried to illustrate the levels of ridiculousness in MK Violence by showing some of it, then attempting to emulate them by ripping my buddy's spine out with my bare hands... with comedic amounts of failure. (It was a speech with showmanship).

Deadly Alliance was the newest MK game at the time, and while I played it for the class a bit to illustrate some points, I also kind of kept it running on muted demo behind me throughout the majority of the speech.

... Therein lies the setup for what follows...

During the Q&A portion of the speech at my end... one girl in class. Pointed out Kitana's Kata, which you may or may not remember was part of Deadly Alliance's Idle Demo. And she climbed all over me for addressing the presence of violence in video games in great detail, while not addressing their sexism. She wanted to know what I had to say about Kitana's skimpy costume, legs and bosoms, and whatnot.

I was admittedly largely unprepared for this as it wasn't the point of my speech at all. I felt kind of unfairly attacked. She was kind of making me the enemy just because I was defending a game featuring a girl in a bikini... when that wasn't the least bit what I was discussing, defending... or really giving a second thought to.

Luckily for me, the class largely turned on her at that point... and called her out for taking shots at me unfairly on a topic which wasn't something in my control and not what I was aiming to discuss. This more or less stifled her comments and took me off the hot seat. I honestly don't remember much about that speech, as it was a decade ago... but that moment still stays with me.

What is my point in telling this story? I have no idea.

On the one hand... I don't think it was extremely fair of her to attack me. I certainly didn't appreciate it at the time, and the class (boys and girls) seemed to be with me in that regard and helped bail me out, largely taking the heat off me, and helping me avoid the issue. I feel that often topics relating to sexism and feminism have this problem. Often fights are picked where it isn't very appropriate or needed. As I touched on earlier in this thread... can't we just say Kitana's face in MK9 was fugly without needing to examine the meaning behind why we're saying Kitana's face is fugly?

Does EVERYTHING always need to be a THING? I don't think so...

On the other hand... did she have a point? Does Kitana need to be in a bikini? Is that sexist? Maybe. It's been discussed before... but it wasn't the point of my discussion at the time. And in hindsight, it does seem a bit regretful that the class stifled her, because I don't necessarily think these are topics that should be stifled... should they be brought up to the appropriate people in the appropriate venues.

I do not however, think I'm that person. I was just a dude trying to defend violent video games in a small scale speech to my college class. I'm sure most of us can appreciate that, being modern video game and MK fans. But I got made the bad guy briefly, for defending a game where a girl fights in a Bikini.

So I dunno.

I think there's a lot of good talk to be made when discussing issues of modern feminism. As I understand it, by definition, I am a feminist, because I do believe in equality. Though I don't deliberately label myself as one. But at the same time... in these modern internet times... I feel often times people are far too prone to picking fights in the wrong places, with the wrong people.

It's an age old saying: Pick your battles

I don't think that was a battle she necessarily needed to pick in class that day. I don't think this is a battle that necessarily needed to be picked on this forum.

I DO think it's kind of silly and fruitless to attack such an over-the-top and crazy video game for deep seeded issues of violence OR sex. Just let the damn video game be a damn video game, imo.

Gillbob316 Wrote:
Aw man... I worked really hard on my last post, and it's gonna get buried in flame war... *Frowny Face*

JaymzHetfield Wrote:
None of this is to mention the fact that when you hold Mortal Kombat up to the mirror of Political Correctness the whole thing starts to fall apart. MK is what it is largely because it's politically incorrect and so far outside the bounds of reality. And it's not even that bad.

This is the same mentality that had Ed Boon in court defending the series. It's up to the consumer of any piece of art to look at it objectively and apply their beliefs to it. Forcing any creator to censor or neuter his vision for something so as not to offend is the death of creativity.

From-ear-to-ear Wrote:
To answer the OP: How many red carpet specials do you see where men are being judge for what they wear and look like? How many magazines do you know that focus on male beauty versus those that focus on female beauty? For every ''Sexiest man'' poll they have, there's ten ''Sexiest woman'' poll in between.

Point being, women's appearance in our societey is always a big deal. I don't like it any more than you do but it's just the way it is and apparently MK is no exception.

MK_Fanatic_ Wrote:


Nagging and bitching at people for having different opinions on a videogame forum is not exactly improving society as a whole. I know you like to think you're having an impact because you clearly have nothing else to offer society, so you try to combat "injustices" wherever you see them on the Internet.

MK_Fanatic_ Wrote:


And most women are the ones behind those polls. Most model/ad agencies and casting directors are women. Women are the worst when it comes to putting down other women based on looks, fashion etc.

MK_Fanatic_ Wrote:


And most women are the ones behind those polls. Most model/ad agencies and casting directors are women. Women are the worst when it comes to putting down other women based on looks, fashion etc.

So, wait, are you saying women are to blame for women being judged more on their looks? That's nonsense. Yeah, I will agree women are more critical of other women but where do you think that mentality comes from? They learn it from a culture that values women more for their looks than anything else.

Both genders learn and internalize sexist ideas about both genders. Women internalize sexist double standards about women, and men internalize sexist double standards about ourselves. I see that in the way us guys are expected to have to be stoic and emotionless or we aren't being "real men" and guys shame other guys when they don't live up to that.

MK_Fanatic_ Wrote:


You realize there are no girls on here that will be swayed by your white knight-ism bullshit, yes? The only reason we're responding to you is to point out to the lurkers and casual readers on here not to buy into your social justice warrior crap.

Also, this whole thing about "macho" guys seems to be a real issue for you. I do sense a little resentment towards guys who are perhaps more masculine and don't have to rely on white knighting tactics to get girls.

I am resentful and not happy with being insulted and devalued as a human and a male because I'M not masculine.

MK_Fanatic_ Wrote:


So you're disappointed that you don't live up to society's natural standards for men that have existed for thousands of years. Women are naturally attracted to strong, confident, masculine men, so yes, most women and men are going to look down on someone like you who does not live up to those standards.

People like you are trying to change things because they can't live up to these standards, and we shouldn't have to buy into your crap just to make you feel better about yourself.

Spider804 Wrote:
All these super model looking Kombatants offend and sicken me as a slightly out of shape person.

I demand more people like Bo Rai'Cho

Now who wants choco chip cookies?

Spider804 Wrote:
All these super model looking Kombatants offend and sicken me as a slightly out of shape person.

I demand more people like Bo Rai'Cho

Now who wants choco chip cookies?

MK_Fanatic_ Wrote:
I'm offended by the fact that everyone can throw fireballs, use telekinesis, come back from the dead etc. CLEARLY this game is OFFENSIVE to NORMAL HUMANS!! They are saying that these "Kombatants" are somehow more EVOLVED than us "normies"

This game IS ANTI-HUMAN!!!!!!

Spider804 Wrote:
All these super model looking Kombatants offend and sicken me as a slightly out of shape person.

I demand more people like Bo Rai'Cho

Now who wants choco chip cookies?

Hey, man. You got Stryker.