Feminists BAWWWWWW over Sony's upcoming 'Fat Princess'

[Old Manus]

tl ;dr - obesity is now a taboo subject

[Madame Adequate]

Update: Someone actually took the time to try explaining what's wrong with Fat Princess.

Feministe » Well, that was bound to happen

That was actually pretty well-written and produced a lot of valid points. Amusing that she more or less called the reaction she's getting here, too.

I know. I've been a lot more sympathetic to their outrage since I read that.

[Karellen]

The idiocy of the select gamer representatives aside, she doesn't do much to convince that they're not all just reading way too far into this.

[Croyles]

Exactly. I dont see how that blog makes you sympathetic towards them they really were reading way too far into it. I bet you all my money that the creators of the game definitely werent reading that far into it and therefore this should not be taken offensively.
Its just stupid, and I dont care if he/she called our/my reactions, because that doesnt make their point any more valid.
People get taken the piss out of no matter what or who you are. Instead of overreacting and creating a group where you collectively bash something creative as this, why not just suck it in for once? I saw on that blog how men were once again the fruit of all evil and how we are all lazy ignorant twats, or whatever, even though this has nothing to with this topic, it still gets posted.
Im german, so naturally i get taken the piss out of for being a nazi, having no humour and having disturbing sexual fantasies, but you know what? I dont go and create the neo-nazi party just so people will stop taking the piss, its a joke, and theres no reason why a joke has to be shameful or penalising towards another person, jokes can just be light hearted.

Just...... some people need to lighten up a bit.

[ValkyrieWing]

I'd play it. It looks cute and weird, which appeal to me. What I don't understand, however, is how these 'feminists' automatically assume that ALL females are going to be offended by this. It's a game, a funny and quirky game, but a GAME. It's not reality. And if things like GTA and that didnt smear the perspective on female characterizations in games, then a goofy looking chubby princess certainly isnt either.

[Madame Adequate]

Exactly. I dont see how that blog makes you sympathetic towards them they really were reading way too far into it. I bet you all my money that the creators of the game definitely werent reading that far into it and therefore this should not be taken offensively.

Subconcious assumptions that this is perfectly natural and fine would be, in the eyes of feminists, a good deal worse than an overt attempt to offend. They're getting worked up because something that is blindingly obvious to them is completely oblique to everyone else, which in itself is a demonstration (In their eyes) that their views are correct.

and theres no reason why a joke has to be shameful or penalising towards another person, jokes can just be light hearted

Right. Light-hearted. That's totally how society treats overweight women.

[Old Manus]

Light being the operative word there I'm sure

[Zeldy]

I really don't see what they're moaning about, I can't see what argument these feminists are holding at all. That feminist gamer site claims that it "reinforces nasty stereotypes about women and the obese". How does it, really? I really don't see how they got offended.

Game looks cute though, but OMG I AM SO OFFENDED. IT IS BECAUSE FAT GIRLS ARE SO UNATTRACTIVE OH MY GOD HAET SONY!!!!

[Mirage]

Looks fun. I might get it if it doesn't cost too much.

I'm also pretty fat btw.

[Croyles]

I love you Mirage

[Laddy]

I'm slender. In fact I am very underweight.

This game looks so cute though!

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

Exactly. I dont see how that blog makes you sympathetic towards them they really were reading way too far into it. I bet you all my money that the creators of the game definitely werent reading that far into it and therefore this should not be taken offensively.

Subconcious assumptions that this is perfectly natural and fine would be, in the eyes of feminists, a good deal worse than an overt attempt to offend. They're getting worked up because something that is blindingly obvious to them is completely oblique to everyone else, which in itself is a demonstration (In their eyes) that their views are correct.

and theres no reason why a joke has to be shameful or penalising towards another person, jokes can just be light hearted

Right. Light-hearted. That's totally how society treats overweight women.

Further, the bit about reinforcing stereotypes is right on the money. We've some deep-seated socializations that marginally any number of groups, and this game, while seemingly innocuous, WILL in fact, reinforce them. I agree with one of the posts by another feminists, I love the sound of the core mechanic and they could have just as easily used any other heavy-but-valuable inanimate object and retained the game.

The need to use shock value and play on nasty stereotypes to sell the game is not a mark in one's favor, I would think.

[Mirage]

I'm gonna ask all the fat people I know what they think about it. They've all got a sense of humour and a spine though, so I doubt they'll care much :p.

[Kes]

Well, first of all, I applaud everyone who's posted so far. You have refrained from saying "Well, duh she hates this; all feminists are fat."

Secondly, this isn't about having a fat woman in a game, it's about having a woman as an object (because that is what's happening here) and about enforcing stereotypes about how fat people are fat because they eat all the food in front of them.

Thirdly, look at all the crap the feminists are getting. Okay, good, now imagine what reactions would be if it were a community of fat people getting all worked up about it. Well, all right, I'll accept that feminists aren't always taken very seriously at all, but if it were fat people who were objecting to this so loudly? My money is on the internet as a whole saying "LOL lose weight and get a sense of humour, fatty." That's not a good thing.

Finally, I think this game looks adorable. I'll look into it more after the release, but I'd consider buying it. Would I rather have a katamari princess with a scullery maid stuck to her? Yes, actually because that's even funnier than a fat person. I'm glad the flaws were pointed out and brought to my attention, but I think that making the princess too fat to kidnap is actually somewhat cute, and is actually kind of a clever solution to the classic video game scenario.

[Mirage]

As if men aren't portrayed as objects in games.

And really, we are fat because we eat all the food in front of us. Except an incredibly small precentage of people who have some sort of sickness, but it's really not common enough for anyone to use as an excuse. in 99% of the cases, you're fat because your eat more food than you use.