HULK VS. ARKHAM CITY – ROUND 2: BITCHES BE TRIPPIN’!

SEE? HULK HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR.

SO YESTERDAY HULK POSTED AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE SEXISM OF ARKHAM CITY THAT HULK THOUGHT WAS FAIR, AND YES, A TAD OVER-SMASHY. THE ARTICLE THEN GOT LINKED BY A BUNCH OF VIDEO GAME SITES AND EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE (60% OR SO) AGREED OR FOUND THE ARTICLE TO BE AN INTERESTING TALKING POINT. HULK THANK THESE PEOPLE SINCERELY. SPECIFICALLY THE COMMENT CONTRIBUTIONS OF (NEW?) HULK-READERS BILL GRAHAM AND JESSICA PRICE. AND AMONG THEM WERE PEOPLE WHO DISAGREED TO VARYING LEVELS. SOME OF THIS DISAGREEMENT WAS WELL-ARGUED AND FANTASTIC… AND SOME WHICH WAS NOT. HULK WAS NATURALLY INUNDATED WITH INSULTS, HATE MAIL, AND ONE ACTUAL THREAT TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF ME WITH A LEAD PIPE… FROM SOMEONE WHO HASN’T HAD A CHANCE TO PLAY THE GAME YET…. YIKES.

TYPICALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS PEOPLE EITHER GET ANGRY RIGHT BACK AND BEGIN MAKING FUN OF THESE PEOPLE. OR THEY HAVE A MUCH HEALTHIER REACTION AND JUST BRUSH IT OFF AND GO ABOUT THEIR DAY. BOTH REACTIONS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE.

HERE’S THE THING… THIS KIND OF VITRIOL HAS NEVER REALLY HAPPENED WITH HULK’S ARTICLES BEFORE. WHILE HULK OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY, HULK CAN ASSURE YOU THAT HULK ENJOYS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE FALLOUT OF THE ARTICLE. HULK TAKES ABSOLUTELY NO DELIGHT IN PISSING PEOPLE OFF. NONE. IT NOT HULK’S PERSONALITY. HULK IS NOT AN INSTIGATOR. IN FACT, IT BOTHERED HULK SO MUCH THAT HULK WAS UP ALL NIGHT THINKING ABOUT.

NOW THIS ISN’T BECAUSE HULK CAN’T DEAL WITH DISAGREEMENT, OR THAT HULK CAN’T DEAL WITH STUPID PEOPLE, OR THAT HULK WAS WRESTLING WITH FACT THAT HULK’S MAYBE POINT IS SOMEHOW WRONG… WHAT IT HAS TO DO WITH IS THE FACT THAT HULK COMES AT ALL THINGS FROM AN EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE. IT IS INGRAINED. IT IS THE SOLE PURPOSE OF EVERYTHING HULK DOES (BUT MORE ON THAT AT THE END).

SO WHAT BOTHERED HULK WAS THAT THE INTENTION AND NUANCE OF HULK’S MESSAGE WAS LOST.

AS SUCH, HULK WANTS TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS TO THE FOLKS WHO DISAGREED.

PREFACE I – REMEMBER, HULK LIKES THE GAME! DON’T FORGET THAT! HULK JUST TALKING ABOUT ONE ELEMENT OF IT. HULK ACTUALLY RECOMMENDS EVERYONE OF AGE SHOULD PLAY IT AND JUST BE AWARE OF THE SEXISM WEIRDNESS. HULK’S POINT NOT TO DISSUADE YOU FROM PARTICIPATING. HULK’S POINT IS TO SPEAK TO VIDEO GAME DEVELOPERS AND SAY THIS ONE ARGUMENT IS NOT ACCEPTED BY SOME PEOPLE YOU ASSUME ARE THE “TARGET AUDIENCE.” SPEAKING UP IMPORTANT.

PREFACE II – FOR  THOSE WHO DID NOT GET HULK’S POINT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT REALLY READ/SKIMMED THE ARTICLE, YOU ARE PREVENTING YOURSELF FROM BEING THE SUBJECT OF THIS RESPONSE. OF THE HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE WHO CITED THINGS HULK DIRECTLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE ORIGINAL POST. SO GOING FORWARD YOU HAVE TO GET UP TO SPEED TO PARTICIPATE.

PREFACE III – YOU MAY NOT KNOW BUT HULK HAS HAD A LONG STANDING POLICY OF ENGAGING AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COMMENTATORS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT’S REALLY BEEN TESTED IN SUCH CAPACITY AND WITH A FEW CASES OF SHEER TROLL-ISM. BUT HULK ASSURE YOU, EVERYTHING HERE IS IN THE INTEREST OF CLARITY.

PREFACE IV – HULK NOT LOOKING TO CREATE ENEMIES, SO HERE’S WHAT HULK WANTS YOU DO IF YOU STRONGLY DISAGREE. JUST TRY ON THE THINKING. DON’T BE DEFENSIVE. DON’T ASSUME HULK IS AN IDIOT OR LOOKING TO COMPLAIN. JUST TRY ON THE THINKING. THAT’S ALL HULK ASK.

PREFACES ALL SET? OKAY COOL.

SO HERE WERE THE ARGUMENTS LOBBED AGAINST HULK.

ARGUMENT #1 – THAT’S HOW PSYCHOPATHIC CRIMINALS WOULD ACT!

THIS ARGUMENT BY FAR THE MOST POPULAR COUNTERARGUMENT AGAINST HULK’S ARTICLE. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE CHIMED IN WITH SOME VARIOUS FORM OF THIS SENTIMENT.

OKAY. LET’S START THIS WITH A QUESTION. HOW OFTEN DID THE BAD GUY CHARACTERS IN NOLAN’S THE DARK KNIGHT USE THE WORD BITCH?

DID THE JOKER?  DID TWO-FACE? NOPE. IN FACT, THERE IS ONLY ONE UTTERANCE OF THE WORD AND THAT IS WHEN LT. GORDON SAYS “WE GOT YOU YOU SON OF A BITCH” WHEN CAPTURING THE JOKER. THAT’S IT. WHEN HULK MENTIONED THIS TO PEOPLE A LOT OF THEM WERE SURPRISED…. HULK WASN’T SURPRISED.

WHY IS THAT NOLAN NEVER USES THE WORD? HOW IS IT THAT NOLAN IS ABLE TO CREATE A “DARK/GRITTY” (AND PERHAPS BEST) VERSION OF THE BATMAN STORY WITHOUT USING THE WORD LIKE THAT CHARACTERIZE WOMEN. ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BAD GUYS TO TRY AND TERRIFY WOMEN AND SHOW THEIR SUPPOSED PSYCHOPATHY?

THAT’S BECAUSE NOLAN IS A SMART GUY AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO MAKE PEOPLE VIOLENT AND SCARY. CALLING SOMEONE A BITCH EVERY FIVE SECONDS IS ACTUALLY A VERY POOR WAY OF GOING ABOUT IT. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT NOLAN IS CLEARLY AWARE OF THE LARGER CONTEXT OF THE WORD AND THE CARE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE USED WITH. HULK ARGUES THE DEPICTION OF THE JOKER IS FAR SCARIER AND MORE UNSETTLING THAN ANYTHING IN ARKHAM CITY AND IT DOESN’T RESORT TO THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR OF SEXIST DIALOGUE.

THIS THEREFORE ANSWERS THE QUESTION HULK GOT OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH THIS ARGUMENT: “WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE RATHER HAVE HAD THEM SAY?” HULK SAYS TURN TO NOLAN. THERE’S A MILLION WAYS TO CONVEY MALEVOLENCE. THE IDEA THAT CALLING A GIRL A BITCH IS THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT CLEAR SOMEONE HATES WOMEN IS ABSURD. IN FACT, SOMEONE WHO WRITES CHARACTERS LIKE THAT MAKES HULK THINK THEIR SEXIST. HENCE HULK’S ENTIRE REACTION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

PEOPLE ALSO ASKED “SHOULD THEY MAKE THE BAD GUYS CHIVALROUS INSTEAD?” OF COURSE NOT. AGAIN, LOOK TO NOLAN.

NOW, AS TO CRUX THIS ARGUMENT, YES, WITHIN THE SINGULAR LOGIC OF CHARACTER IT WOULD MAKE TOTAL SENSE FOR A FELON TO CALL SOMEONE A BITCH. OF COURSE IT WOULD! IN NO WAY IS HULK EVER SAYING THAT IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. BUT JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE DOESN’T MEAN IT IS THEREFORE A GOOD CHOICE. WHAT HULK IS SPEAKING TO IS THE FACT THAT TOSSING ARE AROUND THE WORD BITCH IS ALL THEY SEEM TO BE ABLE TO DO. CONSTANTLY. AND WITH CAVALIER QUALITY THAT IS UNBECOMING. IT DOESN’T COME OFF AS SCARY. OR INDICATIVE OF PERSONALITY. IN SOME CASES IT’S CLEARLY MEANT TO BE FUNNY. HULK HAPPY TO LOOK OVER A CASE HERE OR THERE, BUT WHEN IT IS AS RAMPANT AS IT IS IN THE FIRST FEW HOURS OF THIS GAME, THEN YES, IT COMES OFF WEIRD AND SEXIST. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

ARGUMENT #2 –  IT’S TRYING TO BE REALISTIC! (AND HOW REALISM MEANS GRITTY FOR SOME REASON)

WHEN EVERYONE WAS ARGUING FOR ALL THE BITCH TALK THE WORD THEY KEPT THROWING AROUND AS JUSTIFICATION WAS HOW THE GAME WAS STRIVING FOR “REALISM”… UM… WHAT?!?!? SO LET’S GO TO THE LARGER QUESITON FIRST. HOW IS ARKHAM CITY REALISTIC? IT’S NOT. IT FEATURES A CRAZY HYPER-REALIZED WORLD. SO LET’S STOP USING THAT WORD THAT WAY. OKAY? COOL.

WHAT THEY’RE REALLY SAYING IS THEY WANT THE GAME TO BE DARK AND GRITTY. THAT’S FINE. BUT LET’S NOT INSULT REALITY… ACTUALLY YOU KNOW WHAT? HULK ACTUALLY FINDS THE CONFUSION TOO WEIRD NOT TO TALK ABOUT. WHY THE HECK IS DARK AND GRITTY CONSTRUED AS REALISTIC? IT SORT OF HAS TO DO WITH COMIC HISTORY. WHEN COMICS SHIFTED AWAY FROM THE POP-BIG-WORLD SENSIBILITIES OF SILVER AGE COMICS THROUGH BRONZE AND INTO MODERN AGE, COMICS SLOWLY DROPPED MORE FANTASTICAL ELEMENTS FOR THINGS THAT FELT LIKE REAL LIFE. THIS CHANGE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A LEASE ON STANDARDS THAT ALLOWED FOR RISE IN VIOLENCE. THE TWO, WHILE SOMETIMES BEING RELATED (THE 80’S WERE A VIOLENT DECADE FOR AMERICAN CITIES), THEY ARE ACTUALLY UNRELATED BECAUSE CORRELATION DOES NOT MEAN CAUSE. BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE COUPLED TOGETHER IN THE CURRENT PROMINENCE OF COMIC BOOK-DOM WE MISTAKE THEM FOR BEING THE SAME THING.

THEY ARE NOT.

NOW LET’S GET SPECIFIC. LET’S PRETEND THIS WHOLE “REALISM” THING IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS MEANT AS THE INTENTION AND CONSIDER ARGUMENT #1 AGAIN…

THERE IS THIS WEIRD UNILATERAL THINKING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SAY IT’S REALISTIC THAT THAT IS “HOW CRIMINALS WOULD ACT!” FIRST, THIS ASSUMES EVERY SINGLE MURDEROUS THUG IN ARKHAM IS ALSO SOMEHOW A RAPIST TOO (A LOT OF GANGS ARE NOT TOO KEEN ON IT FOR EXAMPLE, THOUGH YES, OF COURSE SOME ARE). PLUS THERE’S THE IDEA THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS PRISON (ASIDE FROM POLITICAL PRISONERS) IS ONE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED MURDEROUS RAPIST THUGS.

NOW DOES HULK CARE THAT A GAME DOES THIS? ACTUALLY, NO.

BUT IT’S RELEVANT AS SHIT WHEN EVERYONE KEEPS DISAGREEING SAYING THE GAME IS TRYING TO BE “REALISTIC.”

BECAUSE HULK HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU, BUT THAT’S NOT HOW ACTUAL CRIMINALS ARE IN PRISON POPULATIONS. NOT BY A LONG SHOT. IF YOU’RE SO CONCERNED WITH REALISM THEN YOU’D OBVIOUSLY REALIZE THAT THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS. DEEPLY FLAWED HUMAN BEINGS. SOMETIMES BROKEN HUMAN BEINGS. SOMETIMES HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THE WORST THINGS ONE CAN DO ANOTHER. THEIR REASONS FOR DOING SO, THEIR SOCIOPATHY, THEIR SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS. THEY ARE ALL PART OF A HUMAN STORY, OFTEN TRAGEDY. AND THAT STORY EXISTS ON A GRAY SCALE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE. AND THEN THERE’S THE FACT THAT MOST OF THEM ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GET HIGH.

HULK IS NOT ASKING YOU TO PITY ANY OF THEM. WE PUT PEOPLE IN PRISON FOR A REASON. BUT YOU CANNOT IN WAY REFER TO THE DISPLAY OF THUGS IN ARKHAM CITY AS “REALISTIC” AND EXPECT TO BE ACCURATE. REALISM IS NEVER ONE-NOTE.

CAN THERE BE A PERSON WHO IS LIKE THE THUGS ON DISPLAY HERE? OF COURSE. BUT LIKE THE UBIQUITY OF THE WORD BITCH THE PROBLEM ARRIVES WITH THE UBIQUITY OF THE MURDEROUS RAPIST THUG… AGAIN… IT IS NOT REALISTIC.

NOW, LET’S QUALIFY WHY HULK SAYING THIS. ARKHAM CITY IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO TURN MINDLESS THUGS INTO ROUNDED CHARACTERS. OF COURSE IT’S NOT. IT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE FOR HULK TO EXPECT SO. HULK KNOWS IT’S IS A HEIGHTENED WORLD AND THAT’S TOTALLY FINE (AND BTW, THE HEIGHTENED WORLD DOES NOT DISMISS THE “BITCH ARGUMENT” BUT THAT’S CLARIFIED IN THE TONE ARGUMENT LATER). BUT WHEN YOU CLING TO THE LOGIC OF REALISM AS A GROUNDS FOR DEFENSE OF ONE-NOTE CHARACTERIZATION, YOU DO NOT HAVE A A LEG TO STAND ON.

IF YOU WANT REALISM, YOU CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

ARGUMENT #3 – YOU’RE ADVOCATING CENSORSHIP!

UGH. FIRST OFF, HOW ANYONE COULD ACCUSE HULK OF WANTING CENSORSHIP OF THE GAME WHEN IN THE ARTICLE WHERE JUSTIFIES / THROWS HEAPS OF PRAISE ON STRAW DOGS IS BEYOND HULK.

BUT LET’S GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY AT NO POINT IN THIS ARTICLE THAT HULK ARGUED THEY CAN’T MAKE A GAME LIKE THIS OR THAT A CERTAIN WORD SHOULD NEVER BE USED. EVER. THE GAME HAS EVERY RIGHT TO EXIST AND EVERY RIGHT TO USE THE WORDS IT DOES.

BUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH DOES NOT MEAN FREEDOM FROM RESPONSE. WE’VE EVEN HAD VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CONFUSE THE TWO. THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO MAKE THE GAME UNCENSORED AND HULK HAS EVERY RIGHT TO CALL IT SEXIST AND JUVENILE. THAT’S THE RELATIONSHIP OF OUR SPEECH. HULK ACTUALLY HAD SOMEONE SAY THAT HULK SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO WRITE THE THINGS HULK DID PRIOR ARTICLE… WHICH IS NOT ONLY SOMEBACKWARDS THAT IT MAKES HULK’S BRAIN HURT, BUT IT DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PROCESS OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE. IT IS A DIALOGUE

FOR THE RECORD, HULK IS FULLY AWARE THIS IS A TWO-WAY STREET IN TERMS OF POLITICAL SKEWING. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN PEOPLE WERE PICKETING MATTHEW SHEPARD’S FUNERAL WITH SIGNS SAYING “MATT IS BURNING IN HELL!” HULK HAD FRIEND SAY NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. OF COURSE THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT, EVEN IF IT’S SOMETHING HULK FINDS DISGUSTING. CONVERSELY, HULK TOLD THIS FRIEND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GO RIGHT UP TO THEM AND STAND THERE WITH A SIGN THAT SAYS “PEOPLE WHO THINK MATT IS BURNING HELL SHOULD BURN IN HELL!”… THAT’S HOW FREEDOM OF SPEECH WORKS.

AND FOR THE RECORD, HULK HAS NO INTEREST IN BEING THE P.C. POLICE.

THOSE WHO SAY EVERYONE IS “SO AFRAID TO BE SEXIST OR POLITICALLY INCORRECT” ARE NOT ACCURATE. THEY ARE AFRAID TO SAY THINGS BECAUSE PEOPLE JUMP DOWN THEIR THROAT FOR SAYING STUPID THINGS IN UNCALLED FOR CONTEXTS. NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING POLITICALLY INCORRECT. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. IT’S WHY A COMIC CAN GET AWAY WITH SAYING NON-PC, BUT “YOU” FEEL THAT YOU CANNOT. HULK SAYS POLITICALLY INCORRECT THINGS ALL THE TIME. BUT THERE IS A CONTEXT TO IT AND A DIALOGUE. AND THUS HULK IS NEVER AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING.

ARGUMENT #4 -YOU’RE GETTING PISSED ABOUT THIS? IT’S SO NOT A BIG DEAL! THERE’S SO MANY BIGGER DEALS IN THE WORLD! SOMEONE IS GETTING RAPED RIGHT NOW!

AHHH, IF ISN’T HULK’S OLD FRIEND MORAL RELATIVISM.

IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE, MORAL RELATIVISM WORKS LIKE THIS: YOU DISCOUNT ANY ARGUMENT WHERE PEOPLE GET PISSED ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS BY POINTING OUT THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO GET PISSED AT…  THAT’S IT REALLY.

BUT LET’S ADDRESS IT ANYWAY, SHALL WE? FIRST OFF, YES YOU ARE CORRECT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER MUCH BIGGER ISSUES IN THE WORLD. IN FACT, IF YOU BROUGHT SOME OF THESE BIGGER THINGS UP, HULK WOULD LOVE TO DISCUSS IT WITH YOU. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSTRUCTS OF SOUTH AMERICA AND HOW NO ONE SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE FACT WE’RE RECONSTRUCTING THE BANANA REPUBLICS? LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WORLD’S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND HOW THE OUTLOOK IS PREDICATED ON SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH IN FACT HAVE NO BASIS IN REALITY, FOR EXAMPLE THE FAR-TOO-HIGH PROJECTION OF OIL RESERVES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE FALSE NOTION THAT CHINA’S ECONOMY STRONG. OH, WAIT, NOT INTERESTED?

THAT’S BECAUSE THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT MOVIES AND COMICS AND SHIT. AND NOT ONLY IS THAT OKAY, IT IS A) FUN B) HULK’S SPECIALTY WITH WHICH HULK CAN IMPART GOOD INFORMATION C) A GOOD WAY TO SPEND TIME NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT OTHER HORRIFYING STUFF AND D) A PLACE WHERE BRINGING THINGS LIKE THE NUANCE OF SEXISM IS STILL TOTALLY VALUABLE JUST IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAY.

OUTRAGE AND DISCOURSE TAKE MANY FORMS.

ARGUMENT #5 – YOU’RE JUST A PRUDE!

HULK WOULD LIKE RE-POINT YOU TO THE SECTION OF THE ARTICLE DEALING WITH STRAW DOGS. HULK WOULD ALSO INVITE YOU TO READ THE OTHER ARTICLES ON THE BLOG… THAT ALONE SHOULD CLEAR THIS ACCUSATION UP.

STILL NO? OKAY.

WHAT’S KIND OF HILARIOUS IS THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HULK HAS EVER BEEN CALLED A PRUDE IN HULK’S LIFE. HULK’S MIND DRIFTS ALL OVER SOME SORDID AND SILLY BEHAVIORS OF HULK’S YOUTH AND GETS WISTFUL JUST THINKING ABOUT. WHY SOME WERE EVEN CALLING HULK A BAPTIST PREACHER AMONG OTHER, UM, WORSE THINGS.

THIS IS HILARIOUS CAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW HULK’S TASTE IN MOVIES. DO HULK A FAVOR AND LOOK TWO (NSFW) MOVIES BY ALEXANDRO JODOROWSKY CALLED EL TOPO AND HOLY MOUNTAIN. THEY ARE TWO OF THE MOST BAT SHIT MOVIES YOU WILL EVER SEE. THEY DEAL WITH A VAST ARRAY OF CRAZY THINGS MANY OF WHICH ARE NOT ONLY HYPER SEXUAL, BUT LEGITIMATELY CRAZY.

SO HOW CAN HULK NOT CALL THOSE MOVIES SEXIST? WELL… LIKE STRAW DOGS THERE IS NO NEAT WAY TO WRAP A BOW ON THE SEXISM OF THOSE MOVIES.,BUT WHAT IT IS STILL, IS INTERESTING. IT EXPLORES CONCEPTS AND ICONOGRAPHY AND GRAY SCALES AND EVEN GOES ABOUT IT’S BUSINESS IN THE MOST NON P.C. WAY POSSIBLE. BUT IT PROVIDES INTELLECTUAL CONTEXT.

ALL HULK REQUIRES IS THAT IT IS INTERESTING. THAT’S ALL IT TAKES. AND TO BE INTERESTING THE CRUX OF THE ARGUMENT CANNOT BE EXPLAINED IN A ONE-NOTE PHILOSOPHY.

AND NOW THAT HULK HAS SUFFICIENTLY DISPENSED WITH THAT RUMOR ABOUT HULK’S PRUDISHNESS (FOR POOP’S SAKE HULK CLOTHES TEAR OFF HULK’S BODY REGULARLY) LET’S TALK ABOUT THE IDEA THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE TALKS ABOUT FEMINISM AND SEXISM THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY A PRUDE.

IT IS UNTRUE IN EVERY SINGLE CASE.

GOOD TALK!

ARGUMENT #6 – IT’S JUST AIMING AT A TARGET AUDIENCE!

ISN’T IT FUNNY HOW OFTEN THE PEOPLE DEFENDING SOMETHING AS “BEING FOR A TARGET AUDIENCE” ARE OFTEN IN SAID TARGET AUDIENCE?

HULK’S NOT HERE TO PERSONALLY ACCUSE PEOPLE OF ANYTHING, SO LET’S NOT EVEN GET INTO THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT HULK JUST IS HERE TO SAY ONE SIMPLE THING:

BATMAN DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU.

BATMAN BELONGS TO EVERYONE. THE CHARACTER HAS SURVIVED GENERATIONS IN A HUNDRED DIFFERENT ITERATIONS AND WE ALL HAVE A VERSION WE LIKE BEST AND RELATE TO.

NOW, FOR THE LAST TIME, THIS IS NOT TO ARGUE THAT A BATMAN MOVIE CAN’T BE DARK OR GRITTY OR WHATEVER THE HELL ELSE. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LEGO BATMAN. HECK, HULK LOVES A LOT OF THE GRITTY BATMAN STUFF (WHEN THERE’S AN INTERESTING TONE/CONTEXT), BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT HULK IS OBJECTING TO. WE HAVE TO GIVE UP THIS IDEA OF OWNERSHIP BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK SOMETHING IS JUST FOR “US” WE CAN’T STAND FOR IT WHEN PEOPLE DISLIKE IT WHO ARE NOT THE “US.” AND MAYBE THE OTHER AUDIENCE HAS SOMETHING LEGITIMATE TO SAY.

LET’S NEVER FORGET, EVEN IF YOU ARE AN ADULT AND LOVE BATMAN.

… KIDS LOVE BATMAN TOO.

ARGUMENT #7 – YOU’RE ALL LIKE “OH NOES THE CHILDREN!” BUT IT’S THE PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY….

HULK REGRETS HOW THIS WAS WRITTEN ON THE BLOG. THE INDIGNATION. THE IMAGE OF ALL THE KIDS BUYING THE GAME MADE IT SEEM LIKE SAPPY STUFF. THAT WASN’T HULK’S INTENTION SO HULK APOLOGIZE. HULK JUST WANTS TO MAKE A FEW THINGS CLEAR.

HULK’S INDIGNATION WITH THE WHOLE KID THING ISN’T A MATTER OF RATINGS (THOUGH THE RATED-T IS AN ISSUE). BUT ABOUT THE GAMES FUNDAMENTAL BI-POLARITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE GAME THEY ARE MAKING. IN MANY WAYS, THE GAME IS NOT THAT DARK AND TOTALLY “T” FOR TEEN APPROPRIATE AND THEN THE STUFF ON DISPLAY WITH SEXISM IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CHARACTER WITH THE REST OF THAT PG13-ISH GAME.

WHICH MEANS HULK’S BIGGER PROBLEM IS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO SEE THIS BIPOLARITY AHEAD OF TIME.

AS FOR THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS GAME WASN’T MEANT FOR KIDS? WRONG.

THEY MARKET THE SHIT OUT OF BATMAN TO KIDS.

HULK DID A LITTLE RESEARCH TODAY. DISNEY CHANNEL. NICKELODEON. GUESS WHICH GAME WAS BEING ADVERTISED? CONSTANTLY. ARKHAM CITY. HULK KNOWS THE CABLE STANDARDS RULES VERY WELL AND RATED-T GAMES CAN TOTALLY GO IN THIS KIND OF “FAMILY” PROGRAMMING. THE GAME MAY HAVE BEEN “MADE” FOR A SO-CALLED TARGET AUDIENCE, BUT THE ACTUAL AUDIENCE OF THE GAME IS HUGE AND VARIED, THROUGH BOTH GENDERS AND ALL AGES.

WHICH MEANS THAT BATMAN COMES WITH A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHICH BATMAN THEY’RE GETTING.

IN THE LEAD UP TO THE RELEASE OF THE DARK KNIGHT, THE MEDIA WAS ACTUALLY VERY MINDFUL IN TELLING PEOPLE THAT THE FILM HAD A DARKER TONE (SPECIFICALLY IN COMPARISON BATMAN BEGINS) AND TO BE PRECARIOUS WITH THE SITUATION OF TAKING TEENS/KIDS.

BUT NO ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT ARKHAM CITY (AND DEFINITELY NOT IN TERMS OF SEXISM).

SO WHAT WAS A PARENT SUPPOSED TO DO? MOST PARENTS DON’T PLAY VIDEO GAMES SO HOW WOULD THEY KNOW IF IT’S OKAY FOR THEIR KID? EVEN IF THEY WATCHED THEIR KID PLAY THE LAST GAME, HULK BELIEVES THERE IS A WAY THE LAST GAME IS KIND OF APPROPRIATE FOR CERTAIN AGED KIDS AND THIS NEW ONE IS TOTALLY NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE SAME KID. HOW IS ONE SUPPOSED TO RECONCILE THAT?

HULK DOESN’T HAVE AN ANSWER MIND YOU. THIS IS ULTIMATELY A VERY SPECIFIC, VERY WEIRD PROBLEM. IT’S DIFFICULT REALLY. BUT IT’S CERTAINLY A QUESTION WORTH BRINGING UP.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, HULK NEVER IMPLIED THAT VIDEO GAMES “CREATE” BEHAVIOR. THAT IS A FALLACY.  HULK IS TALKING ABOUT INSIDIOUS CHARACTERIZATION WHICH IN LARGE AMOUNTS CREATE CONTEXTS THAT LEAD TO CERTAIN MODES OF THINKING. WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT LEAD TO BEHAVIORS. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS, THOUGH NUANCED DIFFERENCE.

AND AGAIN, HULK’S BIG ISSUE IS LESS THAT IT’S “DARK” AND MORE THAT IT’S JUST “STUPID.”

ARGUMENT #8 – YOU MUST NOT READ THE COMICS BECAUSE…

UMM… THIS IS FILM CRIT HULK HERE. HULK HAS READ MORE COMICS THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT THING COMIC NERDS DO WHEN SOMEONE QUESTIONS THEIR COMIC BOOK ACUMEN AND SAY “UH, SORRY BUT HULK HAS NO-PRIZE!” SO YEAH. HULK GOT A NO-PRIZE WHEN HULK WAS YOUNGER. IT’S NOT LIKE THIS PROVES ANY ACTUAL SUBSTANCE EXCEPT TO SAY THAT, YES, HULK HAS READ A SHIT TON OF COMICS.

SO LET’S GET TO THE POINT OF PEOPLE BRINGING UP THE COMICS. LET’S TALK ABOUT FRANK MILLER.

FOR THOSE UNAWARE, FRANK MILLER WROTE THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS AND SEVERAL OTHER BATMAN TALES WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIFTING THE TONE OF BATMAN COMICS FROM SOMETHING LIKE THE OLD TV-SHOW TO SUPER GRIZZLY DARK… OKAY IT WASN’T THAT DRAMATIC A SHIFT (THE BRONZE AGE WAS MORE GRADUAL THEN PEOPLE REMEMBER), BUT HE DID GO SUPER GRIZZLY DARK AND BROUGHT COMICS INTO THE NEW MODERN AGE.

FRANK MILLER’S COMICS ARE FILLED WITH LOTS OF GRIZZLY, SEXIST BEHAVIOR. RAPE. TORTURE. ETC. BUT HERE IS WHERE THE PESKY MATTER OF CONTEXT COMES IN. LIKE EL TOPO, ETC. FRANK MILLER’S COMICS DEAL WITH VERY SPECIFIC STORYTELLING CONTEXTS AND IDEAS. MILLER, SORT OF LIKE PECKINPAH, IS FREQUENTLY FOCUSED ON THE MALE INTERPRETATION AND FEAR OF SEXUAL DEVIANCY AND FALSE PURITY, BUT THERE ARE A MILLION INTERESTING WAYS YOU CAN DISCUSS MILLER’S WORK. HULK NOT DEFENDING THE WORK EITHER. THE POSITIVE CHARACTERIZATION IS TENUOUS AT BEST. BUT AGAIN, IT IS TEXTURED AND DEEP.

ARKHAM CITY IS NOT.

ARGUMENT #9 – LOGIC VS. TONE VS. CONTEXT

OKAY… LET’S TRY THIS ONE MORE TIME.

SO MANY ARGUMENTS AGAINST HULK WERE BUILD AROUND THE EVENTS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPEN AND NOT WHAT HULK WAS ARGUING WAS THE PROBLEM: THE TONE. NOW THIS IS ACTUALLY A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM IN MOST ARGUMENTS WHERE SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT SUBTEXT, BUT IT IS HULK’S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT CLEAR.

IN SIMPLEST TERMS, TONE ISN’T ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS (THE TEXT), BUT HOW A MOMENT FEELS (SUBTEXT). NOW HULK IMAGINES THAT YOU’D ARGUE HOW SOMETHING FEELS IS TOTALLY SUBJECTIVE. OF COURSE IT IS. BUT THERE IS A WAY TO TALK ABOUT SUBJECTIVE THINGS IN AS CONCRETE TERMS AS POSSIBLE. DOING SO COHERENTLY IS, NOT TO BE A DICK, WHAT WE CALL BUILDING AN ARGUMENT.

AND THE WAY YOU BUILD AN ARGUMENT ABOUT TONE IS TO QUALIFY THE FOLLOWING: 1) WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING 2) WHAT IS THE FEELING OF THE SCENE 3) WHAT IS THE AUTHORS TREATMENT OF SIMILAR EVENTS 4) THUS WHAT IS THE IMPLIED INTENTION OF THE AUTHOR NOT ONLY DECIDING WHAT HAPPENS, BUT THE CHOICES FOR THE FEELINGS THEY CREATED (AND YES SOMETIMES THE TONE IS ACCIDENTAL BUT STILL VERY MUCH THEIR RESPONSIBLITY). DOING ALL FOUR IS WHAT ESTABLISHES WHAT WE CAN FINALLY CALL CONTEXT.

SO YES, MANY TIMES THE LOGIC OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN PART 1 WAS FINE, BUT COUPLED PARTS 2, 3, AND 4 IT IS FAR MORE TROUBLING. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF READERS WHO ACTED AS IF TRYING TO DECIPHER THE AUTHOR’S INTENTION (PART 4) IS AKIN TO MIND-READING AND THUS ABSURD… THAT IS NOT THE CASE. WHILE YOU CANNOT NOT ASSUME WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT ANYTHING WAS ANYONE’S INTENTION, BUT THERE IS NO DENYING THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINAL RESULTS. THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL RULE OF SEMIOTICS. ANYONE IS PERFECTLY WELCOME TO SPECULATE AS TO THE AUTHOR’S INTENTION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AND NOT EXTRAPOLATED HYPOTHETICAL LOGIC.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE IDEA IS THAT CONTEXT IS A COMPLEX AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING THING THAT CANNOT BE SUFFICIENTLY ARGUED WHEN ONLY REFERENCING DIRECT TEXT.

LOOK AT HOW MANY PREVIOUS ARGUMENTS THIS PLAYS INTO? ALMOST ALL OF THEM (BUT PARTICULARLY THE FIRST ARGUMENT).

THE PROBLEM IS THAT PEOPLE TREAT ARGUMENTS AS A SINGULAR TETE E TETE OF LOGIC GOING BACK AND FORTH LIKE A TENNIS BALL. THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS. THE SCOPE OF ARGUMENTS ARE LARGE, MASSIVE, HULKING. WHEN MAKING ANY ONE POINT THERE ARE A HUNDRED OTHER RELEVANT POINTS THAT TIE INTO WHAT ONE IS SAYING EXACTLY AND YOU HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE ONES THAT MATTER (THIS IS WHY HULK ARTICLES ARE SO FREAKING LONG). IT’S ABOUT HOW THE BIG PICTURE LOOKS NOT THIS SMALL DETAIL.

YOU CANNOT MISS THE FORREST FOR THE TREES.

SO NOW THAT WE’VE CORRECTED THAT LET’S LOOK AT THE NEXT ARGUMENT:

ARGUMENT #10 – GIRLS FIGHTING BAD THINGS = FEMINISM!

ALSO NOT THE CASE.

LOTS OF PEOPLE ARGUED THAT BECAUSE CATWOMAN CAN BEAT DUDES UP, SPECIFICALLY THE ONES SAYING BITCH ALL THE TIME THE GAME IS ACTUALLY REINFORCING A POSITIVE ROLE FOR WOMEN.

LOGICAL? SURE!

BUT LET US CONSIDER THE PESKY TONE/CONTEXT. SPECIFICALLY OF CATWOMAN DOING THIS BEATING UP AS HER BOOBS ARE POPPING OUT, ACHIEVING ALL THESE BEATINGS WITH A SEXUAL BUT NOT ACTUALLY ATHLETIC FRAME, DOING SO IN HIGH HEELS, WHILE SHE COOS ABOUT FEELING NAKED, WHILE SHE FLIRTS AND TALKS VAPIDLY… IN THAT CASE IT IS SOMETHING FAR DIFFERENT.

AND LOOK. THE WHOLE GIRLS FIGHTING BAD THINGS HAS BEEN SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO USE AS A SHORTCUT TO FEMINISM FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.  HOLLYWOOD HAS HAD AN ESPECIALLY STUPID RUN OF IT LATELY. WHAT MAKES THINGS LIKE BUFFY FEMINIST IS NOT THAT SHE FIGHTS BAD GUYS, BUT THE ENTIRE EMBRACE OF FEMININITY AND GENDER ISSUES THAT THE SHOW FREQUENTLY EXPLORED.

WHEN YOU TRY AND USE IT AS A SHORTCUT TO FEMINISM, THE RESULT OFTEN FALLS FLAT ON IT’S FACE.

AND IN ALL HONESTY, HULK FEELS LIKE THE WRITERS WEREN’T EVEN TRYING TO DO THE SHORTCUT

ARGUMENT #11 – BUT SEXUALITY IS TOTALLY AN ELEMENT OF CATWOMAN!

OF COURSE. HULK SAID SO IN THE LAST BLOG BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO READ THAT PART.

SHE IS THE CLASSIC FEMME FATALE. HULK NEVER DENIED THIS. HULK EXPLAINED WHAT FEMME FATALES MEAN VERY MUCH SO IN THE LAST COLUMN. BUT WHAT ULTIMATELY JUSTIFIES A FEMME FATALE IS THE LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY.

SO LOOK AT A CATWOMAN’S ROLE IN THIS GAME. IT IS ANYTHING BUT COMPLEX. A SIMPLE CUT + PASTE ARGUMENT ABOUT HER BEATING BAD GUYS UP DOES NOT SUFFICE.

ARGUMENT #12 – BUT CATWOMAN WOULD DO THIS! BATMAN IS LIKE THIS! AND TWO-FACE IS LIKE THAT!

HULK GOT A  LOT OF THIS… TO PEOPLE SAYING THESE SORTS OF THINGS… YOU DO REALIZE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT REAL, RIGHT?

OF COURSE YOU DO. HULK IS NOT IMPLYING YOU WOULD THINK THAT (NOR IS HULK SAYING YOU ARE LIKE OUR FRIEND IN THE PICTURE ABOVE).  SO THE QUESTION IS WHY ARE YOU REFERRING TO THEM LIKE THEY ARE REAL? THEY ARE CONSTRUCTIONS OF VIDEO GAMES DEVELOPERS AND WRITERS, AND AS SUCH ARE CONSTRUCTIONS.

THE LOGIC OF WHAT BATMAN OR SOME INMATES WOULD DO IS WHOLLY IRRELEVANT. ESPECIALLY IN AN ARGUMENT OF SEMIOTICS, WHERE YOU CAN ONLY MAKE DEDUCTIONS OFF WHAT IS THERE.

LIKE FOR EXAMPLE ONE COMMENTATOR LEFT THIS GREAT GEM: “[THE PRISON INMMATES] COULD NEVER SHOW ANY RESPECT TO CATWOMAN AS THAT WOULD BE A SIGN OF WEAKNESS IN FRONT OF THEIR OTHER INMATES” SO THERE IS A WHOLE INFERRED LOGIC TO THIS NOW? SAYING THIS IS LIKE GUESSING WHAT THE HAD FOR DINNER.

THIS IS WHAT HULK KEEPS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE PROBLEM OF “LOGIC.” SO MANY COMMENTATORS ARE ARGUING THE LOGIC OF THE SITUATION AS IF IT IS A REAL-LIFE HYPOTHETICAL. HULK IS ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE SCENE AS A CONSTRUCTION. SO WHEN HULK GOES OFF ON HULK’S SEXISM “LOGIC,” HULK ISN’T TALKING ABOUT THE HYPOTHETICAL THOUGHT PROCESS OF MADE-UP CHARACTERS BUT INSTEAD A LOGIC OF SYMBOLOGY, MEDIA PROCESSING, TONE, AND CONTEXT ESTABLISHING. AND EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE ALL ABSTRACT CONCEPTS THEY ARE FAR MORE CONCRETE THAN GUESSING THE SUPPOSED ELABORATE LITERAL REASONING CHARACTERS.

HULK’S ARE DEDUCTIONS OF SUB-TEXT FROM THE TEXT, WHEREAS THIS ARGUMENT IS COMPRISED DEDUCTIONS OF NON-TEXT FROM THE TEXT.

… AND FOR THE RECORD JUSTIFYING CATWOMAN’S SEXISM IN ARKHAM CITY BY SAYING IT’S JUST BEING ACCURATE CATWOMAN IN THE NEW 52, IS LIKE WALKING INTO MOREHOUSE COLLEGE CAFETERIA, YELLING N-BOMBS, AND THEN SAYING IT’S FINE BECAUSE YOU HEARD NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST SAY IT.

ARGUMENT #13 – YOU, SIR, ARE INSANE WITH THIS HARLEY / BATMAN SHOVING THING

BY FAR THE EASIEST POINT TO DISAGREE WITH HULK ABOUT THAT’S FINE. HULK PHRASED IT BADLY LAST TIME. IT NOT THAT BATMAN LIKES IT. THE DEDUCTIONS HULK MAKES ABOUT THE EMPHASIS FROM THE MISE EN SCENE CONCLUDE THAT IT IS THE GAME MAKERS WHO LIKE THAT BATMAN IS SHOVING HER. NOT BATMAN SPECIFICALLY. HULK HOPE THAT MAKE MORE SENSE.

OH, AND IN AND OF ITSELF, THE ACTION IS FAR LESS INSIDIOUS… BUT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON IN THE GAME, HULK THOUGHT IT REALLY FELT WEIRD. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY CONTEXT IS SO ALL-ENCOMPASSING.

AND TOTALLY FEEL FREE TO DISAGREE. ABSOLUTELY. HULK KNOWS THE LIMITS OF HULK’S ARGUMENT ON THIS AND IT BY FAR THE MOST ETHEREAL THING HULK CRITICIZING, BUT HULK STILL STAND BY HULK’S FEELINGS ABOUT THE WEIRDNESS ON DISPLAY.

COOL? COOL.

ARGUMENT #14- IT’S NOT SEXIST, IT’S LAZY!

HULK GOING TO LINK BACK TO THIS GREAT ARTICLE WHICH ESTABLISHES THE IDEA OF THIS ARGUMENT QUITE WELL.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT HULK DISAGREES WITH A SIMPLE CONCEIT. SEXISM BORN FROM LAZINESS IS STILL JUST SEXISM. IN MANY WAYS, THE TWO TERMS ARE SYNONYMOUS. PEOPLE CLING TO STEREOTYPES BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO LAZY TO ENGAGE IN SOMETHING MORE HUMAN AND REALISTIC. BUT THE IMPORTANT PART IS THAT THE RESULT IS STILL SEXIST.

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL JUST AS SWEET.

SEXISM BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD STILL BE JUST AS DETRIMENTAL.

ARGUMENT #15- VIDEO GAMES AREN’T SEXIST

THIS WAS LINKED TO IN THE COMMENTS, BUT WHAT THE HECK. LET’S JUST GO TO THIS.

… WEEP FOR HUMANITY.

BTW, WHEN HULK SAYS “VIDEO GAMES” ARE SEXIST HULK NOT IMPLYING ALL DEVELOPERS AND GAMES ARE SEXIST. WHAT HULK SAYING THAT THERE IS BOTH A PERVASIVE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE TO WHICH VIDEO GAMES EXHIBIT SEXIST CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE BOTH LESS-PERVASIVE AND LESS-ACCEPTED IN MOVIES AND OTHER FORMS OF MEDIA. THE REASON FOR THIS ARE MANIFOLD. BUT IT IS TRUE.

ARGUMENT #16 – OKAY FINE THEY’RE SEXIST, BUT SO IS THE WHOLE WORLD!

LET’S KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET, SHALL WE?

IN NO CIRCUMSTANCE CAN WE PASS OFF SOMETHING BAD AS INCONSEQUENTIAL MERELY DUE TO THE FACT IT IS EVERYWHERE. IT IS NOTE JUST A LOGICAL FALLACY, BUT A HUMANE FALLACY. WHEN THINGS ARE EVERYWHERE (LIKE SERIOUS CAPITAL R-RACISM WAS IN THIS COUNTRY WITH LYNCHINGS AND SUCH) THINGS CHANGE WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK UP, ALTER THE DIALOGUE, INSIST ON THE CORRECT BEHAVIOR, AND STOP LOOKING THE OTHER WAY. IT’S TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THINGS.

IS A SEXIST BENT IN A VIDEO GAME AS IMPORTANT AS LYNCHING? OF COURSE NOT. HULK WOULD NEVER IMPLY IT WOULD BE.

BUT NOR IS IT INSIGNIFICANT. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE THINKING IS SO SIMILAR (JUST WITH DIFFERENT STAKES)

AGAIN, NO MORAL RELATIVISM ALLOWED.

ARGUMENT #17 – WHATEVER, IT’S JUST A VIDEOGAME!

HULK WILL SIMPLIFY THIS LINK TO GREAT PENNY ARCADE, ALSO FROM THE COMMENTS BY TOUCHDOWN AL.

http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/sex-in-games

VIDEO GAMES NOW HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO BE FULLY IN CONTROL OF THEIR MESSAGE AND TONE (SEE PICTURE ABOVE)

IT IS TIME ALL THE OTHER GAMES ACTED LIKE IT.

ARGUMENT #18 – NO, YOU’RE THE ONE WHO IS A SEXIST RETARD! JERK! ARKHAM CITY IS AWESOME! YOU’RE A FAG!

SO HULK COMES FROM THE WORLD OF EDUCATION. HULK NOT TALK ABOUT HIGH HIGHFALUTIN FANCY-PANTS UNIVERSITY EDUCATION (THOUGH OBVIOUSLY THAT TOO). HULK COMES FROM THE WORLD OF REAL EDUCATION. THAT MEANS INNER CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT MEANS LOW-LEVEL KIDS AND AT-RISK YOUTH. THAT MEANS GANGS AND GANG MENTALITIES. MOST OF THE TIME THE MATTERS OF ALGEBRA AND READING ASSIGNMENTS ARE JUST WINDOW DRESSING. IT’S ABOUT TEACHING BASIC LIFE SKILLS. AND IT IS NOT EASY.

SO IF YOU THINK THESE INSULTS ARE GOING TO PHASE HULK YOU HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING. THEY WON’T. HULK WON’T PUT UP WITH LEAD PIPE THREATS. HULK WON’T PUT UP WITH ANYTHING DANGEROUS. BUT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE? HULK IS GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE. EVERY DAY. AND HULK IS GOING TO TRY AND GET THROUGH. THAT’S WHY HULK WROTE THIS SECOND BLOG POST ON THE MATTER.

IT SOUNDS CHEESY AS HELL, BUT HULK CARES. HULK CARES SO MUCH NOT ONLY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FUTURE BUT OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE. HULK HAS TO CARE.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP.

WE ARE NOW LIVING IN A WORLD, WHERE THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE NUANCE MATTERS MORE THAN EVER. NOT LESS. OUR LIVES ARE SO DIRECTLY INFLUENCED BY SYSTEMS SO LARGE AND COMPLEX THAT IT IS TERRIFYING. AND THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH IT IS IF WE DO IT TOGETHER.

THAT’S BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A BUREAUCRACY. AND OUR ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THAT BUREAUCRACY, NOT ONLY TO DECIPHER WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN OUR COLLECTIVE HUMAN INTEREST, BUT WHAT IS EVEN IN OUR OWN IMMEDIATE SELF INTEREST, IS PARAMOUNT TO ONE’S ABILITY TO SUCCEED.

THINK ABOUT IT: THE ABILITY TO FILL OUT A TAX RETURN AND PAY WHAT YOU SHOULD RIGHTFULLY PAY. TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE NEWS. TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR ECONOMY WORKS. EVERY SYSTEM THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND CAN NAVIGATE (CARS, MOVIES, BANKING, STOCKS) IS SOMETHING THAT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO SUCCEED. THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES.

SO WAKE UP.

BECAUSE HULK’S ARGUMENT ABOUT THE SEXISM IN THIS GAME IS NOT AN ILLUSION OR UNFOUNDED. IT IS PLAIN AS DAY REAL. THE WAYS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS SO ARE NOT ALWAYS SIMPLE, BUT THEY ARE VALID. AND IF YOU LIKE VIDEO GAMES OR MOVIES, THE TIME HAS COME TO TRY AND WORK AT IT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO WAKE UP.

THERE IS A WORLD OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE DISCUSS THINGS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. WHERE THEY LISTEN. WHERE THEY COMPREHEND. WHERE THEY READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IF THEY ARE GOING TO CRITICIZE. THEY DO THESE THINGS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE RIGHT.

AND IF YOU DON’T PARTICIPATE, THAN THAT WORLD IS GOING TO EITHER PASS YOU BY OR EAT YOU UP. ANYTHING ELSE AND YOU ARE STANDING ON THE OUTSKIRTS THROWING PEBBLES AT THE WALLS. YOU ARE PROVERBIALLY BRINGING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON A VITAL HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

AND HERE’S THE THING. HULK WANTS YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS WORLD.

SADLY, THERE ARE MANY WHO DO NOT. THE METAPHOR FOR THIS IS AS OLD AS TIME AND IT’S “LIVING IN IVORY TOWER” AND AS MUCH AS EVERY INTELLECTUAL DOESN’T WANT TO ADMIT IT, IT IS TRUE.

BUT HULK WANTS YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS WORLD. HULK COMES FROM AN EDUCATIONAL HEART. THAT IS THE POINT OF ALL OF THIS. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS TONS OF PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED THAT HULK JUST DROP IT AND NOT CARE IF PEOPLE DON’T GET IT. THAT’S IT’S NOT WORTH IT. THAT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT IS WHAT TEACHERS FIGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THE ABILITY TO CONVEY INFORMATION TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT YET UNDERSTAND. AND THAT IS IT.

HULK WANTS YOU TO GET HULK’S POINT ABOUT THE SEXISM. YOU DON’T HAVE TO AGREE. BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

WE ARE ALL IN THIS LIFE TOGETHER AND IF WE CAN’T UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER THAN THERE’S NO HOPE.

AND THAT’S THE THOUGHT THAT KEEPS HULK UP AT NIGHT.

SO WAKE UP.

UPDATE: AFTER ALL, THIS IS WATER