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A mildly interesting xenophobia simulator, May 26, 2011by Scott Hammack (Tallahassee, Florida) I question the description of this game as satire. There's very little irony involved; one gets the sense -- and this is more or less explicitly stated in the game's "about" text -- that the sentiments expressed are accurate representations of the author's beliefs, albeit exaggerated for comic effect. Subtlety, often considered a vital component of effective satire, is entirely absent. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Remove vote | Add a comment
Comments on this reviewPrevious | << 1 >> | Next AmberShards, May 26, 2011 - Reply You've missed a fundamental point of the game - the concept that Islam does not allow critique - and then wander off into some sort of complaint about xenophobia. You've never heard of sharia law? Strike one. The first amendment is in more than a little trouble on most public college campuses -- college administrative decisions have the full weight of law, at least until they are sued. You were unaware of "free speech zones"? Strike two. Does satire have to be nuanced or subtle for it to be satire? No, but when people dislike something, they often attempt to redefine a category in order to disallow styles or perspectives they don't wish to hear. Thus this cannot be satire; music they dislike cannot be music; and so on. This is the perspective of the bigot and the censor, who bears much in common with those who would disallow criticism of Islam itself. Strike three. Batter out! All you have done is reframe your ignorance as criticism and your preferences as law. I'm not impressed. Jim Kaplan, March 28, 2012 - Reply "You've missed a fundamental point of the game - the concept that Islam does not allow critique - and then wander off into some sort of complaint about xenophobia. You've never heard of sharia law? Strike one." The notion that Islam is uniquely intolerant of criticism is characteristic of xenophobia. AmberShards, May 26, 2011 - Reply Previous | << 1 >> | NextNext batter! The game is described as humor/satire/comedy -- not satire alone -- and there are more than enough elements of each of these to warrant describing the game as such. Strike one. To address the issue of "Islam bad, all other religions neutral or good", the game depicts, with some sarcastic, satiric exaggeration, what contemporary theologies produce in their adherents. Plenty of examples exist of spontaneous riots justified by the destruction, in part or in total, of the Koran, and there have been more than a few occasions of "sudden jihad syndrome" on American campuses. So the game is satirical, but not by much. Additionally, there was plenty of criticism to go around, from the school administration to the adherents of other religions, Christians especially. Strike two. Finally, it's interesting that you could not help but personally attack the author and try to impute thoughts/beliefs to him. Insinuation says more about the person attempting it than its target; but those who wish to fight in the gutter should not be surprised that outside observers think that they dwell there. Strike three. Batter out! Two down. |