from the 'offensively bad idea' department

[coraa]

Wow.

"EA has a new way to annoy its own models: give out prizes for Comic Con attendees who commit acts of lust with their booth babes. Also, if you win, you get to take the lady out to dinner! This is going to end well for everyone involved."

What the hell? I mean, I've been annoyed by booth babes before, mostly because I think that it really reinforces the idea that it's only men who are their audience -- and also because the degree of objectification makes me squidgy -- but that sounds downright innocent compared to 'Commit random acts of lust with our models, take pictures of it, repeat, and you might win a sinful night with two beautiful women!' (And yeah, the 'acts of lust' and 'sinful night' wordings are right out of their ad. I'm not extrapolating anything.)

Because, you know, it's a great idea to literally reward stalking and groping with a date with a beautiful woman! That's a message we want to spread. And also, do these booth babes wear big signs or something? Is there some protection to keep non-EA-employee attractive women from being 'mistaken' for booth babes and, well, 'act of lust'-ed?

Argh.

EA, I love The Sims, but this is Not On.

EDIT: jmpava pointed out that these are the same geniuses who thought it was a good idea to promote their game (the same game, so probably the same Marketing/PR group) by staging a fake Christian protest. Which doesn't make it any less offensive, but geez, the stupidity....

Comments

[triath.livejournal.com]

That's not ok.

[coraa.livejournal.com]

I consider myself a geeky sf/f fan, but it's things like this that make me feel a) that I not only don't belong, I am to some extent not wanted, and b) that it might actually be unsafe for me.

I've known for a long time that there was a lot of toleration of bad behavior in the community, but seeing it actively encouraged is... really disheartening.

(I guess I'll stick with my anime cons, which average more women than men. They have problems, they have definite problems, but at least... yeah.)

[triath.livejournal.com]

I think you should respond by doing acts of hate* to the booth managers and take photos of it. See if you win a prize!

* Of course a knee in the crotch comes to mind, but I would seriously encourage non-damaging acts, for real.

[coraa.livejournal.com]

Ha! You know, if I was there, I totally would. Since the game this is 'promoting' is based on Dante's Inferno/the Seven Deadly Sins, I bet I could do something creative with one of the other Seven Deadlies!

[erinpie.livejournal.com]

Hey! Bloodlust is still lust, right? ;)

[coraa.livejournal.com]

:D :D :D

[canis-ridens.livejournal.com]

Wrath works, right?

[porfinn.livejournal.com]

That is a great idea! At Con if it were staged just right it would turn the tables very nicely on EA, especially since the ad reads "a booth babe or one of us". I have this marvelous mental image of some Red Sonja-esque looking "booth babe" running at them with a pretend ax, and then slinging one of the wimpy guys over her shoulder and marching off with him, whiling going on about feeding the sexist, puny little man to her dragon or something.

Oh or worse! Getting a few Sailor Moon crew to ask anybody and everybody in their most innocent voices what exactly would they need to do to sin. Man, I would dearly love to see EA get what it deserves for this: made fun of and lots of bad PR. Tempting...very tempting. But this is why I don't go to this nonsense event anymore!

[cindy-pon.livejournal.com]

i went for the first time this
year as i had a panel. (my first as well!)
it was insane and totally overwhelming.

i was in costume today (yes, i did!)
and i had many fanboys and girls ask for
fotos and they were all very nice and polite.
so at least that's a good thing.