They're forsaking their smart humor for stuff that mainly appeals to people who laugh at the mere mention of the word "dick" and use "gay" as a pejorative.

I'll thank you not to group those people into the same category. Dick jokes have their place in the humor spectrum (low), but homophobia does not.

I actually got killed by a woman pedestrian in the game because I assaulted her male friend (by accident, actually, a cross-fire situation). She pulled a rather large magnum and shot me in the head.

Nm Jack, I just saw your other post.

184: You are absolutely right, and I wish people on both sides of this would acknowledge what you're saying. Crying censorship is a really lame decoy.

185: Here's kind of what I'm thinking. Kids who grew up with video games don't always give them up as they mature. This has resulted in a very large market for more mature gamers. This is a fact, and I have no idea how you can say that Rockstar is specifically targeting 12-16 year olds.

Your point that they have surreptitious ad methods is a good one, and I really don't know much about these stealth marketing methods. I'm not being facetious here, and there's obviously more to the GTA ad campaign than I knew about if what you say is true, but can you explain what they're doing to market this to kids? (Other than making a product that inherently and unfortunately seems to attract kids like flies to honey).

178: First, insults are not a great debate tool. Don't get me wrong - before I get accused of crying or something, I'm not mad. It's just useless is all, and it distracts from your point.

Second, no one is trying to silence you. Nope, not at all. You keep saying that, and it's really weird.

Third, yes, there are indeed things in GTA games that are deplorable and unfair. There are also things like that in reality. I welcome the criticism of these things, and most of it is deserved, but you have to admit that certain media persona take it a bit far sometimes. GTA = polio? What?

There are things in GTA that you CAN do that I will never do. Things that make me cringe. The possibility of these things is what makes the game more real.

Kids should not be playing this game. I'm just not understanding the arguments that it's Rockstar's fault that it finds its way into their hands. I don't want to spew "it's the parents fault" bullshit, but really guys. What do you propose we do about the situation? Seriously. I mean, alcohol and porn are also things with this sinful "forbidden fruit" appeal. They appeal to all ages. What should we do? There are good efforts to keep these things out of young hands, but nothing will prove perfectly failsafe. Do you have an idea?

Lastly, I appreciate the alternative viewpoints I've seen here. I will be taking them into consideration from now on. I honestly do admire a point well-made, containing no belittlement or insults.

Guys the martyr comments are annoying, it's like someone crying in the middle of a debate. Arguing does not equal shouting or censoring, I'm not sure why disagreement is being compared to a red-faced tantrum.

I'm sorry, but nothing you mentioned there is specifically appealing to underage gamers. The only possible exception is the ad placement in NYC, which I admit I'm unfamiliar with. Are they outside of schools or something? If so, I'll jump in and say that's definitely wrong.

- games have a broad appeal, welcome to that realityy. you can mock adults for liking games all you want, but it remains a fact
- just because they appeal to kids as well, doesn't mean they're being marketed AT kids
- the artwork being somehow juvenile is a strange comment, since that's incredibly subjective. it's like a graphic novel, yes, but i'm not sure that stuff is a "medium of youth" anymore.
- adults buy action figures. lots of them.
- yes, I do think Craplist is funny. not everything must be high humor for christ's sake.

166: You have valid points, but I wasn't really directing my statement to people like yourself. I was referring to the people that either didn't play the game at all, or to the people who watched video footage or another player going on a rampage.

Also, it is possible that I'm blind here, but can you explain how this is being targeted specifically toward kids? And by that, I mean how is it being directed toward kids using means that aren't also appealing toward those that are 17+.

164: There are logical fallacies in your argument, I'm not sure you understand what MKULTRA is saying.

165: Violence in media can certainly be harmful - to young and developing minds. Howevever, if you're saying that what adults do in their imagination or in games will manifest in reality, it simply has no basis. The exception to this is in the case of the mentally unsound, but that is a whole new issue.

I don't think most people are trying to silence the critics here, they're just getting frustrated at the "critics" who haven't played the game. Seriously, you do have to play it to judge it - what do you think they mean by the term "sand-box genre."

And while it's frustrating to hear complaints from people unfamiliar with the topic, it's much more annoying to have labels thrown at you to boot. People on both sides of the argument have done this and I wish we could stick to the actual topic without insulting each other.

Jesus, can they just put male hookers in the game so that you guys can stop complaining?

Wake up, guys, video games no longer need to be targeted at teenagers. There is a huge demographic out there that buys video games, which obviously includes teenagers, but it does not rely on them.

As a male in my twenties who plays video games, I can say that everyone I know plays games to some degree. The argument that Rockstar is somehow secretly marketing GTA to teens is incorrect. They aren't and they don't need to. Just like the makers of R-rated movies, these guys will make plenty of money off of this new generation of gamers.

And please stop accusing people who play games as being somehow stuck in childhood, or immature. I have a job and a wife. I hit the gym regularly, and participate in triathlons. I only play games when I have free time, and you know what? I'd appreciate you not judging me for what I choose to do when I relax.

Hey #21, I just want you to know that I'm taking this steak knife here and ramming it into my left carotid. Because of you. Yes, it's my hand that guides the knife, but in many ways, it's also your tardocity.

Because bitching about bloggers' topic choices is so cutting edge, not to mention useful.

It's been said, but acting opposite the flock can be just as sheep-like as following it.

The most popular post ever is blank.

It's impressive that they found two people who are unfamiliar with that skit.

where does it say anything about anal?

Also: "Dogs are bastards."

So are people.

Seems like she took a large risk of getting her own face bitten, especially since they're talking about rabies...

Xenu himself commanded Tom Cruise to do it.

#17: Also, it used to be Mr. Sinus Theater. Did they change it to Mr. Pancake? That's odd...

#17: Alamo Drafthouse FTW, I used to go there practically every weekend. Just gimme an ice bucket with a few beers and one of their homemade pizzas and I'm good.

Your ta-tas a-splode!

that was a really well-made, un-ambiguous video they put up on youtube. i used to think they were bullying scam artists, but i think it's now evident that they're the victims here. i mean, did you hear that eery music? and those numbers floating around?

i gotta stop reading these stories, all it does is make me mad as shit

also: it's obviously david. don't be afraid, david is a benevolent gnome, although he hates trolls.

also: how in god's name can being scared warrant a hospital visit?

oh my lord that girlish scream was so great

yay whee

stop judging her, people, maybe she just had some taco bell

popular mechanix?

Is Neo farting on that cat's butt?

Vanessa Lacey - that sounds suspiciously porn star-ish. She's lying, it's a porn conspiracy!

My mistake, it's actually Navy, but still...

Out of curiosity, BQAGGIE, why not? Wouldn't it be statistically much safer in the good old Chairforce? I guess maybe that's not your reason, though...

@12

'Twas my father's thread, and before that his father's.

Maybe you should talk to Cory/Bruce like someone said, Mark: http://www.boingboing.net/2008/01/10/why-its-good-to-leav.html

It's funny how the commentary went from fifty "ha, that guy is fat as hell"s to actual informed discussion. Decreasing entropy?

Why oh why would he put so much time, effort and money into something so uncertain?

Chuckling @ #1... infestations? They are gross, though, no doubt. And that is a bizarre name for an aquarium.

#41 - "As long as the wheels are in contact with the belt, their speed will be /exactly/ that of the belt. You can speed the belt up as much as you like and the negligible friction in the wheel bearings won't really slow the plane down with respect to the airmass it is moving through."

Just because the wheels are in contact with the belt doesn't mean they're going the same speed. I could take an RC car moving 10mph and put it on a belt going 5mph in the opposite direction, and the car would eventually reach the end of the belt.

Just before waking one morning, I had a dream where I looked at my face in a mirror and had no idea who I was. It sounds silly, but it was the most profound fear I have ever known - I can't imagine 20 minutes of that.

"Excuse me, while I whip this out."

Sheriff Bart

I love the Onion! Especially the AV club.

The rocket exhaust empties into the river? Someone call the EPA, I think there's a new candidate for a Superfund site.

Wah waaaaah. Gone already.

At least he decided on the "feign death" skill, and not the "flying kick to the moose-face" skill, which I don't see turning out nearly as well.

Wow, she must have been very convincing then.

#12: That was posted on boingboing a few days ago...

I'd say it might be more like: (1.5 * (1/2 Goatse + TubGirl))

Hey thanks! That is creepy. Ok, I can't help but say that it reminds me of Army of Darkness' version of the Necronomicon.

There's no picture of the book cover, I want to see the face! The article has a picture, but not really of the cover.

Ew. This reminds me of when I sprayed a roach with Raid, and it pooped all over my shower. Roach poop is gross.

So at the end a Simpsons character reached into his shower?

Remember, the two photos may be up to 4 years apart (2003 and 2007). Also, the guy obviously doesn't WANT to look the same, as police search for him, hence the baldness and glasses.

Quoting IVY MIKE: "I think you're having a senior poopy moment...you're thinking of a lunar eclipse"

Ummm, no, Davex was referring to the shadow the earth casts on the moon. See, that shadow causes the moon to look crescent-shaped sometimes - a clue that the shadow-caster (i.e., the Earth) is spherical.

I'll simplify it for you Mike: see, you would cast a human-shaped shadow on a wall, right? That would hint at the fact that you, the shadow-caster is what shape? That's right, HUMAN shaped. Good boy.

Seyo, I agree with you. We need to return to the state nature intended for us to live in. I've been hating myself lately for not killing my own food, so starting today I'm going to kill and prepare my own dinner - probably a ground squirrel. Or maybe I'll eat your mom.

And Tanner - yes, it is OK to eat stupid animals, that's why I will be feasting on your dad this weekend.