Politically Correct Asshat of the Month

Let me set the stage for this one. I loves video games. My dorkishness in this area is so complete that I still get paper magazines with video game news. I am currently playing Rock Band, an excellent game allowing players to be a rock band guitarist, drummer, or vocalist. It's fun and is a great party game. Stage set.

This is a letter to the editor found in the February 2008 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly (or EGM for us gamer dorks):

"I don't agree with the target audience of Rock Band. African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and any other people who don't like heavy metal and rock are purposely overlooked. Gamers come in all races and colors, and Rock Band's songs should reflect that. They left out many of the greatest artists of all time. Disco, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, Latin, rap, and pop--where are they? My daughter asked me if the makers of the game were racist. Maybe you can answer her? -- Jon Harris"

Go ahead, reread that one. Let it sink in. Ok, so here is the wonderfully articulate, concise, and brilliant response from the editor:

"You're right--it must be a racist conspiracy. How else to explain the fact that a game called Rock Band is full of rock songs?"

Has the liberal political correctness gone so far in this country that people are going out of their way to find racial and culture bias in everthing? Look, if I could get a first person shooter where everybody had their IQs floating above their head which allowed me to quickly find my targets of opportunity I buy it in an instant. But just because game developers don't cater to my iniate desire to kill virtual idiots doesn't get me a bent out of shape. Let's take a look at this letter in detail:

"I don't agree with the target audience of Rock Band. [I'm sure your opinion is going to carry great weight in the next Rock Band product development meeting.] African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans [Aren't you racially profiling blacks and hispanics as not liking rock music. I bet that pisses off Carlos Santana and the guys from Living Color.], and any other people who don't like heavy metal and rock are purposely overlooked [Oh, they're not overlooked, they are ignored completely. BECAUSE THE GAME IS ABOUT ROCK! Did you send this same type of letter to the studio that released the movie School of Rock? Because, and I'm sure you'll agree, that movie would have been way better if Jack Black had taught the kids the virtures of lounge music]. Gamers come in all races and colors [you forgot size and shape. Like yours, "XXXL Pear"], and Rock Band's songs should reflect that [Rock Band's songs should reflect what their marketing department says will sell. Nothing more, nothing less]. They left out many of the greatest artists of all time. [This is the only statement I agree with, where are the Beatles, Zepplin, Genesis (Gabriel era), and Fleetwood Mac?] Disco, jazz [Tell me, how many gamers would know the lyrics to more than a couple jazz songs? Great, but unmarketable, music], R&B, hip-hop [sic!], Latin, rap [Yes, yes. This would be sweet, then you could have little after concert mini-games where you shoot up, bang some ho's, and pop a cap in some left coast gangsta'], and pop--where are they? [In the trash with all the other shitty ideas] My daughter asked me if the makers of the game were racist. [Let me guess, either A) you are too liberally biased to care about teaching her the fundamental principles of capitalistic economics, or B) you are just too damn stupid to provide her the answer]. Maybe you can answer her? [John you fucking wanker. As if the rest of your letter wasn't a dead give away, here you step right up and declare "I'm a liberal asshat looking for anyone other than me to raise my daughter." And who do you turn to? The media. Wow, the socialist circle of life is complete. Maybe you should have given your daughter a project to write a letter to the publisher of Rock Band where she could explain her feelings and ask for the reasoning behind the selection of music for the game. No, that wouldn't serve your agenda (I'm probably giving you way too much credit here, assuming that you're not just a lemming). You are the bane of my existence Jon Harris, you represent a group-think that is destroying the very fabric of my country. If you want a Rap Band game then GO FUCKING MAKE ONE!] -- Jon Harris"

P.S. You'll soon be the proud father of an 18 year-old, welfare-addicted mother of two+ with no future. Does it really matter if she knows how to play John Lee Hooker's Huckle Up Baby on a plastic guitar?