Thursday, December 15, 2005

Movie touches on homosexuality contraversies

As some of you are well aware, Brokeback Mountain was released in theatres fairly recently. The movie, unlike other movies emphasizeing homosexuality was produced by a big name film company for a change with mainstream stars such as Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaall. For many fans of movies with similar storylines and subjects, this was a breath of fresh air to the community. Independant style films are not seen by a vast majority of movie goers.
Of course, now this brings further into light where the country stands on homosexuality. Advocates of groups both supporting as well as against are coming out in the open to discuss their feelings regarding the movie. Americans are now faced with another war on moral standards. In this politically correct world we live in, movies with contraversial issues are on the chopping block. Gay advocates are very supportive of the braveness of the company to produce a film like this one. They believe that Americans are more than ready for it.
Homosexuality in the media has hit the pinacle of contraversy for some time now. When Ellen Degeneres made her famous "outting" on her hit sitcom years ago, the media was in a frenzy.
Of course, with the contraversies regarding gay civil rights and marriage now coming into the forefront, America has indeed come a long way of crossing over the gaps of what many would call ignorance.
However, some conservatives do not agree. They simply do not think that Americans are ready for a movie like Brokeback Mountain. Their reasoning is based on the theme and overall story involved in the movie, as well as the location and circumstances that it encompassed.
The movie takes place in the 60s/70s when two men (played by Gyllenhaal and Ledger) fall in love. Of course, there are complications. The movie takes place in Wyoming and Texas (very conservative style states). The men are cowboys. In order to hide what society is telling them is wrong; yet their undeniable love for eachother, the men go about their lives in the open as if they were heterosexuals. They marry and bear children. Yet, they continue on their taudrey affair... the lives and love that they would have liked to acknowledge if only their society accepted it.
So, is America really ready for a "mainstream homosexual drama?" As many know, Ellen failed previously when she outted herself. At least as far as her sitcom was concerned. Will and Grace has had a very successful run despite its obvious homosexual overtones. America has indeed come a long way.
However, is America really ready for a "mainstream homosexual dramatic movie?"Well, only time will tell.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

A continuing contraversy-- selling in-game currency and items for real cash

New York Times article-Outsourcing

and another one: "Only cheating if you don't get caught"

This is an issue that runs rampant in every MMO. It is good and both bad that the New York Times chose to reference China as one of the countries that endorses this very "unethical" of buisness endeavors. It emphasizes the common stereotype.

A lot of gamers, refer to people that chose to do this as "China botters." It has become one of a slew of catagory remarks that some even take as racially offensive. I think that what they failed to emphasize, was the fact that the reason it runs rampant in places such as China, is the lack of Int'l governmental laws to enforce the policeing of such behavior.

It happens very often here in the states as well. The problem is, is that it is technically not "legal" here unless sanctioned by the MMO makers-- ie SOE Exchange.

Here it is a matter of ethics-- we all know that in today's society, to a degree, ethics are thrown out the window. It makes logical sense for these companies to exist from the very basics of buisness standpoints. They are there to supply the consumer with a demand. Virtual goods and commodity are in demand by the vast and growing customer base. There are numerous reasons that a person has to buy. Ethics is one of the only things come in to add why they shouldn't. There are obviously flaws in the system that will allow it to happen regardless. Again, that is partly why SOE Exchange and sites like it, are even popular to beguin with.

It is really sad to think that these kinds of companies are becoming the "sweatshops" of the cyber world we live in. It is evident that something needs to be done either way. It needs to be better regulated most definately.