Yeah, after the statue in Oklahoma, this seems downright bland. Do something with some punch to it, like dressing up as the Krampus and asking children if they've been naughty or nice. If they say naughty, give them something parents would disapprove of but kids would like, such as anything on this list: http://www.sca…

I feel like what you're saying is creating an impossible catch-22 where women just can't win.

Interesting anecdote. I saw this with my girlfriend, but at the time we weren't dating. Though it was kinda in the "doth protest too much" way, where we spent every day together, were almost always on the same wavelength, felt a strong attraction to each other, etc. The status of our relationship was at the time…

I believe that romance IS in their future, but I do like the fact that they didn't show it. There are a lot of reasons to suspect it, such as Mako always checking him out through the peephole, but I think the biggest case for it is Drift. Stacker Pentecost (these names, man...) was unique because he could Drift with…

Oh, yeah, the advertisement campaign in Japan was beyond tasteless, and I don't even know if there were ads in America.

That's another thing. I think we use different schools of criticism. I put a heavy emphasis on reader-response, which I feel is a natural fit for interactive media. That also means I tend to approach characters as if they were both creations of the author/developer, and actual people within their fictional world. I…

Well, that kinda brings it all back to the original article, which boils down to:

I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (fairly mild case though), so not only are my ligaments are more like silly putty than rubber bands, but I lack body awareness that most people take for granted. If I attempt to sit normally, my legs will naturally splay out, almost to the point of my knees hitting the seat beside me. I…

Fair enough. You seem like you're pretty cool about it, so sorry for coming off defensive. Your first response sent me into panic mode because the last thing I wanted to do was come off as some gamergater who is upset feminist criticism of games exists at all. Anyway, we can agree to disagree, I'm just disappointed…

Sorry, I meant the "leave bayonetta alone" to be more of a humorous meme reference than a literal call to leave her alone. I'm not trying to shut down criticism, but I have as much of a right to defend as you have a right to criticize. I would like to hear your reasons, and maybe we can have a discussion on the…

In literally any other case I would agree with you completely, and I still agree that critical analysis is important. I'm known among my friends for spontaneous critical analysis about damn near anything.

Maybe as a woman, any decision you make that doesn't actively oppress another woman is automatically feminist? I dunno, since I'm male.

This is why I dislike Anita Sarkeesian. (I'll defend her right to do what she does though) She completely lost me in her infamous episode on Bayonetta. And then when Bayonetta 2 came out, she was all over twitter ranting about it again. Bayonetta is, in my mind, the best example of sexuality done right in video games,…

Yeah, I guess that's it. It's not that I don't understand, it's that I don't want to. It's much easier for me to assume people are ignorant, misguided, crazy, or products of their environment than it is to see them as actually malicious. When I see something that I can't imagine a sane person rationalizing in any…

And I think that's what breaks me about this. The fact that I understand it, up to that specific point.

Interestingly, when Mr. Barge went for a consult on a vasectomy, I wasn't even allowed in the room with him. Private winky business, no ladies allowed.

Consider it anecdotal evidence about the overlapping circle: I love both candy canes and candy corn. Eggnog too. Can't get enough of that stuff. Even the nonalcoholic kind, though once I got old enough I realized its true purpose, as the most efficient and socially acceptable bourbon delivery system in the world. A…

So, the episode of HIMYM where everyone's illusions about each other are shattered, and Lily chews EXTREMELY loud...did that drive you into a frenzy, or did you feel like you could totally relate to it?

I understand this very well. My abuse was not sexual in nature, but it was constant and scarring. Worse than the feeling of helplessness was just how good the system was at trying to convince you that really, everything is great, you're the one with the problem. Just work a little harder and you can be a great soldier…