The 'Hit the Bitch' controversy
A Danish anti-violence group has created an online video game that rewards players for hitting a woman. Edgy, or just stupid?
A screenshot of the controversial anti-domestic violence website.
(www.hitthebitch.dk)
A Danish public-service campaign is facing widespread criticism for attempting to raise awareness of domestic violence with an online video game called "Hit the Bitch." The deliberately provocative game lets players "beat" an image of woman by manipulating their mouses, earning extra points for "hitting" her extra-aggressively. Can any good come from this, or does "Hit the Bitch" just glorify the violence it's supposed to prevent? (Watch a demonstration of the "Hit the Bitch" video game. Warning: Violent content; may be disturbing to some)
What were they thinking?: It's "pretty extreme" to encourage people to punch a woman in the face, even virtually, says Tim Nudd at AdFreak. How exactly does this gimmick raise consciousness? After obediently knocking out the woman, players are told they're "100 percent stupid." Not "much of a rebuke," is it?
"Anti-violence site urges you to 'hit the bitch'"
Hey, it got people talking about domestic violence: "Hit the Bitch" is "tone deaf" and "horrifying," says Tana Ganeva at AlterNet. But the mainstream media never talks about domestic violence — "and lots of people are talking about this ad." So maybe "Hit the Bitch" is "on the right track."
"'Hit the Bitch': Domestic violence PSA goes very, very wrong"
Any ad this baffling is a loser: Yes, "finding new, exciting, and creative ways to tell men that they shouldn’t hit women is tough," says Amelia McDonell-Parry at TheFrisky.com. But it's hard to figure out what "Hit the Bitch" is supposed to achieve. It doesn't take an advertising genius to know that when you leave everybody confused you have "totally...failed."
"'Hit the Bitch' web campaign is actually anti-domestic violence, got it?"
UPDATE: The Danish organization in question has restricted access to the website, posting this message:
"Dear non-danish visitor. Due to an extremely high amount of traffic "Hit the Bitch" has been limited to only allow users from Denmark. However, domestic violence is a global problem, so please support the fight against it in your local country. Thanks for your interest. Kind regards, Children exposed to Violence at Home"
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8 Comments
Posted by para112, Monday, November 23, 2009, 3:07 am I have mixed feelings about this...I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a joke to men and possibly even an outlet for their aggression. In my mind it's like the UN...it doesn't accomplish what it sets out to acheive, but it does get everyone talking about the issues at the very least which is usually a good thing. I think what should have happened is a brief run of the game to create a storm of controversy and then pull the game permanently from public viewing. Get the attention and then get rid of something that could encourage abuse.
Posted by lily, Monday, November 23, 2009, 4:23 am huhu I think it happens in every country. My boyfriend thinks the same with me. He is eight years older than me, lol. We met online at ageromance.com a nice and free place for younger women and older men, or older women and younger men, to interact with each other. Maybe you wanna check out or tell your friends.huhu
Posted by Gigi, Monday, November 23, 2009, 9:09 am My uncle who has a long history of sending emails filled with humor that's often questionable at best forwarded something almost identical to me years ago, a link to an online game in which a player earned points by slapping a cartoon woman. Granted, as someone who's been a volunteer in domestic violence prevention, I found the whole concept so offensive that I didn't bother finding out whether it was trying to make a point or not. In any case, I think the game treats the issue far too lightly and thereby undermines its own argument.
Posted by Gigi, Monday, November 23, 2009, 9:09 am My uncle who has a long history of sending emails filled with humor that's often questionable at best forwarded something almost identical to me years ago, a link to an online game in which a player earned points by slapping a cartoon woman. Granted, as someone who's been a volunteer in domestic violence prevention, I found the whole concept so offensive that I didn't bother finding out whether it was trying to make a point or not. In any case, I think the game treats the issue far too lightly and thereby undermines its own argument.
Posted by Gigi, Monday, November 23, 2009, 9:09 am My uncle who has a long history of sending emails filled with humor that's often questionable at best forwarded something almost identical to me years ago, a link to an online game in which a player earned points by slapping a cartoon woman. Granted, as someone who's been a volunteer in domestic violence prevention, I found the whole concept so offensive that I didn't bother finding out whether it was trying to make a point or not. In any case, I think the game treats the issue far too lightly and thereby undermines its own argument.
Posted by JimS, Monday, November 23, 2009, 2:20 pm If she were a Muslim, could you still hit her in Denmark?
Posted by Rachel, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:56 am Wouldn't this piece have been more effective if at the end of the game instead of just weakly saying: you are 100 stupid, if instead the ending had said: Congratulations! You are a real man. Follow the link to the next stage and the link takes the player to a page of where to seek help/councelling for offenders of domestic abuse.
Posted by Michael J. Gorman, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 1:08 am For most guys, it's just a dumb way of venting. The problem is for the crazies among us, that one in a hundred or so who is controlled by negative outside forces, any encouragement to commit violence is dangerous. It's like a game of, let's say, STAB THE CONDUCTOR or BURN THE HOUSE DOWN. Not dangerous for the sane, but very dangerous for the angry dreamer who has no life. Unfortunately, free speech should be limited by reasonable expectations of it's affect on the insane.
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