text:
Portal 2's Adoption Jokes Anger Adoptive Parent
The jokes are "literally, the worst thing I could possibly have heard."
After mentioning that Portal's protagonist, Chell, is adopted in the first game, that fact is acknowledged (and joked about) in Portal 2 a number of times. It seemed harmless enough to me, and I hadn't seen any complaints about them or the numerous fat jokes scattered through out the game. However, a North Carolina man, whose daughter is adopted, feels the adoption jokes are unacceptable. (There are some light Portal 2 spoilers ahead and in the video above.)
Neal Stapel's 10-year-old daughter, Marsha, was adopted from China. He was playing the game with her when one of the adoption jokes came up. During the sequence, which you can see here, Wheatley says, "Alright, fatty. Adopted fatty. Fatty, fatty, no parents," which GLaDOS follows up on by whispering to the player, "For the record, you are adopted, and that's terrible, but just stick with me."
Stapel found this to be bad -- really bad. "I didn't know what to do," he said in an interview with WBTV. "I still don't know what to do."
"If you're not an adoptive parent, it's probably not that big a deal to you," he continued. "If you are an adoptive parent, it was, literally, the worst thing I could possibly have heard."
"It throws the question, the most ultimate question that child is ever going to have for you, and it just throws it right in your living room," he said. Stapel's daughter claims she didn't hear the joke, to which he says, "To me, that message means she's not ready to talk about it and I'm not gonna force it."
WBTV's reporter, Brigida Mack, claims the game is "billed as educational," saying this is because "you sort of have to figure out a way to get out of every single room," which hardly strikes me as the qualification needed for something to be considered educational. She also says that Sony distributed Portal, when, in fact, Electronic Arts was the distributor of the Valve-developed game's retail version.
At the end of her report, she clarified that the Stapel family doesn't dislike the game. "I do want to add that they still like the game," she said. "It's just that one part he says he feels is unacceptable."
See Also
Comments (192)
It should required to list this on all games that negatively recognize adoptionPosted: Jun 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by DrHorrible123
This game may:
cause feelings of disownment
loss of parents
hypersensitive fathers bitching about said things in out of context news reports
heyPosted: May 23, 2011 12:00AM PST by smile_kill
i dont see much of a problem it not intended to be aimed at one person
peoplePosted: May 22, 2011 12:00AM PST by rvdwhlfnshw
God I hate news casters .........well.......most people in general.
"I'm a dude"Posted: May 22, 2011 12:00AM PST by Pordiogamer
Sure beats this as the worst thing you could possibly ever hear...
Boo HooPosted: May 21, 2011 12:00AM PST by twitchyx
This over sensitive baby and people like him are the reason all entertainment is so watered down and bland.
People think they have some kind of rite to not ever be offended by anything.
You obviously cannot take a joke. Put down Portal 2, and go read a Highlights magazine to "your" fat chinese kid.
immature gamers are super defensivePosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by Blues_de_Hadal
Seriously, he wasn't expecting it, he had no way to prepare, and then the game throws insults to his adopted daughter about being adopted. Maybe it hurt him more than her and she really didn't notice. But there was some fans complaining about getting hit on in dragon age II or something by guys. This is about 100 times more serious than that and this guy gets called an idiot.
He hasn't even said anything abotu suing. This might be the ratings failling to report something mean spirited because no one thought it'd be a big enough deal. a t.v show or movie wouldn't do that without actually dealing with the issue throughout its story arc. I doubt this game did anything but just move on afterwards. Even if it says whats so bad about being adopted, It litterally said the person had no parents, so it already defined what was bad about it.
Stop trying to turn this into journalist trying to say video games are bad because according to this article that I can read and trace it's source as much as I want, it says the guy liked the game and that it was good but that he didn't like a game insulting his family's situation. If this had come from a bully, what the hell would be the difference(rhetorical question, it'd be worst but clearly the words said can and have hurt children).
I do agree for the most part..Posted: May 21, 2011 12:00AM PST by zatoeric
but you dont see this dad as at all hypersensetive? I'm adopted as is my wife, we were not upset by the remarks in question (we're also not ten) I completely understand that could upest a child! it seemed to me the father didnt like being confronted with some obvious truths about his family which he no doubt thinks is perfect (which it may be) I and a lot of other people think that taking this to the news was just a little bit silly! yes hes concerned about his kid, that's fine! that warrants a family talk, not calling the local news..
they should suePosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by SuperSledge
because we all know they want to
Here's a crazy, insane thought:...Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by ignition007
Maybe Valve isn't responsible for your personal and emotional welfare when they make and distribute a game. Maybe games should only be played by people who are at least mature enough to understand that the game is a world of fiction, and what goes on in the game should not necessarily be applied to real life.
I mean if I were going to get offended about a small child picking up on something wrong, I would get offended at the base concept of the game: that you can go jump or fly into anything, no matter how big, fast, strong, hard, or sharp, throw a ring down, and magically and safely transport to solid ground somewhere else.
Cry harder!Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by 1337W422102
As someone with a pet octopus, I am angered by delicious juicy tentacle hentai. Please put me on the news so I can enjoy being an attention whore.
NewsPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by 6StringSamurai
News? 1up is almost as bad as the mainstream news media. This isnt news.
uh...Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by Delirious30
with the amount of gore and violence in video games nowadays, a few stereotypical adopted jokes should probably be on the bottom of a parent's priority list.
My list:Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by sZimm
Neal Stapel is a brilliant man. Following his example, I have compiled a list of other things that should be banned from Portal 2.
ROBOTS and AI, since for all we know, there could be robots playing this game, and they would be emotionally scarred by watching the turrets and emotion cores getting disposed of in horrible ways.
GEL, there may be people allergic to hairgel or other gelatinous products, who would take offense to getting completely and utterly smeared in the stuff.
WALLS, since there may be rehabilitated prisoners playing the game, and seeing the tight, claustrophobic walls all around them would send them spiraling into a nightmarish re-enactment of their former imprisonment.
SECURITY CAMERAS, because they just freak me out. What?
TEXT, GRAPHICS and ANYTHING VISUAL, really. Because blind people would be reminded that they are blind, because they can't you know, SEE anything on the screen. And hearing other people talk about how cool everything in Portal 2 looks would probably be traumatizing. So we can't have that.
HOMOUR OF ANY KIND, because all humour is, when you think about it, demeaning to someone or something. That's just how it works. Too bad, but humour has to go.
There are many other things on the list, but I won't write them all here. I'll make sure Valve gets it asap, so they can send out a patch that removes all this controversial content from their product. Then we can all enjoy the game without fear of maybe hearing a joke or seeing something slightly scary.
Wow, 188 comments...Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by Elkovsky
Here's 189. (Not that this hasn't been said already...)
Yeah, I can see how an adopting parent might find this awkward, but yeah, it isn't like the developers are condoning those comments as appropriate, given who's actually delivering them in the game. It's kind of like that stand-up comedian with all the puppets who say offensive things, whom he rebukes right after they say them - it deflects the impact of the joke somewhat, at least in my book.
But seriously, is this *that* newsworthy? And since when was this game marketed as a "kid's game" and "educational"? Especially considering that the first game was rated "T"... meh.
Would this have the same outrage if it were in a movie?Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by CptnButter
This is hilarious. God help us when if DNF is released.
As an Adopted child, this father is insulting to me.Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by CrankyPanda
Deeply, Deeply insulted by Neal whathisface. Adopted kids are not the frail, fragile flowers you make them out to be. The fact that yes, YOU ARE SHELTERING YOUR CHILD FROM THE BASIC FACTS OF HER EXISTENCE is equivalent to child abuse, and instead of taking the opportunity to educate your child (news people, please stop degrading us by calling us "adoptive children"), you shut off the TV.
Why? Because of your child's welfare? No. Because you are scared and chickening out.
Guess what? There is a 99% probability that she is being made fun of at school and not telling you. And all she is learning from you is to shut up, say nothing and keep going because ultimately there is something so different about her that you will not confront it.
So when she grows up and is all messed up, be sure to blame the video game and not your own milkhearted cowardice.
right onPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by SuperSledge
thats awesome
Not that I'd knowPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by JillySqueamish
But if you really loved your adopted child, you would be honest and open about the circumstances that brought you together. Even if it hurts. Just do it sensitively when the time comes.
Everyone Makes the Ol' Adoption JokePosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by Timberwolf8889
Everyone has heard that joke at some point, maybe this guy just hasn't gotten out much?
wait,Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by gamewiz1
Isn't this another case of context being left out? The whole reason that they are picking on the player is because the fictional "Player" killed Glados. Obviously they would be upset with her, and say mean things. If you pay attention to the story, then it makes sense. It's not picking on orphans, just this one particular orphan:) And if the others aren't able to deal, sorry. The entire world doesn't cater to me for what I find acceptable.
Eh...Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by FinalFantasy773
The girl may not have heard it. Most kids don't really pay attention to games aside from completing a task. I can see how an adoptive parent would be upset though, so it's not an overreaction for the father to be upset over it, especially when it catches yopu off guard like that. However...it's not like she's crying over it. If she did in fact hear it, she clearly doesn't care. She's playing it right there. And to top it off, who hear hasn't laughed at an ethnic joke about their own race? It's the same concept as laughing at yourself sometimes. Hell! Dave Chapelle made a living off it...
Unless your own daughter is adoptedPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by JetsDuck
I think it's unfair to judge dad in this case. I can see that being a really horrible, awkward experience and I really feel for him here. With that said I don't think the joke is over the line or should be removed (it fits Glados' personality as well as the games sometimes dark humor). You shouldn't take out every line that could possibly offend somebody. Sorry.
And if anyone (including dad) thinks any news outlet cares at ALL about him or his daughter they're sorely mistaken. News programs usually don't care about anything other than eliciting emotion, and that's why they do a 30 second google search when looking up portal 2 info. Well not google, maybe yahoo or bing.
In other news...Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by Ozmahunter
Parents up fat children are also offended, and find it unacceptable that GlaDos calls the player "fatty". A bill is to be passed to make sure that nothing that could ever be perceived as mean by anyone is ever said by anyone anywhere ever.
Lol.Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by FinalFantasy773
I think it's more because it's rated E, and it kind of attacks the player. Albeit, the attack is with mildly mean words, but still. Imagine you're playing and it feels ike the game is literally insulting you. That's why it's controversial. It was no longer talking to a character in the game, but you yourself. From a parent's perspective, they might see it as inappropriate, which it might just be...
And another thing... o_OPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by OverToe
So did the girl not know? So has been told on TV? And will no doubt be told repeatedly for the rest of her life in school? EVERY DAY, for years on end.
That school will be RINGING with GladOS jokes. Most likely along the lines of, "Hur hur, I heard it's your birthday soon, has GladOS promised you cake? Guffaw!". Prepare to be disappointed. HAHA! Your only friend is a companion cube! Woah... dude... you must have such a hard time getting to bed every night with GladOS controlling the stairs. You have to Portal yourself to bed. I heard your dad leaves a permanent orange portal on your bed and a permanent blue one on the end of his dick!
She should thank him for ruining her life. The shitrug.
So... tired...Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by OverToe
I wonder whether these news "presenters" feel stupid talking about this, feigning concern. Surely their inner narrative is going, "just one more bullshit story and then home to the liqueur cabinet! You can do it!".
I don't understand how Portal 2 advertises itself as educational. Does it? Unless the rating it has just happens to fall under the umbrella of potentially educational, all ages since most educational games are rated E. Or maybe because certain laws of motion are used?
This is incredibly idiotic, surely rushing to turn off the TV and making a shit storm out of an ironic remark will make his child think that it is something to be ashamed of and should be kept a secret? The child will eventually have to come to terms with it anyway and live with it. I've never understood the keeping it secret thing, just tell them when they're old enough to understand, treat it like no big deal and they'll handle it however they want. I grew up in a foster home because my family were too ill to take me in. The "mum" there told me straight from day one. Before I could even understand properly to be honest. But once I did she asked if I wanted to meet my former family, I did, we met them and then I moved back in when I was a bit older. If it was kept secret and then suddenly revealed by Stephen Merchant, to be honest, I don't think I'd realize. When you're so young I doubt I would've listened anyway after seeing those graphics.
I might seem insensitive but this reminds me of that Curb Your Enthusiasm episode where he finds out his date is in a wheelchair. Did everyone in a wheelchair or who had a relative in a wheelchair roll or run over to the TV and turn it off to drown out reality and drown out the ability to be comfortable with your own life and circumstances? This SHIT needs to stop, games have LONG evolved past the image of a child with ADD or OCD obsessively hunched over an arcade machine. Videogames are a serious art, to me they're the best form of art, they contain pretty much ALL of the arts and sciences (well... not all) within each game, believe me, movies and TV shows are FAR more influential when it comes to weirdos acting them out. Every prick I know who owns a sword also has a The Crow poster up and talk about how they want people to break in so they can cut them up.
That root argument is complete bullshit and they know it. I'm guessing games are still picked on by the media because they're pretty much the last form of media that is still not used by people of certain generations so they can easily sway people's views and stir up a lot of bullshit cauldrons, spiked with speed sending everyone into bullshit furys. Once games are really common they'll only be left with whatever obscure parts of the internet people will be avoiding because they're on the FoxNews "Worm Warning!" list or whatever bullshit they'll invent. PLEASE just STOP picking on games. Bring your fucking child up normally and these things won't affect them, everyone experiences shocking truths as they grow, teaching them how to handle it is the way forward, not tying the truth up in your attic so it can make curious noises through the ceiling. Once you're in bed, your kid'll get up and take a look at what you hid. Well donecuntchucker.
It's hard to say.Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by PavlovGW
As someone that has worked for several newspapers, it's my opinion that this guy is just another person looking to cause a stink in order a gain a little screen time.
His line, "...to me, that was a sign that she isn't ready to talk about it," really rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. From the way that he said it, it almost seemed like HE was the one that didn't want to breach the issue, and is instead waiting on his daughter to take the first step, which isn't what should happen. As a parent, he should be the one to initiate the conversation.
Either way, I think that this is just another lame excuse for people to point fingers at video games. And to get publicity, in this guy's case.
sighPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by Super_Souvlaki
comedy is pain and truth
-john vorhaus (The Comic Toolbox)
The worst thingPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by sgt_slag
you could've possible heard would be something like "Your adopted Chinese daughter is made of fire, and you live in a house built out of dynamite and oily rags." THAT would be literally, the worst thing you could possibly have heard.
It's ok if...Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by alexthe
People say things in movies, but if it's in a game that's trying to tell a story, it's the worst thing he's ever heard.
I seriously think this country is going to have to because deaf and mute in 20 years because people will be incapable of talking to one another without being offended.
She's the bad guy, she's trying to hurt the main character.
RidiculousPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by KoticNdeavor
First off, the line is being spoken by the antagonist of the game: someone who is supposed to be evil. Second: This villain has deliberately lied in the past, so there's no way to tell if what she is saying is in fact true. And third: if it is true, that just means there's another orphaned hero to look up to. Especially for a girl. Unlike many heroines in media (not just videogames), Chell isn't sexualized or objectified and doesn't encourage violence, but rather, complex thinking and problem solving. For the adoptive parent, this game should not only be allowed, but encouraged for children as a role model.
Also, I love how stupid the news is about this "new" medium even though it's been a part of main culture for over 20 years. Just because it's rated E10 (just E according to CBS) doesn't mean that it is supposed to educate them. It seems that they can't be satisfied with games that aren't Wii sports. Portal and its sequel provide a first person "shooter" that doesn't have foul language, nudity, drug use or violence, things that the news seem to be really upset about in video games (but not in movies or TV or Books, mind you). But even when it bends over backwards to appease the softer market, they make a mountain out of a molehill. Fuck you, CBS. And fuck you, uptight, whiny doucheparent.
.,..Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Xomnus
The line was completely taken out of context(like News always does). Glados says right after "And?... What exactly is bad with being adopted?". The game might touch on the adoption thing too much for comfort but to be honest Im sure I can find a teen book/movie that includes a mean villain making fun of someone being adopted ... hell this is touched on Harry Potter.
Seriously this guy overreacted; I cant wait for that girl to grow up and finally hear the line so she can tell her dad how much of an idiot he is.
If this guy sees a stand up comic...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by TPoppaPuff
he will literally kill himself.
i hate local newsPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by mydogchev
"we've contacted sony, who distributes the game, and they said to contact valve."
"sounds like everyone is just passing the buck"
what the shit?
Valve makes the gamePosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by Killer_Koala
Valve makes the game, EA distributes it. It's not passing the buck, they just don't know who to contact.
LOLPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by remember_mymember
Why would adoptive parents play this game... anyone... no?
jeebus...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by luckynewman13
If I was that guy's adopted daughter, I would ask to be adopted by someone else
Someone...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by bungie_fanatic
With a sense of humor...this idiot and those newscasters are examples of how to make mountains out of molehills.
HyperbolePosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Urethra_Alfredo
I like that the father in question labels these few lines of dialogue as "literally, the worst thing I could have heard."
Are you serious? That's the most offensive thing he can imagine his daughter hearing?? If I was playing a game with my adopted daughter, a stupid line about adoption is far from the worst dialogue I could hope to hear.
Any of the following would make me waaaaaaay more uncomfortable to have to explain to my child:
-"Chell, I want to slather you in mayonnaise and throw lunch meat at you."
-"We should press our assholes together like an open-mouthed kiss. Then we can shit inside of one another."
-"See? My nipples do look like two spiders fighting over a rotten piece of pepperoni."
-"Who cares if it's dead? Let's have sex with it, anyway."
Still freaking out over a silly aside about overweight adopted kids?
Yeah, that's what I thought.
WowPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by TheLastGrimReaper
You have me dying over here... and that reporter has to do her homework. And that father has to get real
LAWLPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Dooglemanger
I signed up to 1up just so i could tell you how great this reply is. i'm ROFLing.
I came into this article pissedPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by ilevakam117
Now I'm leaving laughing
Ha,ha,ha..Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
Well played good sir.....Or Madam.
As an adopded child I want to sayPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Shadow13th
When you hear these kinds of jokes you know it's all tongue in cheek. Like a lot of things this only becomes a problem when you try to take it really seriously and turn it into a big deal. There's a lot of things in life that we know, through common sense, not to take seriously, and this should be one of them.
Parents should give up kid to parents that live in the now!Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Fico23
I didn't think that people could get more retarded but it seems that the human race keeps surprising me every day. There are a lot of things that irk me about this ''news report" and it seems hinted to make video games, again, into something bad. One, you are complaining about a game that has no gore, no blood, no controversial things at all. See if it were Mortal Kombat, were there was blood every 1.5 seconds in the game, well maybe I would take offense, but not even, because if you let the kid play it, you are a bad parent. Two, the girl is playing an E rated game, so it means that it's a game for Everyone, and it seems that the parents are the only people on this planet that think this game is evil. They don't even make many references to that, so the point is moot. Third, she is adopted and knows that she is adopted and has no problem. So why in the HELL are the parents bitching about the adoption comment when she clearly knows that she is not their real kid. Fourth, EDUCATIONAL????? WHAT THE FUCK??? It's not Mario is Missing or any other half ass "game" like that. These people clearly didn't play this or the first game so they don't know shit about video games. These people hear about a game, make up a story, and roll with it. Valve won't respond, they will defend their art, because it deserves no explanations. Fifth, it's only a video game. It's a work of fiction and had they played or even read into the story of the first game they might understand that Weathely is talking to Chell, not the DUMBASS KID! These parents need to open their fucking eyes, because if they do this with a video game, god knows what else. TV, music, fashion, this girl won't have an ounce of fun because these "parents" won't let her have it. Parents, let them just enjoy their games and tell them that it is not real and it's a mean to enjoy yourself. THEY COULDN'T TELL HER THAT!?!?!?!?!
trufaxPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by KillerBYTE963
trufax Wheatly speaks
The father, the idoitPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Akers1982
I think his mad that he has to truthfully interact with this child he and his family adopted. He says he doesn't know what to do about the game, (which in all truth the context of gag or joke really has nothing to do the player; expect in this case which shouldn't be a problem since it is directed at the character (Chell) and not the gamer.) this idoit calls the news. What me thinks someone wants a handout.
alsoPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by METAgamer468
If anyone is interested in sending the news station their thoughts, the address is firstname.lastname@example.com
I think they have done this story because of the recent news surrounding Sony,Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by shadystx
It seems to me he was more offended by this because it has been on his mind for awhile that his adopted child is getting to an age when she may start asking questions about her origin.
I have no ill feelings towards him for being concerned but the fact he contacted a news outlet about it seemed extreme, He also said that his daughter said she did not hear it but he thought that ment she did not wish to talk about it and did not want to force the issue, But he wanted a camera crew to come to his home and ask questions about the incident while his daughter was sitting on the couch next to him, So if she did not wish to talk about it to her parents why would she want some strange people in her home discussing it like she was not there, but hey it be cool tv if she played the game while they chatted, That to me seemed more irresponsible than the remark in the game, Also theres a good chance the girl never heard it, it is said quite quickly during that scene and she says she did not hear it but now he has forced the issue into her young life when he claimed he did not want to.
The thing that peevs me off more about this is the very bad journalisim, Some news crew have went oh yeah video games are a good thing to jump on lets do minimal research and stick it on air, the fact they could not even check a wiki about the game is terrible as if they did they would know EA are the publisher and Valve are the developer instead they found out which system they were playing on and phoned sony to be told Valve made the game and then comment how they thought sony were passing the buck.
I think they jumped on this issue because some old folks thinks games kill people and the fact Sonys PS3 was recently hacked and they thought they had a new story surrounding Sony but did zero research to find out Sony was just the platform holder and this game is distributed on three different systems in total.
so THAT's what they're showing on the News these days, huh?Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by sparks24
I did cross my mind that poking fun at the adoption issue might be going too far, but only for about a split second. I don't think this needed to be aired on television though, obviously as newscasters they just want a story to cover, just like some of the silly articles here on 1up. But this is a really funny game, and notice how the news just picked the 2 or 3 lines in the game that sounded really offending to orphans/adoptive parents. Come ot think of it, it IS unfortunate the source of humour in this moment of the game came from picking on orphans, but the game didn't really deserve this kind of negative publicity. The newscasters are so ignorant sometimes, I wish they actually played the game and saw that this was just .01 % of the game, and the other 99.99% of the game is untarnished. Of course, the news is the news - if I were a newscaster, I don't think I'd ever be proud of my occupation, just b/c twisting the truth is so encouraged just to get a good story out....
dumbassPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Vicari0usly
this chick probably walks across the street slowly while texting, then when you honk at her she flips you off.
Wow, brings Glib Journalism to a Whole Other LevelPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by METAgamer468
Ah yes, let's make her feel ok about being adopted by making it a big forbidden secret! That's the real healthy way to handle the issue! Clearly her confusion over having white parents who never explained to her why she looks different from them, or the majority of the other kids at school is all Valve's fault! Thanks a lot Gabe Newell! You orphan Nazi asshole!
Also, why the hell does 1Up just regurgitate this crappy tv news story? Why not perhaps, correct them on their mishandeling of the subject matter?
Thank You, DarwinPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by slabtowner
People like this prove why forced sterilization is sometimes an acceptable choice.
Obviously, they weren't seen as fit to be parents on their own, so they shouldn't have been allowed to adopt. Natural selection exists for a reason, people.
My take on thisPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by marliemellow
Can be found here.
Portal 2 is so offensive to me...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by AJAPAM_34
I'm not immune to neurotoxin. They make fun of people like me.... Ok then, why not censor EVERYTHING.
Anyway, who said it was for kids? The game is LOADED with dark humour. It's just comedy, dude. Someone is bound to be offended by practically everything that has ever existed
What. A. FU**ING. Whiney. Bi***.Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Man_In_Black_77
He's probably just mad because his kid's adopted.
Seriously though. First of all GLaDoS is (sorta) the villain of the game. At least she works against you for the most part anyway. So we are specifically suppossed to DISAGREE with her most of the time. The insults are intentionally very comically inept with pretty much no actual bite to them at all. Anyone that has their self-worth injured by the comments in this game is probably gonna have a nervous breakdown the first time somebody flips them off in traffic.
OF COURSE he'd be mad because his kid's adopted.Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Facelord
That said, he seems more disappointed and stressed out over the matter; I wouldn't wanna have to deal with what he goes through. Still, seeing it from that girl's perspective must be the way Chell sees it; that makes me feel for the protagonist even more.
Either way, I do see where he's coming from and I do sympathize with him, even if I do enjoy the game and I don't really think it should be censored. I don't even know what should be done about it, if anything at all. It's seriously depressing. :<
I kinda agreePosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Xfraze
I can honestly see where the family is coming from. While I don't think the jokes were bad enough to warrant a T rating, and it was nothing worse than what a particularly horrible 8 year old kid might say to another one on the playground...if you aren't expecting it and your family is in that kind of situation, it basically points to the elephant in the room. You'd think that a game rated E for everyone means that you're able to play the game with your kids instead of having to play it before hand...and normally, that'd be the case. Of course, anything that's broadly tailored is going to have outliers and unfortunately his family was part of it. I don't think his intent was to blast Valve, so much as let other people who are in the same situation in him be aware of the potential problem.
I don't think we need more inclusive disclaimers on the rating stickers, but in some situations, I think it'd be nice if you could go to the ESRB website or even the game website, click on one of the tags like "crude language" and it could go into more detail about what to expect in that particular game.
Really, the ThreequelPosted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by Xfraze
You'll notice I said it'd be nice if you could go online to the ESRB or actual website for the video game for more information on what the rating entails. I wasn't suggesting that they expand what appears on the game box. I wasn't even saying that they should do it, I was just saying it would be neat if they did do that.
I am more offendedPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by panchothedog
that this family had to fly all the way to China to adopt a kid. I mean, do we need have enough kids in this country to that are worth adopting? Just by looking at his name, Neal Stapel, I bet he is some white guy who adopted this young girl when it was "en vogue," probably saw Madonna doing it and that it was chic.
WOWPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by vinci
Portal 2 is one of the handful of Triple-A games that doesn't have the protagonist killing people... it also features almost zero "bad language", aside from the occasional "damn" tossed out by the ornery Cave Johnson.
And yet, even though GLaDOS, in a "just-between-you-and-me" whisper to Chell says flat-out that there is nothing wrong with being adopted, some crybaby jerkwad has to go and turn it into a big deal. STFU, you moron. If you had any sense, you'd laugh this off for the obvious joke that it was. If you have such a problem with a harmless little line like this, then there are other dark clouds swirling around in your homelife that might merit your anger. My niece is adopted, and I love her with all of my black heart... but at no point was I offended by Portal 2. Leave this masterpiece alone, and focus on raising your kid. Also, again, STFU.
Peeves Me OffPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Granin
Bad Journalism. The whole report on the "popular education game for kids distributed by Sony" is just so badly done it doesn't constitute itself as presentable to any audience. As someone aspiring to get into the industry at some point, it irritates to me to the core to see moronic news being broadcasted to a moronic viewer/reader-base, whilst anyone with half a brain watches as a poorly constructed news piece full of errors and ommisive contextual factors is fed to those hungry for some contrived bullshit.
All of this aside, there is a possibility that a 10 year old wouldn't fully grasp the context and tone of the jokes. Granted, they'd have the be a particularly thick kid and probably shouldn't be playing Portal due to the mental strain of the puzzles alone, but idiots exist. Who knows, maybe these adoption jokes will spur on some child to go on a killing spree? These video games are rotting minds. The parents and news reporters in the video must play a fuck ton.
I haven't played portal 2 yet, but...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by JayDek
I do know that throughout the entire game Glados throws cheap insults at you, and that, apparently, Wheatley is an idiot. Characters in a story are allowed to be bullies if they clearly labelled as such. We all know that those two are full of crap. If you're not going to the media for some real life jerk calling you adopted, why are you throwing a fit about a fictional jerk?
LogicPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Flyers021.
When children are adopted, they now have new parents. So being teased about not having parents becomes irrelevant. So why the offense? Where is the Organization for Diabetics regarding the Fatty comments, dammit? Are obese children allowed to be teased with no objection from the media? When logic and cold hard facts get in the way of your stupid news show, it is logic and facts which get kicked to the curb.
Come ONPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by ofcbilly77
First, the newscasters should actually know a bit about the game before attacking it. Since when was Portal advertised as educational? Second, Wheatley is an idiot (don't get me wrong, I love him) and the game tells you time and again that he is. No one should take an idiot's words seriously, real or not.
I think we are forgetting something here.......Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by xXreAperXx_777
Ok, uh does anyone here know that Gabe Newell is the biggest fatty, fatty around...I can understand the parent's being upset if they are not ready to discuss this topic with their daughter, but that's when you be a parent and tell them that is something we can talk about another day.....really simple..
The worst thing??Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by jhmdf1
Really, the worst thing he could have ever heard..... it's not like the game said you are a chinese girl who's country does not want because they fuck like rabbits over their and you have a baby producing vagina... so ya, you were adobted to an American family. I could see how that would be a bit worse. This was news???.... REALLY???? For fuck sake.
whatPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Just1LifeLeft
is with people these days? I mean come on, you cant say anything without someone getting offended and blowing it out of proportions. this is really getting old. I cant even put into words how much i just want people to figure out that they just need to let this stuff go; cause it doesnt matter. jeez.
WTF?Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Zulu211
how bout when glados rebuttals wheatly's statement when she says "and whats wrong with being adopted" right after wheatly's lame attempt at an insult directed at the main character. Oh! Right that would make the "news" story unintersesting and in fact not news.
As an adopted childPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by qwilman
I found it really really funny. Adoption sometimes feels like something that isn't even in the public consiousness to begin with. Ignoring how wildly out of context the quotes were, I found the whole thing funny just because it references the fact that yes this is a thing that exists.
Really...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by BlueDEF960
First off that is a small cut of the actual segement. I actually went back to the game and replayed the chamber in question (chapter 8, chamber 4) and noticed there was a responce from GLaDOs who replies in defence of the charictor by saying "and what wrong with being adopted... and look she is not even fat you moron".Yet again the brodcast media wants to lable video games in general as evil when they can't even alow the item in question (or the company) to stand up for itself.
However valve's aim for the joke which between chapters 3 and the beginning of 4 was to insult the charictor and now has achieved what they were aiming for.
well, I'm assuming they didn't see Harry Potter either.....Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Pordiogamer
...because that dude was adopted too and he got teased about it repeatedly. And also, Hermione was constantly teased because of her lack of "purity" or some crap like that. I'm baffled everytime I see this kind of petty insignificant crap in the news as means to distract the attention from the really important stuff that's happening right now.
Stay with us and don't miss the surfing squirrels after the break.
Really...?Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Jonnycox001
Did the little girl not know she was adopted yet?.. She may be 10 but come on, I think she would have figured it out by now (w/o the aid of Portal 2)
What a slow news day indeed. That guy is kinda sad... just talk with your child. Get it over with. You said that you didn't want the topic to come up from a video game... why??? In what ways would this be worse than any other way? (unless the girl doesn't understand that Wheatley is moronically trying to poke fun at her)... this girl is a kid, I'm pretty sure she'll get it. lol At least more that the father has so far.
missing the point :(Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by gillysinlow
It's not whether she will know what is going - that is a given as suggested by this article. What is NOT considered is the emotional baggage that comes along with the talk. It's easy and straightforward to know if you are adopted or not if you are from China - but consider the manny questions after that. Was the bioparents good people? Was she rescued from a drug housE? A poor woman who was raped? Was this child a product of rape? Of neglect? These are serious question she WILL ask and at ten... i doubt even you would be ready to tell your daughter she may have been from a family that just simply didn't want her.
All this article is posing the real dangers of forcing open doors adoptive parents try to place up so that the child can reach for that when they are ready. All it brings to light is the idea that POrtal 2 forces a bad light into being adopted.
I see both sides I do - being a trained Social Work helps. But I also know that adopting a kid that has a terrible beginning - like a product of rape, born with meth addiction, a surviving twin, mother died after labour - is something that even the parent needs emotional preparation. I have a kid brother who is adopted but he doesn't know who his real parents are. And that's for protection becuase his parents and how she got pregnant is seriously messed up.
Be kind - some children have terrible pasts where the adopting parents will carry this history until they ask and prepare for a very confused and sad child.
Second thoughts and reading all these messages...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by gillysinlow
Perhaps this was badly written. That is, this is an issue that has taken on a different light since the article failed on providing both sides of the story. I see a lot of responses that this was taken out of context - and it is a very consistent message. I think that the father has a point and more care should have been in place to gather much more information about Portal 2 and the meaning of why the father did not want to talk with his child.
I believe my earlier point still stands but also seeing the corrections made by my peers serves as a reminder to 1up.com that perhaps a bit more thought should have been put in? It's an article but I think between 1up and the media this story made the father look very petty. Even though at the end of the article it notes the he still likes the game.
I hear one note from the comments and i see another. Then 1up and the media spin the story quickly and with too little information to make this a worthwhile addition of blogs to read.
I hope this article comes up for how to make 1up better and not send out second rate articles that release too little information and create an instant hate for a well meaning father.
Are you serious???Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Darkeus
Ridiculous doesn't even begin to describe this.....
no kiddingPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by FasleCracMedEvac
Very, very slow news day?Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Flyers021.
How does something like this make the news? R u kiddn? I grew up with adopted brothers and sisters and I'm still trying to figure out how this is offensive. It's a good thing the child did not have a weight problem, or she would have required therapy. This is a fine example of idiots who run amuck. Who was the fruitcake who called the channel news and set this up? Dude, your 15 minutes of fame (due to being easily offended) are up.
this sure is newsworthyPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by great_cake_bat8
how many kid movies center around bully's bugging the shy adopted kid with similar insults?
dang it people there's better things to complain about than comic mischief labeled on the rating
I get that he is angry about it but...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by BadShaman
What about the FAT part? What, did all he hear was "ADOPTION JOKE, OFFENSIVE, fat, YOUR CHILD SUCKS CUZ SHE IS ADOPTED." And thats another thing! This was towards CHELL, the PROTAGONIST, not to little Sue or whatever they called her, to CHELL.
And the kid doesn't even care! Look at her! She is having a blast! (at least, thats the face of a brain dead child who is too busy in the game) I didn't even see her break a tear when she heard it! Only the daddy! He should be more offended from the fat part of the joke rather than the adoption part....
He really missed the point of the jokePosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Jiggles
The whole point of GLaDoS's taunts about Chell being adopted (and being fat) is that the taunts are very juvenile and weak -- that, as an AI construct, GLaDoS doesn't really think human enough to get it quite right. Then, Wheatly later tries to copy GLaDoS's insults, and he does an even worse job of it.
If anything, this was a good chance for the parent to talk about potential taunts at school, and how childish and dumb (Wheatly, in the context of the story, was designed to be stupid) they really are. Instead, the parent cries to the local news? Sigh.
"Think of the children!" is a popular rally cry for censorship. Well, OK then. What bullet point would you have the ESRB add for this? Some games have a "Comic Mischief" or "Alcohol Reference" label. Would you add a "Disparaging Remarks About Birth" label?
InsensitivePosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by ArcDerek
I can understand the father's complaint but this is taken to the extreme. Why contact the news about it and not write a letter to Valve (or phone in)? Why be hostile? Do you think that Valve didn't realize what they were putting in their own game? With the size of the audience that their titles reach, I wouldn't be surprised if they have an office pool going for how long before someone complains about the adoption jokes.
Its a piece of fiction...Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by ScoobyDeuce
so get over it.
I laughed and I'm adoptedPosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by CursedMonkey
I'm 29 and i was adopted at birth. I thought the joke was funny. It wasn't aimed at me so i don't care. Even if it was, i couldn't care less. A joke is joke. Get over it.
No.Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Urethra_Alfredo
A joke is not a joke.
And no one should get over anything. Ever.
This adoption joke is the single most offensive thing I've ever heard, Until next week, when (I'm sure) someone will make a disparaging, sarcastic comment regarding deaf librarians. Which I will then treat with equally righteous indignation.
Get with the program, you heartless lout. No one is allowed to find anything funny ever again...because someone, somewhere will be offended.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go to a protest being held outside my local Chuck E. Cheese. Fox News told me that it encourages children to develop gambling addictions, and while the claim initially didn't make any sense to me, it was on the fucking news. It must be true.
It's my duty to be pissed off about this shit.
Literally the worst.....Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by LIQUORisQUICKER
I could handle hearing the news my entire family was wiped out in a terrorist attack at Disney World forcing the theme park to close forever, but an adoption joke? That is LITERALLY the WORST thing I could ever possibly hear in my entire LIFE!
Is this for real?Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by RyokuKun
This whole deal is whacked, and would never be any thing except in the US. Portal 2 is a game, and the taunt is directed to a specific person i.e. The protagonist in the game, not that guys daughter.
Fully agreePosted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by CatCouch
This almost offends me, I mean really, someone can't tell the the difference between dialogue directed at fictional characters and real life? Thats just being too sensitive. It seems to me that it would not have been a problem but now he has highlited it for his daughter. All he has done is point out that she should see it as an insult.
Fuck off, dumb fatherPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Mr.Donatti
People can't even make a joke in this country without some twat taking offense and jumping on the news (a.k.a. step #1 for cashing in on it).
Clearly the Parent has a ProblemPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by SquareSide
I think he regrets adopting her and is taking it out on Portal 2.
People are so stupid.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by markofthebeast
You'd have to live a really sheltered life for that to be the worst thing you could possibly hear.
I haven't even watched the video yetPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by BananaJane
But I'll bet you with 100% certainty whoever's crying about this is from USA.
aint....Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by SpaceManiac
.....it always!!!!!Im not judging americans here, but it seems that all or at least mostly of "video games raged people" are from the USA!!!!I think its kinda strange!!!!
A Reply From WBTV ThemselvesPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by littlesmegger
After emailing the news station and passing on the majority of views the online community has, Brigida Mack [the lady who made the report] is adament that they are still in the right. According to her "Just because they distribute, and did not make the game, does not mean they don't have a corporate opinion.", implying they are adament Sony still distribute the title even though they don't.
And in regards to the title being misinterpretated through the report for people who aren't already fans of the series, they stated that "Portal 2 is really popular. Got it." No Brigida, that isn't what I said... sigh...
Not to be insensitive or anything...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
But the kid can just do would almost all of us had to do when we were taunted.....DEAL WITH IT. The world ain't a nice place. If hearing taunts from a fictional character to another fictional character in a video game hurts this kids feelings, then I hope to God she's going to be home schooled for high school.
Though I should mention..Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Rynvie
I'm a homeschooled high schooler. I deal with shit and people who taunt me all the time IRL. I go on the internet daily and see plenty of 'offensive' material regularly. I may be an oddity in the realm of homeschoolers, but homeschool =/= 100% sheltered and safe. Just saying.
Indeed...Posted: May 20, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
Point well made there.
Taken out of contextPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by auzgamer44
Whilst I feel for Mr Stapel and his daughter,as what Wheatley says IS mean,he needs to understand the line in the overall context of the story arc in Portal 1 and 2.(Spoilers for both games follow.If you haven't played either,quit reading now.)
Firstly,there isn't any concrete evidence in the game narrative that Chell IS adopted.In Portal 1,Glados's morality core has dropped off,and she's deliberately being a mean & spiteful jackass to get revenge on Chell for escaping the fire & trying to kill her.EVERYTHING she says about Chell she twists to the negative.(e.g:She's adopted,she's friendless,she has a dumb voice,her personnel file says she's unlikable,the core Chell destroys made shoes for orphans etc etc)Glados,by her own admission,is a liar.As it's hinted in Portal 2,that Chell may be the great Cave Johnson's daughter-adopted or otherwise-the suggestion that he's not 'her real father' would be,to Glados's delight,a really hurtful slight.
In Portal 2,she tries a similar tack with the 'fat' jokes,goading Chell about her 'generousness' & that in stasis she "packed on a few pounds."Wheatley,being a dope,tries to copy Glados' nastiness with the weak 'fatty,fatty,no parents' line.Glados,now with Caroline's conscience,says,'You idiot.She's not fat.Look at her.And what's wrong with being adopted?' When she says to Wheatley,'Look,I know you're adopted and that's terrible' straight after this,she knows Wheatley hasn't got the brain power to see it as what it is-a taste of his own medicine.
So Mr Staple needs to explain to his daughter-yes,it is a horrible thing to say adoption's a terrible thing.But Glados is DELIBERATELY being vile & insensitive .
The fact that when she DOES have a conscience(albeit a compromised one-as evidenced by her 'that's terrible' remark to Wheatley),she shows she doesn't believe ANY of the nonsense insults she spouted.So context is everything.
...I hate peoplePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Kapernikus_T._Jones
Are we really saying that it is insensitive to gamers to have adoption jokes in a game? Because that is the stupidest thing I have heard in a long time. Like, a week. But are the jokes offensive to the character? Hell yes, and that is the point. I don't expect GLaDOS or Evil Wheatly to say "I love you. Let's finish this test, have some cookies, and then you can go topside, OK" in a serious manner. The point is that they are really big dicks. And when GLaDOS is Caroline, you get the line "what's wrong with being adopted," or something of that manner.
Besides, want to know what my eight year old cousin said about the adopted jokes? "Haha, yes I am!"
But seriously folks...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Scaye
We are missing the point. Everything we do is for the children. You know, like dumping toxic waste into fresh water sources, spilling oil into the ocean, making baby products with harmful chemicals, setting the cost of healthcare so high it can't be afforded, letting kids go homeless, letting kids go hungry, or simply giving our children one of the crapiest educations.
And of course parents always have their childs best intrest at heart... yeah like that time those two parents lied about their son being in a ballon... but they were the exception. All other parents are great parents.
I see now the father has a point. This joke directed at the character and approved by the ESRB truly is the worst thing we could ever do to our children.
SO new censorship everyone?Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by RaginScotsman
I'm dreading a world where games like portal 2 are rated for adults because they might offend 0.00001% (and I'm over-estimating) of the population. I'm sorry the offensive villain actually managed to offend someone but come on, is it really worth reporting?
New stations and their terrible fact-checkingPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Ultimate_Gamer14
The joke was in poor taste (though GlaDOS DOES chastise Wheatley for saying it; still, it's not really all that funny in the first place). The real issue here is another news station that didn't check its facts.
I see the point, it was insensitive.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by SamuraiTerry
Nothing intentional or mischievous about the joke. Valve is a great company and I'm sure they will handle it well.
Jesus, people suck.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by andyrew
I'm so sick of all these pussies getting hurt feelings over little things. Grow up. Life throws things out that you don't always agree with. Getting hurt feelings over something like this deserves one response: drop the pieces of trash into Sierra Leone or Somalia. Now they have something to get worked up about. What happened to "being a real man?" Bunch of fruits...
So...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by elite180360
where they able to platinum the game or what?
Holy meow.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by SocialAngstiety
This is pathetic.
Primarily, I feel sorry for the little girl. This whiner is her father figure. She's going to have to deal with episodes like this her entire life. This is just the beginning.
If there were ample communication and understanding between father and child -
If her father were even remotely comfortable with the situation that he has put them both in -
If 'dad' would man up and take responsibility for his actions (IE: Purchasing Portal 2 in the first place) -
This wouldn't be an issue.
maybe daddy's got issuesPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by EndlessWinter
I wonder if the father is the one who was actually offended by this (perhaps he's got adoption issues) and just using his daughter as an excuse, cause the kid didn't seem to be phased by it.
Videogames Always Take Stick...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by littlesmegger
Videogames always become scapegoats in these scenarios, if this was a film or a book it'd be brushed away, but because it's a game a poorly educated news station decides to make a mountain out of a molehill, and get it all wrong and biasedly edited anyway. Pathetic...
Ok...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Coffee_Elemental
How the hell is this different from a kid's movie where bullies make fun of an adopted orphan or such. I cant name one of the top of my head, but it must have happened. Are we gonna start bashing the movie director, the film company or the whole industry?
Parents are the worst, fuck...
There will always be...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by jaPoshi
...a parent or "concerned" citizen that will complain about anything produced with a kid accessible rating. And yes, altho more attention is paid to videogames, movies PG and under get a fair amount of finger wags aswell. Tho as you probably know, they wont just limit themselves to the kids stuff, we all hear how the adult games and movies get attacked all the time because they are no appropriate for kids...., which is kind of the point of the product.
Q.QPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by ashthestampede
grow up parents. I mean you have kids to look after, why are you wasting your time with this shit?
Literally?Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by AnalTyrant
I like the idea that the joke was "literally the worst thing" they could have heard. Worse than racial epitaphs or hateful speech. Sorry that the parent wasn't ready to talk with his daughter about the nature of their adoption but I don't know why you would get upset over something like this when the term "retard" is still used in a deragatory manner all over other forms of media.
worst thingPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by TreyTable
That part kinda struck me as odd. I thought the worst thing a parent could hear was a phone call from the morgue to identfy a missing child's corpse. Or maybe "Abandon all hope, all ye that enter here."
But wait a second. Isn't that from single player? How was he playing the game WITH his daughter in single player? That doesn't make sense.
they made it that far..Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by EndlessWinter
and were still taking Wheatley seriously?
hmmmPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by ScriptedPain
Great question. I love the way the news reported it...God I hate the media. I cant beleive they contacted Sony, who then advised they contact Valve and THEN they said"passing the buck"...morons.
The saddest thing about this story are the ignorant comments.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Redswipe
Someone who wants to make an intelligent comment on a story like this would ask themselves a few questions.
What issues would this parent and 10 year old child be dealing with in their lives reguarding adoption?
What effect could these in game comments have on children in the situation described in the news story?
Are comments such as these suitable for a game rated OK for 10 year olds?
It seems most of the commenters simply asked themselves this last question, answered yes and then posted a comment.
Am I incapible of empathy?
I'm guessing not many people on this site were ever in their schools debating team.
Edit: I will add that TaboriHK seems to be the exception to this. Not because he agrees with me (he doesn't) but because he's at least willing to discuss the issue instead of simply making up his mind after reading the headline and leaving it at that. :)
Give me a break.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by TaboriHK
I don't need to ask myself questions I already know the answer to, which is respectively, "irrelevant to the story", "minimal at absolute worst", and "of course they are." As for the last question, I'll answer it nonsarcastically if you give an honest answer to "Am I too close to this issue that I've lost objectivity?" I mean, spoiler alert to both questions, the answer is yes, the importance is whether you're self-aware enough or not to realize it.
Yes, butPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by bubbagoatboy
You forgot a few other questions they should ask themselves:
What context was the line delivered in?
Should all media be restricted if it could offend some people?
Also, what is the relevance to being in a school debating team to having an intelligent discussion? Isn't that being discriminatory to anyone who wasn't in a school debating team (something which doesn't even exist in my country)? For shame...
For the love of......!Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Kays Addiction
This whole issue shouldn't even be an issue. It's a fucking joke. If I complained everytime a time some part of the media made a gay/lesbian/bisexual joke I wouldn't have time for anything else. If you can't explain to your kids how that's a joke not meant to be taken seriously you are a bad parent, plain simple.
Even if this was a viable issue take it up the ESRB it's not Valve or EA's fault. It's the ESRB's so get the hell off of this article and complain to them.
trulyPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by TaboriHK
The irony is that we're all overreacting just as much as the father is, and all our opinions are just as irrelevant. At the end of the day, I think it's fair to say, no matter what your opinion is on this, that if you're afraid to have a conversation with your own child, you have bigger problems with parenting than a mean video game.
I wonder how many commenters here are actual parents.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by SamuraiTerry
I am.
well SamuraiTerry,Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by Super_H4Ns
That means that you win
well done
Sweet!Posted: May 19, 2011 12:00AM PST by SamuraiTerry
I'll IM you my address info: )
PleasePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by joe29671
That Father did more harm by using his daughter and putting her on the news to expand his beliefes. She will get more teasing from her classmates over her father's careless disregard of her then she would have ever got from the video game. And this newscast should really do their homework and learn about the game in question before making idiotic comments such as it is an educational game and contacting Sony for comment. They do not even seem to do know that the game was made by Valve and is multiplateform.
Do kids watch the news?Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by SamuraiTerry
I personally don't. lol
I am adoptedPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Blakman7
and I actually loled when these jokes were used. Granted I am 25 but this Dad could have easily explained to his child that GLaDOS was trying to be as hurtful as possible to make (and this bit is important) your character do badly in the level. If your 10 year old can't grasp this concept or does not understand this then why play a game in which you know a robot will be taunting you most of the game? She also calls you fat, anyone with a "body-by-wow" in here want to cry about it?
Yet another example of the pussyfication or our country.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Opprime
The thing that really annoys me about this "news" story is that had he played further into the game, he would have seen that Glados recants and condemns someone towards the end of the game for making similar comments. On top of that this guy is as white as snow and his 10 year old daughter is Chinese. I'm pretty sure she know's something's up. For god sakes, the clip they used is taken out of context and they don't play the second half of Glados scolding him for the comment. Ugh
Talk about lack of contextPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by D_Diabolik
SECONDS AFTER the moment they showed Glados berates Wheatley for being a jerk and asks what exactly is so bad about being an orphan. At which point Wheatley desperately tries to take back his insult and says how some of his best friends are orphans.
The purpose of the scene is to make Wheatley looks like a pathetic jerk who is trying his hardest to be funny... which of course is what makes him funny. You're always laughing AT Wheatley, never with him.
If this was in a PG rated moviePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Kays Addiction
No one would say shit about it, but since it's in an E10+ game OH NOES ITS TEH EVEEL! This is just stupid. It's a joke people. Lighten the fuck up! I don't get all up in arms everytime someone makes a lesbian or bisexual joke, or says all otaku are losers or something to that effect. For the love of Haruhi lighten the fuck up!
So what?Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by MutantTurtle
Get over it. My dad had four strokes in a month and Family Guy made fun of stroke victims, but I still watch it. Oh and portal 2 is hilarious. Anyways though, I think it's pretty obvious you're adopted when you're asian and you're parents aren't. I hate living in North Carolina.
People in this country....Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Meia
Act like such cunts sometimes.
Who are you that you should feel bad about that? How thin-skinned are you? US society is now about pushing Darwin as far away as possible.
If you're honestly insulted and hurt by this, just stop playing video gams or watching any form of entertainment ever, because I'm sure someone or something will say something else that will make you offended. If you can't handle it, don't play/watch anything ever anymore. Fucking crybabies.
Boo... who?Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Scaye
Look. If you will sit in your homes allowing your government to raped you daily... why do I care if you take offense to a joke aimed at the character in the game. You people don't care about anything important. Just yourself and how deep valves pockets go.
Oh and Gabe... HL3 since episode three must have gotten lost on the servers somewhere under all the games in which you make fun of apopted 10 year old KIDS!!!
Take the kid away from that family.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Mace_of_Spades
He's clearly a shitty parent and a moron.
He's the one that is offended, not his daughter. She just wants to keep playing a game that lets her shoot portals out of a gun.
Also, adopted kids don't have souls and are therefor incapable of feeling offended.
weird because...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by ChomskyKnows
i thought there'd be an outcry from fat people...this didn't even dawn on me...
quotePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by ScriptedPain
Look at you, soaring through the air like an eagle... piloting a blimp
...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by TaboriHK
God am I sick of the entitlement culture in this country. IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU. In fact, it almost never is. Just GET OVER IT.
Its out of order imoPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Redswipe
Allowing that kind of thing in a game which is rated as OK for kids isnt right.
I was adopted as a child myself and while I'm personally not at all bothered by these 'jokes' now it would have been a completely different matter when I was 10 and being bullied for exactly the same thing at school.
Being adopted isnt something a child should be made to feel shamed of but hearing comments to that effect in such a critically lauded game would do exactly that to some children.
I'm not saying for one second that Valve shouldnt have used that dialogue, I'm saying the ratings boards should be doing a better job. If this game were rated mature this complainent would have no argument because he shouldnt have been letting his kid watch/play it.
WhyPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by TaboriHK
Why would they rate Portal 2 Mature? What mature content was in the game? I'm sorry, but at worst the line causes you to sit down with your kid for a minute and have a conversation about it. That hardly ranks as graphic violence, gore, extreme language or sexual content.
TaboriHKPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Redswipe
Because it clearly isnt something a child should be hearing. If the character was being bullied because of their race would that be ok for 10 year olds? There is no difference. You say in your oher response that you were often upset as a child about things which werent upsetting. This shows you have no real appreciation of the subject of adoption if you think it cant be 'really' upsetting. The whol issue of dealing with that as a child and a parent can be extremely difficult. It deals with the whole issue of your identity and your relationship with your family.
RedPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by TaboriHK
Yeah, that's what life is all about. Kids hear mean things, see cruelty and unfairness, every day. That's the world we live in. It'd be nice if we could just bubblewrap everything, then a kid would never skin a knee. It'd be nice if we could just sanitize every form of media, then a kid would never have his feelings hurt or feel alienated. And you know what? In that version of the world, you do far, FAR more damage to the kid in the end. And we're not talking about someone who's five or six years old. The kid's in fourth grade. A kid that age will be hearing way worse on the playground, every day. I certainly did. So did probably most people you know. To compare this to racism is just plain indulgence. This is NOT racism. This is a harmless joke that happened in two seconds in a video game. Even comparing it to racism is an insult to the kids who face real discrimination because of skin color. Don't try to piggyback your issues onto a real one because of some nigh-intangible link that you've created in your mind. I've never met a kid who's skin color looked "adopted." I've never seen an adopted kid have a racial slur screamed in his face, or seen one beat over it, both of which are a commonality of racism. There is an entire world of difference.
TaboriHKPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Redswipe
Racism is simply a form of discrimination which finds targets are easier to find.
A child can't choose their race in the same way they can't chose their parents. In both cases the child is being attacked because of who their parents were. There are obvious similarites.
Please.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by TaboriHK
Yes, that's the definition of racism. You've boiled down the reality of a concept down to it's technical definition to suit your argument. Conceptually, they are cousins in similarity. In reality, no one would say being adopted is the same thing as being discriminated against based on color. Only someone completely out of touch would try to say they are the same thing. Racism keeps people from being hired, racism gets people higher and harsher sentencing in court, racism is used as a justification for murder. To even try to claim that adopted children face the same treatment is ludicrous and more than a little insulting. You're grasping at straws. The same amount of energy could be used to acknowledge that this is literally a nothing story, no one was really hurt. Actually, that's not true. Much less energy could be used to that end.
I agree with Red.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by SamuraiTerry
Just because adoption isn't as a serious problem as racism doesn't mean it can just be brushed away like its no big deal. I personally understood the joke and believe that Valve meant nothing by it. However a 10 year old kid might not understand the intent or context, because... well they're 10.
Also arguments like "hearing way worse on the playground" or "its not as bad as..." doesn't really work, because that's not the issue. I work in education and if I said something like that to a student I could literally lose my job.
Well of coursePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by TaboriHK
Because your job is specifically not to damage your kids. Your job entails responsibility towards kids. Valve's job does not. Their obligation was not to make a game that caters to or accounts for kids' feelings or the feelings of their parents. The ESRB's job was to classify it appropriately. Clearly, the ESRB feels that this was something a ten year old could tolerate, and obviously they were right, because out of the entire group of people who bought and/or were exposed to Portal 2, which numbers in the hundreds of thousands, they found exactly one person to make a formal complaint to a media that is demonstrably biased towards gaming as a medium. Any misgivings that anyone has about this should not be levelled at Valve, because Valve didn't market this as a game for underage children. It's the ESRB that labelled it appropriate for them.
The racism comparison is a separate argument and is still an utterly invalid comparison.
AgreedPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by SamuraiTerry
Valve made the joke and ESRB dubbed it E for everyone. The only caveat would be that the ESRB doesn't actually play through any games. They only rate video content that is supplied by the developer. Obviously its in the best interest of the developers to give the truest representation of the game in their video, so lets just hope that the ESRB over looked it and not Valve. : )
I'm adopted and.......Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by AlphaBovine
this is a "concern" in the same way that hearing someone use a swear word in front of your kid.
The context and delivery of the lines are sarcastic and droll, not mean spirited or down right derrogitory. Why this is even a story is beyond me.
@ AlphaBovinePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Redswipe
Are you a 10 year old child? Do you think all 10 year olds have the ability to pick up on the subtle drollness and saracsm or do you not think some may simply see it as a vindication of the abuse & harressmnt they hear at school etc about their being adopoted?
If I had heard this when I was 10 I think I would have been really upset by it.
I criedPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Shanef
When Optimus prime died, I didn't have a father growing up and prime filled that gap, he taught me about being good and courageous in the face of adversity... and nasty robots. Did i sue hasbro for killing my surrogate cartoon father? No, i took it like a champ and grew as a person... Gods how i miss him sooooo...
Sorry, back on topic, @Redswipe, if people are going to be upset about these things then they should be upset at all the films, novels and pretty much everything that ever mentions being adopted or obese. The only reason this has become such a big thing is because fat adopted Americans see the games industry as an easy cash cow to milk because they are insecure about themselves as people.
Grow a pair, and that goes for everyone who thinks theworld owes them a big pay out because they had a crummy moment in their lives...
Rant over... back to being fat and semi-orphaned.
@RedstripePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Shanef
Really? Are you sure, because i think i thought through my... Oh lord, I am just going to abandon this sentence.
Why can't you people just enjoy life? Sure, your mom and dad didn't want you, maybe they even died to get away from you. That's a tough deal, it really is, but, and here is my point and it's a bloody big important one...
Are you ready...
Life goes on, bad things happen and i am pretty certain and robotic video game character taunting another another character isn't the worst. Yes Wheatley is very mean to Chell and if Chell wasn't already a brain damaged homocidal mute I'm pretty certain she would be upset, big time. However SHE ISN'T REAL! SHE HAS NO FEELINGS, OR A SOUL, OR PARENTS FOR THAT MATTER... If not having parents was cool for Jesus then it can be cool for you too! What do you think he would think of you throwing the ideals he taught around like you do? Whining because you have abandonment issues... Did the good lord not say
'I hath no parents of mortal flesh, but thy lord God, who art in heaven, is a father unto me as he is unto all men.' Jesus H. Christ, 23AD
Can we not just move on with our lives and be happy productive worker bees? toiling away for the greater good and betterment of mankind?
Or are you going to continue being a whiney insignificant bitch? Daddy prime also taught me not to be weak with weaklings, but to help them be strong and stand tall! And that @Redswipe, is what i am doing for you!
Can i get an AMEN!?
This guy's an idiot.Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Hellslinger1
I mean he is clearly upset about this yet says he still likes the game.
If it angers you then shouldn't it overtake the game as a while.
Title of CommentPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by roto13
"If you are an adoptive parent, it was, literally, the worst thing I could possibly have heard."
This is literally the dumbest thing I've read all day. And I'm actually using the word "literally" correctly.
QuestionPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Mace_of_Spades
What is, literally, the worst thing you could possible hear if you're a natural parent?
Really?Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by tthomas48
I'm more disturbed that if he can't deal with this sort of thing in a video game, how in the world is he going to deal with it when it's real kids referring to his daughter? It seems that if anything the video game has helped him in allowing him to address this with his child before other children do it for him.
You can really tellPosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Epic Greenman
That these idiots reporting are getting so excited to call a videogame cruel. GLaDOs constantly calls you fat and stupid too, you don't see anyone throwing a hissy fit over that.
In related news...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by thisdustin
...everyone in an unpopular religion is offended at Dragon Age 2, everyone overweight is offended at Fat Princess, and everyone from another country is offended at Grand Theft Auto 4. Come the fuck on, people, it's a game, and the villain specifically said it to hurt the hero's feelings.
I need a drink.
Also...Posted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by thisdustin
...if that's the worse thing you could've heard, here's one worse: you're a bad parent.
TouchePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by Lugoves
I second that. We are so intolerant of tolerance, you can't even hope to exist without someone whining your existence is infringing on their right to whine and complain. I guess we should be glad there isn't any REAL news going on in NC as that would probably mean the explotation of someone dead, dying or being in trouble for making someone dead or dying.... Good Grief! lolz
@RedswipePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by thisdustin
Okay. Sure. Now picture anyone who's fat, stupid, blond, rich, poor, female, gay, or whatever. They've all been attacked at some point in the media. But when it's the villain--who specifically lies to the heroine agian and again--that's the one making the accusations, then tell me why this is offensive.
@redswipePosted: May 18, 2011 12:00AM PST by jbgoldengun
First off Redswipe, let me say, I am most likely much closer to the "affected" audience in this story. I'm only 16 years old, and both of my older brothers are adopted. It shook me up quite a bit the first time I heard they were adopted, because they are so much like me. Guess what?
I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THIS LINE WAS IN THE GAME. So that right there shows somewhat from the point of view of a 10 year old adopted child, since I am quite "close" to the "affected audience". Unless you are closer to being only 10 years old than me, and are actually adopted (The two things you could have that would "trump" my example), then your point is largely invalid. Heck, the child didn't even notice the line in the game! That right there shows you how "dangerous" the line was...
It's just some stuffy liberal dad wanting to get some more free money... Get over yourself.


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U.S. Energy Policy
Governor Schweitzer talked about his vision for America's energy future and the need for a major national energy policy. Other… read more
Governor Schweitzer talked about his vision for America's energy future and the need for a major national energy policy. Other topics included his bipartisan administration, U.S. dependence on other countries for oil, wind power, conservation, biodiesel, and using coal power. After his presentation he responded to written questions from the audience. close
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Billy Currington Announces Dates for 2014 We Are Tonight Tour
Grammy-nominated and Platinum-selling artist Billy Currington will be packing up his bags and loading up the bus this spring for his 2014 We Are Tonight Tour.
Grammy-nominated and Platinum-selling artist Billy Currington will be packing up his bags and loading up the bus this spring for his 2014 We Are Tonight Tour.
The final date of George Strait's farewell tour, called The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, is quickly approaching. Strait's last stop is at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and tickets went fast.
The Abilene Community Band invites you to their annual Christmas Concert Tuesday, December 10th at the Paramount Theater in downtown Abilene. This is a free concert however, a donation is always appreciated. The Paramount will have concessions available. For the best seats get to the Paramount early.
Bad weather canceled a lot of things on the weekend of Nov. 24, including the Holly Tucker concert in Clyde. But Tucker, one of the stars Season 4 of NBC's 'The Voice' has rescheduled her show with special guest Eliott Park for Sunday, December 15th.
Make it a Christmas to remember by attending the 10th annual Rehab Big Country Christmas Ball Saturday, December 14th at the Snyder Coliseum. Bobby Flores is scheduled to perform and will be accompanied by the awesome Yellow Rose Band. This concert and dance benefits the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. Get your tickets early.
Celebrate this holiday season with Asleep at the Wheel's "Santa Loves to Boogie" western swing concert. The show will take place Thursday, December 12th at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Eastland. Proceeds from this holiday concert benefit the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, be aware that seating is limited.
This is gonna be a fun show, if you get the chance to go -- The Three Guitarrristas! A.k.a. Randy Rogers, Sean McConnell and William Clark Green may be making their way to a city near you this Christmas season.
Updated - December 5 at 8:00pm
The Roger Creager concert at the Lucky Mule on Friday night (12/6) has been canceled due to the weather conditions. While they are working to find a date to reschedule the show, tickets purchased in advance will be good for the rescheduled date, or returning them for a full refund at the point of purchase. We'll keep you posted on the new date as soon as it is announced.
If you're a Taylor Swift fan and you'd like to see her live, get yourself an airline ticket to Australia, where the "Red" star is set to finish out the year. This isn't the first time for her to perform in Australia, last year she did a series of stadium concerts down under. Taylor admits "We've been going over there for a few years now and I think we had a feeling that things were really going well there". But that's not why the 23 year old superstar gets excited about going down under this time of year.
With the release of his first major label CD, 'The Given', the rest of America is on the verge of finding out what Texans have known for years: Wade Bowen is a phenomenal artist and entertainer. But as Bowen makes his national push, he has not forgotten his Texas roots, and still looks for opportunities to play in the Lone Star State. Don't miss your chance to see Wade in Abilene for the first time in two years, as he takes the stage at the Lucky Mule Saloon on Friday night, November 29th.
George Jones' farewell concert Friday night (Nov. 22) was in the works while the iconic singer was still alive and calling the shots, helping out with the planning. But somehow, he knew he'd be a no show at the event.
George Jones was an unforgettable country music performer, so it's fitting that his farewell concert lineup at Bridgestone Arena is, well, unforgettable. The full performer list has been revealed, and it's chock full of some of today's most influential acts, as well as yesterday's favorites.


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The first step in finding the right program for you is about setting your own academic and personal goals. It is most likely that multiple programs may be possible for you; there is no single perfect program. To discuss your academic and personal goals or specific programs you can contact an SCU Study Abroad advisor at email@example.com or 408-551-3019.
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Asia : Hong Kong : Hong Kong
The Syracuse Hong Kong program has three academic options for students. Option I starts with an academic seminar that focuses on issues in either China or southeast Asia, is followed by ten weeks of classroom instruction at the SU Hong Kong Center and finishes with a five week component that comprises of either an internship, guided research, or an interdiciplinary course. All students with no prior Chinese language must take a Chinese language course. Option II allows students to combine SU Hong Kong Center courses with courses at City University Hong Kong. Option III allows students to directly enroll in courses at City University Hong Kong.
Europe : Iceland : Reykjavik
NEW SCU PROGRAM STARTING SUMMER 2015 - This program explores all aspects of renewable energy: from its sources in nature, to its technological utilization, to its social and environmental impacts. With lectures from interdisciplinary faculty, students investigate what it means to create a sustainable society, with Iceland serving as the primary case example. Students enjoy extraordinary access to experts, unique experience in the field, and exemplary support from program staff.
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This program examines the diverse factors, internal and global, shaping India's development strategies and patterns. Students gain foundational knowledge of India's past, present, and future development paradigms, economic growth, and social change. Program recommended for major(s)/minor(s): Sociology
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This program weaves together the diverse resources of Bodh Gaya into a fall semester of study emphasizing a comparative approach to both theory and practice. At the heart of the Buddhist Studies in India program is the desire to allow students to explore this subject from as many different points of view as possible. Western academic models are systematically used in the core courses, while Buddhist philosophies are tested in the Meditation Traditions course. Courses focus on Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist culture, history of South Asian, Hindi language, Buddhist Meditation Traditions and Independent studies.
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NEW SCU PROGRAM STARTING SUMMER 2015 This program examines traditional approaches to healthcare in India and how such systems fit into the country?s overall health and development. Coursework will cover the theoretical and practical aspects of traditional health systems, particularly Ayurveda, yoga, Siddha, Amchi, and folk medicine. Students engage with a diversity of practitioners and healers through lectures and site visits to highly regarded traditional health institutions.
Asia : India : Bangalore and other locations
On the University of Minnesota's India: International Development and Internship program, students learn about India through classes, field trips, internships, and research. The semester program consists of four courses and students engage in an internship or research project. All classes are with program participants and are taught by local faculty. Students have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the complex and diverse nature of development in India. Program recommended for major(s)/minor(s): Sociology
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The program is offered through the Institute of Public Administration, a recognized college of the National University of Ireland that focuses exclusively on civil and public sector development. Classes will be held at the Institute's beautiful headquarters in the Ballsbridge section of Dublin, an upscale, residential neighborhood that also houses a large concentration of foreign embassies. Students enroll in two courses: Irish Literature, which explores the works of major Irish writers, dramatists and poets, including illustrious figures such as James Joyce and W.B. Yeats and Irish History and Politics, covering the defining events of 20th-century Ireland.
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Middle East : Israel : Haifa
THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO THE US STATE DEPT TRAVEL WARNING CURRENTLY IN EFFECT. Students direct enroll in the University of Haifa. Students can choose from one of three programs. There is an Interdisciplinary Curriculum that includes courses from different fields and disciplines, primarily within humanities and social sciences. There is the Psychology Honors program which includes a research project. Finally, there is the Peace and Conflict Studies Honors program that focuses on cultural, economic, historical, political, psychological, religious, and social aspects of conflict resolution and peace efforts, and examines issues from Intra-State (Israel), regional, and international perspectives. Students are also required to take a language course in Hebrew or Arabic. Courses are taught in English, Hebrew and Arabic.
Middle East : Israel : Haifa
THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO THE US STATE DEPT TRAVEL WARNING CURRENTLY IN EFFECT. The program combines language study with other coursework at the University of Haifa and excursions in Israel. There is also an opportunity for students to participate in an internship while studying in Haifa.


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GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Danisco BioActives announced today that they have signed a partnering agreement for the development of a new biologic drug candidate, which may help to prevent a deadly disease called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
NEC is a rare, life-threatening gastrointestinal disorder in infants that affects very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants (babies less than 1,500 grams or 3 pounds, five ounces). There are approximately 60,000 VLBW babies born each year in the United States, of which 5 percent to 15 percent will acquire NEC. Treatment options for this condition are extremely limited and mortality rates of 20 percent to 30 percent have gone unchanged in the United States for more than 30 years.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sigma-Tau and Danisco will collaborate to develop STP-206, a biologic agent comprised of live bacteria, which may be effective in preventing the occurrence of NEC. Sigma Tau will manage the clinical development of the product and, ultimately, will seek the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) to market the drug for the prevention of NEC. Human clinical trials are scheduled to start later this year.
"We have had a very longstanding and successful relationship with Danisco and we are very pleased to move forward with this agreement," said Gregg Lapointe, chief executive officer of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals. "Together, we hope to provide a new and innovative option to prevent this deadly disease and ultimately save lives."
"Danisco is excited to collaborate with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals in the development of an innovative live biotherapeutic solution to this complex and life-threatening disorder," said Scott Bush, dietary supplements vice president for Danisco BioActives.
About Necrotizing Ent
|SOURCE Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals
Copyright©2009 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


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After a decade of keeping sales figures a secret, superstore giant Wal-Mart has decided to lift a ban on the reporting of product sales, meaning that at long last the NPD will have access to video game sales numbers from the retailer.
As big as Wal-Mart is, it's obvious that this has been a pretty big hole in sales data over the years, and the numbers from the chain had to be omitted or estimated for a long while. This new release of data will allow the industry to have a much clearer picture of what games are selling at the store, and which are not.
This release also includes bulk retailer Sam's Club, and will start "in a few months" according to the company. Wal-Mart has long been at the forefront of the battle against violent games, often threatening bans and such against certain titles, but that rhetoric seems to have cooled in recent times, and with the Supreme Court's recent decision that classify video games as having free speech protection, I bet we'll see even less issues in the future.
Nielsen comments on the Wal-Mart data release, which affects not only games, but all consumer goods:
"This expanded relationship with Nielsen will provide Walmart and Sam's Club with deeper insights into customer purchasing — and unmet needs — both nationally and in key local markets."
Way to promote openness Wal-Mart. Not every day you hear stories praising a corporate giant, but at least for now they deserve it.