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Lord of the Rings Online: Sarah Palin getting out the vote in Middle Earth
Can you see Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the above screenshot of me and Elrond hanging out and talking about the Presidential election? Does it help if I zoom in on the hotbar like so?
If you play a minstrel, you're probably very accustomed to Palin's face. She graces the icon for one of your most commonly used powers. In fact, I've got it in the number 1 slot on my hotbar. Here's let me blow it up for you.
And now for comparison's sake:
Now I don't intend any political statement about Mrs. Palin, but I would like to point out that the power is called Piercing Cry. In addition to making a really annoying yelling sound when it gets used, it has a chance to stupefy anyone who hears it, compelling them to stop what they're doing and briefly rendering them incapable of normal activity. It has +50% effectiveness against Democrats.
By wrshamilton at 12:18 PM ON 09/08/08
Thanks for these. They drove me to sign up a few weeks ago, and I've had enough fun with the trial that I think I might actually pay for it.
By mike at 12:45 PM ON 09/08/08
If you didn't mean to make a political statement, then why write this at all? If you wish to make a sexist comment, just come out and do so, it's your blog.
By Bill Abner at 1:20 PM ON 09/08/08
Brilliant.
By CROTEAR at 1:51 PM ON 09/08/08
It isn't sexist to say Sarah Palin's voice is grating
By Just_games_plz at 2:55 PM ON 09/08/08
Please just stick to game issues. I get bombarded with democratic viewpoint all day every direction. Don't propagandize your columns. I know you're more liberal than me. Why carry a sign stating the fact?
By Klaatu at 3:00 PM ON 09/08/08
Bullshit. Of course it's a sexist comment. And so was Tom's. Tom's was a political comment as well, and, frankly, beneath him.
By CROTEAR at 3:37 PM ON 09/08/08
Andy Rooney's voice is grating. Sarah Palin's voice is grating. How is one sexist and the other not?
By Cubit at 3:45 PM ON 09/08/08
dear lord you guys need to chill out
By hellpop at 3:55 PM ON 09/08/08
I was undecided as to who I would be voting for. Sexist, racist and just all-out snide elitist remarks from uber-libs have made my mind up for me. Way to alienate folks. Mccain-Palin '08!
By CROTEAR at 4:01 PM ON 09/08/08
Undecided my butt. If you let message board posts dictate your vote, you're an idiot.
By Joshua at 4:29 PM ON 09/08/08
Nobody can ever say anything political ever especially if it is meant or perceived to be a slam against a Republican. How dare you Tom Chick? How dare you?
Hellpop, that's ironic because months of racist and disgusting remarks about Obama being an "uppity" Muslim terrorist that hates America has made up my mind for me. Not really, but what if it has?
p.s. Tom's final statement was very clever.
By Justin Fletcher at 5:52 PM ON 09/08/08
Partisan? Maybe. Sexist? No.
I suppose you could make a flimsy argument that the developers were sexist for representing a power called "Piercing Cry" with a picture of a woman. Me? I think they were just ripping off Black Canary.
By Weebork at 6:49 PM ON 09/08/08
(Groan) I get it.
Phun knee.
Ha. Ha. :)
By DavidRS at 7:06 PM ON 09/08/08
Whoever is alienated by this probably deserves to be alienated. Go find a rock (a comfortable one) and hide under it until the election is over. Take your DS and catch up on some Final Fantasy Whatever-the-latest-one-is.
By Smurf at 9:37 PM ON 09/08/08
I have to agree with davidr go find a rock to hide under. I think the comment is very funny, and I think Palin is a very attractive woman for her age. so what who cares its just a blog GET OVER IT!!!!
By Aeon221 at 12:13 AM ON 09/09/08
Isn't using controversy to drive up page views one of the steps on the path to the Dark Side? Lucas has done so many edits, its tough to remember these days.
By zimmitti at 8:23 AM ON 09/09/08
This is pretty funny. As a feminist, it is still pretty damn funny.
By Finnboy451 at 8:25 AM ON 09/09/08
WOW!...... just WOW!.........Blog's are the root of all evil.....
By Bagheart at 9:27 AM ON 09/09/08
Can someone please point out the controversial part of this post? I'm feeling left out because I can't call Tom the devil. =(
By budgethero at 12:22 PM ON 09/09/08
let's look at in pieces:
a)"....but I would like to point out that the power is called Piercing Cry. In addition to making a really annoying yelling sound when it gets used, it has a chance to stupefy anyone who hears it, compelling them to stop what they're doing and briefly rendering them incapable of normal activity."
-this could either be sexist and about some women. or an insult to Sarah and her voice alone. or, in a more general direction, a simple jab at republicans.
b)"It has +50% effectiveness against Democrats."
-obliviously not a LOTR:O feature, unless there is something called a democrat in LOTR:O. so, it's possible that he means this Piercing Cry, which is in some way related to Sarah, has the stupefying effect on democrats.
c)"Now I don't intend any political statement about Mrs. Palin.."
-"Now I don't intend any political statement(b) about Mrs. Palin(a)" congratulations, as long as Piercing Cry was a reference to Mrs. Palin's voice, you succeeded in making a statement about her. and as long as there is nothing called a democrat in LOTR:O, you have also made a political statement.
also, on a separate note, to anyone who makes a hissy about this or any other detailed examination of a blog post, i have this. i will admit this might be highly geeky and possibly anal, but in your words "get over it".
By har at 9:38 PM ON 09/09/08
this got a chuckle out of me.
then again, i come from a country with a celebrated tradition of taking the piss out of our politicians.
By budgethero at 5:44 PM ON 09/10/08
to Tom, a agree, there is a certain amount of politics in gaming. when it comes to the government changing how LIVE works or how the rating system goes, the things the more or less change our gaming experiences, yes politics is a factor. BUT, i dont see any of that in this. if Mrs. Palin has said anything about gaming, maybe. but if she hasn't, why make the reference?
budgethero:
to Tom, a agree, there is a certain amount of politics in gaming. when it comes to the government changing how LIVE...More »