Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

Yet another reason not to shop at Urban Outfitters:


http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/10/09/ghe....ap/index.html


'Ghettopoly' game causes outrage
Thursday, October 9, 2003 Posted: 1:30 AM EDT (0530 GMT)


PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Cheap Trick Avenue instead of Boardwalk? Hernando's Chop Shop instead of Reading Railroad?

Black leaders are outraged over a new board game called "Ghettopoly" that has "playas" acting like pimps and game cards reading, "You got yo whole neighborhood addicted to crack. Collect $50."

Black clergymen say the game, the brainchild of a Pennsylvania man, should be banned, and have called for a boycott of Urban Outfitters unless the company stops selling Ghettopoly in its chain of clothing stores.

Urban Outfitters has not publicly commented on the issue, and did not return a call seeking comment on Wednesday.

"If we are silent on this issue there is more of this type to come," the Rev. Robert P. Shine Sr., president of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity, said at a sidewalk rally Wednesday in front Urban Outfitters' corporate headquarters in Philadelphia.

Shine displayed the game board, with properties including Westside Liquor, Harlem, The Bronx, and Long Beach City, and squares labeled Smitty's XXX Peep Show, Weinstein's Gold and Platinum, and Tyron's Gun Shop.

Players draw "Hustle" and "Ghetto Stash" cards with directions like, "You're a little short on loot, so you decided to stick up a bank. Collect $75," and "Steal $$$ if you pass Let$ Roll."

The creator of Ghettopoly, David Chang, did not immediately answer e-mails or phone calls seeking comment about the game.

On his Web site, Chang is unapologetic, and promises that more games -- Hoodopoly, Hiphopopoly, Thugopoly and Redneckopoly -- are coming soon.

"It draws on stereotypes not as a means to degrade, but as a medium to bring together in laughter," Chang maintains, adding, "If we can't laugh at ourselves ... we'll continue to live in blame and bitterness."

But the Ghettopoly board depicts figures labeled "Malcum X" and "Martin Luthor King Jr." -- intentionally misspelled -- noted Rev. Glenn Wilson, pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.

"This is beyond making fun, to use the caricature of Dr. King in this regard," Wilson said. "There's no way that game could be taken in any way other than that this man had racist intent in marketing it."

The Philadelphia black clergy and Men United for a Better Philadelphia were just the latest to protest the game. In Chicago, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church, called for a boycott of Urban Outfitters. In Florida, the St. Petersburg and Hillsborough County chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People urged the company to stop carrying the game.

"I was outraged. We called Outfitters, we wrote them a letter, we held a press conference, but we've had no response," Pfleger said Wednesday.

I can't believe that someone would waste his/her money on that. It's blatantly racist (w/ the King and X references) and maybe they think it's funny and all, but I'll just stick to my old school Monopoly. I wonder who told them that this was going to be a lucrative product....

It's sad that Mr. Chang chose to excercise his free speach in such a way. I'm just surprised that people are buying this product. Stores are stocking it. Destructive stereotypes like this are harmful in any way, shape or form.

I'm not really surprised that someone produced this product... but that stores put it on the shelves. Speachless.

Anyone else notice his last name is Chang? I wonder if he plans on putting out a stereotypical game that depicts Asians in an unfavorable light?

Personally, I would never buy that game. But I guess free speech does allow the game to be made? And, I would perhaps boycot the stores that do sell the game but then I also realize that every business has a right to make money.

yes I think this is beyond offensive but i'm not exactly sure yet who I'm more pissed at. The producer, the stores, etc.

I'll go out and buy the game. Because they'll end up banning it, and it'll be worth money here in about 10 years. It can help pay for my kid's college tuition.

If they ever come out with Crackeropoly---I'll buy that too

Re: Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

Sounds fun, but I've never heard of Urban Outfitters. Is that like a Ghetto clothing store?



I think there should be a set age on who should be allowed to play the game and who shouldn't. I wouldn't want some little kid thinking it's ok to pimp hoes and sell crack when he is only 8 yrs old. It's not anymore racists than playing with those stupid Iraqi cards instead of real cards. And do you think that you'd be hearing ANY of those black leaders yelling about the redneck game? No, you wouldn't. Let them gripe about it, white people have rights too.

Re: Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

im not going to lie, when i saw this on CNN's website earlier this morning i thought it was funny, and for the reason that Chang stated above is exactly why. If you can't make light of a situation such as poverty and stereotypes then how can we ever work to dispell them..its better to laugh then to take every subject seriously and just end up bitter.

The cracker game sounds like a good idea. The redneck game sounds funny. Some people are way too sensitive.

i think its a great idea. thanks for the heads up, im buying this.

Re: Re: Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

Ok, first off, Urban Outfitters is not a "Ghetto Clothing Store" :mad:. If anything, IMHO, its like an American Eagle type clothing store.

Second, your post makes no sense. How does Iraqi cards and Chang's game support the rights of white people. Last time I checked, neither of those ethnicites are considered "white". WTF??

This game is triflin'! yeah, some of y'all may think its "no big deal" :rolleyes: , but I bet if someone game out with a game called Greekopoly where the goal was to see how many beers your fraternity could drink in one night, or how many men you and your sorority sisters could sleep with at one time, over half you guys would be on here pitching a fit screaming bloody murder.

Re: Re: Re: Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

Actually, my post makes perfect sense. The cards and changs game do not support the rights of white people. I never said that they did. I don't know how you got that impression out of what I wrote, but lay off the crack sister.

And if they came out with a Greek game....I would seriously think about getting that. I would love to play the as the Sigma CHIs and ZTAs getting drunk and having sex.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

Funny comback :rolleyes:

Re: Re: Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

Originally posted by Cloud9
"It draws on stereotypes not as a means to degrade, but as a medium to bring together in laughter," Chang maintains, adding, "If we can't laugh at ourselves ... we'll continue to live in blame and bitterness."


Well why don't he come up with a game that pokes fun at Asians then?????

I'm sick and tired of people complaining about how sensitive other people are. Like HK said, the game is trifling and very offensive and I would'nt dare waste a penny of my money on that crap. :mad: :mad:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

It wasn't a comeback. It's true. I'd love to play a greek version of that. Think about it, how fun would it be to play that game with some friends over some beers? Phi Mus throw a twinkie party, DGs run around being dirty, AGDs beat down the KDs again, ZTAs get pissed at Tri-Delt, XO wants to do homecoming with Sig Ep who got beat down by the Pikes the round before and then the dean of greek affairs is fired......that'd be funny.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Ghettopoly? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
 

...well if that's your idea of a good time. :rolleyes: I won't apologize because it takes something of a bit more substantial humor/taste to occupy my time.

I'd like to play a Greek version too. I can see it now. I end up going "pig hunting" at the end of a party on saturday night. The stupid freshman sorority girl does the walk of shame At 7AM Sunday morning (I charge her rent for doing the walk of course). I have my pancakes, get my lift on, and do some volunteer work to make up for it. Then I totally brag about bagging a hot chick who isn't quite hot at meeting.

-Rudey
--High-five! Anyone else wanna play?

You dog! LOL... and I say that with all the respect in the world.

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I'm just saying, it'd be funny to play on one of those days.

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***hijack***

Love your signature.

Long live the ILK!!!! :D

***end hijack***

Back to the regularly scheduled thread....

Has anyone actually seen this Mr. Chang?

If not, then i think it's a pretty racist statement to assume that he's Asian just because of his last name.

You don't know, he could have been Changopoulos and they shortened his name going through Ellis Island.

Something to think about.

BTW, The SNu's would own the drinking beer part of Greekopoly, that or we'd obsess with how to beat those damn sigmachis.

Kitso
KS 361 dollars you've got to pay, if you pull the DRUNK card and it says that you went home with a homely DZ and had to chew your arm off to get away in the morning :D

LOL

Greekopoly

You SN crush rejected you for an XYZ. Spend all afternoon in your room crying then spend $600 at the local Coach Store on a new purse and pair of shoes. Oh, the high cost of rejection.

Regarding Greekopoly.........
 

Interesting comments from some ofyou....

I'll keep them in mind the next time some of you start whining when the next thread of.............

" ____________ is making Greeks look bad" or

"___________is giving Greeks a bad image".

is started.

Re: Regarding Greekopoly.........
 

I don't whine about that crap. I know that we Greeks cause most of our own problems. Just like inbred hicks in arkansas make all white people look bad. Just like poor, inner city folks that steal or sell drugs make their people look bad.

If we can't laugh at ourselves and poke fun of ourselves, what's the point?

Kitso
KS 361 times if its' ok for a AfAm to call another AfAm a N-word it's ok for me to make a joke about drunk frat guys

Re: Re: Regarding Greekopoly.........
 

361 minutes I had to spend truly contemplating, because believe it or not, I agree, lol.

I also think that it is cool to poke fun at ourselves or whatever. But this game is not a good idea in my opinion. To make fun of stereotypes is one thing, to perpetuate them is quite another (and I think this game does the latter).

btw, UF Pike, I figured you would chime in.

I don't whine about that crap. I know that we Greeks cause most of our own problems. Just like inbred hicks in arkansas make all white people look bad. Just like poor, inner city folks that steal or sell drugs make their people look bad.

If we can't laugh at ourselves and poke fun of ourselves, what's the point?

Kitso
KS 361 times if its' ok for a AfAm to call another AfAm a N-word it's ok for me to make a joke about drunk frat guys



AGREED!!!!!!!!!! In order for barriers to truly be broken down, we all must learn to RELAX and laugh at ourselves :) Life is good :)

Re: Re: Regarding Greekopoly.........
 

Who said I was talkiung about you? Feeling guilty??

Please keep in mind that THIS lil' statement here justifies NADA !!! It is, in fact one MAIN reasons why this game is not a good idea for ANYBODY! AfAm or anybody else.

If you want to disrespect yourself or fraternity, that's YOU, but don't try to pin it on this analogy in order to make it ok. One does nto justify the other.

at the risk of being completely a** raped on the posts here - I thought it was funny when I saw the blurb about it (before the story, just the headline)

Then again, I'm the same person that would buy the White Trash Monopoly where you have trailers instead of houses if it existed. Actually that Greekopoly might be amusing as well.

I know I have no reason to be offended by this Ghettopoly though. So really I have no position except to say that I saw the story about it on CNN.

I've seen him. He is Asian.

There is, though, a difference between laughing at ourselves and laughing at others.

I gave it some thought before posting and decided that I wouldn't be offended by Wopopoly or Polokoly . Do not pass Go, do not collect a dozen peirogi. :rolleyes:

But the people who are raising a big stink about Ghettopoly are giving it free advertising. It's a stupid idea and probably would have fizzled out on its own rather quickly if not for the publicity.

I agree Kitso. That's just Wong. :p

come on, I heard some of y'all thinking it.


At any rate, there's been city versions of Monopoly for years...can't the creators of those, or better yet the real Monopoly, sue for copyright infringement?

Hmmm...now reading responses and thinking about it, I'm not sure whether I should really be offended...I must admit, I would probably find a white trash monopoly to be amusing...

I guess to me, the dangers would be having this game available to adolescents and children who wouldn't understand that it's a joke. As it is, there are enough ignorant misconceptions that people grow up with, this game could be a dangerous subliminal message for kids. Hopefully it will remain a novelty game for adults.

i'm asian.

this cat is ignorant.

Most of the 'city-opoly' or '(insert college mascot)-opoly' games are manufactured under license from Parker Brothers, the trademark owners of Monopoly. And the college versions not only have to deal with Parker Brothers, but with the college or university's licensing department as well.

btw i just bought 10 copies of this game. THX FOR THE HOT INFO SISTA

This is sick....

I agree: the controversy will make it worse!

I've been a lot more offended before, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe if the creator of the game was black himself or he put out redneck, low life asian and hispanic version out at the same time, I would've accepted it better. I think many of the offended will agree with me.

I can see your point Dionysus. I just find games like this period (i.e. Ghettopoly, White Trashopoly, or whatever) disturbing. I'm sure if a poll was taken of those people who live in that environment/lifestyle, they wouldn't find nothing fun about the game.

I agree with Killarney on so many levels here, but I do not agree with this game.

With that being said, I think people should just let the whole "boycott" and controversy die. I didn't even know about this ghettopoly until I read this article and to be honest, Mr. Chang might get A LOT of advertising that he couldn't have paid for 100 times over. I can totally see this type of boycott actually getting more people to become aware of the game and actually going to buy it. We studied this in my Organizations and Management Analysis and believe it or not, there are a lot of people out there that will go and buy a product simply because of the controversy that is produces. Thus, incoporating an affect that wasn't wanted or wasn't intended while the makers of the game make it big while getting free advertising and the people that try to boycott the game lose big.

It's almost like a case involving Abercrombie and Fitch. A while back they ended up streaming into commerical America because of a boycott of one of their clothing lines that was started by, I think at the time it was the Lt. Governor of Illinois. She was disgusted with some of the items A&F was producing so she started a website and tried gaining support to help boycott A&F. The so-called boycott gave A&F tons and tons of free publicity and instead of people boycotting the store, HS and college-aged kids were buying the stuff up like no tomorrow.

Just some food for thought.

Woo woo.