Hacker News Reader

Comment by tbsdy | Hacker News Reader

I have to agree with i386. There's a pretty disturbing screenshot where Larry says that "this is the hooker's seedy bedroom. The bed's a mess, so is the hooker!".

http://www.replaygamesinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/tum...

View on HN

Which bit to you find disturbing? The fact that the game acknowledges the existence of hookers, the fact that the game draws attention to the fact that many hookers work out of pretty seedy bedrooms or the fact that the game draws attention that many hookers end up looking less than their best.

Would you have preferred "this is the hooker's fabulous bedroom. The bed's perfectly clean, so is the hooker!"

Try not to use begging the question as an argument.

But what makes me sad is the second part. Because it's in a game, and it's done to be funny.

I'm not shocked by the existence of hookers. I should be, but I'm desensitized.

Oh yeah he asserted that question so hard. unf.

Oh come on, how could you ever be shocked by what is commonly known as "the oldest profession"?

I'm not saying it's a nice job, but neither it is fixing sewage pipes. You should be shocked that pimps exist, maybe, but then again their role is quite natural and I'm sure some of them are quite the professional. The massive amount of abuse surrounding the "industry" is a problem, but it's hardly the only industry where management can abuse the workforce.

While I tend to agree with your sentiment, comparing prostitution to fixing sewage pipes is not really a fair comparison. Also, the number of industries where abuse by management involves physical violence is rather limited (as far as I know). I believe I understand what you are saying, but I think these points weaken your argument.

Yes, I'm aware it's known as the "oldest profession".

Please stop saying I'm shocked. I'm not shocked, and I have never said I was shocked. The original post said I was disturbed by the comment in the screenshot, and it was mostly because of the way it described the prostitute.

The existence of pimps is 'natural' in a Hobbesian sort of way: they exist only in complex societies because the institutions of law are not accessible to people participating in prostitution, due to the efforts of ideologues to universally suppress the existence of things that aren't consistent with their personal sentiments.

it's done to be funny

Sleeping with the hooker is not framed as a funny or positive thing. The game makes it an empty and depressing act, leaving the main character feeling unfulfilled.

Also if you sleep with her without a condom you get an STD and it's Game Over, so there's even a helpful PSA included.

I think the reason you guys object is because you haven't actually played the game and are looking at it from a superficial standpoint.

You are presented with a choice of losing your virginity to the hooker, or leaving and hoping to one day find true love. If you go to the hooker, you die and it's game over because you "feel empty inside".

I have indeed played this game when I was much younger. I think I was disturbed by this part of the game even back then.

The reason I'm disturbed isn't superficial, and has nothing really to do with Larry losing his virginity. It is the terms they use to describe the prostitute.

Why is this getting downvoted? Not snarky, or sarcastic.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com