Did the new Penny Arcade story make anyone else uncomfortable?

[Lord Garnaat]

I'm a long-time fan of Penny Arcade. I mean, it's difficult not to love it - it's smart and funny and makes a lot of great points about gaming. I have nothing but the greatest respect for the people behind the comic, but for some reason I couldn't help but feel vaguely uncomfortable when I was reading the newest story arc they've made.

For those uninformed, the story starts here: http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/03/18 , and then goes on from there. The basic story is that marijuana has been legalized in their state, so Gabe tries it. It started out innocuous enough, but as the strips went on and I started reading the news posts that went with the story... I don't know why but reading them started to feel unpleasant.

I mean, it's not like they've never talked about using drugs before in Penny Arcade, but this time it's seemed like less of just a throwaway thing they put in for the sake of a joke and more of a story of how awesome drugs are. I mean, when I read the posts that accompanied the comic I just started to feel as though it was some sort of drug advocacy thing, and I'm not sure that they handled it very well. The real story behind it was that Mike had never used drugs because he felt it was wrong, but was pushed into it by his friends. I'm not sure why, but it makes me feel rather upset for whatever reason, like they're saying that choosing not to involve yourself with drugs is a stupid choice, or that him compromising his principles due to other people pressuring him was somehow admirable.

This hasn't affected how much I love Penny Arcade, and I know I'll keep reading it in the future, but after this whole thing I just feel like I've lost some respect for them. And I really hate that I feel that way, considering how much I've admired them all these years!

I don't know, did anyone else feel this way, or am I just overreacting?

 

[Darken12]

It's talking in positive terms about something society has been drilling as negative throughout your whole life. Of course there will be plenty of cognitive dissonance and discomfort.

For what it's worth, I support legalisation even if I'd never try it myself. I don't see marijuana as more dangerous than alcohol, and I don't consider self-harm to be a bad thing so long as it doesn't harm anybody else but you. Just because I wouldn't do it doesn't mean I don't want anybody else to do it.

If Gabe and Tycho want to get high, they can do so with my blessing. They seem to accept that other people are just fine without drugs, and at the end of the day that's what matters.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Except it didn't happen at all like you say it did (he was offered, not forced or coerced), and the majority of the written articles are about social change and Gabe's personal history with drugs, with a side note in the middle about how weird and awesome his one time smoking weed was. He then finishes by talking about how he'll teach his kids about weed.

So I think it was just you. I personally found it to be one of Penny Arcades better article arcs.

 

[omega 616]

snip

This.

Alcohol is the cause of so much shit, from drunk drivers to alcoholics to making babies to breaking of relationships but it's perfectly legal.

Yet weed is illegal? I Would never smoke weed (I don't smoke normal cigs or drink alcohol) but who the fuck am I to tell people what they shouldn't do to themselves? They know the risks and they made the choice to do it, as long as there choice doesn't effect others negatively I don't care.

 

[Zantos]

I can understand where you're coming from in theory, pressure into doing something you don't want to isn't a good thing, but I think you've misinterpreted the intent of the comic and articles. He wanted to try it, so they helped him in a safe environment.

As far as I'm concerned weed is another one of those things that you can do whatever you like with as long as you're doing it to yourself. Just don't be a dick to those who don't want to. Seriously, otherwise they will vomit on your shoes (That did nearly happen, however I instead just had a very long conversation with god on the big white telephone).

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I'm pretty much ambivalent about marijuana as a whole (I don't even touch alcohol or take any drug stronger than aspirin) but there is an interesting angle in the whole setup for me- the cognitive whiplash when government spends decades telling you how evil something is (seriously, it got to levels just shy of "weed will kill you and everyone you love if you even look at a joint" at times) and then suddenly there's so much uncertainty and moral shifting around the subject.

As far as the "pressured into trying them" thing: I'm not sure where you're getting that. It seemed more to me that Mike wanted to see what all the hub-bub was about and did so in the safest way available. (Contrary to what some would have you believe, smoking one joint is not likely to turn you into a raving addict.)

I do have a bit of a conspiracy theory about the whole marijuana/alcohol thing. What kind of citizens are easier for a government to manipulate against some percieved/invented threat- mellow tokers or angry drunks?

 

[Queen Michael]

I just read the comic, so I didn't see the stuff you're talking about. I'll read it now.

 

[FFHAuthor]

Marijuana was always a 'meh' item, not nearly worth the Hubub that people ascribe to it. But making Marijuana illegal goes back to the 20's and 30's, it was banned because of Racism more than it's effects because the drug was linked to Latinos and Blacks.

For propaganda that makes DARE education look reasonable and sensible, check out 'Reefer Madness' on Netflix. Hilarious movie from the 30's about the evils of smoking Pot, it'll turn you into a murderer and make you throw yourself out a window.

 

[Kotaro]

Marijuana was always a 'meh' item, not nearly worth the Hubub that people ascribe to it. But making Marijuana illegal goes back to the 20's and 30's, it was banned because of Racism more than it's effects because the drug was linked to Latinos and Blacks.

For propaganda that makes DARE education look reasonable and sensible, check out 'Reefer Madness' on Netflix. Hilarious movie from the 30's about the evils of smoking Pot, it'll turn you into a murderer and make you throw yourself out a window.

Or better, watch the musical version from '98. It's a great satire of propaganda.

 

[aba1]

I don't get what the big deal is he smoked a little weed so what? Maybe it is just a different culture where I am from but nobody really cares all the much about weed here. It is illegal but at the same time as long as you are not dealing significant amounts or growing the cops don't even care let alone other people.

 

[romanator0]

snip

This.

Alcohol is the cause of so much shit, from drunk drivers to alcoholics to making babies to breaking of relationships but it's perfectly legal.

Yet weed is illegal? I Would never smoke weed (I don't smoke normal cigs or drink alcohol) but who the fuck am I to tell people what they shouldn't do to themselves? They know the risks and they made the choice to do it, as long as there choice doesn't effect others negatively I don't care.

You would do well to remember that at one point alcohol WAS illegal in the United States. One of the reasons it is legal now is because of how big the shit fit that everybody threw was.

There is also the little fact that when someone is high or drunk they are likely to do something stupid that a normal, intelligent person wouldn't that very well might negatively effect other people.

 

[bastardofmelbourne]

The news posts talk more about the dissonance between the deeply-ingrained social distaste for marijuana use and the fact that it is suddenly legal, and whether its legality means that it is now "okay" to smoke pot. I didn't read it as advocating drug use.

It's basically asking whether marijuana was illegal because it was a bad thing, or whether it was a bad thing because it was illegal. It doesn't feel like Tycho is evangelising about how awesome pot is or anything.

 

[Olas]

Having just read it I think I'd have felt uncomfortable reading it too had I not been prewarned about it. Having been pretty much raised on the idea that drugs are horrible, no specifications being made, it can be kinda awkward hearing other people talking so candidly about doing it. Still though I think you have to approach it as just some crazy experiment he tried, not an endorsement.

 

[tippy2k2]

Not really but I also know a couple of people who smoke weed regularly so that helps. Your reaction sounds a lot like what Gabe's reaction was with the very first post in that series: kind of blown away that something that has been taught as evil and bad ended up being kind of a little deal and it can be scary when you realize that.

Personally, I'd never touch the stuff even if it were legal but Weed is not the "Smoke this and your life will be destroyed" drug that some people seem to want us to believe.

 

[ace_of_something]

Meh, my complaint is that it's not what i read the webcomic for it's preachy and lame. Stick to video and board games I came here for dick jokes not social commentary.

 

[BreakfastMan]

I didn't really find it all that uncomfortable. Maybe because I live in the same state as them and as such, have accepted the idea that marijuana use might not be teh evils. It could also be that I view pot use like I view alcohol use: something perfectly acceptable for most people to use, but something you probably don't want to use all the time. :\

 

[deathbydeath]

The joke was that weed is legal, but not entirely socially acceptable. It's a cute, one-off strip about a current event. The most offensive part of the strip was the "butt" picture on the refrigerator. Seriously, that pissed me off.

 

[Genericjim101]

Meh, my complaint is that it's not what i read the webcomic for it's preachy and lame. Stick to video and board games I came here for dick jokes not social commentary.

Woah. hold up there. They've usually done those subjects with social commentary.. or had social commentary come about because of them. Remember "Dickwolves"?