The New Intimacy

App Promotes Violence Against Boyfriends

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Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Hey, so I'm doing my usual cruising of the internet for interesting stuff that you all might like and I stumbled across this:

The Boyfriend Trainer

This is an app designed to be used by ages 4 and up; it basically allows a user to mace, slap, or "zap" the boyfriend into submission over minor transgressions such as drinking his girlfriend's drink or looking at another girl.

However, it should be noted that Apple has a fierce habit of jerking down any app that contains nudity or violence against women. Obviously, you men-folk walking among us are not a protected class when it comes to these things even though more and more men are experiencing episodes of domestic violence coming from women. /sarcasm

What do you think about this app? Is it a double-standard? Should it be removed? More specifically, what do you think about the age suggestion (four years old and up)?
01/31/2013
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Contributor: Ryuson Ryuson
(Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Hey, so I'm doing my usual cruising of the internet for interesting stuff that you all might like and I stumbled across this:

The Boyfriend Trainer

This is an app designed to be used by ages 4 and up; it basically allows a user to ... more
This is pretty bad. I understand the 'joke' they're trying to get at, but it being a game aimed at young children I can't help but feel it will influence how they see future relationships. How about instead of slapping him when he leaves his shirt on the floor you have an 'ask him to pick it up' button?

Domestic violence is not funny, no matter who is doing it. It's even worse with men because they aren't 'encouraged' to talk about it. There are battered women shelters and support groups, but if a guy mentions he got beat up by his girlfriend his buddies will probably just laugh. I REALLY think that Apple should remove it.
01/31/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Ryuson
This is pretty bad. I understand the 'joke' they're trying to get at, but it being a game aimed at young children I can't help but feel it will influence how they see future relationships. How about instead of slapping him when he ... more
Violence at all isn't funny, I mean aren't we taught from the beginning "no hit, we do not hit to solve our problems" (as our parents spank our bottoms and send the complete opposite message).

I just don't know what the hell is wrong with people today.
01/31/2013
Contributor: Incendiaire Incendiaire
It's the double standard that gets me more than anything. If someone created an app called "The Girlfriend trainer" it would immediately be decried as being demeaning to women, and there would be exclamations of misogyny, and that women should not be treated in the manner of a dog, etc. When we flip it around, however, and direct it at a man, suddenly it's just supposed to be laughed off as a big joke. I don't know whether the creators of the app think it's supposed to be empowering to women or something, but you're not truly empowering women if you have to manifest it at the expense of men, you're merely playing into a flawed dynamic.

Personally the content doesn't offend me, and wouldn't regardless of the gender it was aimed at, because I'm exceedingly laid back; it's the double standard that really sticks in my craw through.

That said, the age range is definitely poorly thought out; it's not at all appropriate for impressionable young children to be exposed to.
01/31/2013
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
IMO, any form of physical violence is intolerable. (taking into exception relationships where impact play is consensual and this type of action is "play")

There is never any reason to hit, strike or otherwise a child, man or woman simply because they didn't something you "didn't like."

And to market it to children? Awful. It only enforces some unfortunate children's views that "some people" deserve to be harmed for their behavior.

I don't have an iPhone, or a Smart phone of any kind. But, this app is something I would be unhappy to see marketed to anyone.
01/31/2013
Contributor: Bleu Bleu
How did this thing make it on the market long enough for people to play it and form this kinda opinion? No one should have ever seen this game. Doesn't Apple pre-approve apps before they hit the market? Guess not.

Is it bad that I'm more angry about the "theme" of the game? "Boyfriend Trainer" really? The stuff in the game is pretty bad but without reading about the game, I already didn't like it.
01/31/2013
Contributor: laflauta laflauta
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Hey, so I'm doing my usual cruising of the internet for interesting stuff that you all might like and I stumbled across this:

The Boyfriend Trainer

This is an app designed to be used by ages 4 and up; it basically allows a user to ... more
This app should definitely be removed. Domestic violence or violence of any kind is not a joke and should not be portrayed as a joke. There is already enough of a stigma attached to men who are victims of domestic violence. We shouldn't be telling them that they are "less of a man" because they have been abused by a partner. We shouldn't be using that for entertainment.
Incendiaire is right, this is just as offensive as a game in which the objective is to abuse a woman to make her subservient. It ins't right just because the stereotypical roles are reversed.
01/31/2013
Contributor: spiced spiced
It should be removed IMMEDIATELY. Violence against SOs (or anyone, really) isn't appropriate for anyone of any age or gender.
01/31/2013
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
Yeeeeah I don't like it. Abuse happens to all genders and this isn't funny.
02/01/2013