The LA Times story by Claire Hoffman on Joe Francis and Girls Gone Wild has really been getting a lot of press lately. I've gotten a lot of hits on my write-up about it, mostly from the Chicagoist post which was nice enough to throw me a link. Pandagon also has an interesting take on it, stating that for Joe Francis the main pleasure in Girls Gone Wild is actually in forcing women to do things they don't actually want to do. While I'd love to agree with Amanda on this, I think that in this case it's really too easy to villainize Francis, letting the women completely off the hook. One must bear in mind that the places in which Girls Gone Wild operates are the sorts of places where people frequently "get wild". There are always more private, demure clubs for the girls who really are not interested in flashing their boobies.
On sort of a different side of the issue, John at Dealbreaker.com states that even Francis's business philosophy is full of crap.
Girls Gone Wild came to Olympia once, not too long ago, to the now-vanished (not surprising) Barcode. People got arrested, and the bar was practically fined out of existence for allowing nudity, sex, raucous behavior, and other sundry perversions. Good on ya, Olympia.
Diesel Sweeties covers Girls Gone Wild, which makes sense because R. Stevens' blog was the first place I saw the article linked. Quote of the day is definately: "My dignity fits me better." Hooray for dignity!
If I would keep up with my webcomics in a more timely fashion (silly me, I must be busy getting ready to MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY), I would have noticed that Jeffry "Snakes on a mutha' fuckin' plane" Rowland has also, in webcomics form, stepped up the assault on Joe Francis. For those not in the know, The Poopmonster (aka R. Stevens) is the one who strangles Joe Francis from behind in panel 5.
I'm sure there are plenty more webcomics out there using their voices to shout down Joe Francis, Girls Gone Wild, and inebriated booby-bobbing. Which is one of the greatest things about webcomics, really. They're funny, sure, but they're pertinent as well!
2 replies on “Scumbag, revisited, and placing blame.”
I agree that not all the blame can always be placed on Francis. However, he is an adult. Most of these girls are not (18 makes you legal, not an adult) which could lead to another rant about active parenting. I will try and refrain from doing that for the third time on your blog. It used to be that only college students participated in spring break debauchery, but now it is high school students as well. And, even if they are college freshmen or a tad older, most of these KIDS have not really drank before. Hence the blacked out behavior. I have done some pretty crazy things while drunk…even played a game of strip poker (with just me and someone else) in high school. However, he was just as drunk as I was and there was no victimizing in that situation. The idea of an adult who may have been drinking but is not blato, having sex with an 18 year old girl who probably can’t tell you her middle name she’s so wasted does in fact make me sick. The idea that he allows his employees to line up for the festivities is even more sick. These are adults who should know better. Who do in fact know better. That is what I believe makes him a sexual predator. Flashing your tits for a set of plastic beads or a t-shirt is something that I have never done, but if I ever had I wouldn’t consider myself a victim. I would consider myself a moron who doesn’t know when enough is enough. Having sex with someone who is virtually unconscious is a form of rape. Now, I understand that some of the girls may not be blacked out at the time and may then try and cover their mistakes by lying. Those girls make it harder for the real victims. However, a think a good rule of thumb is that if you could not pass a sobriety test, maybe you are not in the right frame of mind to participate in sexual activity. If the person you are hooking up with cannot pass a sobriety test, do you really think it’s a good idea to go ahead full speed? I know I am sounding like a bitch, but I have been a victim of rape, it is something that always makes you think…what if I’d dressed different, or hadn’t had that beer, or hadn’t danced with him the way I did? But, the fact of the matter is, rape is rape. No one ASKS for it, and it is intolerable. I don’t care about is business plan or his company. I don’t care if sometimes he is made a target. He earned it.
Actually 18 DOES make you an adult, but I agree with you anyway, Sara.