Design Challenges

Teabagging

Teabagging is a slang term for the act of a man placing his testicles, specifically the scrotum, in the mouth or face of another person, often in a repeated in-and-out motion. The practice vaguely resembles dipping a tea bag into a cup of tea.

I first heard the term on Howard Stern and his filthy unrated show.

Most recently however, someone told me that simulations of teabagging are often used in video games. Sure enough, a quick Google search turn up a Wikipedia entry describing that simulations of teabagging are often used in video games, specifically first person shooters such as Counter-Strike, Resistance: Fall of Man and Halo, the last of these in which it is sometimes referred to as the "Halo Hump" or simply "corpse-humping". "Teabagging" is performed by repeatedly crouching down - a common movement in FPSs - while on top of an enemy corpse. The act is a form of victory dance to show ownership and to humiliate an enemy player.

I was not only left with my mouth wide open in disbelief, but with a sour taste for these types of video games. After all, I have young nephews and friends with small children who enjoy these games. The rating of the games may note that the game is inappropriate due to violence, but this is more than just violence, it is simply inappropriate sexual behavior, these games are to be rated NC-17, not just M for mature audience.

The bottom line is that although I'm far from a prude, I think that when it comes to the young minds we ought to draw some sort of line. I recently made a statement on how I disapproved of the computer age. I think what started out as a great method of communication and idea sharing has let to corruption of our society and a loss for moral values. What thinks you?

Labels: content management, Design, Google, video, Video Games