by Rob Gallagher

I always get dewy-eyed at the scene in Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale where the statue of the king’s dead wife steps down from its pedestal and, turning out to have been the not-actually-dead queen all along, forgives the king unconditionally for all of the horrible things he’s done. I worry, though, that it’s the implication that ‘boys will be boys,’ that men deserve indulgence and understanding because we can’t help being immature and solipsistic and petty, that I find moving. If you’ve a Y chromosome it’s a really convenient and comforting idea – which is presumably why Shakespeare (who evidence suggests wasn’t an especially stellar spouse or father) invented the Christly’n’compassionate Hermione.

Thought of her on hearing Japan’s banned ‘rape simulators,’ videogames about assaulting virtual women (who, natch, tend to enjoy it once they’re in the swing of things). I don’t buy the whole Doom = Columbine desensitization argument, but people claiming this ban’s a deplorable blow to free speech (they exist and – surprise! – they’re 99.9% male) maybe haven’t thought things through…

There’s a throwaway bit in eXistenZ where Jude Law’s racist to a Chinese waiter because he’s only virtual. What’s interesting is less the idea videogames might desensitize you than the suggestion that racism (like sexism) depends on seeing Others as only virtually human. Maybe that’s what’s gross about the idea ‘boys will be boys;’ suggesting boys are ‘only human’ and seemingly flattering ‘girls’ by comparison, the phrase really implies that boys deserve a free pass and only women (being less than fully human) would actually buy the idea ‘boys’ have to act that way…