'Boyfriend Trainer' iPhone App Turns Domestic Abuse Into Disturbing Game

[Major Nikon]

A controversial new app called "Boyfriend Trainer" lets users simulate domestic abuse on a virtual man.

Developed by Games2win, the application is available for download in Apple's iTunes App Store. The following description is posted on the app's iTunes page:

Crack that whip and teach your guy a thing or two about being the Perfect Boyfriend! When scolding doesn’t work, just zap him, whack him and train him to be your ideal man!

Game play features an animated "girlfriend" character, which the user controls and uses to "train" the "boyfriend" character. The player advances through the game by physically abusing the boyfriend.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/01/boyfriend-trainer-app-domestic-abuse-game_n_2599230.html

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. "You go girl."

[Warren DeMontague]

2. There's really no point in belaboring the obvious, i.e. the shitstorm that would occur

were the genders reversed...

one thing I would add, though, if they're really interested in "training" that boyfriend, first thing they should do is make him lose the haircut and soul patch.

[noamnety]

5. I'm not sure.

When the genders are reversed, there are a fair amount of folks who believe it's not a big deal because violence in video games doesn't cause violence in real life: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022008604

That said, I don't think it's healthy to fantasize about hate crimes of any sort, whether the target is male or female.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. I'm not suggesting this thing *causes* violence.

However, we're talking specifically about an app sold via the Apple store- the Apple store, mind you, normally being a veritable paradise for culture crisis hand-wringers; for instance, no porn apps.

Also, there's nothing in the post you linked about "the genders being reversed". Yes, there are violent videogames -where violence is expressed against all sorts of people- but I'm not aware of any -much less any apps- that are specifically about a man "training" his girlfriend through domestic violence.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

3. Don't worry....

....I'm sure it's still some man's fault.

[MadrasT]

4. That is completely fucking disgusting. n/t

[NRA_SUCKS]

7. That is to be expected

men are considered perfectly acceptable fodder for anything women want to do to us QED.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. If they're going to give her a whip, they should at least give her the right matching outfit.

Like Jane, here.

[Major Nikon]

9. As a child, I never fully appreciated naps and spankings