Good intentions, atrocious execution

                You’ve all probably read Feministing’s post on the anti-female genital mutilation ad depicting a victim as a sex toy. I was immediately reminded of another well-meaning but horribly offensive campaign to raise awareness for the genocide in Sudan. MTV has launched an on-line game, “Darfur is Dying,” in which players take on the role of a Sudanese refugee who has to complete tasks like “Forage for Water” while avoiding animated Janjaweed militants.

                I find it hard to believe the game’s creators had anything but the best intentions in mind, but the idea of turning an ongoing genocide into a game undercuts the gravity of the situation. Can you imagine if a survivor were to come across the game, to see cartoonish rendrings of “refugees” playing out the struggle for their lives in a game for fun?

                Everything that can be ought to be done to avert both tragedies; but I cannot but help these two campaigns do more harm than good.