Do you like board games? You know, getting together with the neighbors, having some snacks, maybe some fondue. Enjoy each other’s company and settle in for an evening of playing your favorite board game. Good times.
Do you ever get tired of the same old games, Monopoly, Life err…well, I can’t think of any others…Scrabble-yeah-Yahtzee, there we go, that’s a classic. Anyway; ever get tired of the same old board games?
Well, here’s a site that has a brand new game called, “Don’t Drop The Soap”. Get it? Don’t Drop The Soap-it’s a prison thing-you know like, when you are in prison, taking a shower, you don’t want to drop the soap because, that would expose your backside and give others the opportunity to perform sodomy on you. Funny!
Don’t Drop the Soap * * * $34.99 * * *
Fight your way through 6 different exciting locations in hopes of being granted parole. Escape prison riots in The Yard, slip glass into a mob boss’ lasagna in the Cafeteria, steal painkillers from the nurse’s desk in the Infirmary, avoid being cornered by the Aryans in the Shower Room, fight off Latin Kings in Gang War, and try not to smoke your entire stash in The Hole.
The artistry of each handcrafted piece is matched with comparable humor & intelligence on every card. Stack your smokes, sharpen your shank, and get ready for an experience that only someone on the outside could appreciate.
“Humor & intelligence” indeed. When I want a good chuckle, I just think about the multitude of problems that we face with our correctional facilities; homosexual rape, violence, gangs, drug abuse, racism, organized crime-Hilarious.
Funny, funny stuff here and, not just witty-intelligent. Like a lot of board games, each player has a token. You know, like in Monopoly, you have the hat, the car, the rich guy, right. Well, in “Don’t Drop The Soap”, you have hand crafted pieces…
The Glock- a handgun-(9mm?)
Wheelz-Hispanic guy wearing sunglasses and blue bandanna in a wheelchair.
Sal The Butcher- kid in suit??
A Bag Of Coke
Anferny- A gold chain wearing, African American who is showing off his biceps.
Who is the person responsible for this clever game?
Who We Are…
Launched in 2006 by John Sebelius, Gillius, Inc. is a design firm and creative collective that creates limited edition and hand crafted apparel and games.
We strive to create and uphold a marriage between urban aesthetic and clean design. Our main objective is to produce work with a strong point of view and a great sense of humor. Clothing and games that prove that it’s OK to like cool things.
John Sebelius is a 23-year-old kid, fresh out of art school. 23-year-old kids often think that they are being funny and clever when, in truth, they are being insensitive. It’s not a new phenomenon and it is, for the most part, something you can ignore. You hope that the kid will outgrow this kind of silly attempt at social commentary and become useful. That being said, you still have a situation where an individual is profiting from making fun of people; their sexuality, ethnic backgrounds etc.
Still though, it’s a kid who operates in bad taste, at the least. Who supports this? Who are clients of this “design firm and creative collective”?
Past Clients:
* Sunflower Food and Spice Company
* Democratic Governors Association
* Uncle Bo’s Blues Bar
* Homer Hounds
What!!?? The Democratic Governors Association!!?? Surely, The Democratic Governors Association does not think that prison rape, prison violence, racism and drug abuse are funny. Do they? Surely, The Democratic Governors Association does not think those are “cool things”. Maybe, The Democratic Governors Association is just not aware of “Don’t Drop The Soap” and they hired this kid on the merit of his other work.
But wait—here is the address listed for contacting this “design firm and creative collective”;the home of “Don’t Drop The Soap” is…
1 sw Cedar Crest Rd.
Topeka, KS 66606.
That is also the home of this woman.
That woman is Kathleen Sebelius, John’s Mom, and Governor of Kansas. She chairs the Education Commission of the States and has served as past chair of the Democratic Governors Association!
That address, 1 sw Cedar Crest Rd. Topeka, KS 66606, is the Governor’s mansion.
Shame on Governor, Kathleen Sebelius. Shame on the Democratic Governors Association.
As a Governor, you would think that it would be hard for Kathleen Sebelius to see the humor in homosexual rape in prisons, violence, gangs, drug abuse, and racism. One would hope that the Governor would actually be concerned about these problems and actively seeking to find and implement solutions to them.
Allowing someone, even your 23-year-old son, fresh out of art school, to use the mansion that has been provided to you, by the good people of Kansas, as a marketing center and clearing house for a piece of trash like “Don’t Drop The Soap”, goes beyond bad judgment.
It is insulting. It is outrageous. It is certainly, not funny.
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Tags: Democratic Governors Association, Don't Drop The Soap, John Sebelius, Kathleen Sebelius
Jayne d'Arcy wrote,
If I believed in Satan and Satanic symbolism, I’d just stare at that zip code, 66606, and silently freak out and await the End Times.
Link | January 27th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
phlembol wrote,
I had to mull this one over a bit. Indeed the first reaction is along the lines of, what a piece of tasteless crap. But, I can easily avoid it if I don’t like it. The bigger issue is whether there is a legal violation or misuse of government property. And from what I see the answer is, no. The address is not used to any extent in advertising and there are no connections made to politics, politicians, or parties.
“Insensitivity”? When people say, “that offends me” my first thought is to tell them, “then look away.” Just because something offends you does not mean you have the right to have it changed. Our freedoms are being encircled and picked off one by one and this is just another example. Would you propose that bad taste be made illegal?
So he is “profiting from making fun of people; their sexuality, ethnic backgrounds etc.” I think the day we can’t do that is the day trouble really starts. You could never ever stop that from happening, you could only become indignant and pretend to try. But it would be a total waste of time and a violation of our right to free speech. People can’t even make fun of themselves these days without someone getting upset about it.
He might have avoided some controversy by using a PO Box, but when you look at the facts, since he has done nothing wrong, that would just be to keep the “I’m offended” knee-jerks away. “Politically Correct” is just code for censorship.
I think his game is bad, I think his art sucks, but I defend his right to produce both. And if he happens to live in the governor’s mansion, that’s between him and his parents. If the voters want to make it an issue, they have that right, but I think they would be wrong.
phlembol’s last blog post..Hand-made Art
Link | January 28th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Pat wrote,
Dear Jack:
As you are dead on in your assessment, and prodigiously correct with your examination on both sides of the numerous issues, it still remains extraordinarily good advice in all public shower forums: “Don’t drop the soap.”
As Ann Landers once replied to the Question: “What are two things you should never do in bed? …Point and laugh.” [Or did Paul Lynde answer with that on Hollywood Squares?]
Good advice, expunged by astonishing comparative discussion is always a welcome delight. This is what I’m getting: “Tutti a’posto: Everything is okay,” is good advice. Our charismatic and connected prodigy designer’s claim “its okay to like cool things” is bad advice. His mother-the-governor’s endorsement of this idioim is “rancid ill advised.”
“…As a Governor, you would think that it would be hard for Kathleen Sebelius to see the humor in homosexual rape in prisons, violence, gangs, drug abuse, and racism…” Duh!
With warmest regards, gratefully yours,
Pat
Link | January 28th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Pat wrote,
And, drat it all, Jack, we should have laid down the clarinet and Tele and invented a board game twelve years ago! >pd
Pat’s last blog post..Tat not for Tit
Link | January 28th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Pribek wrote,
phlembol-I always enjoy your input and your blog as well.
“Would you propose that bad taste be made illegal?”-absolutely not.
“The bigger issue is whether there is a legal violation or misuse of government property.”-While I share your disdain for the “politically correct” movement, I am equally disturbed by the trend of reducing everything to legality and liability; lawyer ball. The bigger issue isn’t a legal violation or misuse of Government property.
The bigger issue is right and wrong. The fact that a 23-year-old is trying to profit from an offensive creation doesn’t bug me.
The fact that said artist “happens” to live in the Governors mansion and is using that mansion as a retail outlet does. Again though, my problem isn’t with the game’s creator; it’s primarily with the Governor, Kathleen Sebelius.
Question; If you had an adult son, living in your house, that was making his living from producing material that you deemed as offensive, in your house, and marketing/selling that, from your house; would you continue to permit this adult to live in your house?
I can only conclude that Kathleen Sebelius does not find the game offensive. See, I think that any tax payer should be concerned with prison issues such as drug use and abuse, and gang violence. The fact that part of her job is to, at least attempt, to take those issues seriously and, hopefully try to solve some problems colors her reaction/non reaction offensive. Added to that, the fact that her son’s idea of “cool” includes racism, makes it even worse.
Further still, her connection as former chair of the Democratic Governors Association and the fact that they have hired this guy to do some work appears, to me, that they are in on snubbing their collective noses at and getting their jollies from laughing at a serious tax payer issue.
Link | January 28th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
phlembol wrote,
“I can only conclude that Kathleen Sebelius does not find the game offensive.” I respectfully think that is a huge unfair leap of assumption. You are convicting her based on association.
Where do you see racism? I see a satirical characterization of an actual prison population. Is there any way of doing that which you would find non-racist?
I can indeed see myself allowing my child to be involved in things I might find distasteful. In fact, I did. For example, I can’t stand RAP “music” and the disrespectful language that often goes with it. And I have the right to voice that opinion and say, “I’m not going to listen to it.” But we can’t, and shouldn’t, try to over-steer our kids. I know some of the things I was involved with were offensive to others, but I am thankful I was allowed the freedom to explore. In the younger years you hold the reins tightly and try to teach right, but people will eventually run their own direction, hopefully.
As for the political connections, who knows. He is the third generation to live in a governor’s mansion. Maybe he is being groomed. :) Comforting thought?
phlembol’s last blog post..Hand-made Art
Link | January 28th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Pribek wrote,
Leap of assumption-sure. Huge and unfair? I really don’t see it that way. If the premise is that she was somehow unaware of the nature of this material maybe, it would be unfair. And, if she was not aware of the game, maybe my opinion would be based on association. But, you know what phlembol, I’ve lived a lot and seen a lot and, I can’t buy that. My assumption is that she was aware of the game and the use of the Governors mansion as an address for the business.
I’m not convicting, I am questioning her judgment.
As for racism, we may see things differently depending on how we would define it. For me, I would define racism as; a belief that differences among races determine cultural or individual achievement. So, I see it here in the way the game pieces are presented and language like; “slip glass into a mob boss’ lasagna in the Cafeteria” and, “avoid being cornered by the Aryans in the Shower Room, fight off Latin Kings in Gang War”. It’s weak satire particularly because it relies solely on stereotype.
And, it isn’t a question of allowing a child or over-steering a kid, we are talking about an adult, a businessperson, who is being allowed to use the Governors mansion as a place of business.
Link | January 28th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Pat wrote,
This story was on Public Radio, PBR news on the nearly normal music hour of Eclectic Coffeehouse, here in Bryan. The DJ said between spins, “the Governor and the Dad both have publicly said they approve of their son’s creativity and marketing, of this product.”
As for the product I would pay $0.35 cents at the clearance dump table at Buy Low for one, to hang in my gallery, soak with lighter fluid, and burn it, just because I have the freedom to do it.
The whole family, it turns out are 2% in my half-minded opinion. I would rather have seen a game depicting Auschvitz, with Schindler the Spindler, Wagner’s Ghost playing his all time hits, and TAPS Ghost Hunters playing stink finger. But that’s just me.
Probably, I will remain too chicken-sh&**t to actually go out and discover the rawness I seek; since I do not want to experience first hand jail culture. Neither do I want to travel the continent by boxcar; don’t hanker to sleep on Grand Ave… and probably won’t make it on commercial flight to moon, etc. …Any more than W or Bill Clinton does.
I just wonder if the son is in someway mentally challenged, and fantasizes about incarceration. His depiction of jails is unfounded in facts, involving lots of stereo-typing. People today in the public eye-forum-detention are subject to unreal exectations. Any flaw stands out like a three-headed albino rattler.
I better stop here. But similar to the young man in “Maud” who constantly entertains suicide until he meets Maude, death was a game to play until his parents noticed.
Pat’s last blog post..Tat not for Tit
Link | January 28th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
phlembol wrote,
“I just wonder if the son is in someway mentally challenged, and fantasizes about incarceration. His depiction of jails is unfounded in facts, involving lots of stereo-typing.”
Exactly. He is white-bread to the max, except that his art is full of hip-hop “stars”. It’s obvious that all he knows about prisons he learned from produced media. The hip-hop experience, if you will. Or in other words, the very group that was portrayed as being wronged in this original post. He learned it from them, but he can’t parody it back without being charged as racist?
phlembol’s last blog post..Hand-made Art
Link | January 28th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Pat wrote,
Hi Phlembol:
This is a really good parlay you’ve opened up. In my effort to sere some truth and universality from the story, I get pinned down with John’s, the creator son, persecution and/or prosecution “complex.”
His life is obviously intertwined with his mother’s trials and tribulations. As an old fart, I seldom react any more to any context of parody and racism, unless it is extraordianrily ambitious like the Harvard Lampoon used to be. The more gravity in parody, the more I tend to navigate toward it. So please allow me to drift a moment, and make some assumptions.
His mother as Gov, probably gets lawsuits every day in her in-box from groups seeking reparations for state-run programs. I suspect the son hears about ethnicity special interests in the litigations at every meal they have together. So, is he defending his mother’s innocence in legal matters?
Our guy could have just “not done the thing,” because as a society we really do not need young people re-inventing the wheel over and over again. I had four teenagers during the gangsta era in Chicago. I swear they all four resembled ex-cons, everyday on their way out the door to HighSchool. I had a choice to tackle them and make them dress like preps, or let them be skaters. Is John poking fun at the gneration just ahead of him, many of whom are gangsta skaters?
While they have turned out to be wonderful young adults, I feel a loss from the wasted time when I had them near, and couldn’t give them something akin to “genetic memory and understandings,” that could help them be more secure in life. But back then ex-cons were the elite, and the kids, not just mine, emulated more base-like, grunge characteristics. Should he just take this off the net and chalk it up to lack of maturity?
for instance as Dad, my job has been to respond to: “pick me up, feed me, stick around i might need you…” Is John asking his Dad to watch his backside, too, knowing his own limitations, but needing to spread his wings?
Also, I wonder if John realizes he has put a price on his head? Most of the gangs have codes of order that determine life and death. If the young inventor has offended an officer of some elite gang with a parody, the hunt is on. Similar to the guy who wrote the Evil Verses… about the Koran… remember that guy had to go into hiding? How many death threats will his family now receive?
In context racism and parody, for me this is an Alamo thing: Why did the non-Texans stay to be slaughtered in remote and unfamiliar territory? It turned out the racism is “no to Mexicans” and parody is “siege and slaughter of Americans and Texians all.”
I think it is because we Americans practice choice in all our actions. Freedom to choose, to live, to re-invent, to blog… to sit and die. Once a pinko commie facist threatens that, Americans will likely shove a new product down their throat. Or something like that. I can’t possibly find where to draw the line that defines parody and racism in the story we are discussing. It all just sort of melds together into a big sigh.
It is very nice to meet you Phlembol, and look forward to further using Pribek’s web space for unlimited constant comment!! I too have been poking around your blogspot. Yours, Patrick Darnell
Link | January 29th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Commando wrote,
LMFAO….loved the article. Keep up the good work. Anyone that misuses state property at tax payer expense in such a blatant and disrespectful way should be criminally charged.
Link | February 28th, 2008 at 4:34 pm