Don't Drop the Soap
{{short description|Board game}}
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Don't Drop the Soap is a controversial prison-themed board game designed by art student John Sebelius as a class project at the Rhode Island School of Design.{{cite news|title='Don't Drop The Soap' Game Causes Controversy|url=http://www.kctv5.com/news/15172807/detail.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007072907/http://www.kctv5.com/news/15172807/detail.html |archivedate=2008-10-07 |accessdate=7 January 2014|newspaper=KCTV5|date=January 30, 2008}} The game received criticism for its content, most notably for the game's treatment of prison rape.{{cite web|title=Kansas governor's son makes 'Don't Drop the Soap it will get the guards attention and can lead to seriously hurt prisoners game|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/kansas-governors-son-makes-dont-drop-the-soap-game/|publisher=Joystiq|accessdate=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107114222/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/kansas-governors-son-makes-dont-drop-the-soap-game/|archive-date=7 January 2014|url-status=live}} Sebelius also received notice for being the son of Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Gary Sebelius.{{cite web|title=Governor's son creates prison-themed game|date=27 January 2008 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22870462|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107110326/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22870462/#.UsvTz9JDvA0|archive-date=7 January 2014|url-status=live}} The game officially went on sale on January 31, 2008 in Lawrence, Kansas and through Sebelius' personal website,{{cite web|title=Sebelius' son sells game out of Cedar Crest|url=http://cjonline.com/stories/012608/bus_240507951.shtml|publisher=CJ Online|accessdate=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129084659/http://www.cjonline.com/stories/012608/bus_240507951.shtml|archive-date=29 January 2008|url-status=live}} and is considered to be similar to Monopoly in its gameplay.{{cite news|last=Cornado|first=Chris|title=Game Changer: John Sebelius|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2009/03/09/game_changer_john_sebelius/|newspaper=Washington Post|accessdate=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618171137/http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2009/03/09/game_changer_john_sebelius/|archive-date=18 June 2014|url-status=live}}
Gameplay
The gameplay consists of six levels and can be played by up to three people. Users can choose to play as Sal "The Butcher", "Anferny", or "Wheelz", a disabled prisoner. The ultimate goal of the game is for the player to make parole without dropping the soap in the prison shower. If a prisoner drops the soap, they'll bend over to pick it up, only to be subjected to rape by fellow inmates.
Reaction
The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, a U.S. bipartisan panel aimed at curbing prison rape, criticized the game and stated that the title made light of "a serious and all-too-pervasive violent sex crime."{{cite web|title=BIPARTISAN PANEL CONDEMNS "DON'T DROP THE SOAP" BOARD GAME (press release)|url=http://www.nprec.us/Press/press%20statements/1.29.08.STMT.DontDroptheSoapGame.pdf|publisher=NPREC|accessdate=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806202312/http://nprec.us/Press/press%20statements/1.29.08.STMT.DontDroptheSoapGame.pdf|archive-date=6 August 2009|url-status=dead}} The Pitch criticized Sebelius, labelling him "The Idiot Son of an Elected Official."{{cite web|title=The Idiot Son: A Board Game|url=http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/the-idiot-son-a-board-game/Content?oid=2188761|publisher=Pitch|accessdate=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908004727/http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/the-idiot-son-a-board-game/Content?oid=2188761|archive-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead}} Politician Tim Huelskamp requested that the game be investigated and voiced concerns that the game was being marketed and stored at Cedar Crest, the Governor's mansion.{{cite web|title=Lawmaker critical of Sebelius' son's game|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/feb/23/lawmaker_critical_sebelius_sons_game/|publisher=Lawrence Journal-World|accessdate=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019011154/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/feb/23/lawmaker_critical_sebelius_sons_game/|archive-date=19 October 2014|url-status=live}}
Sebelius responded to the criticism, explaining that he meant for the game to be a lighthearted spoof and was not an endorsement of prison rape.Christopher, Hearne, Jr. "[http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/columnists/hearne_christopher_jr/story/474481.html Soap game has some lather]", The Kansas City Star, February 3, 2008, accessed June 4, 2008.
See also
References
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Category:Board games introduced in 2008