“Enders Game” Boycotts

A few years ago, I wrote a video game called “Shadow Complex.” It was based on a tie-in novel by Orson Scott Card. You remember him: Mr. Anti-Gay. Now the novel had nothing to do with gays or any of Card’s more dubious beliefs.

Nevertheless, the fact that I was associated with Card at all prompted people to cry out for boycotts of not only the video game, but of all my work. X-Factor, Dark Tower, my novels: everything was to be avoided because I had dared to have anything to do with someone that had been designated a pariah, not because of his work, but because of his opinions and where he chose to spend his money.

How in God’s name boycotting X-Factor to protest Card made any sense at all…well, the answer lay within the skulls of those who were organizing it, I guess. Never made any sense to me.

And now, of course, the cries for boycott are sounding again as “Enders Game” opens today. That’s just what Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield need for their careers: people refusing to see a movie because they (rightfully) disagree with the writer’s opinions. Even though those opinions aren’t reflected in the film. Even though his deal is structured in such a way that he will make no money from the film no matter how much BO it generates.

Screw that. We’re seeing “Enders Game” this weekend. Personally I don’t care; I’ve never read the book. But Kathleen did and loves it, so we’re going. We’ll also likely be seeing “12 Years a Slave” and “Last Vegas” as well. And we have no idea of the political opinions of anyone involved. Not sure how it’s relevant.

PAD