Hunting for Bambi. That's the name of a Las Vegas enterprise in which men pay thousands of dollars for the privelege of stalking and shooting naked women with a paintball gun. The game's creator is defending it as "good, clean fun for 'guys who thought they had done everything.'"

There are rules. The men aren't allowed to shoot the women above the waist. A paintball manufacturer has joined many women in protesting the game, but a spokesman for the game swears by its safety and considers it a harmless activity. The "hunters" get a videotape of their hunt, and the women get paid $1,000 for being prey, and $2,500 if they do not get hit (a rare event).

The game's spokesman seemed surprised that anyone would protest the activity. He said that “the women who think this is abusive and degrading need to put their attention where it should be, and I think that’s Afghanistan.”

So we have that old tactic again: If you think it's bad here, I can assure you it's worse somewhere else, so stop complaining. The game company's website displays pictures of the women "mounted" on the wall like hunted deer. The very name of the "game" (complete with bimboesque pun) implies that its thrill lies in stalking the defenseless. What kind of man thinks it's fun to stalk defenseless women? Not a man who is out for "good, clean fun," that's for sure. (Of course, some of us protest their stalking of the defenseless deer, also, but that's another matter altogether.) If it's such a benign lark, then why aren't they shooting at other naked men?

One supposes the women are in it for the money, but taking such a job is about as demeaning as it gets. On the other hand, the game company has assured everyone of its "respect" for women: "We love our girls."

Say no more.