GTA Violence, the Media, and the Gamers

jvm writes "The Video Game Ombudsman and Curmudgeon Gamer currently have posts with opposing views on the recent and oft-criticized NY Post article about the violence in the Grand Theft Auto series of games. The Ombudsman discourages gamers from getting upset over the 'false and irresponsible' writing in the NY Post, equating it with a 'National Enquirer story saying that video games cause AIDS'. In response, this Curmudgeon says that's plain wrong, that gamers should 'stop dodging the issue' of game violence and 'start talking realistically about degrees of harm, freedoms, and responsibility'. So what's a gamer to do? Ignore the obviously clueless mainstream press or start the soul searching? Oh, and Penny Arcade has its own angle on the perils of dealing with the mainstream press, in response to how the noble Child's Play was represented."

Comments

Re:Not for kids... get a grip

[torpor]

Your whole argument is predicated by the assumption that the media, the government, or the game makers FORCE, one way or another, a child to play a video game.

No it isn't. I never once said that.

There is a very big difference between 'forcing someone to do something', and 'making something available for someone to do something with'.

Having said that, I will note that there seems to be no really good reason for all the violence in video games other than it seems to really, really grab peoples attention. And, well, we know that Madison Avenue crack-whore just loves attention, don't we ...

I've -never- said that children shouldn't be responsible for what they do. What I've said is that Madison Avenue, and certain Government-related groups, would like very much for people to take less responsibility (what do you think a law is for: people who take less and less responsibility) for the things that they do in life.

You're falling back into a dialectic mode of argument. Just because I offer two views, does not mean I'm a hypocrite.

You so gleefully point out your example of some people playing a game for 18 hours a day and the executives being happy. Pardon my speech, but no shit.

Yeah, well I happen to think that anyone who makes money from graphic portrayal of violence in any form - no matter how it is 'couched', as 'entertainment' or otherwise - is a scumbag who deserves neither my hard earned cash, nor my attention.

As you seem to have missed the point, let me restate it. The parents are the ones that give the child the knowledge they will use to build everything else on.

Ooooh... rreeeaa---aaallly? Well then, I guess The Television God only gets worship then, eh?

Is it really too much to expect that they'll also be the ones to instruct the child what is morally acceptable and what is not?

Yes, especially if there is a Television in the household, and it is actively being used without any consideration for the consequences...