Slashdot Mirror
Games Irrationally Connected To Violence
GamePolitics reports on a story of confusion and misunderstanding in Florida. A flyer made from the Zombie Survival Guide was found near a school. Police have, naturally, leapt to the conclusion that the makers of the flyer are threatening violence against schoolchildren and are videogame players. From the article: "Although the Democrat reports that 'Zombie' is a video game, GP is not so sure. There are plenty of games based on zombies, of course, but we can't recall a single one actually named 'Zombie.' 'This underscores the importance of parents knowing what their kids are doing online,' school superintendent Bill Montford said. 'This should be a wake-up call to parents. Students shouldn't be involved in games where people are being shot.'"
All these people in a position of authority being quoted talking about something they know nothing about... it reminds me of Brass Eye, where celebrities and politicians (is there a difference any more?) were filmed warning about the dangers of a fictional drug called "cake" that affected an area of the brain called Shatner's Basoon, and warning people that paedophiles were using an area of the Internet the size of Ireland. They unquestioningly accepted what they were told and were happy to lend their own authority to the matter by repeating it to the public, merely because it was in the name of a good cause.
I think the quality of journalism would skyrocket if one simply thing were to happen: people who don't know what they are talking about should just be quiet.
Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha