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Prostitutes Call for a Ban on GTA

d writes "Gamespot has an article about an association of prostitutes protesting the GTA games. Apparently, the sex workers of the Sex Workers Outreach Project aren't too happy about their ingame counterparts being treated violently in the GTA games. They note that the games are a bad influence on children, and might encourage rape and violent behavior towards prostitutes in real life."

8 of 478 comments (clear)

  1. Ban the parents then... by luder · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "They note that the games are a bad influence on children"
    And from the article:
    "SWOP is calling "on all parents and all gamers to boycott Grand Theft Auto.""
    GTA is rated Mature +17, how are children supposed to be able to play the game? Yell at the parents who let them play violent games...
  2. Re:Heh by Tweekster · · Score: 5, Insightful

    and what is immoral? about selling sex for money? it seems like a rather honest exchange

    --
    The phrase "more better" is acceptable English. suck it grammar Nazis
  3. Re:Here's to calling the kettle black by interiot · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Umm, which is worse for kids, sex (consensual, mutually beneficial) or violence (beating/stabbing/shooting)? Okay, the sex is hinted at in the game, not real, though the real-world sex workers are real. And the violence is simulated, so it's not apples-to-apples.

    But still, if it comes down to consensual sex versus beating/killing people, I'd think that the sex would be less harmful to children.

  4. Re:Life (as I learned it from GTA) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...mammary glands and naked women shouldn't be censored but violence should be?

    That sounds like the difference between European and American censorship. If think we (the EU) have it right on this one. In my ideal world we're all exposed to sex, rather than violence :-)

  5. Re:Here's to calling the kettle black by chrismcdirty · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe in more civilized countries, but not in the USA. Here, we take pride in glamorizing violence as it contributes nothing at all to society, while degrading the reason that we are all here. After all, it's yucky. And nobody should ever think of it. EVER.

    --
    It's like sex, except I'm having it!
  6. Of all the claims... by rAiNsT0rm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This one makes the most sense. I've heard my share of B.S. "videogames made me do it" stories over the years, but this one has the most legitimate basis of them all. It stands to reason that some frat boy who is majorly into his GTA, either tries to treat a prostitute or a dancer in a similar manner because it is seen and portrayed as a given that you smack a ho. It really does promote the behavior and I could see the point.

    I know it all seems silly, prostitutes complaining and drawing parallels from a video game to real violence. But in reality prostitues are pretty much an accepted thing in America (even though many would have you believe otherwise) and after reading a book a while back about the Mustang Ranch in Vegas, I have a whole new outlook on them and their trade. The knee jerk reaction is to laugh it off, but I truly believe this compalint is the most valid yet.

    --
    http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
  7. Re:Joke? by CowsAnonymous · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > Is this a joke? Sex Workers Outreach Project?!?

    No, it's not. And if you read their website, you'd see why it's not. For one thing, they have a goal for the decriminaliztion for the consensual sex industry, among other things (such as laws to help protect prostitutes). What more they outline their motives in a clear way, showing that through reform prostitutes can be helped rather than left to fend for themselves.

    It's an intersting debate for where to draw the line between what laws are considered ethical. It's common for playing video games to be ethical, although sometimes they're content is not, but in the end they're legal. Murder is considered unethical, so it's illegal. Prostitiution is a strange one: prostitutes give their consent, so realistically they are not being harmed since they have the option of avoiding the situation if proper precautions are taken. Someone might argue that by consenting they are harming themselves, which is another matter all together, but you can say the same for tobacco.

    Their members have a different set of morals, and believe that their freedoms as citizens are being restricted by the morals of others. You don't have to agree with them, but at least they're being logical about it.

    Although I do see the humor in the irony in trying to get parents who probably view them as the lowest human lifeform to join their cause against the game. That's just silly.

    --
    CowsAnonymous: We're here to help moo.
  8. Re:Wait, isn't prostitution illegal? by venicebeach · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What's always seemed strange to me is that prostitution is illegal unless you film it.

    In other words, I can pay a woman to have sex with me if she is an actor in my porn film. I just can't do it for my own private pleasure, I have to be making something for others to see. Bizarre.