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Prostitutes Call for a Ban on GTA

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the encouraging-better-customers dept.

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."

38 of 478 comments (clear)

  1. Prostitutes? by Dog+Chapman · · Score: 5, Funny


    Fuck them!

    --
    Born on a mountain, Raised in a cave!
    1. Re:Prostitutes? by JoeLinux · · Score: 5, Funny

      Naww....you might catch something...

    2. Re:Prostitutes? by Dashing+Leech · · Score: 5, Interesting
      "Prostitutes are already dead inside."

      Joke aside, not all prostitutes or prostitution environments are the same. GTA tends to portray the cliche streetwalker/drug addict/forced-into-by-pimp hookers. Brothels, escorts, call-girls, strippers, and porn actresses (including the amateur/web stuff) have different environments from this.

      I'm surprised nobody has made the argument that the violence against hookers (the streetwalking/drug addict/pimp kind) in GTA might actually educate youngsters that hooking (SW/DA/pimp kind) can be dangerous and undesirable, as opposed to "Pretty Woman" and similar portrayals which may cause more women to get into prostitution.

      Of course for that to happen it would have to be little girls that play GTA, which is the main demographic to play it, right? Guys? Hello? Why are you all looking at me funny?

    3. Re:Prostitutes? by mjuarez · · Score: 4, Insightful

      P.S. Maybe people would be nicer to prostitutes if they were FREE

      That totally cracked me up. But seriously, people have got to lighten up. This is a GAME! Are SWAT unions protesting because they're the main target in CounterStrike? Is Germany demanding that the US stop selling Battlefield 2, because it depicts violence directed to German citizens? I would guess the answers would be "no", and "no".

      Not to say that these games will ruffle some feathers (I read recently about some indians threatening to sue a game company because of its 1800's shooter), but they're not supposed to be representations of real life. Anyone stupid enough, or sick enough, to believe that and later try to do it in real life, ought to be locked up anyway.

      Marcos

    4. Re:Prostitutes? by chris_eineke · · Score: 4, Informative
      Of course for that to happen it would have to be little girls that play GTA, which is the main demographic to play it, right?
      Believe or not, my 12-year-old sister enjoys GTA:SA. She drives around in cars and on motorcycles and when she is up for a challenge she clubs a hooker to death.

      Yes, I - too - think that's scary.
      --
      "All you have to do is be fragile and grateful. So stay the underdog." Chuck Palahniuk, Choke
    5. Re:Prostitutes? by smvp6459 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I would like to comment that there are "Pimp" missions in GTA: San Andreas where you come to the aid of your "ladies" and protect them from violent johns. Maybe this will teach our children that those who abuse prostitutes may themselves end up beaten/dead. Seems like a good counter balance to potential malfeasance. Plus some of the prostitutes carry knives and guns...another good lesson for our children.

    6. Re:Prostitutes? by Y0tsuya · · Score: 5, Funny

      These lame protests will be nothing compare to the fallout from my upcoming game: Imam Turkey Shoot.

    7. Re:Prostitutes? by binarybum · · Score: 4, Insightful

      right on. and let's not forget that GTA didn't start this - it can all be traced back to the ninja turtle arcade game where you have a chance to whack that whore on the skateboard.

      --
      ôó
    8. Re:Prostitutes? by flyingsquid · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Does it have a cartoon of Mohammed in it?

      They should make a fighting game where all the characters are religious figures. So you can be Jesus and beat the crap out of Mohammed, or vice versa. Other characters would include Satan, Buddha, Mary, an Orthodox rabbi, Vishnu, God, Santa, the Easter Bunny and Cthulhu. You wouldn't even have to make a profit off the game to get filthy rich- you'd just invest in defense contractors and then when screenshots of Mohammed and Satan tag-teaming the Easter Bunny and Buddha start circulating around the world, World War III starts and your defense stocks go through the roof.

    9. Re:Prostitutes? by marko123 · · Score: 4, Funny

      "The Crucifix?"

      --
      http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood
  2. Justifying your vice. by suso · · Score: 4, Funny

    I would think that this kind of reasoning would justify murderers to call for a ban on CBS (Crime Broadcasting Station).

  3. Here's to calling the kettle black by sexyrexy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sex workers definitely aren't a bad potential influence on children.

    Oh, wait.

    --

    Rex is 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    1. 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.

    2. 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!
    3. Re:Here's to calling the kettle black by chrismcdirty · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But look at TV. You can see extreme acts of violence and gore (watch CSI, if only for gore), but most acts of sex are completely removed. Even on CSI, they always have the naughty parts on corpses covered. When I first watched the pilot for Firefly, I was amazed that they had a pseudo-sex-scene. Most likely because in the 23 years I've watched TV, I've never seen anything like that on a network station.

      --
      It's like sex, except I'm having it!
    4. Re:Here's to calling the kettle black by stupidfoo · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've always wanted to be a prostitute. This whole IT thing is just temporary.

  4. Life (as I learned it from GTA) by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Interesting
    So I've got a star on me and I'm just waiting for the heat to melt off me so I pull up alongside this "sex worker." She hops in and I am in serious need after that last shoot out. Do I do anything violent to her? No, I go out to a remote area of the park and when the car starts rocking, I exchange cash for life. Not a bad deal, people exchange money for their health at hospitals everyday.

    So now we're done ... what to do? I kind of have two choices:
    A. Kill her and take my monies back.
    B. Keep her around in the car to do more money exchange.

    The way I see it, the game is encouraging me not to harm her because if I do, I'm going to get my monies back but I have to drive all the way back into town and I do not want the po-po on me right now.

    Btw, I learned all this like five years ago from this game. Where was this "sex workers group" when the game came out? They're a bit late to stop it from being released.

    I like how from TFA:
    Though the organization admits to being "adamantly opposed to any and all forms of censorship,"
    So let me get this straight ... mammary glands and naked women shouldn't be censored (sales are up for the sex workers!) but violence should be (worker lifespan is down)?
    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. 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. 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...
    1. Re:Ban the parents then... by jotok · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Those who have no clue about the subject claim something is horrible and/or should be banned because of their flawed ideas about it.

      Isn't it a bunch of prostitutes doing the protests? Don't you think they would have some experience with exploitation and violence?

  6. Wait, isn't prostitution illegal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So we're getting calls to ban a form of entertainment... from the purveyors of a widely banned form of entertainment.

    Something about glass houses comes to mind here.

    1. 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.

  7. Why haven't police done the same? by merreborn · · Score: 4, Funny

    There's at least as much cop killing in GTA as there is ho slaughtering.

  8. 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
  9. How's Jack going to react? by JoeLinux · · Score: 5, Funny

    Disclaimer: I am a Christian. However, Jack Thompson is of the notorious southern-baptist style bible-thumping crowd. This places him on the same side as prostitutes. I can't WAIT for someone to point this out to him.

    We should have a slogan:

    "Jack Thompson: Working with the street-walkers to keep your kids safe"
    "No-body has their pulse on the average American cum-catcher like Jack"

  10. I an just see the trials on CourtTV now by TheSkepticalOptimist · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whore: "I promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

    Attorney: "Are you a prostitute?"

    Whore: "Yes, I am" ...

    CNN's Anderson Cooper: "And in today's news, the 1000th prostitute was thrown in jail for admitting they were in the illegal sex trade. Thousands more are lining up around the block to give their testimony to the supreme court...."

    --
    I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.
  11. Title of this article is misleading by bigdavex · · Score: 5, Informative

    They aren't calling for a ban. They think the game is a bad thing and want to discourage parents from allowing their children to play.

    Ban means "to prohibit especially by legal means" (Merriam-Webster).

    They're exercising a free speech right, not trying to infringe on others'.

    --
    -Dave
  12. Disappointed with Link... by Jamil+Karim · · Score: 5, Funny

    On the Sex Workers Outreach Project homepage, I clicked on "Calendar", but all I got was a list of upcoming events... =(

  13. 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
  14. Strange bedfellows by hal2814 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Prostitutes and religious zealots are both against the GTA series. What stange bedfellows...

    1. Re:Strange bedfellows by British · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm just waiting for a group of drug dealers to protest GTA.

      Yes, we have everyone from all walks of life protesting GTA. All the good & bad people(depending on your perspective) are putting aside their differences to stop GTA. GTA is helping unite the world. Pimps will stop slapping their hoes, drug dealers will stop killing deadbeat buyers and Hatians will stop, um, whatever Hatians do for a moment to protest a freakin' video game.

      Before GTA, wow, we were so blind to the social problems in the world. We only needed a video game to finally reflect it!

  15. 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.
  16. Re:Heh by slashdotnickname · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yeah, let's all take advice on morality from hookers...

    I'd be more suspicious of people who base their morality on hocus-pocus religious mythology.

    There's nothing immoral about a consentual agreement between adults.

  17. You're already selling yourself by tengu1sd · · Score: 5, Funny
    I've always wanted to be a prostitute. This whole IT thing is just temporary.

    Let's see, hookers sell a few hours of their time, perform questionable acts for money, and in the ideal situation, make you feel like you'r the most important part of their day. Tries to avoid virus and worm outbreaks with best practices.

    System admin, sells all of his or her time, performs questionable acts for money. May try to make his customers happy. Tries to avoid virus and worm outbreaks with best practices. Demanding customers may make this difficult.

    Consultant. See hooker.

    All in all, a hooker has better pay scale, less hours, and a chance to negotiate a better working environment. Also less likely to be outsourced.

    1. Re:You're already selling yourself by cloak42 · · Score: 5, Funny

      All in all, a hooker has better pay scale, less hours, and a chance to negotiate a better working environment. Also less likely to be outsourced.

      Plus there's actually the occasional orgasm for a hooker. When was the last time you were able to come while adding a rule to your firewall?

    2. Re:You're already selling yourself by really? · · Score: 4, Funny

      This morning.

      --

      "Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are the dead." A. Huxley
    3. Re:You're already selling yourself by raddan · · Score: 4, Funny
      When was the last time you were able to come while adding a rule to your firewall?

      You're obviously not using pf!

  18. Re:The new rallying cry... by vsprintf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Won't someone please think of the prostitutes!

    And, according to the blurb, won't someone please think of all those children who are allowed to play MATURE-ONLY games being taught to . . . disrespect prostitutes . . . whoa, that's kinky in some weird sense. So, we could conclude that the widespread use of GTA by minors is actually a planned conspiracy by the morally righteous to stop prostitution, while their (Thompson) tools decry the situation. And finally, the difference between good and evil is obvious to all.

    (Well, it's not all that obvious to me, but Beyond Good & Evil was a really good game. :)