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Video Game Teaches Kenyan Youth HIV-Safety

Posted by Soulskill on from the we-already-knew-video-games-slowed-spreading-of-stds dept.

QuackenDuck writes "The latest video-game headlines are all about virtual sex, violence, and taxes. Here's a story that turns the 'Think of the Children' battle-cry against games on its head. VOA News reports on how the video game medium is being used to educate Kenyan youths about risky behaviors that lead to HIV infection: 'Kenya has an HIV prevalence rate of about five percent, with young women among the most vulnerable to new infection. Now, the US government and a private entertainment company have teamed up to produce and distribute a video game that teaches Kenyan youth how to avoid contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.' Many parts of the world are gritty, violent and dangerous, and this game designer is using gritty, violent and dangerous content to teach the children of Kenya."

12 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Like oregon trail but... by gandhi_2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    ..."you died of aids."

    --
    THL phish sticks
    1. Re:Like oregon trail but... by ozphx · · Score: 5, Funny

      You have been buttraped by a Grue.

      The Grue had AIDS.

      --
      3laws: No freebies, no backsies, GTFO.
  2. Re:Help the poor heathens! by artor3 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The people who protest sex ed in the US would likely want this program to be abstinence only. It's not, so they probably think it's horrible.

  3. It's the inconsistency.. by tjstork · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why does this seem like something the same people protesting Sexual Education in our American schools

    The right wing tends to feel that sex education is more about promoting a sexual society than it is about safety, as, whenever the right suggests other things be taught in the same of safety, the left argues that such education is promotion. For example, you might think that we would have gun safety classes in a nation with 100 million guns, but the left wing has continually refused to let even -free- gun classes such as NRA'S Eagle program to be taught in public schools, because they say that teaching about guns promotes guns.

    --
    This is my sig.
    1. Re:It's the inconsistency.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If humans were born with firearms equipped standard, the left would probably support proper training for children in their use.

      More seriously, I think the flaw in the right wing argument is the assumption that teenagers need any promoting to figure out they want to have sex and how to get around any restrictions in place to prevent it. On the other hand they might not figure out how to do it safely, or even recognize the need.

      I will also say that I don't think theres a problem with teaching children gun safety. Although I wouldn't want the NRA teaching my children anything.

    2. Re:It's the inconsistency.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      More seriously, I think the flaw in the right wing argument is the assumption that teenagers need any promoting to figure out they want to have sex

      No, they're right about that. In my teenage years, I had a lot of romantic ideals. I didn't really care about having sex until pressure from my peers and the media convinced me that it was the best thing ever and my life was worthless if I didn't have it.*
      The real flaw in the right wing's argument is that the promotion is going to come from society, regardless of anything they might try to do at school or in the family.

      (*: This turned out to be false.)

    3. Re:It's the inconsistency.. by wisty · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Free gun training is a fair analogy. It would promote gun use, but also make the gun use safer, unless the gun user meant to cause harm.

      Likewise, sex education will promote (slightly) more sex, and safer sex. It might also be bad business for brothels in the bible belt.

      I guess the morality of either plan would depend on your worldview.

    4. Re:It's the inconsistency.. by Yvanhoe · · Score: 2, Insightful

      A class about gun and sex safety... that would be awesome. Add in drugs and rock 'n roll and kids will finally learn to LOVE school again.

      --
      The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
  4. You see an African village... by Totenglocke · · Score: 3, Funny

    You are standing in front of an African village. >go north You are killed by AIDS.

    --
    "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
  5. since the average income for Kenya by atarione · · Score: 4, Insightful

    is about $1.32 a day... who exactly is going to have a computer to play this game ????

    or is the President of Kenya going to hold a LAN party ???

    --
    actually I am happy to see you, however that is in fact a banana in my pocket.
  6. Re:Help the poor heathens! by Quothz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Why does this seem like something the same people protesting Sexual Education in our American schools, to kids EXACTLY the same age, would support?

    Because... they did. This is funded largely by PEPFAR,* an organization legislated in '03 with strong bipartisan support, and signed into law by - that's right - Dubya Bush, who is a very vocal proponent of abstinence-only sex ed. Hee hee!

    PEPFAR notes that they distribute 2.2 billion condoms from 2004 to 2008. Alas, President Bush was unable to hand-sign them all, but he did sign for renewed (and increased) funding late in '08.

    *Okay, it's not clear how much of the bill PEPFAR's picking up. Warner Bros. appears to be footing the remainder. PEPFAR spends a lot, tho', overall; something over $9 billion a year at the moment.

  7. Re:Help the poor heathens! by aliquis · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I wouldn't have blamed you for, and probably would have encouraged you to, post anonymously.

    I don't care, do with it as you please.

    If true, and not by choice, I'm sorry.

    True? Yes.
    By choice? I wouldn't say so, though I guess my whole sex drive/partner intrest/.. may be lower than others, some special preferences (preferably non-animal eating to begin with) and I don't see why I should have sex with someone I find unattractive or don't like for whatever reason.

    I guess it can feel ok even with ugly people you don't have anything in common with but well, don't seem much worth it.

    Suck that I haven't found any attractive one or was to harsh on the vegan judging though, should probably had less restrictive filtering =P