Man, they just won't stop.

[Seiryu]

I got the link for this trailer off of the Penny Arcade website. It seems that some people are using a documentary for scare tactics to take down video games (yes, again.) We have a term for that, it, of course, is called "muckraking." It was used in the early 1900s to get regulations on the meat industries and so forth. A good example of that was The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (which I have never read, but I heard was quite gross.) Are these people doing what's best for the nation or are they just ignorant? It seems like they're a bunch of old people that don't have anything better to do than get rid of things they don't understand.

Anyway, the video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIu3JMGxk3Q

And these are my comments on it:

We have ratings on games for a reason. If parents don't care enough and decide to buy a game rated M for their 9 year old, then they must sit them down and explain why it's rated M. You have to do the same thing with movies that are Rated R. The nice thing about books is that 9 year olds can't understand and don't have the attention span to read that violent book of a book.

But seriously: it's okay to let a kid watch a Rated R movie or play a Rated M game, but you have to take the responsibility to teach them that the game is just a game. But that's not the game company's job. It's the job of the parent. They did the proper thing and put the ratings on the game. That's as much as they can or should do. Same with movies and TV.

[Dr. Mobius]

Nothing like a little propaganda to bring the ignorant masses to your side of a pointless conflict.

[Jebus]

Meyers: I did a little research and I discovered a startling thing...
There was violence in the past, long before cartoons were invented.
Kent: I see. Fascinating.
Meyers: Yeah, and know something? The Crusades, for instance. Tremendous violence, many people killed, the darned thing went on for thirty years.
Kent: And this was before cartoons were invented?
Meyers: That's right, Kent.

[Dr. Mobius]

I missed it the first time, but they have Myst in the trailer. Man, now I can totally see how these games are nothing but overly violent murder simulators that train our children to be gang thugs and terrorists. I guess now I'll have to find something else to distract my kids while I ignore my parental responsibilities.

[Seiryu]

Did you guys read the comments on Youtube?

Okay, well, one of the "statistics" said that about half of America plays video games and one of the best replies to this is:

"If HALF of America plays video games, how come the other half aren't dead already?

You know because everyone who plays video games is a killer."

That's pretty much true. If video games had that kind of affect, then that 50% would turn into 100% because those assholes WOULD be dead.

[zeroguy]

Meyers: I did a little research and I discovered a startling thing...
There was violence in the past, long before cartoons were invented.
Kent: I see. Fascinating.
Meyers: Yeah, and know something? The Crusades, for instance. Tremendous violence, many people killed, the darned thing went on for thirty years.
Kent: And this was before cartoons were invented?
Meyers: That's right, Kent.

So, clearly, the answer is to change games like GTA and Super Colombine RPG into games about sharing pies with each other. So that way, they both have pie.

[Seiryu]

But pies make you fat. That won't do.

[fawkes]

Must... resist... urge to kill... See, because I play video games, get it? Despite the fact that one of my favorite games is Kingdom Hearts, chock full of Diney characters, clearly I'm going to go on a murderous rampage. Damn, but Goofy just sets me off.

[eriador]

BAG, you are now officially my hero.

[Qing_Jao]

No joke, especially when he and Donald get in your way in the Lotus Forest. And zillions of other places. I really didn't need to look up your nose, thanks.

My kids probably see more violence on the video games than they need to, but that's cuz I'm the one playing them. I'm teaching them that it's pretend, that it's a stress reliever.

[Seiryu]

[serious]Oddly enough, Cooking Mama makes me want to go on a cooking rampage and Trauma Center makes me...not want to be a surgeon. If I kill all my patients on the game, real patients aren't much better off. [/serious]

Halo makes me want to kill those covenant bastards! Rargh! I just can't stand them.

[vendor]

just require that all games rated M have to be purchased with a card. the older people without anything better to do should be satisfied and kids will have to get parents permission to get the game.

Personally, I cannot go too long without Jade Empire.

[Fish Tank]

Ahh shoot the last four hours I've been playing Gears of War.... better go kill some people.

[fawkes]

Oooooh, how about Okami? That's a game where you kill demons with a magical brush and god-powers. See how much it relates to real life?

The whole problem with this "video games lead to violence" thing is that no one can morally conduct an experiment to determine whether children will be influenced by violent games. Which is dumb in itself, because of course kids will be affected, it's just how they're affected that's worrying everybody.

Seriously, though, I wish I could get an "I hate Jack Thompson" t-shirt... You know, just because.

[eriador]

I think we all do. Cafépress time.

[Seiryu]

What they fail to realize is that there are a lot of sports games out there, but then again, there's a lot of fat gamers out there. Obviously it's not having that dramatic of an impact that it encourages one to take something up such as shooting, cooking, playing sports, operating, walking around a village inhabited with animals and run errands for them so you can pay off your house, etc.

[fawkes]

They just want a scapegoat, and video games are the flavor of the month.

[Seiryu]

Back in the day, I believe it was rock and roll music, then Marilyn Manson himself, and so forth. Next thing you know it will be...EMO KIDS. Don't let your kids hang around emos, they will lead your kid to violence!

[Fish Tank]

They just want a scapegoat, and video games are the flavor of the month.

Indeed, forbid that people actually take responsibility for their actions.

[anonshadow]

Did you guys read the comments on Youtube?

Okay, well, one of the "statistics" said that about half of America plays video games and one of the best replies to this is:

"If HALF of America plays video games, how come the other half aren't dead already?

You know because everyone who plays video games is a killer."

That's pretty much true. If video games had that kind of affect, then that 50% would turn into 100% because those assholes WOULD be dead.

I don't get your theory of causation. If video games made people violent, why would they only lash out at those who didn't play video games? How the hell would they even know?

"Hey, uh, I wanna beat you sh*tless, but first, tell me, do you play video games?"
"Yep."
"Ah, damn. Okay, thanks anyway."

[Fish Tank]

Did you guys read the comments on Youtube?

Okay, well, one of the "statistics" said that about half of America plays video games and one of the best replies to this is:

"If HALF of America plays video games, how come the other half aren't dead already?

You know because everyone who plays video games is a killer."

That's pretty much true. If video games had that kind of affect, then that 50% would turn into 100% because those assholes WOULD be dead.

I don't get your theory of causation. If video games made people violent, why would they only lash out at those who didn't play video games? How the hell would they even know?

"Hey, uh, I wanna beat you sh*tless, but first, tell me, do you play video games?"
"Yep."
"Ah, damn. Okay, thanks anyway."

Well the more likely thing to happen is all us gamers are inside playing videogames.... when everyone else kills each other.

Also... haven't you heard of Vidar? Us gamers know each other.

[AnthonyByakko]

I think you killed me in Gears of War!

[zeroguy]

I don't get your theory of causation. If video games made people violent, why would they only lash out at those who didn't play video games? How the hell would they even know?

The gamers are the ones also killing everyone. Going after the peaceful nongamers is an easier frag.

[AnthonyByakko]

See: Penny Arcade.

[Seiryu]

Did you guys read the comments on Youtube?

Okay, well, one of the "statistics" said that about half of America plays video games and one of the best replies to this is:

"If HALF of America plays video games, how come the other half aren't dead already?

You know because everyone who plays video games is a killer."

That's pretty much true. If video games had that kind of affect, then that 50% would turn into 100% because those assholes WOULD be dead.

I don't get your theory of causation. If video games made people violent, why would they only lash out at those who didn't play video games? How the hell would they even know?

"Hey, uh, I wanna beat you sh*tless, but first, tell me, do you play video games?"
"Yep."
"Ah, damn. Okay, thanks anyway."

You're right. I thought of this while I was posting, but the way I figure it is this: by the time the gamers get done killing, it would eventually even out to where only the gamers were still alive. You still have gamers getting killed, too, but at the rate we supposedly do it, then the population will be down enough so that eventually the non-gamers are gone because they might not have as many killers among them. Besides that, it was only a joke and an exaggeration.

[Dr. Mobius]

If video games make us violent, how the hell is Jack Thomson still alive? He'd be right at the very top of everyone's hit lists.

[Snowdemon]

You bring up an interesting point, I wonder if any has ever said that to him. How would he counter that? It also makes me wonder if he has recieved death threats and failed assasanation attempts.

[Dr. Mobius]

I don't know about assassination attempts, but idiots email him death threats all the time.

[Ua Lava]

Thomson has received plenty of death threats, but those are from idiots and they only serve to prove his point that gamers are violent killers. True gamers sent e-mails pointing out all of the reasons why he is wrong. He hates those people more than the death threats.

Games are violent, but so is a lot of entertainment. It up to people to draw the line between fantasy and reality.

If video games can be the cause of crimes, can they cause wars too?

[luminousnerd]

Man, it would take someone really stupid to kill Jack Thompson...if that ever happens I'm going to kill whoever did it.

Man, what a retard that would have to be...

[fawkes]

...if that ever happens I'm going to kill whoever did it.

Yes, because that would solve everything.

I think we're trying to convince people we're not a bunch of bloodthirsty killers.

[luminousnerd]

I guess you completely missed the irony. I thought it would be obvious, but I guess not.

[fawkes]

Bah, irony is lost on a digital medium. Since you apparently missed the irony of my statement. OR DID I?


... Seriously, I need to not write when I'm hopped up on sugar. I'm not making any sense to myself.

[luminousnerd]

Bah, irony is lost on a digital medium. Since you apparently missed the irony of my statement. OR DID I?


... Seriously, I need to not write when I'm hopped up on sugar. I'm not making any sense to myself.

You're also confusing me to no end.

Ah well, it's all good right?

Also I'm currently high on Cocaine.

[fawkes]

You're also confusing me to no end.

Success! That was my plan all along! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!