That is one angry Mario. See that finger? That fury on his face? Yes. He is angry. With good reason.
I was hesitant to embark on this topic. That said, I feel like I need to. Too often in this country when a tragedy occurs there are certain individuals who will rush to the media and begin pointing fingers. Why is this? Is it to push an agenda? Are they starved for fame or attention? Why this need to show up in the midst of a chaotic time and start pointing fingers.
Most recently, and yet again, the finger is pointed at video game violence. Jack Thompson, here in referred to as Voldemort (an affectionate nickname coined for him by, if I am not mistaken, http://www.kotaku.com/) has again come out swinging his almighty sword of righteousness at the video game industry and the content of games. This is in response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
Ridiculous.
The content of games cannot be used as a scapegoat to explain the behavior of a mentally ill person. He took guns into a school and shot people. It is a tragedy but it is not because he may or may not have played counterstrike in high school.
He was disturbed. He was sick. He needed help that was not available to him or that he did not take advantage of. His games did not make him want to do what he did.
For someone to use this tragedy to push his inexplicable agenda against video games is despicable to say the least.
Responsibility in a case like this cannot be delegated to entertainment. It is not Marilyn Manson’s fault that some kids shot up their school and it is not the fault of video games that it happened again.
This was the action of one individual.
Video games have come with ratings for several years. There are a great many games released each year that are made for adults. They contain violence; occasionally they may have sexual content. They are rated M for mature. You must be 18 or older to purchase these games.
A parent can say no to their child if they do not want them to play a mature rated game.
Voldemort would have you think that video games are training grounds for future murderers. He’d have you think that a video game can directly lead to someone picking up a weapon and going on a rampage. I’m not sure how shooting a gun in a video game can prepare someone for shooting a gun in reality. I’ve shot a gun in real life and I can assure you it’s not the same as pressing the X button on my 360 controller. For one thing my thumb doesn’t hurt for an hour afterwards like my shoulder did.
Is it possible for someone mentally challenged to take his love of games and translate it to real life in negative ways? Maybe, but that isn’t anything that can be controlled by you or I or some lawyer with a hard on for camera lights.
It is not fair to condemn an industry based on the actions of an individual.
It is reprehensible to exploit the deaths of 30+ people as a way to dish out judgment and further a political agenda.
There are times when “What caused this?” is a question that cannot be answered. Pointing fingers will not wipe away the filth of not knowing. It won’t shine some divine light onto the truths you’re looking for. It just won’t.
Bad things happen.
You can’t find answers in blame.
Most recently, and yet again, the finger is pointed at video game violence. Jack Thompson, here in referred to as Voldemort (an affectionate nickname coined for him by, if I am not mistaken, http://www.kotaku.com/) has again come out swinging his almighty sword of righteousness at the video game industry and the content of games. This is in response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
Ridiculous.
The content of games cannot be used as a scapegoat to explain the behavior of a mentally ill person. He took guns into a school and shot people. It is a tragedy but it is not because he may or may not have played counterstrike in high school.
He was disturbed. He was sick. He needed help that was not available to him or that he did not take advantage of. His games did not make him want to do what he did.
For someone to use this tragedy to push his inexplicable agenda against video games is despicable to say the least.
Responsibility in a case like this cannot be delegated to entertainment. It is not Marilyn Manson’s fault that some kids shot up their school and it is not the fault of video games that it happened again.
This was the action of one individual.
Video games have come with ratings for several years. There are a great many games released each year that are made for adults. They contain violence; occasionally they may have sexual content. They are rated M for mature. You must be 18 or older to purchase these games.
A parent can say no to their child if they do not want them to play a mature rated game.
Voldemort would have you think that video games are training grounds for future murderers. He’d have you think that a video game can directly lead to someone picking up a weapon and going on a rampage. I’m not sure how shooting a gun in a video game can prepare someone for shooting a gun in reality. I’ve shot a gun in real life and I can assure you it’s not the same as pressing the X button on my 360 controller. For one thing my thumb doesn’t hurt for an hour afterwards like my shoulder did.
Is it possible for someone mentally challenged to take his love of games and translate it to real life in negative ways? Maybe, but that isn’t anything that can be controlled by you or I or some lawyer with a hard on for camera lights.
It is not fair to condemn an industry based on the actions of an individual.
It is reprehensible to exploit the deaths of 30+ people as a way to dish out judgment and further a political agenda.
There are times when “What caused this?” is a question that cannot be answered. Pointing fingers will not wipe away the filth of not knowing. It won’t shine some divine light onto the truths you’re looking for. It just won’t.
Bad things happen.
You can’t find answers in blame.
No comments:
Post a Comment