tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044826704035279962.post8727031207629301794..comments2024-03-28T17:16:25.333-04:00Comments on Mad Padre: Video Games And War CrimesMad Padrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00410143683610813671noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044826704035279962.post-34569884215144646792013-11-22T14:50:54.921-05:002013-11-22T14:50:54.921-05:00An interesting analysis of video games has been do...An interesting analysis of video games has been done by Dave Grossman and Gloria Degaetano in "Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie & Video Game Violence" Grossman cites research pointing to some clear links between violence and high-reality video games, and draws a parallel between the conditioning done by FPS type games, and the US military's training of soldiers to mentally condition them to kill.sameo416http://sameo416.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044826704035279962.post-59625280415230313942013-11-13T09:36:44.388-05:002013-11-13T09:36:44.388-05:00This is a topic about which I feel quite strongly,...This is a topic about which I feel quite strongly, so forgive me if this isn't particularly articulate - passion rarely makes for clarity. <br /><br />I can see the superficial attractions of that particular course of action, however, I would argue that this would be a very poor course of action to follow for a society that values freedom of ideas. There is good art and there is bad art, but I believe that Western Culture would be the poorer , if we begin to conflate the image and the reality - mistaking the fantasy for the act. <br /><br />The findings of the case of the convicted Royal Marine are emotionally complex (there but for the grace of God go I), but legally simple. However, when playing a game or writing a book or directing a play, it is vital for the health of the society for the artist to explore those aspects of ourselves that are ugly. I'm not suggesting that they not be bound by considerations of taste - but the market place of ideas will sort out what is acceptable to the public in very short order. A producer of art can choose not to explore a particular option (I don't allow players to kill prisoners in my Little Wars game for example), but I don't think they should be forbidden from exploring. <br /><br />I see no problem with a group attempting to persuade a producer not to do something - I am just extremely wary of the state getting involved. It may be acceptable in the 21st West to criminalise certain forms of expression as "hate speech". But the problem is that states have no friends, little loyalty and no honour. <br /><br />I may consider men like Richard Dawkins or David Irving to be beneath contempt, but they must be allowed to speak. If ideas are to be free, all ideas must be free - the bad ones as well as the good. <br /><br />There is a report, as yet unconfirmed, that eight people were tied to stakes in a stadium in front of over 10,000 people including children in the North Korean city of Wonsan. Their crimes included watching South Korean films, involvement in prostitution, possession of pornography and possession of a bible. <br /><br />They were then shot. <br /><br />This is an extreme example, but if we do not speak up for the freedom of bad ideas, who will speak for the good? Conrad Kinchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683395740934527502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044826704035279962.post-80988158213697701132013-11-12T17:15:06.358-05:002013-11-12T17:15:06.358-05:00As always, an interesting and thought-provoking po...As always, an interesting and thought-provoking post. I think this is a good idea.<br /><br />If we can't (or rather, the games companies won't) penalise virtual criminal behaviour, then they should at least stop rewarding it. On 'points' mode on a certain popular FPS, finishing off a wounded enemy with a pistol gives you bonus points. I can't help but think of the similarity between the behaviour that game rewards and the case of the Royal Marine convicted of murder in a similar situation. Impossible to draw any link and I'm sure if there WAS a link it was not at all a conscious, deliberate one, but interesting nonetheless.<br /><br />Having said that, one could equally argue that this would be the thin end of the wedge. Should ALL behaviour be virtually legal? What about a virtual court to police all of your games, a virtual court with virtual penalties? Sounds absurd, but before stepping off down a road you should think about what's at the end of it. <br /><br />Games are fundamentally about escapism, and the grim fact is that a lot of the most 'fun' things are often illegal. There is a strong and direct financial motivation to make these 'fun' games, and fighting against a financial motivation is the hardest thing a legislative assembly can attempt.<br /><br />The optimist in me would say that the majority of people can differentiate between real life and games, and that they can even act as a cathartic safety valve, playing out frustrations and anger in a harmless environment.<br /><br />The fact is, we will not know for certain how this sort of thing affects the human mind for a long time until medical advances catch up. That could be hundreds of years - and until then, with lives at stake, the pessimist in me would err on the side of caution.<br /><br />Thoughts, Mike?Colonel Scipiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02632701529009379584noreply@blogger.com