Today brought the release of Grand Theft Auto IV and, as expected, has managed to generate horrendous amounts of controversy and people practically screaming for it to be banned. They are predominantly the worried parents of today, desperate to keep their little kiddies out of harm's way and generally irritating normal people. Their case for censoring video games is certainly a riveting one; it has been 'proven' that they promote violence, drug abuse and the apparently common profession of pimping. It amuses me that there's really very little evidence to show a link between violent games causing real violence. Of course, you'll always get the psychos locked away in their basement simulating their future crimes, but that's more using the games as a medium rather than them causing the behaviour.
Allow me to delve deeper into the mind of our resident cellar-dweller. His name is Neil. At 23 years old, he's dropped out of university and resides at his mother's. Greasy, sweaty and twitching he clutches his gamepad like a child. Supplied with tortilla chips and Red Bull he relishes his kills and can rattle off the name of every gun ever. Killing's easy for Neil. Banished from society he aims to take revenge on those who think they're better than him.
As many people as possible. See you in the news Neil, rusty claw-hammer and all.
The root of this problem really lies with the people who fuss about it. Violent games are given an age rating so they hopefully fall into the hands of those who are capable of distinguishing between fantasy and reality (of course, excluding our reclusive minority), rather than impressionable children. Real parenting seems to have been substituted for blame culture; parents blaming the gaming industry for all society's problems instead of actually being responsible with their children and keeping them away from inappropriate material. Out of laziness, people seem to be using games (especially the GTA series) as scapegoats for their little tykes ending up on the streets. It's the responsibility of the parents to keep their children away from what they don't want them to see, not the industry that provides them.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to play my favourite scapegoat.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Sunday, 27 April 2008
At a time one day future historians will call "The Past"
Welcome to the society of the bleeding obvious
Yesterday while I was walking a street preacher shouted across to me "Today is the first day of the rest of your week". I continued to ignore him just as I have always avoided fictional characters in case they give me nightmares but I was disappointed in the Christian faith. "A game is not worth playing if the opponent gives up", and yes, now I'm pointing out the bleeding obvious but the point is still valid. Being an atheist it is always fun to invite Jehovah's witnesses in when they come a-knocking trying to get me to embrace the love of Jesus but arguing with them and not letting them leave is far more worthwhile.
One could spend hours arguing how God might or might not exist and if he does why do certain things happen or not happen. But to have the faith sink so low that they must recruit new followers by pointing out things they already know seems like a failure to me.
Christianity needs to put up a decent enough fight again because arguing with Judaism, Islam, the Catholics (who are, lets face it, average Christians on a very, very bad hair day) will undoubtedly result in a lot more anger, violence and in all cases "the wrath of God".
The worst thing an angry Protestant will do is throw their tea-cakes at me.
Yesterday while I was walking a street preacher shouted across to me "Today is the first day of the rest of your week". I continued to ignore him just as I have always avoided fictional characters in case they give me nightmares but I was disappointed in the Christian faith. "A game is not worth playing if the opponent gives up", and yes, now I'm pointing out the bleeding obvious but the point is still valid. Being an atheist it is always fun to invite Jehovah's witnesses in when they come a-knocking trying to get me to embrace the love of Jesus but arguing with them and not letting them leave is far more worthwhile.
One could spend hours arguing how God might or might not exist and if he does why do certain things happen or not happen. But to have the faith sink so low that they must recruit new followers by pointing out things they already know seems like a failure to me.
Christianity needs to put up a decent enough fight again because arguing with Judaism, Islam, the Catholics (who are, lets face it, average Christians on a very, very bad hair day) will undoubtedly result in a lot more anger, violence and in all cases "the wrath of God".
The worst thing an angry Protestant will do is throw their tea-cakes at me.
Saturday, 26 April 2008
The rest of those dominoes will fall like a house of cards...
Captain's Log for the twenty sixth day of the fourth month of the two thousand and eighth year....point two....and three quarters...
The time has come to take a step outside into the real world and move on from the "baby horse standing up for the first time" style of writing. With England supposedly doomed and everywhere six feet underwater by tomorrow afternoon according to many scientists and various films, we thought we should get out there and make our absurd views "heard through writing".
Health and Exercise "Crisis"
Why on earth should we be bombarded every fifteen minutes with advert after advert about the new exercise possibilities or the different ways to get your "five-a-day" which apparently if you don't get, one would keel over from malnutrition. How difficult is it for people to say take five minutes out of their day and go a for a walk instead of paying extortionate amounts to gym clubs that ultimately offer the exact same thing. It's not as if they are the ones who going to do the exercise for you. The only thing you're paying the trainer to do is to watch you do this exercise without actually going anywhere and occasionally say the words "Just a bit more. You can do this. You have to want it."
How difficult could it be to get the tiniest bit of exercise, I ran three miles today, finally turned around and said "Fine lady, take your purse. There's not that much in it anyway."
The time has come to take a step outside into the real world and move on from the "baby horse standing up for the first time" style of writing. With England supposedly doomed and everywhere six feet underwater by tomorrow afternoon according to many scientists and various films, we thought we should get out there and make our absurd views "heard through writing".
Health and Exercise "Crisis"
Why on earth should we be bombarded every fifteen minutes with advert after advert about the new exercise possibilities or the different ways to get your "five-a-day" which apparently if you don't get, one would keel over from malnutrition. How difficult is it for people to say take five minutes out of their day and go a for a walk instead of paying extortionate amounts to gym clubs that ultimately offer the exact same thing. It's not as if they are the ones who going to do the exercise for you. The only thing you're paying the trainer to do is to watch you do this exercise without actually going anywhere and occasionally say the words "Just a bit more. You can do this. You have to want it."
How difficult could it be to get the tiniest bit of exercise, I ran three miles today, finally turned around and said "Fine lady, take your purse. There's not that much in it anyway."
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