Video games vs. American Values
It is becoming more and more apparent that bastions of old media are expressing fear over the rising influence of video games.
According to a post on Townhall.com, Grand Theft Auto 4 is a threat to American values. In reading the piece, I expressed anger that he was blaming the world’s problems on video games, much like other politicians have done and continue to do. If anything, the fact that the game has managed to sell well should highlight the fact that the video game economy is thriving, while every other sector (with some exceptions) are dying.
The main problem with these ‘moral crusaders’ is that it seems easier to attack outside factions rather than inside influences. Blame the media for your problems rather than your own bad parenting seems to be the way to go. There are positive forms of media to counterbalance these negative forms; incorporate them into your life if you are so concerned about it, and give your children the common sense to avoid the bad forms of media that exist.
As for GTA 4, it is not going anywhere, if this article by Joystiq.com is any indication.
Another attack on ‘American Values’ by games comes from Spore, a game where players are encouraged to create their own creatures. Of course, it has led some to create animals that are less than savory, and thus cause watchdog media groups to label it ‘Sporn.’ CNN has the report here.
I am confident that the companies who make this game will find a way to regulate what is shown in the game, in an odd way, I actually find it funny that this stuff was shown; after all, we do have freedoms of speech and expression, for better or worse.
I completely agree.
Parents nowadays don’t seem to understand that they must talk to their kids about the “wrong’s and rights” of the media.
Generally, teaching a child what is morally acceptible in society will do the trick. However, if you try and shield modern media from their eyes, they’ll only want to engage it more.
It disgusts me how closed minded these ‘christian moral crusaders’ are. “Close your eyes, cover your ears, and pray.” while doing everything you can to ruin today’s media for everybody else. Sickening. Perhaps if they opened their minds a little, while looking through the boundries of their strict moral beliefs, they’d realize it wasn’t so bad.
Just my two’cents.