Being a parent, gamer and politically aware, I don't think Mr. McKenna has done any actual research before writing this article. Has he spoken with any parents, politicians or game designers prior to making gross generalizations like "The problem that many parents face is the simple fact that they know little or nothing about videogaming" or "The dilemma faced by most parents is that they can't tell the difference between Grand Theft Auto and Civilization IV"?
The undefined "antivideogame lobby" he has referred to does not exist as a monolithic entity but is a loose connection of religious groups, parent groups and self-serving politicians who don't have a coherent message. And in most cases, none of these groups is opposed to or expects to "ban" all videogames. They are opposed in most cases to the objectionable games like the GTA series (which deserve their reputation).
While many parents may not recognize "Civilization", many are old enough to have played the original and to have encouraged their children to play it as well (which mine do). While I understand that this was an "opinion" piece, please have facts or at least considered opinions prior to blathering that "By highlighting the GTA's of this world specifically and demonising the industry many parents are being moved to throw out the baby with the bathwater in totally banning videogames in their homes ".
While not religious myself, I live in what others have generalized as the "Bible Belt" and I cannot point to one family that has "banned" video games from the home.
Mr. McKenna, by lumping parents or the "antivideogame lobby" into pigeonholes like this, you are doing exactly what you are excoriating them for doing; judging all by one example.
Games like GTA and the like should be kept in back rooms along with "adult videos". The problem is not that parents don't understand, it's that it's sometimes very difficult to control what children do when you try to balance giving them freedom to explore and trusting them to make good decisions with a parents desire to protect and defend their children from both physical and mental harm. It's not just a matter of "looking over their shoulder" either, sometimes they aren't in your house! Before you place blame, talk to your parents, your friends' parents, etc.
Just as I wouldn't expose my children to "nude mud-wrestling" or "midget tossing" or "fight-club like events" or even bullfighting, as these are crude, exploitative and morally and personaly degrading, I don't want them to "enjoy" the gratuitous virtual violence in GTA which sends all the wrong signals to a group of impressionable young minds. Will it lead them to violent behavior as adults? Most likely not, but why encourage enjoyment of hate and violence? What parents want, I think, is more help and understanding from a video game industry that is focused strictly on "sales at all costs" with no thought of what may be "inappropriate" for young children or even teenagers and young adults (older adults are too far gone to worry about!).
Always remember, there's a bigger picture outside your personal "space".
btw: I assume you meant "indicative" as opposed to "vindictive"?
The undefined "antivideogame lobby" he has referred to does not exist as a monolithic entity but is a loose connection of religious groups, parent groups and self-serving politicians who don't have a coherent message. And in most cases, none of these groups is opposed to or expects to "ban" all videogames. They are opposed in most cases to the objectionable games like the GTA series (which deserve their reputation).
While many parents may not recognize "Civilization", many are old enough to have played the original and to have encouraged their children to play it as well (which mine do). While I understand that this was an "opinion" piece, please have facts or at least considered opinions prior to blathering that "By highlighting the GTA's of this world specifically and demonising the industry many parents are being moved to throw out the baby with the bathwater in totally banning videogames in their homes ".
While not religious myself, I live in what others have generalized as the "Bible Belt" and I cannot point to one family that has "banned" video games from the home.
Mr. McKenna, by lumping parents or the "antivideogame lobby" into pigeonholes like this, you are doing exactly what you are excoriating them for doing; judging all by one example.
Games like GTA and the like should be kept in back rooms along with "adult videos". The problem is not that parents don't understand, it's that it's sometimes very difficult to control what children do when you try to balance giving them freedom to explore and trusting them to make good decisions with a parents desire to protect and defend their children from both physical and mental harm. It's not just a matter of "looking over their shoulder" either, sometimes they aren't in your house! Before you place blame, talk to your parents, your friends' parents, etc.
Just as I wouldn't expose my children to "nude mud-wrestling" or "midget tossing" or "fight-club like events" or even bullfighting, as these are crude, exploitative and morally and personaly degrading, I don't want them to "enjoy" the gratuitous virtual violence in GTA which sends all the wrong signals to a group of impressionable young minds. Will it lead them to violent behavior as adults? Most likely not, but why encourage enjoyment of hate and violence? What parents want, I think, is more help and understanding from a video game industry that is focused strictly on "sales at all costs" with no thought of what may be "inappropriate" for young children or even teenagers and young adults (older adults are too far gone to worry about!).
Always remember, there's a bigger picture outside your personal "space".
btw: I assume you meant "indicative" as opposed to "vindictive"?
I'm already that old, that I like it when someone calls me young.
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