Here we go again with the attacks on video games and how they contain too much violence or other suggestive themes. This whole debate is so worn out that I'm already fed up with this blog post 37 words into it. As long as there are bored politicians on capital hill, overly-worried parents, or people who just take some topics way too seriously this whole argument will never end, and chances are that none of the above are going to take time to google MetaMeeks' blog or anyone's blog for that matter. People love thinking they're right, and they want to continue to think they're right even if all evidence points otherwise so I'm struggling to see how I'm not wasting my time especially when the topic is video games.
Quick question: What is the second word in video games? IT'S A GAME! It's meant to be fun and not taken seriously. They're not called "video reality" or "video life" for a reason. Don't you dare try to argue that they influence what the player does in real life or how they act too because I have yet to see someone dressed up as a frog, hopping across a freeway, dodging cars, and then coming back to life where they left off if they die. Give people at least enough credit to understand what's real and what isn't.
On a similar note, PLEASE be sure you have all the info before you complain about anything people. Take the whole Resident Evil 5 "racism" fiasco for example. People started freaking out and playing the racist card when they saw Chris Redfield shooting Las Plagas infected black people in a trailer. Everyone that complained about this failed to wait till it was revealed that the game takes place in Africa. It kind of makes sense that infected people were dominantly black, and I'm not saying that because I particularly enjoy killing any one race over another, I'm saying that because killing a bunch of infected Chinese people, for example, wouldn't make an ounce of sense in a game set in Africa.
Here's a thought experiment for everyone: Let's say it's my birthday and my mom promises to take me out to Applebee's for dinner so we hop in the car and away we go. While on our way to Applebee's though she says "Oh, there's been a change of plans; we're not going to Applebee's anymore." Am I going to start throwing a fit because we're not going to Applebee's as originally planned? No because we're already in the car so we're obviously going somewhere so I will wait to find out where we're going. Turns out we pull into Chuck E. Cheese (my favorite place to eat out) and all my family is there to celebrate. WHOOO! I have a great time, win that giant stuffed Chuck E. that costs 2,000 tickets, and I live happily ever after. Now how pointless and childish would it have been for me to complain and start kicking and screaming when I found out we weren't going to Applebee's? Get the picture?
Back to this whole debate: where were these equal rights activists when Leon was shooting up Spaniards in Resident Evil 4 to save the President's incompetent blond hair blue-eyed daughter? I'm dominantly Mexican and yeah that's a far cry from the Spaniards in RE4, but you don't see me complaining about the Mexican gangs in the Grand Theft Auto series or about how every Mexican character in a fighter has to be a luchadore (El Fuerte anyone?). It's because, once again, IT'S A GAME! So everyone complaining can get over themselves, find something else to do, and go watch your favorite blockbuster films (because those are all violent free and are sent straight to us by God himself).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No one mentions how every "American" character in fighting video games is an obese wrestler, like Rufus from the same game you mention. Is that racism as well? If those same watchdog "family advocacy" groups get all jibberjabbered about RE5, then they should also attack Rufus, just to avoid being hypocritical. Good luck though, because Rufus is a beast.
ReplyDeleteYou said it all, I have nothing else to say. Good job.
ReplyDeleteNo, but seriously, I agree. Our nation has some serious double standards about everything. Video games are violent, but we don't care about violence in movies. We are offended by playing a game where you kill Africans that are infect and trying to maul your face off, but not when they're Spanish.
Oh, and I laughed out loud about the Frogger thing. :)
I love your rage induced rant Metameeks. I absolutely agree with what it is you are saying. People like to pick at random what it is they have a problem with. If it is a video game that people enjoy playing than it is automatically evil. The more of these articles I read the more I realize there are a lot of bored angry people out there looking for something to hate.
ReplyDelete"They're not called "video reality" or "video life" for a reason."
ReplyDeleteHahaha. This made me laugh and it's true!
hahaa your sarcasim is awesome I love it.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right though, gamers know that videogames are just games. People act like they have a lower I.Q. or something that prevents them from being able to tell fiction from reality.