Video games tend to get a bad reputation in the media. So bad in fact it seems that the public has been pulled along on a bandwagon of hatred against them. The trouble is, the media are always on the lookout for a story, and they’ve already whipped up a storm of noise about gaming being linked with violence and probably even horrendous diseases in some way, they know people want more of it. But it’s wrong.
Just recently, a young man was stabbed in the head for using hacks in Counter Strike Source. He survived, miraculously, but of course it was decided that the reason he was stabbed is because he was playing a game which is violent, as was whoever stabbed him. Apparently using a knife in game makes you want to do it in real life. Of course, that’s clearly not the case. Anyone with a modicum of sense about them knows that video games are exactly that; games, and not real. More likely is that the guy was stabbed for various reasons including his alleged hacking, perhaps some kind of feud between the two, but more likely, simply because the people he was playing with were of the violent sort anyway.
Let’s see, Modern Warfare 2, probably the best-selling game of all time, now first of all this game is rated 18 so shouldn’t really be in the hands of kids, but inevitably (through bad parenting, ignorance, or the few kids who are actually mature enough to play such things already – it’s not GTA after all) some will get their hands on it anyway. Do we see kids jumping from buildings thinking they can survive because they have commando pro? Do we see kids running around with knives and pistols on the streets trying to kill everyone we see? Do we even see kids getting into fights and reaching for a knife because “that’s what you do”? No we don’t. People recognise the fact that a game is a fantasy, they do not take a “sick pleasure” in killing other people, they take pleasure in knowing they are a better player than whoever they just killed over the internet, or from watching a story unfold.
The trouble with the media is it sets out to demonise these games because apparently they “promote violence”. In actual fact, violent behaviour is down to bad parenting, bad social skills, various issues. Sure a game could influence incredibly impressionable people, but then, they shouldn’t have their hands on such things anyway, so whoever is caring for them has failed their job.
It seems as though a vast majority of the public want a scapegoat for their own failures, and gaming just so happens to be an easy target. The simple fact there’s no huge backlash from gamers is a testament to how incorrect the media is. If you were to look at the demographics, a lot of gamers are normal people, the average age being around 30 last time I checked. Sure some kids will become withdrawn and would rather play games, but then that’s an issue with not being able to interact with others for whatever reason, usually because they’re alienated by their peers. It doesn’t turn them into axe-wielding murderers, at worst it turns them into depressed shut-ins, or simply basement nerds. Sure that’s a problem, but even that occurs for 1 out of every 100 people who play games, violent video games, anything.
The media, as usual, exaggerate the problem, and get it wrong. ITV recently did a feature on “violent video games”, and all it was was a couple of “experts” (who were nothing of the sort) slamming video games for the benefit of an ignorant and easily led audience, while someone actually involved in the industry tried to defend, simply being booed and shouted at.
The media problem will likely slowly disappear as the current generation start parenting, let’s just hope the ignorance doesn’t turn to something just as innocent.
