CONTENTION: Immoral games are leading to the breakdown of the family, and following that our wholesome good society.
RESPONSE: Let us assume this is true. How does one explain the characters of the architects of such devastation?
After 25 years of mind-altering subjection as many of us have experienced, we would surely be corrupted mass-murderers, organized criminals, rapists and drug-brokers by now. Even worse, who are the creators of the filth that made us this way, that so tempted and twisted us? What must they be? Surely Satans incarnate.
Journey to any electronics show. I wonder how many undercover police officers are on patrol, struggling to quell the dangerous mass that gathers. I wonder how many police chiefs prioritize this obvious centralized breeding ground of ill. Surely they do, if games do all that their critics say they do. When one walks into the halls one must behold the various screens wreathed in flames, set amongst rocky crags to which one can hop... assuming one can withstand the temperatures of the flows beneath thee. The exhibitors` horns drip with blood as they suckle the teats of their publisher bloat-gods, pausing only momentarily to gurgle a greetings and to take de vimmen.
Gosh... none of that is true (or at least most of it...). How do we explain the rampant civility of these affairs, where the masters of society's downfall collect to concentrate their Hellish fervors? Sure, there are buggy games, companies that make their livings making the same game over and over again, and product tie-ins, but beyond these sins I see nothing deplorable.
I cannot recall the last window-smashing/fire-bombing protester who got hauled away from one of these.
Hmmm. Maybe the notion that games breed real-world violence - that art causes reality - is a myth?
Why Do They Insist?...
As has been said many a time by voices that have been confident but far too quiet, attacking the art of others and the art appreciated by others who do not have powerful lobbies to monopolize the time of career government officials is an easy thing to be seen to be pursuing. Such people can then be seen to be taking a stand - to be doing, in an Age when the accomplishment of anything substantially worthwhile in this world can seem impossible. Art is an easy victim, an easy scapegoat. Reducing educational tuitions, weaning society off drugs... debating abortion rights, the separation of Church and State, universal socialized healthcare, rights to privacy versus rights of government to investigate crime, and plans for solvent future financial structures are all difficult things.
Some people in this world who call themselves leaders are not courageous enough to confront such real and tangible issues. Which isn't leadership at all.
Some people simply want to score "brownie points" with those segments of the population that are dull enough to be fooled by eloquent farce. Or ineloquent farce, as the case sometimes is, all for the next election.
Final Word...
Die-hard critics condemn art media of all kinds as if it is some newfound 'Font of Evil' threatening the world. The reality is that those who attack do not personally understand the hobbies: that which they personally do not understand, they fear. For some reason society seems to be letting their fears rule the rest of us.
It's not logical - its childish. And it's getting old.
Scott Hunter
Creative Designer/Tyrant
Dominus Animae
www.dominusanimae.com
Articles on WomenGamers.Com solely reflect the experiences and perspectives of the author(s). Feel free to agree or disagree in the accompanying forum thread.
