One of the men featured on the recent Panorama program has questioned the editing. The fabulously named Trent Pyro (can you have a more ‘gamer’ name than that?) was interviewed for the program and was seen on screen talking about his friend Joe, ‘He just eats, sleeps and eats games – it became his occupation,’ he said.
The program suggested that Joe had dropped out University to play games, his subsequent ‘addiction’ had cost him thousands of pounds, and he was now heavily in debt. Trent has written an editorial on This Is My Joystick to give his side of the story:
‘Firstly, Joe was thrown out of university because he was failing and he couldn’t afford to keep going. He did not drop out, as Addicted to Games explicitly tried to imply, because of playing games. He became disinterested and disenfranchised with his course and therefore had no drive to go.’
‘In his boredom, he began to play his Xbox more. So, his disinterest in university was a reason for his increase in gaming, not the other way around.’
‘Also worthy of note is that while much of the money he spent to get him into the ‘crippling debt’ ATG was so happy to impress was in fact spent on games, the actual debt was more a result of Joe not being very good with money. The debt was more a result of Joe’s bad budgeting skills than an addiction to gaming.’
It appears most of what Trent said to camera was cut with Panorama selecting only the most inflammatory comments:
‘During the filming they concentrated mainly on Joe as he was the main focus of the piece, but since I was his friend and had gaming sessions with him frequently during his ‘worst period’, they also asked me questions about him. One of these questions was included in the final edit, and I believe it was, in fact, the only thing that I said that was kept in. I believe this was because most of what I said did not support or even entertain their exaggerated view of games addiction and its causes.’
‘So, while it may seem to some that I was all for the cause that the BBC were creating, I was actually trying to inject some sanity into proceedings, all of which was cut. While I do not think I was misrepresented, my comments were used well within context, it was obvious to me that much of what I had said was tactically cut as it did not support the theme of the piece. It makes me wonder what else was cut in this was to maintain the mood and overall goal of ATG.’
You can read the full editorial from Trent by clicking here. It’s an excellent piece so make you sure you check it out. In the comments section a chap called Andy Knight has posted the following;
‘Joe was a friend of mine at one time also, not as close as you of course, but even online getting to know him I knew his personal issues were not solely down to playing games. So quite frankly I found it a joke that he was on the show, but hey ho, Joe will do anything for a bit of attention.’
If ‘Addicted To Gaming?’ were an ITV documentary I would have been less surprised by these revelations but the BBC is usually beyond such tabloid tactics. If the program has been ‘selectively edited’ it makes you wonder what other Panorama programs have misrepresented the facts.
Source: This Is My Joystick
icuyesido
I was disappointed with the BBC when I watched this, I though they would put over an equal argument, I was wrong.
kevhardy
When I was a boy Panorama was a hard-hitting and honest current events programme but it has now become a sensationalised visual represenattion of the gutter press.
I’m a social worker and, whilst I accept things do go badly wrong, there have been a couple of programmes recently which have been grossly innacurate and serve only to perpetuate the distorted view of that profession. It’s hardly surprising that the programme has decided to do the same with gaming. After all, a programme which said that “lot’s of people do, some of them go a bit too far,” wouldn’t have been very interesting.
Don’t watch it. It only encourages them.
Grey_Ghost13
The whole of the BBC has become sensationalised, from the news, to panorama to watchdog! If I could I wouldn’t pay my TV licence, the only thing the BBC is good or is Top Gear, and the big wigs at the BBC hate the show and resent it popularity!
Scythegpd
Even Top Gear has become a parody of itself in recent times. It used to be great but now it’s just degenerated into Clarkson mocking Hammond for being short (and putting something out of his reach) then both of them mocking May for being boring. Cut to Hammond crashing into May “accidentally on purpose”, Clarkson shouting at some part of the car, end with May in some contrived situation involving a crash/fire/explosion.
I think BBC should be like Sky or Virgin. You can choose not to pay your license in which case you don’t get access to their channels. The entire comporation has just become a bloated behemoth with overpaid executives and “stars” with sickening salaries and absurd expenses … but because they’re guaranteed their income via the compulsory license fee there is no incentive for them to do anything else, so they’ll just keep lapping from the gravy train.
bigdon23
I completely agree with every word Scythegpd, that is all.