ComputerAndVideoGames.com are one of the UK’s oldest and greatest online sources for video game writing. Many of us have looked to them for inspiration when we started our own journey down the path of writing words about games for other people’s entertainment. But they’re competitors now, aren’t they? We’re not supposed to publicly support or endorse them are we? Isn’t that the common logic?
Well, hogwash to all that. When we see a noble cause or a good idea we’ll throw ourselves behind it, regardless of where it’s come from. And this morning, CVG Editor and friend of TSA, Tim Ingham, had a very good idea.
Regular readers of TheSixthAxis might notice that we often point out idiocy in the mainstream media when it comes to discussing our favourite pastime. We complained about Alan Titchmarsh, Panorama and Watchdog. We highlighted the crass, hateful idiocy of the Daily Star more than once.
We’ve always been of the opinion that it’s not only incorrect and ill-advised when people with no knowledge of a subject speak out about it, it’s harmful and offensive. Today, CVG have decided to launch a campaign to highlight the instances when someone with little or no knowledge of video games or video game culture says something profoundly stupid about them.
Spurred on by this morning’s circus of ignorance on Channel 5’s Matthew Wright Show, CVG are making fun little badges to demonstrate when someone has spilled ignorance on our hobby. For those that missed the Matthew Wright Show, be that through employment, educational commitments or good taste, we’ll summarise what happened.
Matthew Wright smugly agreed with Stefanie Powers and Anne Diamond (who showed a less than honourable relationship with the truth when she appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, let’s not forget) when they decided that the recent tragic gang-related shooting of Agnes Sina-Inakoju, and today’s tabloid stories that the guns used were stored by a younger child, was probably the fault of Nintendo. I know, stunning, isn’t it?
Rather than focus on social issues and cultural movements that genuinely contribute to the rise of gang culture, they chose to offload all responsibility by pretending to themselves that it was because the people involved might have played a videogame once or twice. Maybe.
Here’s a direct quote from Stefanie Powers:
It’s the horrible violent video games which, I’m terribly sorry, they’ve been used far too long as baby-sitting devices, so that children are raised with these flashing, hot symbols of violence. And irresponsible violence; there’s no responsibility to the violence.
No, Stefanie, there is responsibility to the violence. The responsibility lies with the adults who purchase age-inappropriate, clearly marked and professionally rated material and then give it to minors. So, parents then. Mostly. I’d posit that at least some of the responsibility has to go on those that choose to divert attention from the genuine problems by scaremongering about entertainment media. So, you then, Stefanie. But why shoulder your part of the blame when it’s easier to point elsewhere? Avoiding the truth of an issue always results in a speedy correction of that problem doesn’t it? Er, no.
CVG’s campaign, although clearly put forward with a touch of humour, is one we fully support. They’ve called it Witless and Ridiculous Opinions of Non-Gamers (W.R.O.N.G.) and are asking for support from anyone who’ll lend it. Well, CVG, you’ve got our support on this one.
To join in with their campaign and to grab the little badges they’re making, head over to this page.
Kevling
I’m really glad Stephanie Powers explained what irresponsible violence meant. She’s right. With irresponsible violence, there is no responsibility to the violence. How can you argue with facts like that?
Seriously though, good work CVG.
Jambo
I always wonder if the reason for the attitudes is that they are uninformed or is it something deeper.
The ongoing success of Computer Games is not a great thing for traditional media, more people playing games is equivalent to less people watching TV.
Tanzil
…and the answers always the same, irresponsible parents/guardians or the video game being used as a scapegoat
Foxhound_Solid
I am in!
Lets teach the world its irresponsible parents not the gaming industry. If the parents hid their 18 games along with their PORN STASHES their children would never find the games to play them….
Ben
They have my full support.
gazzagb
Great stuff CVG, you have my support, unlike VG247’s who posted the “fake” Portal 2 video that turned out to be real. Luckily I didn’t watch it though.
Sympozium
So humans actually watch channel 5?
I’ll support W.R.O.N.G.., these people are just complete idiots
hazelam
sometimes, they are showing the walking dead, so i’ll watch that.
E8_BALL_
always amazes me how violent movies, with real people, weapons(poss replicas) & surroundings, are not used as possible instigators & games with pixels are.
hazelam
but hey, good news, alan titchmarsh apparently loves the 3ds. :)
eye8have9you3
I’m a bit confused here, because I watched the Wright stuff yesterday and was amazed how balanced the discussion on video games was, they talked to ‘proper’ gamers and seemed to agree that the blame lay heavily at the feet of the parents, and accepted that games may affect those with psychotic problems to begin with in the same way as films might
eye8have9you3
just re-read the article and they evidently re-visited the topic again this morning, in a much less balanced way