On Facebook, earlier, a friend of mine shared this photo. It sort of put me into a mood of venting out a bit of why what this picture says bothers me so much.
We know our society has problems when it's considered acceptable (or at least not terrible problematic) for kids and teenagers to play games full of violence, drinking, alcohol, and sexual content, but people see it as a problem when an adu
We know our society has problems when it's considered acceptable (or at least not terrible problematic) for kids and teenagers to play games full of violence, drinking, alcohol, and sexual content, but people see it as a problem when an adu
lt (or sometimes even a teenager) plays a game that's free of all that and has more cute animals than anything. Heck, no Pokémon even die, they just faint. XD
I'm not trying to slam GTA or promote Pokémon (though yes Pokémon is fantastic), but I'm saying take a step back and look at things like they are. I can't be the only one who sees a problem with this....
Yes, I'm Christian, so yes I perhaps present some bias to a post such as this. GTA crosses many moral guidelines I try and adhere to, whereas Pokémon does not. However, I'm not sure why some people can't see a problem with this from even a secular standpoint.
We want a society where people get their happily-ever-afters. We sort of work against this, though, by allowing kids and teenagers to be exposed to things like GTA. Really, do we want to teach kids that visiting a prostitute will fix their problems? That violence is an acceptable answer? That it's more fun to break the law than follow it? I know I may sound extreme, but isn't this, when you look at it, exactly what games like GTA teach? Basic idea of it is that you set out accomplishing tasks for underworld criminals. Personally, I do not want any possible future child of mine growing up to think that living the best life, full of excitement and fun, will result from becoming a criminal-on-the-run. But when a child sees this game, watches a family member or friend play it, they take in more than we know. Want to know where kids get fantasies about how fun it would be to steal a car and just run with it, "living on the edge"? It's not a birth-trait. We instill those values in them. I'm not saying someone playing or watching GTA is gonna' turn them into an underworld criminal. Some kids can be exposed to this and be fine (though arguably it would still instill ideas about prostitution in them that they don't need). However, there are some people who would turn this into their world. Some people who get so sucked in the game becomes life and life becomes a game. Sure, we put ratings on the games, but that doesn't mean it keeps them from the hands on younger players. I know 13-year-olds who are huge fans of the GTA franchise. Why? Someone else sees no problem with buying it for them and giving it to them. Also, aside from even points I've made here, check out the section titled "Controvesy" on the GTA wiki page if you don't believe it's caused problems. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_(series)#Controversy
Then we have Pokémon. I'm sure most of you know what it is. You play as a Trainer, catching Pokémon and training them up as your team to fight, so you can become the Pokémon Master. As mentioned above, no one even dies. There's no major/graphic violence, even if you are "attacking" other Pokémon. The game does, though, encourage you being friendly towards your Pokémon, as many can evolve or gain other boosts due to higher friendship levels. Yet we criticise teens or adults for playing this. Why? "Because it's a children's game." Oh, okay. SORRY. Guess you gotta' stop watching any cartoons, then, because they're made for children. Oh, and you can't eat Lucky Charms, Froot Loops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc, because they're made for children. Oh, no more toys, either - they're for children. My point is, what does it matter if an adult wants to play a game designed for children? It won't do him harm, but in fact good. Why should any other adult be allowed to engage in drinking as a hobby, or smoking as a hobby, or drugs as a hobby, or gambling as a hobby, when they say another adult can't play Pokémon as a hobby? It's ridiculous. Pokémon doesn't destroy your liver, ruin your lungs, break down your body, or waste your money. So why do people not approve of it? "Because it's a children's game." I DON'T CARE. I'd rather see the adults of today's world play Pokémon than the children of today's world be exposed to GTA.
If your only problem with adults playing Pokémon is because "it's designed for children" and you don't see a problem with an 8-year-old being exposed to a game that's rated M (proof here: http://www.ebgames.ca/browse?nav=16k-GTA_) for a reason (Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol, Use of Drugs ; if we look at the latest, GTA IV for PS3) please try and gain some perspective. Even if you don't see a problem with young adults being exposed to above-listed elements, at least stop seeing a problem with a young adult or adult being exposed to none of that by choosing to play Pokémon.
This isn't the only place we can see how badly we need some perspective. This is just one area. But please, no matter your original bias, try and set it aside and get a new perspective on this.
We wonder why we have a violent, sexualized, self-pleasing world? Let's look at what values we're instilling in the generation that's forming society. I think the answer is easy enough to find.
I'm not trying to slam GTA or promote Pokémon (though yes Pokémon is fantastic), but I'm saying take a step back and look at things like they are. I can't be the only one who sees a problem with this....
Yes, I'm Christian, so yes I perhaps present some bias to a post such as this. GTA crosses many moral guidelines I try and adhere to, whereas Pokémon does not. However, I'm not sure why some people can't see a problem with this from even a secular standpoint.
We want a society where people get their happily-ever-afters. We sort of work against this, though, by allowing kids and teenagers to be exposed to things like GTA. Really, do we want to teach kids that visiting a prostitute will fix their problems? That violence is an acceptable answer? That it's more fun to break the law than follow it? I know I may sound extreme, but isn't this, when you look at it, exactly what games like GTA teach? Basic idea of it is that you set out accomplishing tasks for underworld criminals. Personally, I do not want any possible future child of mine growing up to think that living the best life, full of excitement and fun, will result from becoming a criminal-on-the-run. But when a child sees this game, watches a family member or friend play it, they take in more than we know. Want to know where kids get fantasies about how fun it would be to steal a car and just run with it, "living on the edge"? It's not a birth-trait. We instill those values in them. I'm not saying someone playing or watching GTA is gonna' turn them into an underworld criminal. Some kids can be exposed to this and be fine (though arguably it would still instill ideas about prostitution in them that they don't need). However, there are some people who would turn this into their world. Some people who get so sucked in the game becomes life and life becomes a game. Sure, we put ratings on the games, but that doesn't mean it keeps them from the hands on younger players. I know 13-year-olds who are huge fans of the GTA franchise. Why? Someone else sees no problem with buying it for them and giving it to them. Also, aside from even points I've made here, check out the section titled "Controvesy" on the GTA wiki page if you don't believe it's caused problems. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_(series)#Controversy
Then we have Pokémon. I'm sure most of you know what it is. You play as a Trainer, catching Pokémon and training them up as your team to fight, so you can become the Pokémon Master. As mentioned above, no one even dies. There's no major/graphic violence, even if you are "attacking" other Pokémon. The game does, though, encourage you being friendly towards your Pokémon, as many can evolve or gain other boosts due to higher friendship levels. Yet we criticise teens or adults for playing this. Why? "Because it's a children's game." Oh, okay. SORRY. Guess you gotta' stop watching any cartoons, then, because they're made for children. Oh, and you can't eat Lucky Charms, Froot Loops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc, because they're made for children. Oh, no more toys, either - they're for children. My point is, what does it matter if an adult wants to play a game designed for children? It won't do him harm, but in fact good. Why should any other adult be allowed to engage in drinking as a hobby, or smoking as a hobby, or drugs as a hobby, or gambling as a hobby, when they say another adult can't play Pokémon as a hobby? It's ridiculous. Pokémon doesn't destroy your liver, ruin your lungs, break down your body, or waste your money. So why do people not approve of it? "Because it's a children's game." I DON'T CARE. I'd rather see the adults of today's world play Pokémon than the children of today's world be exposed to GTA.
If your only problem with adults playing Pokémon is because "it's designed for children" and you don't see a problem with an 8-year-old being exposed to a game that's rated M (proof here: http://www.ebgames.ca/browse?nav=16k-GTA_) for a reason (Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol, Use of Drugs ; if we look at the latest, GTA IV for PS3) please try and gain some perspective. Even if you don't see a problem with young adults being exposed to above-listed elements, at least stop seeing a problem with a young adult or adult being exposed to none of that by choosing to play Pokémon.
This isn't the only place we can see how badly we need some perspective. This is just one area. But please, no matter your original bias, try and set it aside and get a new perspective on this.
We wonder why we have a violent, sexualized, self-pleasing world? Let's look at what values we're instilling in the generation that's forming society. I think the answer is easy enough to find.
