Media Bias and Video Games

[Brad]

I have noticed that throughout the years the media, specifically the news media, seems to enjoy playing the blame game on various forms of entertainment. This time it being video games. They have accused games of sexism, racism, causing violence between minors to even accusing it of influencing rape. I want to hear your opinion on this topic. Do you think that there is a definitive bias against video games in the media or not?

Take a vote and/or leave a comment.

 

EDIT: I just saw a news report about congress wanting to ban the sale of violent video games to minors. One of the reporters said that you could shoot John F. Kennedy in the head in one of the games. All I have to say is, W. T. F.

Edited June 27, 2011 by Guest (see edit history)

[Doom Shepherd]

I think Jon Stewart had it right when he said that the media is biased... toward laziness and sensationalism.

[danielsangeo]

I voted "no" because the media doesn't have a bias against video games, like Doom said. They have a bias towards sensationalism. Video games are easy target.

[BTGBullseye]

I voted yes, but it's not just a simple yes/no answer to their recent anti-game tendencies...

[Song]

Games are a easy scapegoat to point at when somethings goes wrong again,

as it usually does since the errors lie somewhere else but are never addressed

because presenting scapegoats is far easier.

[danielsangeo]

It's easier to blame video games, though. What do you think would attract more viewers (hence more advertising dollars):

 

"Teen Obsessed With Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Kills Six"

"Teen Obsessed With Hot Pockets Kills Six"

[Eedo Baba]

It is often just intention sensationalist reporting, but sometimes they seem to be honestly oblivious of any games other than Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto. It's kind of like judging motion pictures based on the Transformers films.

[Bjossi]

If you guys want some lulz, read the whole Bulletstorm vs. Fox News article series on Rock Paper Shotgun.

[Alyxx Thorne]

I absolutely think there is. And it's often very annoying too, because they tend to get so caught up in details that aren't even there.

[Axeldeath]

Video games with anything slightly sexual in them get the most negative media coverage as far as I'm concerned, people aren't really bothered with violent video games unless it becomes extreme ( Manhunt, MK etc)

[Epsilon]

I voted yes; I've been playing violent video games since I was 3 or 4, and (if I do say so myself) I'm one of the most rational and... least-likely-to-become-a-serial-killer people that I know of.

[Alyxx Thorne]

I played Doom when I was 6, and I have still yet to participate in any school massacre.

[BTGBullseye]

I played Doom when I was 6, and I have still yet to participate in any school massacre.

Same for 99.999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the rest of the people that play/played those 'violent' games.

[Song]

Most of these school massacre were done because of reasons like bullying by

other students or abuse from adults or similar problems which can be traumatizing

if suffered constantly over a long period of time.

But of course as I wrote before it is easier to use a scapegoat then to admit that

there is something horrible wrong in our society to begin with.

 

Sadly we humans mostly don't have the guts to admit our faults and mistakes.

Instead we shove away all responsibility rather then using the wasted time (where

we trying to determine whos fault it is, again) on solving the problem.

 

By the way, Doom was my first game played too.

Followed by Dune 2. Ah... good old times playing at Dads office computer every

sunday.

[PaladinVargas10]

I voted yes, but they are pretty much biased against anything to do with technology. However, I'd like to see how the media respond if someone went out and did violent things, and then found out that they had a very large collection of Dora The Explorer stuff.

 

Or would they just blame it on something else?

[Epsilon]

I voted yes, but they are pretty much biased against anything to do with technology. However, I'd like to see how the media respond if someone went out and did violent things, and then found out that they had a very large collection of Dora The Explorer stuff.

 

Or would they just blame it on something else?

 

They'd probably just say that a recent study shows that any amount of television affects your brain patterns, causing you to become more irritable or some science blah like that.

[Koach]

i wonder, was there any WWII FPS in which in the campaign you play as german???

[Axeldeath]

Because the games are usually made by Americans I guess.

[Kyon]

I voted yes, but they are pretty much biased against anything to do with technology. However, I'd like to see how the media respond if someone went out and did violent things, and then found out that they had a very large collection of Dora The Explorer stuff.

 

Or would they just blame it on something else?

 

They'd probably just say that a recent study shows that any amount of television affects your brain patterns, causing you to become more irritable or some science blah like that.

 

I'd love to see that, but with a ton of Fox News propaganda material.

[Epsilon]

For some reason, the whole "murderer who watches Dora the Explorer" concept reminds me of the Pyro from Team Fortress 2.