http://www.bogost.com/writing/how_the_video-game_industry_al.shtml
How the Video-Game Industry Already Lost Out in the Gun-Control Debate
IAN BOGOST JAN 11 2013, 8:32 AM ET
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/184564/Opinion_Meeting_with_Biden_is_a_mistake_for_the_game_industry.php
Opinion: Meeting
with Biden is a mistake for the game industry
January 9, 2013 By
Kris Graft
Vice President Joe Biden was reaching out to so-called “game
industry leaders.” They had thought that it could have been to do with Biden’s
office learning about art and craft of video games or what the industry can do
for the country’s economy. But in actual fact, it was to find out what will the
leaders of the game industry do to help reduce the occurrence of mass shootings
in America?
The vice president is saying that the game industry is a
part of the problem, as if people are playing games and taking it upon
themselves to commit shootings. ‘In the
wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, Biden wants "concrete proposals"
from game industry leaders on how to help alleviate the death and destruction
brought on by the use of firearms in mass killings.’ They are asking the
games industry to give them a solution to shootings in America. I don’t think
people are going out and killing people of an entertainment product. I think
that the games industry is an easy target because there are lots of violent
games and people seem to think that it will twist our minds. I believe that
games aren’t the cause of the shootings; the people who commit these murders
have never said that it is because of a game. Investigators have found that
they played games and make the link as it is an easy one to make. The case with
most of the shootings, is because the person committing these has a mental
disability.
‘So now I read in
Reuters a confirmation that representatives for the video game industry are
meeting with Biden and his task force, right alongside the good ol' National
Rifle Association. (UPDATE: The ESA confirmed with us that its CEO Mike
Gallagher will be taking part in the talks on Friday.) You, video game
developer, and your work, represented right alongside the powerful gun lobby --
a group that, in the wake of Sandy Hook, proposed to put more guns in schools.
A group that said you're all part of a "shadow industry." Lovely
company, right? Well, here we are.’
The problem isn’t an entertainment product, but those
products that cause the problem, firearms. The companies are pushing for people
to buy guns as self-defence, which can only increase the risk of death.
‘This week I read that
Walmart, retailer of mac and cheese, bologna, and semi-automatic weapons, was
refusing to meet with Biden about gun control. At least Walmart had the guts to
refuse to meet with Biden. You know why they refused to meet? Because by
entertaining Biden's inquiry for "concrete proposals" to curb gun
violence, the gun-toting Walmart knew that in a way, it would be admitting
guilt and accepting responsibility for mass shootings. It wasn't until pressure
from the media that Walmart caved and said "Ok, we'll meet." But
Walmart obviously understood the implications of attending this meeting.’
Walmart refusing to attend the meeting showed that they didn’t
believe that they were in any way part of the mass problem. They are not the
cause of these crimes, but having a store that allows you to access firearms in
such a normal location isn’t what should be done. The game industry attended I
think, to be seen as wanting to help change rather than admitting to fault of
these crimes. The games industry meeting
with Biden I think was a bad idea because it’s not their fault if someone
commits a crime. It makes them look guilty, which Walmart didn’t want. As it
says in the written piece ‘Mental health
advocates should be there -- they can offer their expertise on how to prevent
maniacs from going on shooting sprees.’ I believe that the games industry
leaders being there makes it look like they could have done something different
to stop the shootings, when the people who end up committing them, do have
mental problems.
These two posts are very similar to each other as they both seem to agree with each other on the subject. They both make the same points and I agree with the points being made.
