GTA V and Animal Rights

Video games and violence have had a long history together.  People keep claiming that video games make someone violent. But do they?

Absolutely not.

If video games made people violent, then we would have even more violence and lawlessness in our world from the amount of gamers out there.  However, any time a successful and controversial game comes out, some group is going to sue them or accuse them of corrupting the youth, etc.

Enter the animal rights group, In Defense of Animals that is calling for a boycott of Grand Theft Auto V.  Within the game of Grand Theft Auto V (herein refereed to as GTA V), Rockstar has added animals to the game world, for the first time in this franchise.  Animals will realistically run around the country side and occasionally run out into the road in front of the player.  The player can also unlock hunting missions to actually find and kill animals for a contact, who will pay for the meat.

 The offensive material in question.  Uploaded from Rockstar's Social Club during my gameplay.

OK, so where's the controversy?

The Controversy

The group, IDA, is claiming that GTA V convinces kids it's OK to abuse and injure animals.

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Jack Carone, a member of IDA, adds, "The makers of this game have traded decency for money. ...Encouraging the darkest impulses of young people is not an admirable pursuit."

Wow, where do I begin?

First, GTA V is rated M for Mature, for the following reasons: Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Nudity, Mature Humor, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol.

Does any of that sound like it's for children?  This game is rated so that only people 17 years of age or older are allowed to purchase this.  Now, I'm a realist, so I know that children play it.  However, blaming Rockstar for the content is not the way to go.  Blame the parents who buy it for their young children.

I have played the game myself, and I can safely say that it doesn't make me want to out and run over animals.  The game is just trying to replicate life through this mechanic, as animals do run out and damage cars in  real life.  It adds realism and makes the world feel alive.

However, I can assure any readers that this game is NOT FOR CHILDREN.  There are some very intense and violent scenes that even make me feel uncomfortable, such as the now infamous torture scene.  The player has to violently beat and torture a person for vital information for the government. It comes without warning and is unskippable.  I feel this was a step too far, but that's the point.  Rockstar is creating a huge political satire by including this, as these events do happen.

However, IDA is only concerning itself with the deaths of virtual animals.

Rockstar added animals to another of its games, Red Dead Redemption, which had an old West setting.  Players could kill and then skin animals to sell pelts or skins for money trading shops.  No one complained then.

Again, stop attacking game companies for selling their Mature Rated games with Mature content.  This is why we established a rating system, just like with films and TV.  It's there to educate parents whether or not the content is safe for their children.  Educate the parents so they know to use it.

Judge, Jury, and Executioner.

People can be outright inhumane

 I know, that's hard to believe, but people can be some of the cruelest, harshest beings ever, especially with "anonymity" of the internet.  People are now free to say whatever they want, without any consequences, right?

Wrong.

The Internet has a voice, and it has power.  This voice is not always the nicest or most intelligent, however.
 
 For example, I was reading an article on a news blog about a guy who accidentally shot his girlfriend's kid and killed him. This is atrocious and awful, but suddenly the comments have already jumped to controlling gun rights and everything like that. Another one was upset that the guys family was defending him. 

Seriously?

Of course the guy's family is going to defend him.  They're his family, and they have his side of the story.  These people are already judging based entirely on what the report said, and it didn't have the full information. It was all one sided and the blog post was clearly judging the guy.  They judged him as guilty of murdering a child, when it was probably an accident.  The child was sitting on his lap and pretending to shoot his "fingergun."  The guy didn't realize his gun was loaded and accidently pulled the trigger.  Therefore, this isn't murder, as he didn't plan on  shooting the kid.  However, the Internet doesn't seem to care about this detail.

The Call

Here's where I'm going to ask something of you, oh faithful few subscribers.  I am going to ask you in joining the good fight.  Our world is plagued with misinformation, rumors, and people judging on sight. I am going to ask you to try to do one of the hardest things ever. Do not judge, unless you have the full story. It is hard, and I know this as well as anyone else. Throughout school, I was judged wrong, without the chance to defend myself. We as a people are quick to judge, but we don't have to be. We can learn to ask questions and find the full story. It is possible.
If we all can take a few steps back, get the full story, then maybe this wasteland of  a world in which we find ourselves can maybe, slowly, come around and be good, wholesome place in which to live.
As it stands, it is scary, gruesome, and waiting for you to screw up, so that it may judge you for the failure that you are.

Until next time,
R

News from Syria

This week, it seems that one cannot escape news about Syria.  Every channel, every speech, every text seems to relate back to Syria and whether or not the US should or should not take action.

However, not all the news out of Syria is bad.  First up, an Italian journalist and a Belgium scholar who traveling in Syria and subsequently captured back in April and have since been released.  Finally, some good news.  As of last Sunday, they were both on a plane and headed for Italy.

In other news, President Obama made a speech last Tuesday.  For those that missed it (see it here), a decision about whether or not to strike Syria has been delayed, while we attempt a diplomatic solution.  President Obama attempted to shock us with speaking of the atrocities that are happening to  families there, while they are being gassed to death from illegal chemical weapons.  He did make somethings clear, such as Syria signing a treaty to not use chemical weapon.  He then called for an attack, but he did admit that he will wait for the majority of the United States to stand behind him first.

I will not say what I believe in  this case, as I am trying to stay objective.  However, I have heard similar things to what the President said he has read in letters.  Many people agree that we need to time to recover from Iraq, and that the United States is not the world's police.  People are tired of war and just want the fighting to stop.

I guess we shall wait and see the verdict, and whether or not we end up in another war if we attack.

Signing off.
-R

Weekly Update

Welcome, Wastelanders! I realize now that I didn't post anything last week.  Whoops.

In other news, tensions are getting higher and higher over the issues with Syria.  I mention this because this is news, though this is not the main purpose of the blog.  I just feel I should bring it up at least once, that I do acknowledge the danger, though I won't go into my own opinion about the matter.  The news has both sides covered.

I was recently informed about a non-profit organization, named Reagan's Journey.  They are a group that give help to special needs children and adults, and they have a very interesting history.  Reagan was a little girl who had birth complications.  She was told that she would be a vegetable for the rest of her life.  With a lot of effort from both her and her families, she was able to crawl, walk, and finally start Kindergarten this year.   Stories like this give me hope that people do have goodness in them, and that all hope may not be lost. 

If you know any caregivers for special needs children in the Kittanning Area, Reagan's Journey will be having a conference for them on September 21 at Harvest Community Church.

Tune in later in the week for more updates.
Signing off.