To whom it may concern,
I find the so-called facts published on this website slanderous and offensive. I have compiled below a list of your claims which I find false in my case, and in the case of almost all gamers I know.
Fact: You have described me as socially inept. I find this highly offensive. I have many good friends with whom I am fully capable of communicating.
Fact: You claim that I must surely be failing school. Would you kindly explain my most recent report card, which read:
English - A+
Mathematics - A+
Science - A+
German - A+
Computing Studies - A+
History - A
Geography - A
Phys. Ed. - B
Fact: You also claim that I possess violent tendencies, and the video games are teaching me to murder. As anyone who knows me will know, and happily attest to, I am a sworn pacifist. I believe there is a non-violent resolution for every conflict.
In a similar vein, I would be very interested to hear MAVAV's standpoint on US military actions in the Middle East, as I find the behaviour of soldiers therein to be needlessly violent.
One point you make on your website is based around the release of Manhunt 2, the sequel to popular title Manhunt. You claim that the release of such a game on the "kid-friendly" platform of the Nintendo Wii is inappropriate. Firstly, I would posit that every console in production today is "kid-friendly". Secondly, I would point out to you, that this is the purpose of the classification system. The game is given a rating based upon the level of maturity needed to cope with such themes in a game without adverse effects. The only possible way for a child under this age limit to attain a game containing said violent themes would be for a parent, or other older legal guardian to purchase it for them. This act is illegal. Now, as Manhunt was rated "AO" or Adults Only, it is only possible for an adult to purchase this particular game, making your given example, though regrettably not your entire argument, invalid.
Finally, I would be greatly interested in seeing a list of your sources. I personally have never heard any of the statistics referenced on your website, and have actually heard findings that flatly contradict some of your claims.
While I doubt that you will publish this communiqué on your website, I feel that a refusal to publish this message proves the bias of the claims made herein. It would greatly interest myself, and many others, to see your rebuttal to the arguments I have presented published on this website. A failure to respond would be, in my eyes, a concession that my arguments are true and correct, and a forfeit on your part.
I await your reply with great anticipation,
Yours Truly,
Chris Alderton
Their website can be found at http://www.mavav.org/
I'm watching and waiting for their response.
Haha. Great letter. In fact it has inspired me to write one to Nickelback:
ReplyDeleteDear Nickelback, in regards to your song 'Shakin' Hands' I would just like to say ELPHABA IS NOT A SLUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Signed a concerned fan.
Now how do I send it?
The only reason you get grades like that is because your a nerd. Hence, you need to study less and have more free time.
ReplyDeleteANd if they reply, post it here.
If I may, I would like to break this down a little.
ReplyDeleteMany 'Video Game Addicts' have a mental disability, however minor, which magnifies the 'addiction'. It takes it to another level where treating or preventing these problems should not be treated in the same way it should be for other people. 2 strategies need to be put in place, maybe another rating classification? Or simply a warning about the way it might affect anyone with a learning disability?
Let’s get to points -
Fact: You have described me as socially inept.
- Many people with learning disabilities ARE socially inept. Do you know anyone with Autism, Aspergers, Down syndrome?
These people may find it hard to function in real life, an online life is easier for them and less intrusive – Therefore these people become ‘addicted’ to games, a place where they can be whatever and whoever they want to. There have been studies showing that children/teens with Autism or Aspergers are much more socially adept on the internet. They may even seek out friends where in reality they would not.
Fact: You claim that I must surely be failing school.
- While YOU may not be failing school, I can guarantee you that people with an undiagnosed mental disability, whom society would see as a partial representation of the general populous, are much more likely to be failing school for the reasons deemed as ‘video game addiction’.
Fact: You also claim that I possess violent tendencies, and the video games are teaching me to murder.
ReplyDelete- I have an Autistic brother and when he got frustrated with anything at all (eg: He wanted the remote to the TV and you didn’t understand what he wanted and were passing him the lounge pillows) he would punch himself in the head, head butt walls and slam his hands into the ground.
Imagine how frustrating this would be, being unable to communicate the most simple thing to a person caring for you, not even if you were hungry, thirsty or in pain.
Violence is often the only emotion they learn how to express so it can be speculated that some of this behaviour would translate to a person with a less severe mental disability to a lesser degree. Makes sense, right? They still get violent when frustrated but nobody get violent for no reason, they must have been taunted. Gee what a shock! Kids teasing/bullying/whatevering another kid at school?! Unheard of!
The idea of murder being taught to kids is true, in part. The IDEA of murder is taught to them. Children can also learn this from TV, movies (Disney moves at that!), a violent uncle or police man giving a talk at a school. They WILL learn what murder is and how to do it, this is not the fault of video games and as if that is not enough I can debunk the myth of what they are actually learning.
The kids are learning to mimic, copy and reproduce what is seem as acceptable behaviour, in moves when somebody doesn’t do what you tell them to do, the next step is to threaten their lives. “I’ll kill you, Kalina” My brother says to my little sister because she refuses to clean her room when he told her to. He won’t actually but has been taught from Emperor’s New Groove, Up, Lion King and any other children’s movie you can think of that killing is normal. Children see this as - Valid threat, Rarely works.
The people that actually follow through with these threats are the ones with a severe enough disability to not be able to distinguish the line between reality and a fantasy, or, do not understand the ramifications of killing another human being properly. These people are the ones I believe should have been detected as unstable and mentally ill a LONG time before it got that sever.
The problem does not lie within video games; it is the fault of an uneducated society. A society which cannot see when a child of their own is losing a grip on reality, unable to function socially, unable to succeed at school and still do not put these facts together to make an educated guess they their child may have a disability. Society is too proud to admit their child may have a problem but the cost of not admitting this is much higher, possibly gaol or even death.
/Rant
~RedCatYellowCat
Fact: You also claim that I possess violent tendencies, and the video games are teaching me to murder.
ReplyDelete- I have an Autistic brother and when he got frustrated with anything at all (eg: He wanted the remote to the TV and you didn’t understand what he wanted and were passing him the lounge pillows) he would punch himself in the head, head butt walls and slam his hands into the ground.
Imagine how frustrating this would be, being unable to communicate the most simple thing to a person caring for you, not even if you were hungry, thirsty or in pain.
Violence is often the only emotion they learn how to express so it can be speculated that some of this behaviour would translate to a person with a less severe mental disability to a lesser degree. Makes sense, right? They still get violent when frustrated but nobody get violent for no reason, they must have been taunted. Gee what a shock! Kids teasing/bullying/whatevering another kid at school?! Unheard of!
The idea of murder being taught to kids is true, in part. The IDEA of murder is taught to them. Children can also learn this from TV, movies (Disney moves at that!), a violent uncle or police man giving a talk at a school. They WILL learn what murder is and how to do it, this is not the fault of video games and as if that is not enough I can debunk the myth of what they are actually learning.
The kids are learning to mimic, copy and reproduce what is seem as acceptable behaviour, in moves when somebody doesn’t do what you tell them to do, the next step is to threaten their lives. “I’ll kill you, Kalina” My brother says to my little sister because she refuses to clean her room when he told her to. He won’t actually but has been taught from Emperor’s New Groove, Up, Lion King and any other children’s movie you can think of that killing is normal. Children see this as - Valid threat, Rarely works.
The people that actually follow through with these threats are the ones with a severe enough disability to not be able to distinguish the line between reality and a fantasy, or, do not understand the ramifications of killing another human being properly. These people are the ones I believe should have been detected as unstable and mentally ill a LONG time before it got that sever.
The problem does not lie within video games; it is the fault of an uneducated society. A society which cannot see when a child of their own is losing a grip on reality, unable to function socially, unable to succeed at school and still do not put these facts together to make an educated guess they their child may have a disability. Society is too proud to admit their child may have a problem but the cost of not admitting this is much higher, possibly gaol or even death.
/Rant
~RedCatYellowCat
RedCat/YellowCat, I appreciate your input. Those were points I hadn't considered and I thank you.
ReplyDeletewow...this is a smart post sledgehammer.
ReplyDeleteI thougherly enjoyed reading it. I agree with RedCat/YellowCat. I also know someone who is violent merely because of their mindset. He has a split personality and learnt nothing from video games but from society itself. The only reason he plays video games is to stop his violent actions becoming real.