Archbishop Claims SCOTUS Decision Is "Poisoning" The Future

[individual11]

It's quite funny that video games have been a hated pariah for 20+ years to the ignorant and misinformed. There are worse things out there, the anti-videogame lobbies should probably start looking for a new target. It's starting to bore people.

"....direct impact on youth and is among the roots of real-life violence."

No, I think you will find violent video games are not a *cause* of violence, unhinged or damaged people may find some form of catharsis through the games, but if they act on their violent urges or psychosis, they would have regardless. There were no video games around in Jack the Rippers' time. Adolf Hitler, Stalin, John Wayne Gacy, etc. were not influenced by video games.

The roots of real life violence are ignorance, prejudice, desperation, stupidity, misunderstanding, confusion, fear and hypocrisy. There are more, but you get the idea.

 

[Smooth Operator]

He just doesn't want all of the choir boys playing Call of Duty instead of...well, you know what those priests are like.

It's true actually, there were numerous complaints that video games cut into their cork soaking duties, and that sort of thing just can't fly.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I think its funny that since video games have been around violent crime have decreased. Surely that proves them wrong 100%.

Don't they think that the Columbine massacre was in part a result of societies 'put up and shut up' attitude to bullying? You are forced to go to place with people you hate to be incessantly tortured mentally and physically all day. What do they expect to happen exactly?

Oh no blame it on video games becuase the parents and teachers can't be doing anything wrong.

*shakes head sadly*

Also I'm not catholic but think we can discredit this guy without resorting to crude pedophile jokes.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Seeing as how Chaput was a pretty adamant foe of games back then, it's not surprising that he still hates them. That said, I'm willing to bet that Catholic priests have <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sex_abuse_cases>done more harm to the youth of the world than videogames have, though this wasn't something that the Archbishop addressed in his article.

It might be a good idea to lay off the "Yellow Journalism" tactics a bit.

Now, do you want a specific argument about members of the church doing more harm than videogames? How about this? [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7930380.stm]

Do I think this is commonplace? No. But is Chaput a part of the organization that did this? Yes.

My goal was to make a counter-point, and if I did offend you, I apologize.

Actually no, I wasn't looking for a counter-argument at all. Such things belong in editorials, not news articles.

I'm not offended, just disappointed that you would stoop to Chaput's level. If we really want video games to be respected by the general public, then wouldn't it be preferable to display our supposed maturity and maintain the high ground?

I do appreciate your effort to make amends though. Apology accepted.

 

[Booze Zombie]

How come with violence around the world, no one ever looks at the culture of the country? Are they just thinking to themselves "nothing can be wrong with our great country, it's just the deviants"?

Guns are sold like fucking toys in America, maybe it's this approach to firearms that encourages rightious revenge and defence of one's self and family that causes so much violence?
I must just be talking crazy, it's just the interactive worlds children use whilst their parents are too busy to care what they're doing that are the problem...

 

[Hagi]

You know I absolutely despise most Escapist reporting on anyone against video games.

Almost every single article that deals with proponents of bans on video games is extremely disrespectful.

And frankly I've only grown more sympathetic to those proposing to do so because if this is the reaction they're faced with I can see why people believe video games can cause violence.

You want to prove video games don't cause violence? Stop being so aggressive against anyone who doesn't agree with you. Open conversation with those proposing bans and get to the root of the issue (and no, it's not "They're idiots."), so that the problems can be solved. You know, like civil people do.

Possibly open up a dialogue between these parents groups and the ESRB. Make sure that the ratings these games receive accurately depict what parents expect from them. Then pool resources to launch an ad-campaign informing parents what exactly these ratings mean and what they can expect in these games.

But please, stop insulting anyone who doesn't think games are the highest possible form of art. You're only making yourself look exactly like opponents of violent video games are making you out to be.

 

[Killertje]

"Archbishop Claims SCOTUS Decision Is "Poisoning" The Future"
I claim so is religion, alcohol, cigarettes, Foxnews, MacDonalds, Burger King, unprotected sex among people with an IQ lower than 120 and I could go on but I think I made my point. People do stupid things because they like doing them. Trying to do something about it will piss them off. Stop forcing your own stupid rules on other people you self righteous fucktard!

 

[Ranchcroutons]

Wheres the button where i can "report" the author for making offensive statements against Catholics?

Thats seriously just getting offensive

You do realise that catholic priests really did rape children and that their authorities did their best to cover it up? There is nothing non-factual in that paragraph of the article, perhaps you should stop getting offended and reevaluate what it is that you're defending here.

And your making blanket statements like all african americans steal or all women are bad drivers. You have to evaluate things on an individual level rather than judge and entire group by the actions of a relative few.

 

[Seives-Sliver]

Seriously...Parents still have the right to filter what their kids can and cannot play, the rules haven't changed one bit. Now though, videogames can have the freedom of speech just like TV, books, movies, and all that.

 

[Fensfield]

Actually no, I wasn't looking for a counter-argument at all. Such things belong in editorials, not news articles.

I'd like to quote this, though I hope I don't look like I'm trying to twist people's words to my own ends.

The above is a common complaint I have with The Escapist in general, actually. I come here to read articles that offer new perspectives, watch entertaining videos, and follow industry news. That being said, I don't come looking to get reporters' views chucked at me with every piece of news, especially since oftentimes, that view is delivered in the form of a jab (and at times an ill-informed one [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104352-This-EVE-Online-Space-Battle-Cost-15-000]). At least, if the article concerns something that particular reporter dislikes anyway, such having happened to Japanese-made RPGs, EVE Online, American conservatives, and Christians often enough to leap to mind.

Good, professional news reporting delivers the facts around an event, and attempts to maintain the reporter as nothing more than a conduit. News reporting isn't quite so good when:

A. It presents the facts in such a way as to manipulate its readers' opinions (not an easy one to avoid) or

B. The reporter assumes their opinions have a place in a news article, rather than an opinion article or editorial, or the reporter tries to argue with the contents of the news article whilst delivering a report. Both come uncomfortably close to saying what readers should think, instead of letting the reader form opinions of their own based on the given facts.

'Least so far as I think, anyway. And all of the above, the latter especially, seem to be a bit more of a problem around here than on most news sites I frequent. Now, my understanding is that The Escapist tries to be professional in its news reporting. If I'm wrong on that, then I'm sorry.

 

[Ranchcroutons]

Wheres the button where i can "report" the author for making offensive statements against Catholics?

Thats seriously just getting offensive

You do realise that catholic priests really did rape children and that their authorities did their best to cover it up? There is nothing non-factual in that paragraph of the article, perhaps you should stop getting offended and reevaluate what it is that you're defending here.

And your making blanket statements like all african americans steal or all women are bad drivers. You have to evaluate things on an individual level rather than judge and entire group by the actions of a relative few.

Are you taking the piss? Noone is judging an entire group based on the actions of few. You give me a quote where that's done.

Its in the very same line where this whole argument starts "I'm willing to bet that Catholic priests have done more harm to the youth of the world than videogames have" that is a blanket statement. He doesn't say "some" catholic priest, his statement reads as a condemnation on the whole group including the misguided priest in question. Why cant we raise one argument against someone who also happens to be catholic without implying they are part of some kind of sex offender club

 

[Trasken]

How the hell does an M rated game take away the sovereignty of the family? does come in slap mommy and tell her to bring him a beer while he tells the kids to go kill people? Don't parents have the final say so in what kids may or may not play after all? are they too lazy to check the M on that label that clearly states all the content in the videogame that is considered for
mature audiences only?
Besides these bishops will condemn anything until everyone converts and all games praise jesus (gross generalization i know)

 

[Macgyvercas]

Good god, not this again.

When will these people realize that all SCOTUS did was pin the responsibility of monitoring what children play on the parents (you know, like it's supposed to work)?

 

[freaper]

I'm willing to bet that Catholic priests have <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sex_abuse_cases>done more harm to the youth of the world than videogames have

That was completely unnecessary.

I agree with this man. Even though what some priests did was awfully horrible, you can't keep using the same argument over and over in unrelated topics.

It's as if France replied to a request from Germany with: "Talk to the hand, Nazi bastards"

 

[LorienvArden]

Parents who don't control what their kids come in contact with are poisoning the future. Games are just the medium used.

^qft.

If the first amendmend protects outspoken Nazis when they parade around with their propaganda of hate, fear and intollerance, chastising games for some vague connection to violent behaviour would be totally misguided.

Parents need to do a better job raising their children. In some cases they might need professional help.
If you think violent games poison our future, then throw in political propaganda, the music industry, hatepreaches, news and about 80% of the real world alltogether into the "too be avoided" mix. Because most things out there have a very ugly side to them, and you wouldn't want a kid to be mentally scared by the big bad reality would you ?

 

[MetalMonkey74]

Why isn't this archbishop on a crusade against cigarettes and tobacco too? Why isn't he on a crusade against over use of anti bacterial hand cream? Why isn't he on a crusade against the wrongdoings of the church?

Every time a catholic priest accuses something of "poisoning" our kids..... I feel a bit sick inside.

Hypocrites.