Senator Clinton's Video Game Investigation


When I heard that Senator Clinton was launching an investigation into all video games, specifically because of an uncovered sex scene in ONE game, it reminded me of a time when all the employees of a company where I worked were banned from wearing shorts because ONE employee's shorts-related fashion faux pas.

It also made me wonder if Ms. Clinton was looking for swing voters in the conservative constituency that so often give their votes to Republicans. Because, as we all know, sex is bad. (I don't mean to make light of that--sex is bad without sex education and knowledge of birth control techniques; without these, sex is potentially life-ruining bad.) Looking for votes isn't bad. But, does she really feel this way? Maybe, I don't know.

Others feel similarly--take Steven Johnson (Author of "Everything Bad is Good For You: How Today's Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter). He writes in his open letter:

"Dear Sen. Clinton:

I'm writing to commend you for calling for a $90-million study on the effects of video games on children, and in particular the courageous stand you have taken in recent weeks against the notorious "Grand Theft Auto" series.

I'd like to draw your attention to another game whose nonstop violence and hostility has captured the attention of millions of kids — a game that instills aggressive thoughts in the minds of its players, some of whom have gone on to commit real-world acts of violence and sexual assault after playing.

I'm talking, of course, about high school football."

Read the entire article here. It raises some interesting points.


Posted: Sun - July 31, 2005 at 09:53 AM          

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