"Horric" Videogames being blamed for UK riots by Supernanny Jo Frost

[lSHaDoW-FoXl]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/265108/Jo-Frost-I-can-fix-the-teen-rioters

Spoiler

These horrific games where points are given for burning, shooting and killing, where the graphics are so realistic you believe that they?re real scenes of carnage, where those who play fantasise they have the power of life and death, are so brutal they completely desensitise anyone taking part.

Research shows that within 15 minutes of playing one of these games young men become highly aggressive and lack empathy in normal situations. It is not too fanciful to suggest it?s a short step from being immersed in this war-like world to taking that nightmare mindset on to the streets with all the consequences of anarchy and violence we saw rip apart cities.

I think the research published by the University of New Somewhereshire is slightly flawed, as I have only murdered twice after 15 minutes of Call of Duty.

Ah, just as I was starting to hope the media had grown up...

The media will never grow up because people usually get famous in the first place by being a whiney spoiled brat. Example - Jersey Shore and every single reality tv show that exists. And instead of posing actual arguments to one up these silly people I'm going to point out how absolutely fallicious their arguments are by making an argument built around a fallacy, much like theres.

From my own understanding, Escapist is a pretty friendly *though somewhat pretentious* site where no trolling exists, and little to no obnoxious people are around. Oh, and lets not forget that it practically consists of only gamers.

Now, lets move try another site, like youtube. It's filled with more mainstream people and it's based around viewing things as opposed to playing things. So essentially, it's like watching T.V. I don't know about you guys, but from my personal experience the people there are a lot more agressive, rude, and just plain obnoxious. Therefor using my fallicious logic I conclude that it's not games that make people obnoxious, it's T.V.

 

[Sentox6]

It's too easy to blame increasing divorce statistics and single mothers who are frightened of their own children, the breakdown of authority in schools or the failure to enforce our drug laws.

Whereas as it's oh-so-difficult to take the route of blaming video games, amirite?

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

Anyone that's seen Supernanny will know not to take this seriously. In short, the woman is really, really annoying. If she somehow has her way she'll probably just make all the game developers sit on the naughty step or something.

You're gonna need one hell of a step if you're going to fit Gabe Newell on there.

OT:
This is just sad, nice to see that Jo Frost is trying desperately to stay relevent but it's time for her to accept the fact that she's just shit and nobody sees a reason for her to exist anymore.
And seriously? 15 minutes and we become highly aggressive with a complete lack of empathy? If that's the case then I could of destroyed all the countries in the world, taken over the galaxy, ride around in a giant mech to destroy the entire multiverse and then create a big bang just so I could do it all again. And repeat the process 7 times. I've been wasting my life when I could be doing that? Might aswell try and start now, I'll see you all soon. VERY soon.

 

[mateushac]

supernanny is pretty right, I guess, as a kid, if my mom started to piss me off about every 15 minutes while i was playing videogames, i'd get pretty nervous. Oh, fuck it, if anyone started pissing me off every 15 minutes any time in the day, i'd get pretty nervous anyway.

 

[Sir Boss]

ah yes "research" a study proving 15 minutes of game-playing totally desensitizes people to violence, we have dismissed this claim.
It's a horribly amateur mistake to say you have sources without actually referencing them. this drains her of most (if not all) credibility.

 

[Last Hugh Alive]

Never watched the show Supernanny, but you'd think someone in that profession would voice concerns over parenting above all else. The same horrific things happening today were still happening in the pre-videogame days.

 

[Drenaje1]

Wait, where's the research she has to back up this ridiculous claim? I'm fairly certain that we have been over this topic again and again. There's no ACTUAL PROOF. Once again, the innocent pass time of shooting baddies in the face is the target of blame, even when there's no connection to the actual situation it's being blamed for.

Oh yeah, another thing I forgot to add. I saw her picture in the article and the very first thought that went through my mind was 'Oh boy, I bet she thinks she knows what the problem is and how to fix it.'

 

[Dfskelleton]

"Hey, if we say that we research it, then obviously we're right!"
"But miss, we didn't research it."
"So? Its not like anyone wants to see the results, they'll just take our word for it!"
"Whatever, I'm gonna go play Halo."
"WHAT HATH THOU DONE WITH MY ASSISTANT, DEMON!?"

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Bull. In Borderlands, I can melt a solider type guy and take pleasure in his agonized cries as he melts to death by my acid...But in real life, if I were to hurt someone, I'd start to feel sick. In real life, I'm a pacifist. And no amount of "no more heroes" will ever change that.

Besides, Violent gaming may have saved me. They provided an outlet for my frustration when I was suffering through the hell that was my high school years. Without them, I may have hurt someone else or maybe myself (probably myself).

Lastly, as critical miss put it "That guy? Yeah, blame THAT guy."

Becoming agressive and lacking empathy after 15 minutes of videogames?
That is one of the stupidest thigns I've ever read.

I agree! I've been playing Bastion while reading this and I certainly don't feel like-

*15 minute timer rings*

...RAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! *grabs a hammer and starts breaking everything!!!*

Awesome narrator: "The Kid just rages for a while..."

 

[reecenolan]

Well if video games are corrupting our apparent weak and spongey brains then we must all be some sort of next gen fucking super soldiers by now

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

...Fuck it. I'm out. Moving to a new planet.

Maybe Titan. Anyone want in on my rocket ship to Titan?

But there are Necromorphs there!

On topic, let's just calm down. Yes, it's an uninformed opinion, but let's try to remain civil, shall we? We know that video games don't cause violence unless you are pretty tweeked in the head to begin with. Let's just let the talking heads rabble.

EDIT: By the way "Horric" is not a word. I assume she meant "horrific."

 

[neonsword13-ops]

"Research shows that within 15 minutes of playing one of these games young men become highly aggressive and lack empathy in normal situations."

Pfft.. PFFFT... HAAAAAAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAH!

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. If this was true, I would be rioting at this very moment.

Flawed research is flawed.

 

[jcallen]

...Fuck it. I'm out. Moving to a new planet.

Maybe Titan. Anyone want in on my rocket ship to Titan?

I'm game. Lets go!

Also as per the orginal topic, her der she dum. Seriously though 15 minutes? How the hell is that possible? I don't see the line of reasoning. At all... there is no way... god the stupidity makes my head hurt.

 

[Radelaide]

Kids in gangs are carrying guns and knives because they feel no threat from our bobbies

Bobbies? Are we still in the 70's?

Bobby is just an English term for a police officer, and she is old enough to have lived through the 70's.

So is Root.

 

[MrA]

Luckily no one will listen because Supernanny has as much sway as anyone with no qualifications commenting on a recent news event/controversial topic -.-

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Reality TV programmes, which glamorise sleeping around and by doing so act as an inspiration for 16-year-old girls who think it?s OK to get pregnant without a partner, are unacceptable.

Really?

I kid you not their is actually a reality tv show called 16 and pregnant or something like that so I have to agree with her on that point.

It also implies that if a girl is pregnant at 16 without a partner then it's something very wrong. I think there's a number of women that would be very upset about that.

You also missed the best line in the entire article.

Studiously avoided.

These horrific games where points are given for burning, shooting and killing, where the graphics are so realistic you believe that they're real scenes of carnage,

If that bolded part applies to anybody I say we should be locking them up in a mental institute since they are obviously fucked in the head and cant tell reality from a video game.

Tell you what Jo, watch the News sometimes. There you can see real scenes of carnage broadcast into your home every day. Or Casualty. Or Eastenders. And when you can see any video game that shows the tearing of ligaments as a fragment of shrapnel peels the flesh away like a banana, then I'll consider your ideas with a modicum of respect.

Until then, shut up.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Kids in gangs are carrying guns and knives because they feel no threat from our bobbies

Bobbies? Are we still in the 70's?

Bobby is just an English term for a police officer, and she is old enough to have lived through the 70's.

So is Root.

Hush you

 

[Woodsey]

What's this about "points" for violence? Games grew out of points long ago, only multiplayer really uses it. It's like nobody cares to see how in-depth a game can get these days, and just see blood and killing and instantly conclude it's a violent kill-fest that corrupts the youth of the world. Just because they can't tell the difference between pixels on a screen and a real person doesn't mean everyone else has the same retardation.

She ends her nonsense by saying games should be legally restricted by age, and shops who sell to those below the age limit should be fined. Which they are already.

Asking her to know the difference between most games made 20 years ago and most games made now is a rather futile effort.

Kids in gangs are carrying guns and knives because they feel no threat from our bobbies

Bobbies? Are we still in the 70's?

Bobby is just an English term for a police officer, and she is old enough to have lived through the 70's.

He's right, no one says it.

 

[AetherWolf]

Well, that article had given me a massive brain tumor, but it was promptly cured by a comment at the bottom of the page.

Well, since we're blaming video games for the riots for no adequate reason I feel it's my duty to blame video games for various other things. World Wars 1 & 2 were obviously due to Hitler playing too many video games, Jesus was only crucified because the people believed that a sacrifice of that magnitude would allow them to get the new Xbox earlier than anticipated. 9/11, 7/7, Princess Diana's death, JFK's assassination and various other tragic events were all obviously down to video games in one form or another. I have research that backs all of this up, but I'm afraid I can't tell people about it.

I think my point has been made, but just in case...Video games are not the reason for everything bad that happens in this world.

Oh the humanity!