Noel Gallagher: "Brutal Videogames" A Reason For London Riots

[Not-here-anymore]

People, chill. It's not like he's turned around and said 'ban all the games now' or anything. He's suggested that games are a reason (note: Not the reason) for the riots. He's said this whilst worried about what's going on around his home, and has then thrown out several more comments to the effect of 'the rioters are all idiots'

Would you prefer it if we polled each and every person on the planet as to whether or not they thought video games were a healthy past-time, so you could react with outrage to all of those who said no at once? It's an opinion. He's entitled to it. I think he's wrong, sure, but who am I to decide what people can and can't think?

 

[ChaoticKraus]

I don't give a shit about who he is, why should i go easy on him? If this was a politician who had personal involvement we wouldn't go easy on him, we would tear him a new one.

If you know nothing about the issue, don't talk. Simple as that Mr. Gallagher.

 

[Silenttalker22]

The articles I write here are no longer news items.

I agree with that part. The writer just elicited sympathy, which is exactly what someone objectively reporting doesn't do. They're asking to get trashed. Also, honestly, in a community as battle-scarred as video games, why even pay any attention to every two-bit nobody who comments on them, without any qualification. This article was a waste of their time and ours.

 

[Verlander]

Why put yourself in his position, when his position is an imaginary one in his own head. Both of those pricks need to stop pretending like they're some working class heroes, when the entitled cunts have never worked a day in their life, and now they're fucking fashion designers. At least the Beatles worked on projects close to their personal beliefs and morals. It seems that all Gallagher cares about is rolling in the money, while attempting to show off how "hardcore" he is. Noel, you aren't hardcore, you're a tiny minded twat. Fuck off, and stop making the British people's lives a massive fucking misery.

 

[-Dragmire-]

... ok, pointing out the obvious here. Much of the violent games/media are portrayals of(not exactly historically accurate but more inspired by) our species before videogames/electronic media were around. Were we not such a violent species by nature, there wouldn't be 500 games where we kill nazis(who wouldn't be around either in a world where humans weren't so prone to conflict).

Also, just because simulated violence appeals to many people doesn't make them more likely be violent outside a simulated environment(this is heavily debated subject matter though, I'm just stating the side I take on this issue).

While the guy is acting out of stress, fear and anger, he's acting in a way that provokes aggression toward himself.

 

[HumpinHop]

What exactly do people mean when they're desensitized to violence? It's almost implied that exposure to violence makes you more likely to commit it, is that really true? I believe it only desensitizes you to media violence, but doesn't affect how you perceive real world violence. I've chainsawed hundreds of C.O.G in Gears of War but I still flip out when I see people bleeding, and I'm terrified by actual physical violence.

 

[Leon's Hell]

I like how he said video games once and everyone here is acting like he has just kicked a puppy. But I have to ask, why do media centers keep on getting the public's opinion on matters that they have very little insight into? Yes I know that he owned a store in one of the places people were rioting, but opinions like this are only going to create hatred within the community to a greater extent than that which is already there.

Back to the point about the public's opinion, even if they get Professor Insight for the University of Clever Bastards, after arguing with him they immediately go to Jim from down the pub who has been drunk for the past fifteen years and don't question his opinion.

This situation definitely couldn't be due to the high density population of Britain (which increases tension) combined with the poor economic standing of the country which leads onto high youth unemployment rates, which then flows onto conflicting with Britain's consumerist natural were you are defined by what you own not how you act. I'm just glad that I live in Australia, were while we are definitely a consumerist country like Britain but we don't have the levels of youth unemployment, poor financial standings and we don't have a great enough deal of people in one area to cause high tensions.

 

[Schlen]

Wasnt rock blamed for sort of the same thing ages ago?

If I'm right, Think! for crying out loud
If I'm wrong, Think you silly git! Neglect is more likely an issue than games/music/TV/whatever-you-need-to-blame-to-make-yourself-feel-better.

If you let your kids do anything they want and get away with it, then you have created the "insert profanity" that has no concept of reality and how it should work.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not you too Noel. I usually love to hear Noel's opinions on things in his never heard of subtlety manc way. But to hear him side with the videogames are to blame for everything makes me kinda sad.

Noel I know your upset your brothers shop was looted but remember, don't look back in anger

 

[sunburst]

The articles I write here are no longer news items. They are subtle tests designed to monitor reader comprehension.

So far, the results are grim.

I'm glad we're all doing well in your tests.

While not at all agreeing, it seems Mr. Gallagher is commenting on an overexposure to violent media in general more than singling out games. While Jim Sterling rightly suggests that a childish response is often appropriate, perhaps we should save such for more deserving individuals. Besides, I think (What's the Story) Morning Glory? is a good album. It's the only Oasis album I like, but that's one more than most bands.

 

[dillinger88]

Since when do we look to terrible bands for opinions on public disorder. I suppose since they've split up, any publicity is good publicity for the prick.

 

[LightspeedJack]

Why do we care about this talentless cretin's opinions?

 

[Robert Ewing]

I suppose brutal video games are responsible for a little riot that happened in Europe a while ago. Started by some upstarts called... Erm, the nazi's! That was it. I'm sure they loved video games. They sure wanted in on Ubisoft. They couldn't get enough of France.

 

[tunderball]

Not too sure about the video games part but the rest of what he said made a lot of sense. To be honest I've read a lot of terribly written celebrities views on the riots over the past week and this is compartively good. He's only really pointing out that media is violent and has perhaps therefore desensitized the youth to violent behaviour, I don't think he's really blaming video games for the riots just putting 2 and 2 together wrongly in what has been a really horrible time to live in Britain.

Still a legend in my book saw Oasis in their last ever gig and am eagerly awaiting his solo album, he could just maybe cool it on knocking video games a little.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Why video-games? They're so obviously fantasy...

Why not rap? I'm not saying it's responsible. I'm saying that's the media my knee-jerk finger pointing would be directed at if I were so inclined.

 

[risenbone]

They arn't rioting they are just re-enacting the Blitz of 1940. These Poms take their historical re-enactments seriously and like to think they actually do it better than what the Germans actually did. That and they arn't used to this many sunny days in a year.

Has nothing to do with video games and violent media and is more to do with stupid American tourists going around saying things like "I love your history it's so old".


Disclaimer: The above post is not to be taken seriously it was a rather crass attempt to make light of the situation because I'm not actually anywhere near the events taking place but seemed about as relevent as the comments made by mister Gallenger.

 

[Callate]

"It's crazy! It's just violence for the sake of violence. The people who are at these riots aren't poor. These are kids with f***ing mobile phones and all sorts of shit. The police and government have to take drastic measures," Gallagher continued.

Keep in mind that this is a man who attacked his brother Liam with a cricket bat during the recording of (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

Before you all jump to the comments to widely criticize Gallagher, likely with childish insults about his music and hair, it should also be pointed out that these are the words of a man who is watching his home devour itself in real-time. A shop owned by his brother Liam was hit by looters, and Gallagher's words sound more like the impassioned, helpless cries of a man who just wants the violence to end.

I could forgive if he was just flailing about in impotent rage; it's not like we haven't seen that before. And when London simmers down, most likely the shallow, mindless hunt for scapegoats on this level will ease off as well.

But about the point you start boostering for "the police and government" to "take drastic measures"?...

Fuck you.

Been there, done that. Suddenly you feel threatened, and you're ready to throw every lick of good sense and every scruple related to freedom and human rights so someone with "authority" will make the bad people go away?

Being "impassioned" is not the same thing as being right, and God knows most of the real harm done throughout history has been caused by people similarly "impassioned". So let's hope those in power take this ex-Beatle-wannabe's words for exactly what they're worth:

less than jack shit.

 

[IamGamer41]

What a total douche.Why couldn't this guy and his crap band die in a plane crash.Seriously 3 good songs does not make you a expert in social behavior.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

On one hand, I honestly do feel for Noel Gallagher having to witness so much destruction in his home and being powerless to stop it.

On the other hand, why should I give a flat fuck what Noel Gallagher thinks about the correlation between modern interactive media and violence? Riots and mindless destruction far, far predate video games and television.

 

[deckpunk]

Wow! Thanks Noel! I was so confused and in my state of confusion I thought the rioters were to blame for the London riots; but clearly it was Kratos and Marcus Fenix burning buses and robbing tracksuits and runners. Those damn vidjamagames! Shame on you all for thinking Noel is speaking out of ignorance, he is trying to warn us of the evils of violent videogames and it has nothing to do with slumping record sales. It has nothing to do with Oasis failing to find relevancy in this day and age. It has nothing to do with Oasis not releasing a decent album in over a decade. A cynical person (not me by the way, no sir) might think that Noel is just scapegoating videogames for a desperate attention grab like what the pop-psychologists and tabloid newspapers do every other week but NO I SAY! Noel is taking the moral high ground, and why shouldn't he its not like he has spent the better part of two decades taking drugs, writing songs about taking drugs and singing songs about taking drugs. Thank you Noel, you are an inspiration to us all.