I write to Someone Else's Senator
There's been a recent news item on a number of video game sites I read (so recent I just saw it tonight) regarding a Connecticut state senator's concerns about "Grand Theft Auto IV." Politicians and pundits getting upset about GTAIV and its predecessors is nothing new. The games are violent, generally amoral, and definitely not suited for the younger set (as should be evident from the game's "M" for "Mature" rating. What makes this particular incident different is that the senator is upset about a scene where players are awarded "points for rape." Which would be pretty disturbing - if it were true. Andrew owns GTAIV. I've watched him play it. It's not completely my thing, but I think it's an extremely smart and well crafted game that not everyone is going to like or enjoy playing. There is no rape scene. People who have played through the entire game confirm that there is no rape scene, let alone one that awards you with "points" (or money, as the game doesn't utilize any points).
I don't think that this senator is deliberately spreading information that is not true. She probably read it on some website somewhere and became convinced that it was true, despite not having played the game or seen the offending sequence herself. The problem that I have with this is not just that I'm a video game fan (and one of the last games to be unfairly maligned was "Mass Effect", which I love); I'm also someone who care about our political system and getting younger generation involved in it. Unfortunately, if the potential and future young voters of America see that politicians not only don't care about their opinions and issues, but also will try to push legislation without doing any real research to try to understand the thing they are attempting to restrict, it's going to turn them off to the whole process.
So I wrote this letter:
Dear Senator,
It has recently come to my attention that you have spoken to the local media about the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. The article states that you are concerned about a "rape scene" in the game. Some news sites I have seen quote you as saying that players are awarded points for the act. I know you will probably be getting a lot of e-mails about this issue, but I wanted to make sure at least one of them told you the facts in a calm and polite manner.
I have actually watched the game "Grand Theft Auto IV" being played and, as numerous sources are now confirming, there is no rape scene. The game does feature allusions to sexual acts, but they are all consensual. The player is not given the opportunity to rape anyone in the game either for a reward of "points" or any other reason.
Your statements concern me not just as someone who enjoys video games, but as someone who cares very much about the American political system. I realize how essential it is to get the younger generation excited about politics and invested in the decisions made on the local, state, and national levels. The problem with the statements you have made is that they would seem to confirm a growing view among younger Americans that politicians are completely out of touch with the interests and concerns of the younger generation and seek to ban or regulate media which they do not understand and will not take the time to adequately research. As you probably know by now, there is a lot of sensationalistic writing about video games in various forms of media, much of which reflects poor - if any -research. To effectively address the issues of violence in video games, I believe you must become informed about the subject, read opinions from all sides of the issue, and try to determine the facts. Coming out with completely inaccurate information undermines any valid points you may be trying to make.
I thank you for taking the time to read this.
I don't think that this senator is deliberately spreading information that is not true. She probably read it on some website somewhere and became convinced that it was true, despite not having played the game or seen the offending sequence herself. The problem that I have with this is not just that I'm a video game fan (and one of the last games to be unfairly maligned was "Mass Effect", which I love); I'm also someone who care about our political system and getting younger generation involved in it. Unfortunately, if the potential and future young voters of America see that politicians not only don't care about their opinions and issues, but also will try to push legislation without doing any real research to try to understand the thing they are attempting to restrict, it's going to turn them off to the whole process.
So I wrote this letter:
Dear Senator,
It has recently come to my attention that you have spoken to the local media about the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. The article states that you are concerned about a "rape scene" in the game. Some news sites I have seen quote you as saying that players are awarded points for the act. I know you will probably be getting a lot of e-mails about this issue, but I wanted to make sure at least one of them told you the facts in a calm and polite manner.
I have actually watched the game "Grand Theft Auto IV" being played and, as numerous sources are now confirming, there is no rape scene. The game does feature allusions to sexual acts, but they are all consensual. The player is not given the opportunity to rape anyone in the game either for a reward of "points" or any other reason.
Your statements concern me not just as someone who enjoys video games, but as someone who cares very much about the American political system. I realize how essential it is to get the younger generation excited about politics and invested in the decisions made on the local, state, and national levels. The problem with the statements you have made is that they would seem to confirm a growing view among younger Americans that politicians are completely out of touch with the interests and concerns of the younger generation and seek to ban or regulate media which they do not understand and will not take the time to adequately research. As you probably know by now, there is a lot of sensationalistic writing about video games in various forms of media, much of which reflects poor - if any -research. To effectively address the issues of violence in video games, I believe you must become informed about the subject, read opinions from all sides of the issue, and try to determine the facts. Coming out with completely inaccurate information undermines any valid points you may be trying to make.
I thank you for taking the time to read this.