Let me first start off by saying that I like Joe Manchin. At least when I considered the alternative: a Tea Party nut in John Raese (who needs to understand that after three times of not getting elected, that he's doing something wrong). I do like that he supports Obama on a lot of the key issues.
However, me being a liberal does not mean that I have to agree with everything that Democrats say or do. Hell, me being an American means that I can agree or disagree with basically anyone or anything I want to. Of course, it should make sense, and my reasoning should, too. This showed when I called out the banning of World Wrestling Entertainment clothing from polls during 2010 (which I am not sorry for doing this). I never agreed with Linda McMahon's beliefs or ideas, but I didn't think that censorship was the answer there. Me being a liberal didn't mean I had to agree with that. Unlike the GOP anymore, we actually have value in the notion that the right decisions can only come from disagreement (the GOP seems to want everyone to agree with every letter that comes from a few figureheads' mouths).
I am also an avid gamer, as you no doubt have known from me getting on the issue of Jessica Nigiri from earlier this year (which I also am not sorry for and I stand by my opinion, as I do with the WWE apparel I mentioned above). I was somewhat disappointed that Kossers weren't as into gaming, or seemed to not understand it, as much as I was. At least that was the consensus I got from the replies I got. Now, it might be that a good bit of us are gamers at heart, and who could blame us: gaming as an entertainment service has exploded in recent years, and you can be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't play SOME kind of game, whether it be the latest Call of Duty, or someone tending to a farm on Facebook, or someone joining their friends for a raid in World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2, or something in between. It'd be difficult to find someone who has honestly shunned all forms of gaming.
And yet, we're sane people. We live happy lives and go out with friends, play sports or have decent jobs, and when we are stressed, find release in entertainment such as video games.
So why, then, does Joe Manchin, a guy I'd agree with the other 95% of the time, went on MSNBC and declared that a video game franchise, Grand Theft Auto (which has a new installment due out next year), be banned, right after telling us that he is a proud member of the NRA? And why are we forced to go though this cycle once again right after yet another school shooting when we fail to even understand the elements of how these things work?
The quote came from Morning Joe last Wednesday, when he wasn't "calling for a ban or anything" when he mentioned that there should be some gun control restrictions. He defended the NRA (who gave the conservative Democrat from West Virginia an A rating) on the show when discussing should be done about gun safety after the Sandy Hook tragedy a few weeks ago:
“I don’t know anyone in the sporting or hunting arena that goes out with an assault rifle. I don’t know anyone that needs 30 rounds in a clip to go hunting. I mean, these are things that need to be talked about.
“Never before have we seen our babies slaughtered. Anybody that’s a proud gun owner, anybody that’s a proud member of the NRA, we’re also proud parents. We’re also proud grandparents.”
Now, before anyone says anything, I'm pretty sure a good bit of the NRA members are good people who usually wouldn't think of shooting up schools or anything similar. Joe did, as well, say that he was proud of them wanting to sit down and work something out so something like what happened in Connecticut never happens again.
But I've noticed that every time an issue about gun control comes up right after a school shooting like this (listen to me saying that as if it's been a common occurrence anymore, which it has been...which is a problem), the NRA is rather quick to pipe up to defend themselves and to shove the second Amendment down our throats along with the GOP. Yeah, I'm pretty sure semi-automatic weapons existed when our Founding Fathers sat down to draw that one up, guys.
But what did Joe Manchin go to instead of the NRA being a center issue?
"Look at Grand Theft Auto, put out by Rockstar Games in New York City and see what it promotes. Shouldn’t that be looked into and maybe be banned?"
And there goes the neighborhood.
Now, don't get me wrong. That could just be a hypocritical quote. That could just be Joe saying "we're not banning this game when people believe that's the cause, so why are you telling us that we should ban guns?"
If only it was! We then couple that with what Jay Rockefeller introduced into the Senate.
The problem is that the politicians do not ever get any input from anyone that is actually in the gaming industry. Let me ask you what kind of "study" will come from Jay Rockefeller's idea. This idea comes from the other WV senator (which makes Manchin's comments more than just hypothetical) who seems to be more liberal than Manchin is. How skewed will the study be? Who will they ask? What will they ask? How will they ask them? What will they hear from their answers? Will they find out anything that they don't already know?
Of course they won't, because they will refuse to listen to the people that actually play, report on, or even make these games. Hell, they won't even give them the chance to defend themselves, if a recent so-called "debate" about violence in video games on a British talk show is any indication (I'm very curious as to the host's ignorance that there even WAS a ratings system in place, and what American study the woman, a "sexpert" and has actually done voice work for a violent game herself, was even referring to). A 2 on 1 debate (3 on 1 if you count the clueless host), with the one defender being an actual member of the gaming press and has had facts ready to go, being booed when citing his facts (complete with sources), while the ones that are acting on heresy get constant applause.
Yes, this is a growing problem. Perhaps there's a growing problem that we WANT video games to be at the center of the issue because it's the bane of many. Or perhaps we don't want to think that someone younger than any of us are in any way smarter than us, and thus can handle seeing certain things better than we can.
Now, of course, I'm not saying that we should just let 10 year old kids get their hands on a M rated game. Anyone who would try to link that with what I'm saying is just absurd and is trying to build straw men and stretching what was said. However, it's troubling when we ask the question of "why do you like violent games" or "does this make that" with a preconception that we're going to act like Bill O'Reilly towards Jeremy Glick whenever we get an answer we don't want to hear, or one that doesn't promote whatever agenda we're trying to achieve.
Because say games WERE to get banned? What do you blame then? Movies were blamed before! Books were, and so were comics! This is because yes, it WILL happen again and it is because you're trying to ignore the real issue.
How did this guy, who was clearly mentally disturbed, have such easy access to the guns he got? Why don't they ask that? What about why were there no warning signs noticed or dealt with? These questions should be the ones that are asked, not what can we make the scapegoat this time so we don't have to tackle the real reasons that we don't have an answer or solution to deal with.
But if you don't believe me, I want to leave you with a video from a UK-based YouTube commentator named John Bain. People might know him better by the pseudonym of TotalBiscuit (TB). He has covered video games for several years now, and has not been scared to voice his pleasure or displeasure with the inner workings of the game industry. I don't always agree with his opinions, but one can safely assume that he knows more about the industry than any of us might. He has hosted several gaming tournaments throughout the world, and his subscriber base is nearing 900,000.
The video he made concerning the Sandy Hook tragedy and how the media is using this to promote some sick agenda on the backs of the dead is as fascinating as it is disturbing, and he says it way better than I ever could. I thought about paraphrasing the things he said, or summarize it, or put it in my own words once I show it to you, but I think it would be best if I don't say anything and just let you watch it.
And I implore you to watch it. Listen to the news report that he showed (which is sprinkled with reports of various reports of school shootings to see how the guy's words are completely ignored), the stats to show that there is no there there about game violence versus real life, and what the media really is trying to accomplish. Perhaps Manchin and Rockefeller should watch and listen to what he says, too.
Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/...