Ah, the USA...

[cdybedahl]

You know the computer game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas? The one where you play a guy from the poorest parts of Los Angeles (except it's not called Los Angeles in the game) who tries to move up from small-time hood to big-time crime lord? Where you go around breaking stuff, killing people, breaking into homes and so on?

Well, Senator Hillary Clinton is instigating an investigation into this game. Because of the crime? No. Because of the violence and murder? No. She's doing it because there might be sex scenes in the game that you can get at by modifying the game according to instructions found on web sites.

Now if that's not a clear demonstration of the moral message of US politicians, I don't know what is.

Comments

[spacetart.livejournal.com]

Wait, AND she's ignoring the already exlicit(but not visually explicit) sex scenes to concentrate on something that much fewer people would have heard about if she hadn't trumpeted it around.

Man, my estimate of her has gone down.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I'd be impressed if she actually went after the parents who bought games for their little children that are clearly unsuitable. GTA games carry ratings are for adults only, so why do I hear my 9 year old nephew talking about how cool it is to shag the hookers and then kill them and get your money back?

Not the games fault. It's his parents fault for buying him the game in the first place.

Now, if Hilary came out and started laying the blame where the blame is due, for, really most everything. Then I'd be impressed. But as it is, can't say I'm surprised.

[seaya.livejournal.com]

Your icon makes me cry because....bleh, fuck you bbc. You know why.

Only 12 of them, and they have to get rid of the best one in ages in just one year.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I know. I know. I hope the new guy will be good. But. No. I keep an open mind. I hope he will be good.

[spacetart.livejournal.com]

Had one of those the other day. I said specifically, "In the last half of the game, one of the missions is that you put on a gimp suit, wave around a dildo, and seduce a lingerie clad woman to get something."

She still bought it for her 12 year old.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Huh. If you can find your way around the web easily enough to get the instructions, then you can access plenty of explicit sex without needing to add it into a game.

Like gonzo21, I seriously worry about the parents though. I always take age ratings into account. I find them a useful guideline. Sometimes, after watching something, I've decided it's okay for my boys, but I watched it first if I had any doubts.

[communicator.livejournal.com]

That's like banning paper because by following instructions on a web site I can make it show pictures of people having sex.

[exquiscadavre.livejournal.com]

Good Lord---isn't there anything more important going on in my country? Like that little war we started?

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

Apart from the (IMAO) utterly fucked priority of easily letting serious violence pass by without comment while coming down like ton of bricks on the mere possibility of graphic sex, this thing has got me thinking about something Noam Chomsky has said: The way to effective censorship is not to forbid discussion, but to strongly encourage discussion while closely controlling what gets discussed.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

So many people are making a big deal over this, and if it was a kid's game, they might have some sort of point. But the game's already rated 17 and over, so who cares?

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Could you clarify which "this" you're talking about? What got my attention was the basic insanity of your politicians having no problem with graphic violence while coming down like a ton of bricks on the mere possibility of graphic sex. That the game is already adult-rated does not exacly make their reaction any less crazy, IMAO.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Oh, the whole 'violence is okay, sex is obscene' thing is too stupid for words, but in this particular case I feel it's even more stupid, because the complaint is about *shock* hidden adult content in a game that's for, um, adults.

Who exactly is going to be corrupted here?

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Oh, and um, they're not *my* politicians.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

Sorry, mixed you up with someone else whose ljname starts with "tig"...

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

It's not like my own are actually any better, sadly, but association with Hillary Clinton is something I'd rather avoid! XD

And it's not just games. And not just the US.

[sugoll.livejournal.com]

For example, movies. Notice how, in a typical rental place like Blockbuster, if you can find anything that is actually about sex for its own sake (y'know, porn), it'll be rated adults-only. But there's a whole load of "vice cop" and/or serial-killer stuff that's a combination of sex and violence, and that's generally teen-rated.

So, what's the message here?

Re: And it's not just games. And not just the US.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

Well, if you ask me it's a consequence of a thousand years of Christian death fixation. But I don't really expect many to agree with me on that.

FYI

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

The Femmeslash PWP story written for you is here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/cadence_k/91574.html

Re: FYI

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I must admit I had given up on that one.