Philly columnist defends FPS-infused Army Recruitment Center [Joystiq]

[DP ServBot]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/05/gam_americasarmy_580.jpg (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20090522_Christine_M__Flowers__The_anti-military_crowd.html)

At the beginning of this month, a swarm of protesters descended upon the Army Recruitment Center (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/02/protesters-to-march-against-armys-use-of-video-games-for-recrui/) housed within Philidelphia's Franklin Mills Mall. Their qualm with the Center focused on its use of first-person shooters to attract young, Call of Duty-experienced potential recruits. Now, a few weeks after the protest march, Philadelphia Daily News columnist Christine Flowers offers a different look (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20090522_Christine_M__Flowers__The_anti-military_crowd.html) at the technologically endowed Recruitment Center, and the controversy that's been surrounding it as of late.

Flowers, a conservative, Philly-based lawyer, doesn't see the Center's use of games as an enticing trap for impressionable adolescents. Instead, she agrees with the sentiment of the Center's manager, Maj. Larry Dillard, who sees the technology as a way to boost "transparency." Flowers writes, "There's no subterfuge in giving someone an accurate picture of the army experience." Any veterans in the audience today that want to compare "the army experience" to a few rounds of America's Army (http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Americas-Army/)?

[Via GamePolitics (http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/05/25/philly-columnist-defends-army039s-video-game-recruitment-center)]http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif (http://www.joystiq.com)Philly columnist defends FPS-infused Army Recruitment Center (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/philly-columnist-defends-fps-infused-army-recruitment-center/) originally appeared on Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) on Mon, 25 May 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).



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[heybtbm]

Last time I checked, the Armed Services were voluntary. As in, you choose to join or not. This may be shocking to the outraged and concerned strawmen alluded to in the article, but you can even choose to pick a non-combat-related job. The only time you'll touch a weapon is during basic training.

Edit: One more thing...


Any veterans in the audience today that want to compare "the army experience" to a few rounds of America's Army (http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Americas-Army/)?

My experience in the Army was less like America's Army and more like Lee Trevino's Putting Challenge (Simpson's ref. there). Then again, I was fortunate to serve during a time when our biggest enemies were only Bosnia and Somalia.

[Diosoth]

It's a lazy attempt to glorify the armed forces. Playing a vide game =/= actual training, weapon usage, or wartime.

Not that I'd dare join with the state of the world these days. Why are US troops still dying in Iraq? For NO reason whatsoever. It's been 6 years since Hussein was removed from power. And Iran is holding elections. The new guy is very popular. Given that current president Captain Crazy has talked about war with Israel every second of the day, he'll no doubt start something BIG if he thinks he's going to lose.

Believe it or not but we are NOT fighting for "freedom" anymore. We fight wars we can win. And as for "support the troops"... they volunteered. Many of them blindly follow orders and throw away morals and convictions because of rank. Anyone who does something bad because of "orders" needs to question what they're doing.

What were we in Vietnam for? Hell if I know. I think it was the magical threat of communism or something.

The only reason I never protest is because most war/Bush protestors were just as bad. I hate Green Day more than I hate the Texas chimp.

The country is borderline broke and we're spending money on wars instead of on our own people. Wars we don't need to fight or prolong. I'm sure all that mythical "freedom" will matter to everyone losing their jobs and homes right now.