Canada jumps on the VG Blame Train

[boatofcar]

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/TorontoCover-thumb.jpg


http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/crime/more-need-for-speed-blame-on-accident-150959.php

[hezeuschrist]

You know, you have to wonder when journalists will realize that everytime they print an article like this they lose credibility with the entire gaming community. That may not sound like much of a threat, but considering the game industry has an annual net revenue greater than that of the MLB, NBA, and NFL combined, you're quickly pissing away your credibility with a massive chunk of the populace.

[kedawa]

It makes sense that someone who street races in real life would be into that game.
I don't see how that makes it the games fault.
Of course, shit like this is to be expected from that rag of a newspaper.

I'm sure if you looked in any murderer's house, you'd find a book/movie/game/whatever in which someone gets killed.
That doesn't add up to cause and effect.

[kedawa]

You know, you have to wonder when journalists will realize that everytime they print an article like this they lose credibility with the entire gaming community. That may not sound like much of a threat, but considering the game industry has an annual net revenue greater than that of the MLB, NBA, and NFL combined, you're quickly pissing away your credibility with a massive chunk of the populace.

The thing is, they don't have any credibility in the first place.
It's not that the media is any less ignorant when it comes to other subjects, it's just that we don't notice because we're equally ignorant, probably because we get our information from them.

They're just as biased and lazy when it comes to politics, science, and whatever else they report on.
The fact that they print crap like this about games only serves to alert gamers to the low standards of journalistic integrity that these douchebags aspire to.

[njiska]

You know what's really important? and what's being ignored. It's what the cop had to say.

"There is a small percentage who have difficulty separating reality and simulation, fantasy. It's a very, very small percentage," he said. "This was not the game's fault. There are millions who play this game and don't go out and do this."

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=74b79e64-81b9-44a5-bce7-bd4243418462&k=77682&p=1

The National Post is good. Fuck the Toronto sun.

[SEGA-SAMMY]

The SUN is a tabloid. It is not a credible newspaper at all. :roll:

The cop's quote was right on the money. :) :)

[stonecutter]

PLease do not use a broad brush to paint all of Canada as having that opinion. I know you do not mean it in that way.

It was one cop I believe who made a statement, he is the ignorant one, not all of Canada. He has discredited himself, with a thoughtless comment. Just imagine how much fun it must be, to be one of his children.

[kedawa]

The National Post is a far superior publication to the Sun, that's for sure.

All news media needs to be taken with a grain of salt, though, regardless of the subject.


PLease do not use a broad brush to paint all of Canada as having that opinion. I know you do not mean it in that way.

It was one cop I believe who made a statement, he is the ignorant one, not all of Canada. He has discredited himself, with a thoughtless comment. Just imagine how much fun it must be, to be one of his children.I think you're reading a bit too much into the title.
I think it was just drawing attention to the fact that such ignorance exists here, just like anywhere else.

[stonecutter]

Nah, not reading too much into it, as I said, I know you\being him didn't mean it. Just think care must be taken with the use of generalizations. I didn't mean any harm.

Agreed ignorance is everywhere. Its scary when it is an authority figure however.

[boatofcar]

PLease do not use a broad brush to paint all of Canada as having that opinion.

Cause you know, people never do that with the US.

Point taken, though. This was just the first time I've seen a Canadian paper with that kind of a headline.

[stonecutter]

lol boatofcar, you are right, i'm sure there are a few that do. anyway didn't really mean to get the thread this off topic. Let me try to bring it back for you.

I bet you this summer, when little Billy is playing soccer at the field, forgets his Mario Super Striker soccer game at the field, someone picks it up, they will not be quoted in the paper as saying " oh look, this video game encouraged little Billy to play soccer, aren't video games great!"

[evil_genius]

I think the Toronto Sun is playing the blame game, not necessarily the country of Canada.

[Ed Oscuro]

Ha, the first thing I noticed is that there's a car ad at the bottom of the page.

So...was it the game that killed those people, or the vehicle? LOL

[rbudrick]

Point taken, though. This was just the first time I've seen a Canadian paper with that kind of a headline

You've seen a Canadian paper before? Me neither. That would explain it (among other things ;) ).

-Rob

[Nature Boy]

Point taken, though. This was just the first time I've seen a Canadian paper with that kind of a headline

Check out the Toronto Sun more often - they *love* that kind of headline.

It's a rag if ever there was a rag.

[GarrettCRW]

Check out the Toronto Sun more often - they *love* that kind of headline.

It's a rag if ever there was a rag.

It's owned by Rupert Murdoch, ain't it? ;)

[badinsults]

It might as well be. The Sun's journalists have been prominent on the BILL O'RIELLY show. Most newspapers with any reputation correctly got the quote from the police officer saying that the game was not to blame. People aren't stupid. It is like during the election when the Liberals said they would ban handguns to curb the growing violence in Toronto, everyone pointed out that the pledge would do nothing, and that handguns were essentially banned anyways.

[GarrettCRW]

People aren't stupid.

I can name 19 people in Washington, DC who could disprove your hypothesis. ;)