US Parents on gaming: Gay Kissing worse than Severed Heads

[CptStern]

Parent-oriented video game site WhatTheyPlay.com had a poll earlier this week which caused the site's own editor to post W.T.F. on his personal blog. The results of the unscientific poll showed that respondents were almost equally disturbed by the idea of a "graphically severed human head" as they were by "two men kissing" in a video game. Respondents were actually far more offended by a man and a woman having sex, which received 37% of the vote, while dropping the F-bomb only received 10%.

But its result seem to tie in with the traditional American view as well as U.S. legal precedents. First Amendment protections, for example, are extended to violent content while sexual material is subject to greater legal scrutiny.

so in other words parents would rather little Junior see severed heads over men kissing cuz they might turn gay

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/gay-kissing-as-bad-as-severed-head-welcome-to-america/

 

[SamuraiKenji]

one phrase goes with this....



WTF

 

[Cpt Tenacious]

This is so ****ing stupid! What's the big issue with sex? It's just nature, I don't think severed heads rolling all over the place is better than a natural thing that every human does.

 

[Pulse]

Mutal acts of affection will CORRUPT your children! Death to kissing! More severed limbs for all!

 

[CyberPitz]

But Sex is worse than severed...heads....?

 

[mastag]

Idiots.

 

[Steel.Inferno]

F-Bomb getting any votes at all is offensive to me...

 

[<RJMC>]

then lets have less sex in videogames and more GORE!!!1

 

[Ennui]

Jesus christ, that is repulsive.

 

[99.vikram]

American parents are repulsive, but I digress...

(Europe is cooler that way)

 

[Vegeta897]

So the general consensus here is that you guys would rather have your kids see sex in their video game than violence, the most commonplace element of a video game that kids are already desensitized to? So you want them to get used to seeing sex too in addition to that, at a young age?

Also, where does it say that everyone polled were american parents? WhatTheyPlay.com is a site on the internet that can be accessed by anyone in the world.

 

[Baal]

This is so ****ing stupid! What's the big issue with sex? It's just nature, I don't think severed heads rolling all over the place is better than a natural thing that every human does.

Speak for yourself :|

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

Not surprised at all. There's a reason why games like Witcher have all their sexual content removed and others like Soldier of Fortune are left intact - good ol' left over puritanical values.

 

[Cpt Tenacious]

Speak for yourself :|

I walked right into that one.

 

[CptStern]

So the general consensus here is that you guys would rather have your kids see sex in their video game than violence, the most commonplace element of a video game that kids are already desensitized to? So you want them to get used to seeing sex too in addition to that, at a young age?

the poll compares men kissing with severed heads ..kissing is not sex, it's kissing

Also, where does it say that everyone polled were american parents? WhatTheyPlay.com is a site on the internet that can be accessed by anyone in the world.

the article clearly says american pov

But its result seem to tie in with the traditional American view as well as U.S. legal precedents. First Amendment protections, for example, are extended to violent content while sexual material is subject to greater legal scrutiny.

 

[Cpt Tenacious]

Vegeta you just got Sterned.

 

[ericms]

So the general consensus here is that you guys would rather have your kids see sex in their video game than violence, the most commonplace element of a video game that kids are already desensitized to? So you want them to get used to seeing sex too in addition to that, at a young age?

Also, where does it say that everyone polled were american parents? WhatTheyPlay.com is a site on the internet that can be accessed by anyone in the world.

Right. This poll isn't all that appalling (not at all really). A parent would likely think that their child is more capable of having sex than severing off a human head, right?

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

It's a legally proven precedent amongst Americans, regardless of how skeptical we should be of shitty poles like this one. It's ingrained in our culture that sex is sin but good old fashioned war is a thing of beauty. Think about what is more commonly censored by the FCC or what all the legislation surrounds.

Take Hot Coffee for example, in a game where you receive instructions to kill hookers, run over and terrorize people with various weapons the one thing that has gaming critics and politicians in an uproar is a HIDDEN sex scene - one which you need to download or create a crack to access. It's appalling, and I'm ashamed to live here when issues like this come up.

 

[Vegeta897]

Yes Stern, I'm aware it says that. I was talking about how most people think sex is more suitable for their children to view than violence. Learn to read what I'm writing as opposed to what you think I'm writing. I agree with the appauled reaction of thinking men kissing is worse than violence. That's very silly indeed. Notice in my post I wasn't talking about that aspect of this article.

And the article doesn't say anything remotely close to "poll results are based entirely on american parents voting". It just says that the results closely fit the model of american parental views.

Oh, and before you put even more words in my mouth, I'd like to point out that I'm not stating my stance on "which is worse, sex or violence for kids" just pointing it out to spark discussion.


Edit: Let me point out some more interesting thoughts.

This whole violence in video games worse than sex opinion seems kind of contradictory for gamers like us to have. Since when did we think violence in videogames is bad? Whenever a school shooting is blamed on video games, we are outraged and completely disagree. If we believe violence in video games has no negative effect on children, why do we think it's worse than sex in video games? Since sex is not widely presented in video games, we have no idea what kind of negative effect it COULD have. Not saying it will, but you never know until it's for real.

What do you think of this?

 

[CptStern]

Yes Stern, I'm aware it says that. I was talking about how most people think sex is more suitable for their children to view than violence.

they dont have children cant really comment on what they would do and at what age, under what circumstance. they arent giving any quantifiers so you're pretty much having a reaction to an unknow ..is sex = nudity in games, is it a comparison between kissing and severed heads, a comparison between severed heads and full on anal while dressed as a nun? without quantifiers you're just assuming their reaction based on your own pov...kinda like you accuse me of doing here:

Learn to read what I'm writing as opposed to what you think I'm writing.

I agree with the appauled reaction of thinking men kissing is worse than violence.

dont forget from a seemingly american family values-like poll

And the article doesn't say anything remotely close to "poll results are based entirely on american parents voting". It just says that the results closely fit the model of american parental views.

well then you agree it reflects an American's pov amirite?

 

[Vegeta897]

Yeah, I do agree. I wasn't arguing that it wasn't. I was just pointing out that you seemed to state it as a fact in the thread title, when it's not really fully true. It actually is something you do all the time to other people's threads, point out things that weren't stated in the article.

The first paragraph in your post there doesn't change anything... We're here on a forum to discuss things. Just because most of us aren't parents doesn't mean we can't do that. In b4 you telling us we're all wrong because you have kids.

Edit: And I say that in a joking-way, not meaning to start another argument.

That paragraph actually correlates to the poll as well... They don't really say exactly what they mean by "sex" in the poll. Parents, being the frightened over-reactive people they are, probably assume the worst. The violence options explicitly states what's happening. This can skew results as well.

 

[Ennui]

So the general consensus here is that you guys would rather have your kids see sex in their video game than violence, the most commonplace element of a video game that kids are already desensitized to? So you want them to get used to seeing sex too in addition to that, at a young age?

My kids aren't going to be playing gory video games at a young age, and I'd rather they get exposed to the secret of life than to what it looks like when someone gets hit in the face with a bullet. Once they're "old enough" to be exposed to these kinds of things I will be far more lenient about sexual content than I will about violence, just like my parents were.

Assuming I have kids, ever.

Edit: Let me point out some more interesting thoughts.

This whole violence in video games worse than sex opinion seems kind of contradictory for gamers like us to have. Since when did we think violence in videogames is bad? Whenever a school shooting is blamed on video games, we are outraged and completely disagree. If we believe violence in video games has no negative effect on children, why do we think it's worse than sex in video games? Since sex is not widely presented in video games, we have no idea what kind of negative effect it COULD have. Not saying it will, but you never know until it's for real.

What do you think of this?

Relate it to the film industry, where we've had a lot more time and exposure to both graphic sex and graphic violence. Sex isn't as bad, because it's sex, it's natural and part of everyone's life. The need to detach yourself from the act, as in violent games, isn't as strong because sex is "okay" whereas murder is not. Obviously there are still issues with sex in games or movies but it's not as big of a deal IMO, you see what I'm saying. Violence is just another ballgame. I don't think violent video games are particularly harmful to ME or most people but for children I think they can mess up their values to some extent if not presented correctly. Same with sex, but I think in a much gentler fashion.

Plus, little kids go "eww" when it comes to sex and are thrilled by headshots, so that helps.

 

[Eejit]

Hmmm does this poll mean that the voters would find two male severed heads kissing more offensive than a man and woman having sex in a game?

 

[CptStern]

Yeah, I do agree. I wasn't arguing that it wasn't. I was just pointing out that you seemed to state it as a fact in the thread title, when it's not really fully true.

you flip flop a lot ..so what's it going to be?

"it reflects an American's pov"

or

"it does NOT reflect an American's pov"


semantics you're consitantly arguing semantics ..it says what it says:

its result seem to tie in with the traditional American view as well as U.S. legal precedents.

It actually is something you do all the time to other people's threads, point out things that weren't stated in the article.

riiiight, back to the semantics:

its result seem to tie in with the traditional American view as well as U.S. legal precedents.

The first paragraph in your post there doesn't change anything... We're here on a forum to discuss things. Just because most of us aren't parents doesn't mean we can't do that. In b4 you telling us we're all wrong because you have kids.

:upstare: you read the first 4 words of that paragraph and ignored the rest

cant really comment on what they would do and at what age, under what circumstance. they arent giving any quantifiers so you're pretty much having a reaction to an unknow ..is sex = nudity in games, is it a comparison between kissing and severed heads, a comparison between severed heads and full on anal while dressed as a nun? without quantifiers you're just assuming their reaction based on your own pov

debating you is no fun; you ignore 90% of what's written forcing people to constantly rehash information because you didnt pick it up the first time around

 

[Vegeta897]

Relate it to the film industry, where we've had a lot more time and exposure to both graphic sex and graphic violence. Sex isn't as bad, because it's sex, it's natural and part of everyone's life. The need to detach yourself from the act, as in violent games, isn't as strong because sex is "okay" whereas murder is not. Obviously there are still issues with sex in games or movies but it's not as big of a deal IMO, you see what I'm saying. Violence is just another ballgame. I don't think violent video games are particularly harmful to ME or most people but for children I think they can mess up their values to some extent if not presented correctly. Same with sex, but I think in a much gentler fashion.

Plus, little kids go "eww" when it comes to sex and are thrilled by headshots, so that helps.

Hmm.. "mess up their values to some extent" ? You're going to need to be more exact if you plan on squashing this contradiction. Does it mean they're likely to schoot up a school? Slice up a peer? Any number of other things that gamers like us are so quick to say are not the fault of video games? This should make the contradiction clear if it wasn't the first time.

Are these values messed up in a way that it really matters at all, is what I'm asking.

Kids aren't going to go "ewww" at sex if they see it all the time in their video games. Eventually their going to get used to it and who knows what it could lead to.

Stern, come off it. I never said I didn't agree that it reflected american parental opinions. Please go find where I said that and I'll give you 500 dollars. If you already knew that american parents thought this way, why do we even need this thread? I'm just saying that what you stated as fact in the thread title isn't actually presented in the article. That's it. Stop reading into it further than what it is, you're just wasting my time.

I'll just go ahead and say "right back at you" to your last comment.

 

[Ennui]

Hmm.. "mess up their values to some extent" ? You're going to need to be more exact if you plan on squashing this contradiction. Does it mean they're likely to schoot up a school? Slice up a peer? Any number of other things that gamers like us are so quick to say are not the fault of video games? This should make the contradiction clear if it wasn't the first time.

Are these values messed up in a way that it really matters at all, is what I'm asking.

Kids aren't going to go "ewww" at sex if they see it all the time in their video games. Eventually their going to get used to it and who knows what it could lead to.

Kids shouldn't be seeing sex or violence all the time in their video games. That doesn't mean we should take sex and violence out of video games, it means we shouldn't let kids play games with that kind of thing it it until they are old enough. I for one plan on being a responsible parent about that, this whole "MY KIDS ARE PLAYING EVIL VIDEO GAMES" bullshit makes me want to vomit and smack a bitch at the same time.

I don't think that playing GTA or SOF will make a kid any more likely to shoot up a school, but if a kid is of the type that might be inclined to do a school shooting anyway, it would make sense that playing violent games could solidify his resolve and make it easier for him to do. When I say "mess up their values" I mean that it could potentially damage their respect for human life etc, because little kids aren't as good at delineating between what is real and what isn't as we are. Which is why I don't think little kids should be playing violent games.

 

[CptStern]

but what does "sex in video games" mean? boobs? ass? genitalia? penetration? ...unless you're getting a porn game there isnt a single game out there that has the latter two ...but there are plenty that have severed heads ..so what are we comparing here when we say sex in games is ok compared to violence?

I much rather my kids saw boobs over severed heads ..because boobs are the extent of "sex" in video games, the sky's the limit on violence

 

[Ennui]

I agree pretty much totally with that. I was speaking hypothetically though; even graphic sex, full nudity or whatever isn't as bad in whatever sense to a 14 year old as SOFII style gore. IMHO.

 

[Vegeta897]

but what does "sex in video games" mean? boobs? ass? genitalia? penetration? ...unless you're getting a porn game there isnt a single game out there that has the latter two ...

That's only true because of the way most parents think. Games like that wouldn't sell very well, so they aren't made.

The poll sort of creates a hypothetical world, where it's like, say if violence wasn't already so commonplace in today's videogames, would it be worse if sex was the commonplace element in videogames, not violence.

In which case, the sex would be pushed to the same sky-limit that violence is in today's world.

Might just be my way of interpreting the question, but if you ask me sex is sex, not just nudity.

And like I already pointed out, parents are probably going to assume the most extreme when they vote "sex".

 

[Ennui]

Still, seeing boobies/pen0r/vagoo isn't that bad at all for any kid that's hit puberty. Excluding violent sex, I don't really see it being all that harmful, except maybe having a bit of negative effect in shaping their attitudes towards sex. But violence is worse in my mind regardless.

 

[MJ12]

This is good that we can see the truth now. Fags are very dangerous, if they spread their fagism our population will decrease.

Fight Fagism

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

This is good that we can see the truth now. Fags are very dangerous, if they spread their fagism our population will decrease.

Fight Fagism

This. Every society that ever went gay collapsed! Look at the greeks!

*ignores all evidence that romans, greeks, etc. all collapsed for different reasons*

 

[CptStern]

I agree pretty much totally with that. I was speaking hypothetically though; even graphic sex, full nudity or whatever isn't as bad in whatever sense to a 14 year old as SOFII style gore. IMHO.

ya but the content is determined by the retailers ..as in they wont carry anything rated AO ..which is the only rating which allows those two descriptions of "sex" ..besides graphic sex has been pushed to the wayside in all media across the board ..there will never be graphic sex in mainstream video games because a game with graphic sex could never be mainstream just like there couldnt be graphic sex in mainstream movies; because they'd be porn, thereby limiting their own success. But essentially I fully agree with your points ..but at the same time video games have yet to reach the same level of violence in film ..I cant think of a single video game that has Rambo 3 level of violence ..film by it's very nature has more of a visceral impact than video games could hope for ..at least for the foreseeable future

 

[Xendance]

This is probably the most hilarious thing I've seen.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

I want to have sex with a severed head...


...in a game.


?_?

 

[Sulkdodds]

I'd have sex with your severed pelvis, if you were my mum.

(that's what she* said)

*Crazyharij

 

[CyberPitz]

Violent games are not for the "young kids" to play. they are for, what, 16, 17, or even 18 minimum?

Having that same cap for the sex in video games really doesn't show as a problem. By that time, every kid BETTER have had their hands on a Playboy, or surfed the net to a hustler site or the likes. Personally, this poll is completely skewed, because by the time the kid was old enough to legally purchase these games on their own, the parent really shouldn't have much of a say in if the kid is allowed to play it or not. I was always so pissed when I was 17, my step mother didn't want me playing Diablo II....yet I played Counter-Strike constantly.

It's just a BS poll, imo.

 

[highlander]

This is probably the most hilarious thing I've seen.

Seconded.

 

[giant384]

it doesn't even say how large the sample of people voted is....so this is bogus

 

[Narvi]

Remember after all that horrible gut-splashing violence is less terrible than Janet Jackson's right tit.