http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/living/1002/21sniper.html

I think iGames NEEDS to put a reply together on this. We need to put a spin o nthis that shows we are concerned and show how a GC can help address the issue by making a community where people meet in a public setting and interact. That will help break the mentality of the nut in his basement playing games that never sees the light of day and never interacts in a real setting.

It's quite easy for an ignorant journalist to make a name for himself, or at least attract a few eyes of attention, by addressing the issue of violence in the media. The problem here is that the individual who wrote this article used a considerable amount of bias in his argument that anyone with a inkling of reasoning would scoff at immediately. The author failed to produce any evidence or research that would directly link video games to people killing each other in real life. Less I remind this journalist of the Japanese culture which has the most bloody violent and sexual media on the planet, yet they have one of the lowest crime rates of any culture on the planet as well. Interesting no?

Violence on TV and in the movie theater has been around long before video and computer games. Go to your local blockbuster and take a look at the shelf of "action titles" that involved snipers, killing, murder in horrible ways. You will also find many titles where peoples "head are exploded" when shot, as he puts it.

How about watching a few of the latest action dramas on USA or the super station? You can't have an episode without violence and shooting or else it wont appeal to the general public and your ratings will go down - people like the violence and gore, if they didn't no one would watch it and the industry would focus on something completely different.

The complete and utter failure of this journalist to produce any evidence or research that supports this subtle opinion attests to the complete lack of professionally, validity, lack of understanding, and ignorant disposition on this issue and should completely invalidate the argument to any reasonable person.

If your only ability and motivation in journalism stems from the ignorance and shortcomings on the general public to understand something in objective terms then you should find a paper like the national inquirer to write for. As far as I?m concerned that about the quality of the Atlanta Access in my mind in terms of their ability to cover violence in the media.

Too bad we can't count on people to be reasonable all the time. In any case, it's only the people who over react that get noticed, like this journalist, and the majority of people out there just don't give a darn.

I have to say that of all the articles written, this one seems to be moderately unbiased. I say "moderately" because the fact that it was written at all shows that there is some bias there.

However the writer does make a point to show both sides and even ends with a positive gaming quote. No where in the article are you particularly led to believe one way or the other on the issue.

Assuming the reporter was assigned this article as a project, I would commend them on the even-handed reporting.

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LanLizards: Mishawaka, IN
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I hate the media. I just laught at all there speculations. Thats all they do is speculate. It sadens me that many people actually believe some of the crap regaurdless if it plausable or not. I guess George Bush wants to blow up Saddam b/c he played too much BF1942 or too much Americas Army.

20% / 80% can hardly be called even imo.

As noted, the fact that the article even exists means it is biased.

I would prepare to see more articles of this sort. This Wal-Mart thing will probably open up the can of worms.

Still based on similar articles, this is the most even-handed one I have read.

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LanLizards: Mishawaka, IN
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