GamePolitics, gaming journalism's answer to intelligent people,
has a story up right now which details a dialogue between the site and Dr. Susan Bartell, a woman who went on Fox's
The Morning Show with uneducated opinions and slammed
Halo 3. Her defense is that, even though she believes teens shouldn't play such games, her ignorant sensationalism is just the way television works.
This opens a window to something we all knew, and now we have proof -- that most so-called 'experts' care more about frightening the public for attention than actually providing thoughtful, reasonable coverage on the 'violent' games debate. Bartell used brain scans shown to her only five minutes before the show went on air to form an 'opinion' on how games make children violent, but don't worry ... that's just the way it is with TV, remember.
Bartell implied on The Morning Show that after a child plays a 'violent' videogame (put in quotes because games themselves are NOT capable of violence), they are likely to murder somebody who bumps into them in the street. Such wild and dangerous claims are damaging to a very wonderful industry, but Bartell doesn't seem to mind. After all, it's just business.
Hit the jump for what was said between GP and Dr. Bartell and ask yourself -- what's more dangerous to society? A simple videogame, or a TV show that reaches millions and essentially whips them into hysteria for precious ratings? I know what scares ME more.
GP: One thing I found especially concerning… was [an e-mail] comment that you only saw the [Indiana University] brain scan pix five minutes before air [of The Morning Show]. That being the case, do you think it appropriate to go on and offer a professional opinion based on the scans to the audience? Dr. Bartell: That’s the way it is with TV — it’s just not a black and white thing. I am genuinely sorry that it caused such a sense that I was being so disrespectful [to gamers]. The scans aside I stand by my opinion that violent games should not be played by teens… As to whether I should have responded to the scans — my intent was going on air to discuss whether the church should be holding Halo nights, clearly that was derailed.
GP: In all honesty, I’m having difficulty reconciling “that’s the way it is with TV” to responsible professionalism. It smacks of sensationalism. Just being candid here.
Dr. Bartell: I can understand how you feel… there is an element of sensationalism to it I suppose, but no less, IMO than all the hoopla created by the GP posters in response to my appearance. I appreciate candor — it will always help me grow as a person and as a professional. I couldn’t — five minutes before going on air — say, sorry I won’t do it, I don’t have enough background information about this brain scan! I’m just not that much of a purist…
Contest:
2:37 PM on 10.19.2007
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Shame on you Dr. Bartell, and shame fall upon anybody who should ever happen to disparage an art form (looking at you Ebert, Thompson) simply because they lack adequate information.
Let me give you a note for next time: if you ever have a deadline to meet to present some similar commentary on a subject you are not acquainted with, just back out and back away, lest you so righteously receive the deluge of hatemail that you well deserve for your last diatribe.
*mumbles to self*
The tv producer approved formula is either right-wing hack vs. liberal pundit, left-wing hack vs. conservative pundit, or just hack vs. hack.
Well, this high and mighty reporter stops the guy outside of a sports store where he just bought a new shotgun, because his other was confiscated by the police since it's still considered evidence, and brutally questioned this poor old guy. Here's the footage. (Well, I don't get youtube at work so I hope that's the footage) She got suspended due to this, and I believe ANY reporter more motivated by sensationalism instead of journalism should be suspended for lack of journalistic integrity.
That's what I think anyway.
negative becouse player needs to get in to the character of the game? aren't teachers telling us when reading an book to get in to the story and it's main character?
The reflexes that we train while playing couses us to pick up a gun??
first time I hear ir but I'm sure she's got an good for telling this.
I'm with her on one thing though, no religion should use such things to attract young people, it's a bribery... if you go to church becouse of halo3 isn't that a sin? shouldn't preachers know this, don't they know the're commiting an sin when they're doing this???
for the rest, lady in suit, bring some facts some real scientific facts don't make those loose arguments.
thanks. my work here is done.
Its all about their fucking ratings. Dont believe anything you see on TV
but isnt halo 3 rate 'M' Teens shouldnt be playing that to begin with...... shame.....
Also, I'm glad that increased brain activity is actually directly proportional to violent behavior. I'm pretty sure that's a scientific fact.
Finally, not being told anything about how a study was conducted actually makes me believe it even more. It's not like the games they were comparing could really make a difference in a teen reaction.
Just report what is going on, I don't need to see you chasing after some poor shlub that just got convicted of murder to get his opinion of what happened to him just so you can get a story thats "good TV." Just say what happened and move on ffs.
brb.
No sane person can say that "I acted like that because that's how tv wants us professionals to act."
If she is as sane as she makes it believe on the GP interview, she would have gone to that show and simply screw all of those idiots saying that in no way does a game create a killer.
Also, I hate TV!
j/k, that psychologist is a fucking dyke and deserves to die.
Riiiiiiiiiight.
Congratulations, you have little to no credibility!
-Off Topic- Do you think television stations get good ratings when people spend more time playing video games?
we only need videogames and the internetz
Seriously though, the claims they make in this interview are ridiculous. Like someone else said, the game is rated M, teens shouldn't be playing it PERIOD. It isn't Bungie's fault that the game gets into the hands of minors. I hate it when parents don't take the blame. When their kid messes up, they point the finger at someone else. I guess by their claims, anyone who plays Guitar Hero will be able guitar, or someone who plays skate is going to be able to do a 360 Nollie heelflip. Well I must go, I just saw some random guy give me a dirty look outside. I'm gonna stick a plasma grenade up his ass and then piss on his corpse.
Things like this are exactly why I wrote off mainstream news years ago.
They talk badly about the Internet, videogames, and everything neither they nor the general public (ie, people who are totally inexperienced in that field).
I wish that, for once, they get Adam Sessler and Alex Albrecht together in a show to stand up for gamers and Internet users. Those two, without a doubt, would silence all false accusations and BS from ignorant people who just happen to have a college certificate (or a PhD decorating the wall behind their desks, big deal. I'm an undergrad and I already know more than they do about what they're lying about).
and then this one.
Now going on the brain activity on the second image I'd say that the scans on the video clip are in no way related to playing video games because surely there's more brain activity involved in playing a video game than there is reading a sentence, cos in a video game you're performing the majority of the things stated above. and if i were to compare the scans from the image to the video clip I'd say that playing a video game is the equivalent to reading words
Maybe those scans on TV were of someone with a Mental Defect?