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British Army chief likes the PlayStation generation photo

While most people blame videogames and gamers for society's ills, there is at least one person who finds time to commend the so-called "PlayStation generation." That man is British Army Chief of the General Staff Sir Richard Dannatt who is impressed by the actions of those who grew up with games in Iraq. That just sounds weird to say. Here's what Dannatt proclaimed:

There is no doubt in my mind that our people, whether from the specialist Air Assault and Commando Brigades, or from the Ground Manoeuvre Brigades are all up to the job.

There was a time when commentators and some more experienced members of the Army expressed concern as to whether the ‘PlayStation generation’ were up to dealing with the gritty bloody conflict. Our young soldiers, drawn from across British society, are more than a match for what is required of them and I salute every one of them.

The courage, steadfastness and professionalism of our soldiers has been exemplary.

Of course, this is the perfect time for a backhanded remark about how videogames have obviously made them all better killers, but I like to think I'm better than that. Wait a second, no I'm not. Videogames have obviously made them all better killers.


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12 comments | showing # 1 to 12
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Yashoki's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 09:52
Yashoki
Just distasteful
nicojay's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 09:52
nicojay
Pfft. The Saturn generation could take 'em.
taumpytears's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 09:53
taumpytears
I feel playing Crysis has made me the perfect soldier for when the Koreans get to uppity.
nademagnet's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 10:21
nademagnet
Even though I found his statement was a little "general" in regards to the troops (I don't think EVERY ONE of the soldiers in a certain age groups plays games) I find that most of the "shooter" games today are giving us more objectives and more options on how to achieve them. That is a pretty good starting point for any type of military training imo. It's not the REAL thing, but it would give some one a jump start on thinking that way.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 10:29
B-Radicate
Military games like CoD4 just make me think that enemy soldiers would keep running at me until I walk past a certain invisible line on the ground. I hear that's false, however.
Kennigit's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 10:44
Kennigit
Im in the army and i can tell you first hand that fps skillz apply to real life shooting. When everything is second nature, even little things like crouching behind a box to reload make a big difference. Unfortunately you cant press ~ to open the console IRL -_-.
imbeta's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 11:01
imbeta
Oh Noes! Are we being "trained" to become Super-Soldiers?! - *sigh* I love bigot sentiments in the morning... we're all the same after all.

"What's All This Then?!"
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 11:16
king3vbo
So layme
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 12:13
Fading Star
"It's a dog's life...er man's life in the modern army."
"I'm tired of this sex on the tellyvision. I mean I keep falling off!"

Classic.
RevRighteous's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/29/2007 16:08
RevRighteous
I don't think the Army Chief was making a comment about games making them better trained soldiers at all. I think he was stating that despite how the elder generation views this generation as being frivolous, lazy, and A.D.D addled, Sir Richard Dannatt regards them as equal to in professionalism and capability as the previous generations' soldiers. Just because he used the term "Playstation Generation" everyone jumped to the conclusion he was claiming they were trained by these games. It's clear he claimed nothing of the sort, and whether games train to fight better or not has no bearing on his statement.
nademagnet's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/30/2007 12:14
nademagnet
@RevRighteous
Agreed.
PetiePal's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/01/2007 17:36
PetiePal
Ahem so the "generation" is what they were supposed to mold them into.

He says nothing about how videogames actually HELP eye-hand coordination, making you quickest to shoot Nazi...I mean ummm whatever needs to be shot.

Desensitization though you have to factor in movies and tv as well. Heck the 300 and Shoot 'Em Up were the most violent films I've seen in a long time.
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