Bizarre: Politician Blames GTA IV for Green Fail
Scottish minister suggests "environmental" computer game series.
Now this is just downright bizarre. During a Scottish Parliament debate, MP Christopher Harvie of the Scottish National Party suggested that Grand Theft Auto IV could be the cause of the lack of people who cycle in the country.
Come again? In a topic discussing methods to make Scotland greener, Harvie makes the statement that Rockstar's game “portrays a highly technologised and motorised universe – parallel to the one that we are trying to mend – in which destruction and greed are the only motivating forces.
"I wonder", ponders Harvie, "whether the success of that series is one of the reasons for the appalling percentage of people in Scotland who cycle?
"Do we actually prefer manipulating our games consoles to navigating a bike round packed streets?”
Well yes, actually, it's safer. It has has nothing to do with the lure of a computer game. Perhaps a method of tackling said packed streets would encourage people to cycle more and avoid the drudge that is cycling in a traffic-laden city. But that's just us.
Ironically, Harvie then muses, “If video games were orientated towards tackling environmental problems and raising awareness of the technologies that we need to overcome the world's problems, they might be of great benefit. Perhaps the Minister for Environment should have a word with the cybergeniuses of Leith Street [Rockstar North] and find out whether, for a couple of video games, they could turn their swords into ploughshares. That might help a great deal.”
So, accuse computer games of keeping people at home, then suggest that someone makes a computer game about the environment so... people can stay at home. Smooth.
Come again? In a topic discussing methods to make Scotland greener, Harvie makes the statement that Rockstar's game “portrays a highly technologised and motorised universe – parallel to the one that we are trying to mend – in which destruction and greed are the only motivating forces.
"I wonder", ponders Harvie, "whether the success of that series is one of the reasons for the appalling percentage of people in Scotland who cycle?
"Do we actually prefer manipulating our games consoles to navigating a bike round packed streets?”
Well yes, actually, it's safer. It has has nothing to do with the lure of a computer game. Perhaps a method of tackling said packed streets would encourage people to cycle more and avoid the drudge that is cycling in a traffic-laden city. But that's just us.
Ironically, Harvie then muses, “If video games were orientated towards tackling environmental problems and raising awareness of the technologies that we need to overcome the world's problems, they might be of great benefit. Perhaps the Minister for Environment should have a word with the cybergeniuses of Leith Street [Rockstar North] and find out whether, for a couple of video games, they could turn their swords into ploughshares. That might help a great deal.”
So, accuse computer games of keeping people at home, then suggest that someone makes a computer game about the environment so... people can stay at home. Smooth.
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Comments
turnbats 16 Nov 2009 12:02
1/6
what a tit
turnbats 16 Nov 2009 12:02
2/6
what a tit
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turnbats 16 Nov 2009 12:03
3/6
what a tit
PaulRayment 16 Nov 2009 12:04
4/6
Go buy the man an Amiga 500+ Cartoon Classics pack! It came bundled with Captain Planet AND Bart Vs. The Space Mutants. I know Bart isn't as eco-friendly but he does ride a skateboard.
Don't have a cow man!
Don't have a cow man!
DoctorDee 16 Nov 2009 12:26
5/6
I ride a skateboard, and I cycle to work. But doing so safely requires me to break the law. Half the journey allows me to cycle on the pavement (or cycle paths, as they are called) half of it doesn't. I ignore the rules where I am not allowed to cycle on the path - because basically, pedestrians don't use it, preferring instead to drive, and when I do use the road, motorists completely ignore the part of the highway code where it says that you should pass cyclists at a safe distance, preferring instead to squeeze within inches of my handlebars without slowing perceptibly.
For some strange reason, cycling down the section of canal towpath I use is also banned.
For some strange reason, cycling down the section of canal towpath I use is also banned.
realvictory 16 Nov 2009 13:30
6/6
I'm starting to believe things like this, actually. Whenever someone suggests a computer game is to blame, the reaction of the people who play those games is usually aggressive, and not always logical. Just because you believe you have free will, and that a game doesn't necessarily affect people's choices who play them, isn't enough of an argument. I would be interested to see cases where people can argue calmly against it, even when they play war/killing/fighting games most of the time. In fact, why don't you show politicians an example, with gamers being less violent and more logical than non-gamers. Or why don't the developers show an example, where they stop violence in games, removing the ability for idiots to blame their behaviour on games?