Target (Australia) drops GTA V due to depictions of violence against women

Queer bashing is quite fashionable these days, as we run out of acceptable targets for bigotry (Americans need their bigotry like they need their coffee). The 1-2% of lgbt~ are easy targets that can't mount much of a defense. Like launching missiles into a barrel of colorful fish. The word f*g in particular is emasculating and gay bashing... which is like, every little boy in the USA's dream. Racism is still a quite popular form of bigotry, but it's becoming more dangerous as it becomes clear to more and more people that racism is largely unfounded, so you see people easing off the "n" word and grabbing the other "f" word, because they're less likely to be demolished by their peers for using it. Give it time.

 

That is good news.

 

We can split hairs about whether it's "gamer culture" or some other culture that separately comes along for the ride but, either way, my experience suggests that there's often a significant correlation between the two.

 

Where else are those people going to go? They lack the testicular fortitude to say that stuff in real life, to real people.

 

So, did you ready Ony's long post just before, by any chance?

 

Remember everyone who isn't a social justice warrior, violence is only acceptable against straight men who are at least 18 years of age!

Maybe GTA was just reaching out to women and saying they think women are equal to men and therefor can handle having digital representations of them be subject to some violence?

 

Zing!

 

You can go too far, fast. Suddenly everything a man says is sexist. Then, they got you by the gonads. Truth is, more women don't speak up because most women like strong, confident men. So they make the male-female dynamic akin to sexism, inherently and then disastrous results entail. I think there should be balance. Women don't want boys jumping up to rescue them 24/7 when a man flirts with them, but nobody with any sense appreciates chauvinistic degradation. So, with all due respect, I'd rather not be made a eunuch because it's offensive to some.

 

Nothing like a good, solid over-generalization to help sweep away the problems.

 

Nothing like a subtle, sarcastic dig to give the impression of wrong-doing and wind someone up so tight they do themselves in.

 

Zing nothing, it's basically a social fact right now. But don't worry, I won't discriminate when I'm a college professor. I'll produce a whole generation of people not afraid to include violence against men, women, transgender people and babies in their games.

Video Games are a physical form for our dreams, if that was censored I would have killed myself 5 years ago. That said, some people are rather disingenuous with their ideas and just want a big media reaction (see Hatred for reference).

If they can't take digital heat, they should get back in the kitchen!

 

Wow these forums - sometimes you know that the people talking haven't suffered a day in their lives and their callousness is hideous.

 

Before you waste precious time, Confucius ask you consider...

 

One of the more civil discussions here... considering the topic. Haven't we had Unity vs. UE4 threads more out of hand than this?

+1 for moderator restraint!

 

Can I play as a woman who rapes and kills men?

 

I don't think anybody can actually rape anybody in the game, can they?

 

I just hope we're still talking about games.

 

If there was any sexual violence it would have been banned in Australia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games_in_Australia

 

18+ of course, I'm not a pervert or anything....

oh, I thought that was the whole point, based on the hype.

 

Of course it isn't the point. No one can ever top this game in that department.

 

Bah, now it seems like just another controvertorial stunt. "We have done everything possible to get BANNED in one minor venue and now we are milking the publicity for all it's worth...."

Oldest game in the book. So desperate....

 

I don't think they set out to get banned at Target stores in Australia. I just think they set out to make a game that was designed to be played by adults only and Target doesn't want to sell adult only games.

 

Desperate? I don't think the makers of one of the best selling games of all times are even a little desperate.

 

I accidentally deleted my post, meant to edit.

- Seems like I was wrong, they were implying that GTA did this as a publicity stunt..which is kind of funny considering they're now swimming in money and basically gave the statement "Who cares, their stores didn't even make us that much money anyway."

 

There's no PR like free PR.
http://gamerant.com/grand-theft-auto-controversy/

Not just P.T. Barnum it seems...
"I don't care what the newspapers say about me as long as they spell my name right."
http://www.nku.edu/~turney/prclass/readings/3eras1x.html


Happy Holidays

 

So, I was looking at their list of games that have been banned, and I find this interesting:

Why are there different guidelines? How does the exact same product go from being banned to being MA15+ based on the medium alone? That doesn't change the content at all, or anything else for that matter.

 

Because people are stupid. You're not going to get a better answer, and you'll likely reach that conclusion anyway after any arguments you find. The most compelling argument you'll hear about something like this is either going to be total nonsense about video games influencing real life or "Well, the legislature for digital simply isn't there yet" - the reasoning for why some crimes online carry significantly different charges for things that happen offline. A good example of slow legislature is streaming on pirate sites. The law caught up and now digital piracy is bad... but streaming is still some mystifying gray area.

TL;DR People are stupid. Specifically in the context of aging politicians grappling with this strange new wonder... the internet!

I'm surprised I missed this gem!

Gaming culture is obviously not sexist in any way, because gaming culture is... about gaming. If anyone thinks zork or pong objectify anyone, those people are just plain wrong. When you start bringing up GTA, well, look at the track record and the publisher. It's not a weak title or publisher, so I'm not sure myself why they're still applying "sex sells" to their game, but I don't think the majority of their player base is getting Grand Theft Auto just to abuse one gender exclusively.

An increasingly sexist lot might be infiltrating and blending into the culture, but that's not what gaming is about. I'm sure gaming will sort itself out soon. With the split between hardcore gamers and casuals, we see it already has the power & acted on that power in the past to divide the community with labels. Maybe the future will bring...

Casual gaming
Hardcore gaming
Misandrist gaming
Misogynist gaming

etc, etc

 

When I first heard, I was mad. GTA V is not against females AT ALL. There are males in the game that you can kill too! Heck, any boss that is in the game that you have to kill is a male! People, you have to realize that GTA V is literally just a game. If you don't like the idea, then you just shouldn't buy the product.

And also, if you think that this hurts the children, guess what!? It has a rating! I know, crazy idea! You see, the rating lets people know if the game is for Mature players only or not! So if a child is playing this game, that means that the kid had his/her parents but it for himself/herself.

I just don't get this. It seems like that when movies actually do go against females, or books, or plays, or whatever else, then no one cares. But the minute gaming has the option to kill or have sex and then kill a female, everyone loses their minds!

 

Then why don't you educate yourself on matters before spewing false and extremely biased statements.

 

Why don't you lighten up?

 

Why don't you grow up.

 

Why can't we all just get along?

 

'Cause somebody made a thread 'bout rape n' murder of women on the internet. Wasn't me.

 

Really? Where? This is just a thread about GTA not doing so well in Australia... I'd be far more interested in reading about rape and murder and other controversies!

Because I said so.

That's going to happen whether we like it or not, we only perceive time forwards, man.

Because we are dark matter and don't emit light.

Come on, people!

 

Ignored.

 

I don't know which I find more disturbing.

The idea that it's even possible in a video game to set prostitutes afire with grenades after running them over with a car?

The fact that there are seasoned developers and artists at Rockstar Games devoting months, if not years, to tweaking and optimizing the vehicle crash physics, blood and fire particle effects. Or editing sound clips for the female "voice actress" that just spent an entire day in a recording studio reading lines for a soon-to-be murdered prostitute?

Or the hypocrisy of social justice warriors living in nanny state countries who demand "freedom of expression", until their own personal lines are crossed, even going as far as to use corporate or media leverage to mass promote empty symbolic actions (i.e. "video game bans") or engage in shaming campaigns, "GTA V is rape"?

 

What's most disturbing is that this exists. It's disturbing because that means people want it.

 

Sure, but why does it exist?

Or is this the purpose of technology and innovation? To depict or engage in depravity, violence, and decadence?

 

It exists because people buy it.

 

And people buy it because.....

 

They know they shouldn't.

 

Okay. Shouldn't because?

 

It's universally morally/socially/ethically objectionable.

 

If it were universal, then nobody would buy it. I think what you mean to say is that you personally find it morally/socially/ethically unacceptable. Pixels don't have feelings. You can't kill a pixel. To paraphrase Penn Jilllette, there is no violence in video games, only the depiction of violence. If you can't make the distinction, that's your own issue to deal with.

 

Someone has issues with authority.

No, I meant universal. A lot of people have no moral compass, zero. Lacking morality is not a form of morality. Pick a religion, pick a culture, pick a place and time... murder, violence, theft are bad.

Well, I will say that there are certain small tribal cultures out there who sharpen their teeth and practice human sacrifice... but "we" generally regard them as bad... we being most people, since most people are basically good.

I shouldn't have to explain this. That's what bothers me.

 

According to you? But I'm not speaking for other people, and only speaking for myself when I say I find the existence of this game absurd or the idea of hundred of millions of dollars being invested into it absurd, or even the idea that people become enraged about one depiction of violence, yet remain complicit and silent towards other depictions of violence. But in all of this questioning, I'm not saying things should or should not exist.

 

Your perceptions are largely biased, having been influenced (created) by media that is distributed by people who want your money.

Of course you're not able to "make that call" that things should/shouldn't be a certain way. Thinking for yourself is a no-no, or at least a faux pas... see? Value judgements, you are taught, are worse than rape, murder, etc.

Don't be confused, plug back in to the matrix and enjoy your steak dinner with the woman in the red dress.

 

Well, that's one way to lose an argument.

 

Little pithy atheistic arguments amuse me, with their finger pointing and brow beating. They promise much but ultimately never deliver more than a whimper.

Yes, the "down with the moral majority" crowd wins every argument. Just ask them.

Lol, lose an argument? Hard to do when the opposition has presented no argument.

Save you some time... atheist arguments:
1. Belief in bible is circular reasoning.
2. There's no god, but probably are aliens.
3. All morality is relative.
4. Everything you say that counters anything atheists argue is a logical fallacy.

 

You might purchase video games, movies, and other media, possibly more than other people here. It's rather strange assertion for to you to be making about others.

It's not about making or not making a call. It's about not being an absolutist who has all the answers to everything.

More projecting? Oh well....