Yet some folks who make so called child-molesting software managed to make a super sick child smile.
Car and Driver
Ralph Nader has done a lot for this country when it comes to consumer advocacy, but his attempts at becoming Commander in Chief have not been nearly as successful. Which might explain the bitterness he exhibited towards Obama as we was about to be re-inaugurated. According to an interview that Gameranx picked up on…
“Tomorrow I’ll watch another rendition of political bulls—- by the newly reelected president, full of promises that he intends to break just like he did in 2009… He promised he’d be tough on Wall Street, and not one of these crooks have gone to jail — they got some inside trading people, but that’s peripheral.”
Fair enough. As a person who kinda/sorta likes the President, I too have not been the least bit impressed with his handling of Wall Street either. But then Nader decided to go after Obama’s gun control package…
“We are in the peak of [violence in entertainment]. Television program violence? Unbelievable. Video game violence? Unprecedented… I’m not saying he wants to censor this, I think he should sensitize people that they should protect their children family by family from these kinds of electronic child molesters.”
Ugh. Seriously dude? I guess what gets me is how I used to respect Nader. Unfortunately… and you see this time and time again (mostly in the world of comedy)… the older one gets, the more out of touch they become.
What makes it especially disheartening is how this one of the most direct swipes against video games from someone who (still) has a certain degree of trust amongst the public.
Every few years, something happens that causes video games to be blamed for a horrible crime or societal ill. And after a bit, things just die down. But it’s clear that Sandy Hook was different, and something or someone must come to defend video games, otherwise we might actually see some new wacky laws or restrictions, which may do serious harm to the ecosystem of gaming.
As for what or who can help gaming’s public perception, it’s going to be tough. But this story about some sick kid whose day was brightened up, thanks to a care package from the makers of his favorite game, that being Halo, is the kind that warms your heart and is a good example…
Imgur
Unfortunately, virtually every outlet that has written about it has someone in the comments section complaining how a kid his age should not know about the game and how his parents are awful.
When you get down to it, the real problem then is how many adults have forgotten what it’s like to be a child, and how kids are not all stupid or as impressionable as some would have you to believe. Unless they themselves were idiots back then, which appears to be the case.