Renewed software controversy as teachers’ unions call for “Bully” ban
by Stevie Smith - Mar 5 2008, 17:03
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I wonder why teachers think it's such a great idea to ban a game whose main character stands up against bullies for the sake of those being bullied.
Are they afraid that, like this game's main character, students who learn to stand up against what is wrong and protect those too weak to protect themselves will also stand up against corrupt teachers who physically and emotionally abuse students?
Because that looks like the only reason to ban such a harmless game. The people proposing these bans obviously want to protect corrupt teachers and nasty bullies from students.
And teachers stupid enough to speak out about a game without finding out the truth of its content from dependable sources instead of doing politicized, knee-jerk videogame opposition just because of a single word--well, this makes it pretty obvious why so many students are doing so poorly and are angry at the people who are supposed to be teaching them.
Their teachers are incompetent idiots.
Video games, in one form or another, are used to supplement the training of pilots, police officers, astronauts, and soldiers, among many other professionals. They provide a vivid and useful way of simulating reality. It is silly to debate whether or not there is a causal link between violence in video games and violence in children – this is just common sense.
Just how graphic or offensive will video games need become before they go too far? Seriously, is there no limit? A video game based on bullying seems to be just about the place to draw the line.
Also, why so much hostility toward teachers? The pent-up anger demonstrated by some gamers just goes to show why teachers might be concerned about thier students in the first place.
Games i believe are a way of expression; the same way as books, websites, news articles and various other modes of communication.
We as citizens of a free Country are proud to have our freedom of expression. Yes this expression should not be abused or have negative consequences on others. The Bully game or other video games are simply games , a person with a normal IQ and not any form retardation or any other mental disorder will be able to differentiate between games and reality. If they cannot realize this then there is something wrong with that particular individual and not the game. The game if you do not like it should be seen as a work of art that you do not particularly like, Everyone has their preferences! please do not insult others creations simply because you do not like it
Sweeping the issue of bullying and physical violence under the rug..which is what these educators seem to want to do is unacceptable. They just want to look the other way... 'not my problem', 'we don't want to know about it' There is a 'boys will be boys' kind of attitude, which is exactly what has been going on up till now. The game is a kind of in-your-face expose' that forces people in institutional setting to confront the ugly issue of bullying and institutional violence head on.
In school after school, institutional bullying and physical assaults are tolerated; sometimes even tacitly encouraged as 'character building' events where as a kid you are supposed to learn to cope and deal with the ugliness and aggression that will confront you later in life.
As a kid I was bullied for years... for years I just took it and took it... to the point where I didn't even want to go to school anymore....it just went on and on. It only stopped when I suddenly, very aggressively, and somewhat violently attacked one of my key tormentors. Kindness, trying to talk my way out of it, nothing worked.... and the school's administration just looked the other way. Because I feared that if I didn't keep up with my attack on that person I would 'get it even worse' so I went too far and slightly injured my tormentor. I was arrested, interviewed by the police but not charged. I was expelled from school for a short period of time.
What justice I ask??
Like myself, I didn't go that far but ...there is a danger that bullied, unstable, socially withdrawn young people can suddenly snap, and they decide to end it all in a suicidal mission, and they use guns and extreme violence against their tormentors.
And after it's all over the 'system' wrings its hands ... 'where did we go wrong' 'what happened'... But in reality they just ignored the danger signs that were there all along.
Sweeping it under the rug is not going to help..
wow it did not take long for someone to complain about this game when it came out for the 360 people forget that video games are the only real escape from reality we have left besides books and im sorry but after a while books get really boring where i live i never hear complains about video game violence it seems like people have to attack video games because there running out of companys to sue and complain to it was bad enough when they now ask for a 'parent of guardian'to purchase the game that has an 'M' rating now they are trying to ban violence in video games im sorry but every game even 'E' rated games have violence its toned down for the audiance it interests by banning one video game with violence in it soon enough all video games will be banned
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The TruthMar 5th, 2008 - 19:42:00
I guess someone forgot to remind these stupid teachers that information and entertainment is not clenched in their iron fist?
I guess someone else forgot to remind them that bullies are part of natural human behavior and until we kill all the humans, we will have all the horrible human conditions they blame video games for.
My only question-
what the hell did you blame everything on before rock music and video games showed up???
Oh yeah- demonic possession by evil spirits.
HUMANS ARE INHERENTLY EVIL. Deal with it.
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