Playing The Blame Game

Self motivated acts of terrorism have become recurring commonalities to such significant degree, that we almost anticipate the next inevitable act of human degeneration, but even the most cynical of sceptics could not have accurately foreseen the atrocities that would have afflicted so many innocents at a High school in Connecticut. Such an un-measurable sense of grief that overwhelmed the survivors is difficult to accurately empathise with, as I can’t even begin to comprehend the devastating sentiments of such emotionally, debilitating consequences that each individual is attempting to acclimatizing too. An incident of such magnitude is so impossible to competently comprehend, that it would be highly insensitive and gravely inappropriate to even try, as an atrocity of such emotional sensitivity is a daunting proposition to categorise. Such a ravaging and potentially volatile incident, must be dealt with huge sensitivity, pertinent questioning and assured, confidant reasoning when ascertaining potential causes of such horrendous acts of human indecency. So it’s always saddening to learn, gaming is yet again an apparent factor.

Yes that’s right, yet again another act of human indecency has been attributed to a corruptible and gratuitous violent computer game, this time its Call of Duty. Now ordinarily I would be the first to criticise Call of Duty, not for its apparent continual indiscretion to incorporate glorifying violent content, but because of its total lack of ambition, and in all honesty, a highly unsatisfying experience. But the incredibly ignorant accusations that have been printed are by the nations favourite, cretinous publication, The Sun. Those of you unaffiliated with the notoriously inaccurate tabloid publication, then here’s a rapid summary of its *choke* contents; page 3 “babes”, so low on funds that they can scarcely afford tops, or apparently nourishment, opinionated columns from former politicians and a variety of Z list celebs voicing their opinions, all manipulated by one masochistic tycoon and he’s fabricated imaginings, as well as his pandering disciples. The Sun, which sis till undergoing investigation pertaining to the hacking of celebrity phones, is both factually and ethically sound, as a conversation with Jay from the Inbetweeners!

I apologise if I appear eager to defend a game I harbour little respect for, like a big brother protecting his bruised and battered sibling from further punishment, but it’s because I wield a passionate affinity for the industry as a collective, and I will stringently discredit any publication which bases its statements less on journalistic integrity, and more on laboured truths. The basic premise offered by the Sun is simply this, that creature (whose name I refuse to reference) played Call of Duty….that’s it?! To boastfully associate COD with the horrific altercations at that high school, with enlarged captions covering your front page, is not only a callous insinuation of cause, a useless expenditure of resources, and presumptions from hardly the most credible publication. Such manipulated propaganda only hastens the already denounced industry, because the general public aren’t capable of making the distinction, they just see that association.

Maybe, and I’m only speculating, but perhaps these horrendous atrocities are a culmination of a paranoid mother who had easy access to weapons, and a total inability to protect and prevent her own kin from obtaining potentially damaging material? COD’s content is not something that can necessarily be condoned, but it’s not something that should be vilified either. It is a game predominantly constructed around conflicts of war, the potential tests posed during intense battles, and as such should be accurately portrayed, I mean the middle eastern scuffle isn’t being waged with armies wielding handbags and bitter language. I’m not insinuating that he didn’t learn or was inspired by the games contents, but there is nothing simulated that isn’t already accessible via books, movies, tv, internet and various other forms of media, plus many other undiscovered contributions to his deranged actions. Video games shouldnt be exempt from criticism, but nor should they be held accountable for clearly depraved, certainly disturbed individuals.

Searching for affirmation to such robust tragedies is an acceptable course of action, people need to be held accountable for their indiscretions, but delicate situations require extraordinary degree of diplomacy, with concise, diligent regulated investigations which need implementation, not obtuse speculation that martyrs an entire industry with displaced blame. But as ever, blaming computer games appears to be the only acceptable form of discrimination, where your left to belive that millions of Call Of Duty fans are potential murderers, which is such a callous presumption of character. But I must stress that I am in no way an authority on this situation, just a passionate gamer who feels compelled to defend an industry that’s afforded very little respect, and it was with hastening trepidation that I expressed my opinions with potentially thousands of other of already circulating views. I don’t want to dictate what America should or shouldn’t do in regards to gun crime, because hailing from England, it’s blatantly none of my concern. My thoughts swiftly shift back to people who have been afflicted, why and how these awful events were allowed to transpire is sophistry, when considering so many innocent lives have been severely brutalised. It’s this harrowing tale of bereavement, as well as survival that continues to reverberate across the globe. It’s with the grieving families that my concerns lie, not with manipulated propaganda.