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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel scared for our girls when kicking prostitutes in a video game

345 replies

Duckierub · 13/05/2014 12:54

gets you more points.

Did anyone see the program about women's roles in video games? I was utterly horrified when I saw the imagery of how women are portrayed as sexual objects and kicking female prostitutes to get your money back earned you points. I was also shocked that the teen girls interviewed said it was normal for them to be molested by boys.

AIBU to think that we should be campaigning against some of this stuff?

OP posts:
Fenton · 13/05/2014 13:24

I considered it a no no when I thought it was about stealing cars and crashing them, - this was when my teenage stepsons brought it into our home and decided it was ok to play with my youngsters around.

Naturally I told them to pack it away and never bring it back. (they weren't my exact words)

Now I know what it has evolved into it will never be in my childrens' collection of games, ever. I don't care now old they are or if all their friends are allowed it.

How the hell is this even legal?

MrsWinnibago · 13/05/2014 13:25

I suppose it's legal because some people would argue that one can go out and buy movies with similar content...the difference is that video games place the gamer in the position of power so that they can live out fantasies. Making them as dangerous as a loaded gun in my opinion.

MrsWinnibago · 13/05/2014 13:26

I have to go now Duckie but you're a star for starting this thread and I for one will be back this evening to carry on supporting you in this and hope that more MNrs will join in the debate and once we've got enough, perhaps Duckie will approach MN HQ.

OwlCapone · 13/05/2014 13:27

I agree completely that the violence towards women in video games is unacceptable and I agree that the way they are portrayed is unacceptable.

I do not, however, fear for my daughter as that would be saying that my sons are guaranteed to grow up thinking that kind of behaviour is OK.

Original poster
Duckierub · 13/05/2014 13:27

Apparently women who play games online get real life abuse online from their male counterparts just for being female.

OP posts:
Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 13/05/2014 13:28

No, but I think adults have the choice to play games and understand the implications. Many TV series, Game of Thrones for example, feature brutal violence against women (pregnant woman stabbed in the stomach for example).

It is simply not feasible to ban things which are this distasteful, it has been tried before and failed.

But as parents, we are responsible for keeping our DC away from them, and educating them to think these things are unacceptable. Prostitues do get beaten and raped in real life sadly, so while I think depiction of this in a video game for entertainment is awful it does remind me that some women are subject to these abuses.
I'd rather campaign against it being shown inappropriately, and it happening in RL, than ban it from video games and pretend it doesn't happen at all.

Original poster
Duckierub · 13/05/2014 13:29

Owlcapone

There were girls in the documentary saying that many boys think it is totally acceptable to grope girls and that it is rife, kind of expected that it'll happen to them. This kind of exposure will not help anything.

OP posts:
Softlysoftlycatchymonkey · 13/05/2014 13:31

Horrible horrible games aimed at out children -

They need to be banned.

hampsterdam · 13/05/2014 13:31

Its not just girls this has a negative impact on. Playing games like these and other adult games like call of duty is damaging to the little boys being allowed access to this stuff by stupid and lazy parents

MrsWinnibago · 13/05/2014 13:31

Owl it's not so much the fear that your sons will grow up thinking this is acceptable but other people's sons who are not as well educated as yours and also that our girls will grow up thinking that this is all they're worth.

Getting kicked about on the floor and having sex for money.
Coffee while I see your point, you're so far a lone voice...perhaps more who think the same as you will come along to the thread in time.

A computer game can't really be compared to a film or tv show as the viewers aren't taking part. Research shows that playing violent games does increase the chances of people engaging in violent behaviour.

soverylucky · 13/05/2014 13:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NinjaLeprechaun · 13/05/2014 13:37

Is there any action or activity in Grand Theft Auto that is actually socially acceptable/legal? It is a game based on blatantly illegal activity.
Unfortunately, the outlaw nature of the game does lend itself to the adage that there's no such thing as bad publicity.

Yes a lot of games are shockingly behind the curve when it comes to portrayal of women, but that's changing from the inside. Slowly, but it is happening.
If you really want to promote and support positive images of women in video games then support and promote the games made by women, and the companies that hire them. They're out there.

WorraLiberty · 13/05/2014 13:37

YANBU at all OP

MsVanRein · 13/05/2014 13:37

Totally agree this should be targeted in some form of campaign.

Agree with MrsWinnabago totally. If this showed racist or homophobic attacks it wouldn't be allowed - and rightly so. Why are the same standards not applied to this though?

OwlCapone · 13/05/2014 13:38

Owl it's not so much the fear that your sons will grow up thinking this is acceptable but other people's sons who are not as well educated as yours and also that our girls will grow up thinking that this is all they're worth.

But the implication of being scared for our draughts is that all sons are going to think it's OK. My sons may be mine but to you they are "other people's" sons.

I do not think it is necessary to effectively demonise sons - it should be bloody obvious that this is unacceptable regardless of whether we think our sons will come to believe it normal behaviour.

I also do not fear for my daughter because I will ensure she does not think that's all she is worth. Which again, does not make games like this acceptable.

Games like that will not be allowed in my house.

hampsterdam · 13/05/2014 13:38

Softly - they are not aimed at children. All the games mentioned are rated 18. its up to the parents to protect their own children

ColdTeaAgain · 13/05/2014 13:40

YANBU

I despair that this sort of content is allowed. The 18 cert means nothing, so many teenagers are playing these games well before 18 and tbh this shouldn't be available to any age. Imagine the outcry if you got points for kicking a disabled person!

MrsWinnibago · 13/05/2014 13:41

Owl I see what you mean...but to be frank I AM scared for my daughters...why should I be shy to say that? They are vulnerable to this type of muck. You think you can ensure that your dd does not think that is all she's worth but how can you control the boys or girls who do NOT think like she does and who can influence her through violence or hateful words?

I am not happy to sit back and see this type of game accepted in society. Saying that complaining about it is tarring your boys with a bad name they don't deserve is far too introspective an outlook.

TheWholeOfTheSpoon · 13/05/2014 13:43

The thing is, the kind of parent who thinks it's ok to let their 10 year old play GTA won't give two hoots what a MN campaign thinks about it. And the game makers will just see it as validation they're getting it 'right'.

SpeedwellBlue · 13/05/2014 13:44

Bloody hell Mrs Winnibago That picture is awful. Is that GTA?

gotnotimeforthat · 13/05/2014 13:44

Can i just add that women are not the only gender that can be kicked,shot and ran over in this game.

Someone said what if they was kicking ethnic minorities? They do. You can kick a black man to death on there just as much as you can kick a woman to death.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 13/05/2014 13:47

"I am not happy to sit back and see this type of game accepted in society."

But it already is accepted. As far as I know there have a been a long succession of GTA games, and all have been hugely successful. You are not going to get them banned for sale to adults.

If you were suggesting making it more difficult for children to get hold of them, then that would be more realistic, maybe making it illegal to purchase 18+ games for minors in the way it's illegal to buy alcohol or tobacco for them?

hampsterdam · 13/05/2014 13:48

Exactly the whole its not just gta. Who can protect the 6 year olds who's brains are being damaged by first person shooters? the parents are the only ones who can but it seems there are many who are too lazy or stupid to actually teach their kids anything and would rather dump them in front of a screen.

soverylucky · 13/05/2014 13:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NinjaLeprechaun · 13/05/2014 13:50

Research shows that playing violent games does increase the chances of people engaging in violent behaviour.
There's research showing that it doesn't lead to aggressive behaviour.
Video games do, however, lead to advanced problem solving skills and better spatial awareness. Among other useful skills.