Hookers Hate GTA
February 14, 2006 |
Ok, now I’ve heard it all. The Sex Workers Outreach Project, an organization that does exactly what the name implies, has issued a statement boycotting the extremely popular video game Grand Theft Auto.
Grand Theft Auto is the highly violent, and sometimes pointless, video game that allows the character to steal cars, shoot people and blow things up all while avoiding the police and getting some gang or mafia hot shot to like you. Since GTA III came out sometime around 2001, your character has been able to drive up to a prostitute and “pick her up.” The car rocks left and right, the characters health goes up and their money goes down insinuating the “deal getting done.” After the character is content, the hooker leaves and is then eligible to be killed like any other non-playable character in the game. SWOP, the ironic acronym the Sex Workers Outreach Project goes by, says this is where they draw the line.
Although SWOP-USA will always be adamantly opposed to any and all forms of censorship, as concerned parents ourselves, we wish to inform other parents of the potential danger extremely violent video games pose to children. And in the interest of furthering sex worker’s human and civil rights to life and personal safety, we object to any media which represents sex workers as legitimate targets of violence, rape and murder.
I find it rather odd that SWOP threw in the “as concerned parents ourselves” line… and by odd I mean rather disturbing. After all, this is an organization of prostitutes. their statement goes onto cite research conducted by David Walsh, PhD who basically says that video games influence the people who play them — namely the impressionable kids. (Side note: While SWOP cites Walsh’s findings, a quick Google search will bring up scores of research that proves the opposite is true.)
Children with the lowest hostility scores are almost 10 times more likely to have been involved in physical fights if they play a lot of violent video games than if they do not play violent games (38% compared to 4%). In fact, the least hostile children who play a lot of violent video games are more likely to be involved in fights than are the most hostile children who do not play violent video games.
… [There is] a strong correlation between exposure to violent video games and various forms of antisocial behavior.
Now correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t this very statement then infringe on the SWOP members bottom line (there’s a weird pun in there somewhere)? Think about it. Exposure to violent video games creates antisocial people who then need to hire a prostitute for entertainment before playing more video games. So if violent video games cease to exist, then everyone is more social, happy and prostitute free — disease free too I’m sure. Doesn’t this bode poorly for SWOP members everywhere?
I play violent video games; that’s right, I said it. Right now I’m a good portion of the way through Resident Evil 4, a game where you collect scores of weapons to blow the heads off crazy Spaniards who want to kill you while you try to rescue the President’s daughter. There is violence galore but it’s a crucial part of the game. Taking the freaky parasite ridden Spaniards to tea served by Ashely, the President’s daughter, just doesn’t sound like a very interesting video game. Though taking the parasite ridden Spaniards to a tight hallway and shooting an explosive barrel while they go up in flames sounds like a lot more fun.
Like all the GTA titles, Resident Evil 4 is rated M for Mature, and there is a reason for it. While the games are violent, it is the responsibility of the parent to keep them out of their kids hands. If the SWOP members really were parents like their statement says, then they should realize that a large portion of protecting their children is their responsibility. Don’t go after the game, the game industry, or those who play the game. If you don’t want the game in your kids hands, get involved in their lives and don’t get it for them. But maybe all the sex working and prostitution gets in the way of that…