Cranky Clergy Cry Over New Res Evil Game

Oh get a life!

  

From MCV courtesy of Melon Farmers:

 

Tuesday, 24th November 2009 at 1:14 pm

 

Capcom responds to clergy criticism

by Ben Parfitt

Men of the cloth accuse Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles of promoting the occult

Publisher Capcom has defended Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles from accusations that it glamorises violence and promotes the occult.

Bishop Bryant of Jarrow, Archdeacon Brian Smith and Rt Rev John Goddard have all accused the game of promoting such interests amongst the UK’s youth, with the latter stating: “If we dabble in this area we open ourselves to influences and put ourselves at risk. I would regard any encouragement for children to be drawn into this behaviour with extreme horror.”

Capcom spokesperson Leo Tan, however, is less convinced about the proposed risk: “This is scaremongering and typical religious hysteria. You cannot blame society’s ills on video games. It’s just absurd.

“Most games (and movies) like Resident Evil show characters fighting evil not supporting it. Unfortunately the clergy is showing a lack of understanding of the video games industry and is too quick to splash the holy water and lump video games players into stereotypical boxes.



“Video games are entertainment and like horror movies or other scary films they are covered by a ratings system. Resident Evil for example is a 15 and not suitable for anyone under that age. Parents have to be trusted to adhere to these age restrictions and use common sense.”

Capcom’s response to these nutters is good enough!

Middle America Outraged By “Vulgar” Music Awards Display

The Parents Television Council gets outraged at the sight of an ankle so it was guaranteed that this would stir their wrath!

From the BBC:

US viewers complain over gay kiss

American Idol star Adam Lambert’s performance at Sunday’s American Music Awards has prompted more than 1,500 complaints by viewers.

During the closing act, the openly gay singer simulated sex on stage with a back-up dancer and kissed a male musician on the mouth.

Lambert told US network CNN that the kiss was “in the moment”.

ABC said the number of complaints was “moderate”. The show’s producers have declined to comment.

Lambert, who performed his debut single For Your Entertainment, said that if people had been upset by his performance that it is a “form of discrimination and it’s too bad”.

He added: “I had fun, my dancers had fun, the audience that was in the Nokia [Theatre] had fun.

“Anybody else who was watching it and enjoying it, thank you for being entertained.”

‘Tasteless’

The Parents Television Council (PTC), a media pressure group which campaigns against “indecent” content on US television, posted a statement on its website calling the show “tasteless” and “vulgar”.

President Timothy Winter said members were “outraged”.

He added: “They just can’t believe the nature of the content, the explicit nature, and how much graphic content there was.”

Lambert’s kiss recalled the MTV Video Music Awards moment in 2003 when Madonna and Britney Spears briefly kissed on stage.

And in 2004, Janet Jackson exposed her right breast during the Super Bowl half-time show.

The “wardrobe malfunction” prompted more than 500,000 complaints.

Over on the PTC’s website they are threatening to contact the advertisers and companies who sponsored the American Music Awards.

They are still acting like bullies making threats to companies who advertise during TV shows they don’t like in order to get them taken off air.

As for the controversial performance itself it was designed to provoke outrage and it has. Like all good moral guardians the PTC has been suckered in!

Video Games And War Crimes Bollox

Video games flout many laws because they are just GAMES! All conventions of reality and real life are abandoned because they are works of fiction. To suggest that video games should abide by any laws governing real life is just ridiculous. From the BBC: Games ‘permit’ virtual war crimes

MPs rowed over scenes in Modern Warfare 2 in which civilians were killed. Video games depicting war have come under fire for flouting laws governing armed conflicts. Human rights groups played various games to see if any broke humanitarian laws that govern what is a war crime. The study condemned the games for violating laws by letting players kill civilians, torture captives and wantonly destroy homes and buildings. It said game makers should work harder to remind players about the real world limits on their actions. War without limits The study was carried out by two Swiss human rights organisations – Trial and Pro Juventute. Staff played the games in the presence of lawyers skilled in the interpretation of humanitarian laws. Twenty games were scrutinised to see if the conflicts they portrayed and what players can do in the virtual theatres of war were subject to the same limits as in the real world. “The practically complete absence of rules or sanctions is… astonishing,” said the study. Army of Two, Call of Duty 5, Far Cry 2 and Conflict Desert Storm were among the games examined. Those who violate international humanitarian law end up as war criminals, not as winners Trial/ Pro Juventute The games were analysed to see “whether certain scenes and acts committed by players would constitute violations of international law if they were real, rather than virtual”. The group chose games, rather than films, because of their interactivity. “Thus,” said the report, “the line between the virtual and real experience becomes blurred and the game becomes a simulation of real-life situations on the battlefield.” The testers looked for violations of the Geneva Conventions and its Additional Protocols which cover how war should be waged. In particular, the testers looked for how combatants who surrendered were treated, what happened to citizens caught up in war zones and whether damage to buildings was proportionate. Some games did punish the killing of civilians and reward strategies that tried to limit the damage done by the conflict, said the study. However, it said, many others allowed “protected objects” such as churches and mosques to be attacked; some depicted interrogations that involved torture or degradation and a few permitted summary executions. The authors acknowledged that the project was hard because it was not clear from many of the games the scale of the conflict being depicted. This made it hard to definitively determine which humanitarian laws should be enforced. It also said that the games were so complex that it was difficult to be confident that its testers had seen all possible violations or, in games in which they found none, that no violations were possible. GAMES TESTED 24, The Game Army of Two Battlefield Bad Company Brothers in Arms – Hell’s Highway Call of Duty 4 Call of Duty 5 Close Combat: First to Fight Conflict Desert Storm Far Cry 2 World in Conflict Frontlines: Fuel of War Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter Hour of Victory Medal of Honour Airborne Metal Gear Solid Soldier of Fortune Tom Clancy Rainbow 6 Vegas Tom Clancy Splinter Cell Double Agent True Crime Streets of LA It noted that, even though most players would never become real world combatants, the games could influence what people believe war is like and how soldiers conduct themselves in the real world. It said games were sending an “erroneous” message that conflicts were waged without limits or that anything was acceptable in counter-terrorism operations. “This is especially problematic in view of today’s reality,” said the study. In particular, it said, few games it studied reflected the fact that those who “violate international humanitarian law end up as war criminals, not as winners”. The authors said they did not wish to make games less violent, instead, they wrote: “[We] call upon game producers to consequently and creatively incorporate rules of international humanitarian law and human rights into their games.” John Walker, one of the writers on the Rock, Paper, Shotgun games blog, said: “Games really are treated in a peculiar way.” He doubted that anyone would campaign for books to follow humanitarian laws or for James Bond to be denounced for machine-gunning his way through a supervillain’s underground complex. He said the authors did not understand that gamers could distinguish between fantasy and reality. Said Mr Walker: “For all those who mowed down citizens in Modern Warfare 2’s controversial airport level, I have the sneaking suspicion that not a great deal of them think this is lawful, nor appropriate, behaviour.” Jim Rossignol, who also writes on Rock, Paper, Shotgun, said there was scope to mix real-world rules of war into games. “Whether or not the rules of war are included in the game should be based entirely on whether that improves the experience for the player,” he said. Mr Rossignol said there was plenty of evidence that gaming violence is “fully processed” as fantasy by gamers. Studies of soldiers on the front line in Iraq showed that being a gamer did not desensitise them to what they witnessed. He added: “Perhaps what this research demonstrates is that the researchers misunderstand what games are, and how they are treated, intellectually, by the people who play them.”   “The study condemned the games for violating laws by letting players kill civilians, torture captives and wantonly destroy homes and buildings.” But laws are only being violated in these games. And although human rights laws are being violated in real life they certainly arn’t being violated because of video games! “It said game makers should work harder to remind players about the real world limits on their actions. “ Why? Players know that in the real world you can’t just kill innocent civilians and get away with it. Oh hang on, if you are the President of the world’s most powerful country you can! We wonder what game made George W Bush forget about the real world limits on his actions! “It noted that, even though most players would never become real world combatants, the games could influence what people believe war is like and how soldiers conduct themselves in the real world.” Bollox! The way soldiers conduct themselves in wars in the real world is down to the lax approach to human rights of their governments. American and British soldiers who abuse and humiliate Iraqi prisoners of war do it because they think they can get away with it because their governments wont do anything about it unless there is a massive public outcry and their governments fear losing votes. “It said games were sending an “erroneous” message that conflicts were waged without limits or that anything was acceptable in counter-terrorism operations.” The governments of the most powerful countries in the world send that message not video games!  By doing away with human rights laws, removing civil liberties and slaughtering innocent people for nothing other than a lust for power and world dominance they send a message that anything is acceptable in order to stop terrorism! Human rights groups should stop pissing about trying to find fault with war simulation video games and concentrate on the real causes of illegal and unjust wars and the human rights abuses that go with them. And instead of targetting video games they should be targetting the real perveyours of injustices the world over….governments!

Viv Orgasms With Outrage

 

Viv’s now in full Beyer mode, reacting with blood curdling outrage over things she’s niether seen or heard for herself.

Keep it up luv! Gives us a good laugh!

From The Daily Mail:

BBC radio presenter sparks complaints by playing When Harry Met Sally ‘orgasm’ clip on school-run show

By Daily Mail Reporter
19th November 2009

Angry parents have heavily criticised the BBC today after a radio presenter played a clip of a woman in the throes of an orgasm during the school run.

Drivetime host Steve Harris played a ten second recording from the film When Harry Met Sally when talking about a new female version of Viagra.

The Radio Solent DJ joked about how he thought the tablet would get an ‘enthusiastic response’ as he discussed the drug with BBC health reporter Michelle Roberts.

Turning the air waves blue: Radio Solent played a clip of Meg Ryan faking an orgasm in the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally

Father of two: ‘Sometimes it’s easy for radio presenters to forget their audience when they can’t look them in the eye but they ought to know better than to play such content at this time of day’

 

Ms Roberts described the pill – called Flibanserin – as a ‘true aphrodisiac’ that ‘improved libido, desire and satisfaction’.

Mr Harris said he thought it was normally men who needed a libido-enhancing drug and said the makers should come up with a name that was easier to remember.

But he sheepishly moved the topic on after playing a song, saying: ‘I think we will stop this now. This is, after all, a family show.’

The station, which broadcasts in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, played the clip at 4.20pm on Monday.

Catherine Hanly, who has a seven-year-old daughter, said parents would have been left in a difficult situation explaining the noise to children.

The 40-year-old said: ‘Whoever decided it was a good idea to play that sound clip at school run time probably doesn’t have kids or they would have realised it wasn’t really appropriate.

‘I feel for any parent having to explain that one away to a car full of inquisitive children.’

Steve Masters, editor of ukparentslounge.com and father of 12 and seven-year-old girls, believes the clip was lewd.

‘Lewd’: DJ Steve Harris played the clip during a discussion about a new female version of Viagra – Flibanserin

The 43-year-old said: ‘Sometimes it’s easy for radio presenters to forget their audience when they can’t look them in the eye but they ought to know better than to play such content at this time of day.

‘On my scale of acceptability, as a parent, I think a bit of rudeness you can get away with, but lewdness you certainly can’t.’

Vivienne Pattison, director of campaign group Mediawatch UK, said the BBC made a serious error of judgement in playing the clip at that time.

She said: ‘Parents driving in their cars having just picked up their children from school would have been horrified to hear the clip.

‘It boils down to a decision taken by the producers of that particular show. They made a serious error of judgement in what they put on the air.

‘I’m sure it began as a joke but it has clearly got out of hand.

‘The BBC have a serious responsibility to their audience but I think this was totally inappropriate for that time slot.’

Mr Harris played the clip immediately after asking listeners: ‘What would you say if I asked if you were interested in a female version of Viagra?’

As the screams of pleasure stopped, he joked: ‘I thought that might get an enthusiastic response.’

The DJ explained how scientists had tried to make a new anti-depressant but discovered it was better at raising libido than low mood.

He said: ‘It seems to have improved women’s sex lives in tests.

‘The drug was designed to be an anti-depressant – the mood of those who took part in tests did not improve but something else did.

‘I thought loss of libido was more common in men than women.’

After interviewing health reporter Ms Roberts about the drug he played Smokey Robinson’s Being With You but was a little more coy on his return.

A BBC spokeswoman said the clip was of Meg Ryan faking orgasm in the film When Harry Met Sally – although this was not mentioned by Harris.

She added: ‘It wasn’t our intention to offend. This was a light hearted intro to an informative discussion utilising one of the best known film clips of the last twenty years.

‘We’ve had not a single complaint or comment.’

Flibanserin was designed as an anti-depressant but did nothing to lift mood in three separate trials.

Researchers noticed it increased libido in laboratory animals and women when they were given 100mg a day.

Apparently scores of parents are up in arms with outrage over this DJ on a small time regional BBC radio station playing a clip of Meg Ryan’s fake orgasm scene from Harry Met Sally on the radio during the day.

Or rather a few parents are angry about it after they were told about it by the Daily Mail.

“Parents driving in their cars having just picked up their children from school would have been horrified to hear the clip.”

Really Viv? Chances are most parents who happened to have been tuned in at the time  probably would not have noticed it.

It’s more than likely that they were busy sorting out their kids.

A BBC spokeswoman says:

“We’ve had not a single complaint or comment.”

Well you will now the Daily Mail and their army of outraged readers know about it.

 

 

 

 

More MPs Support Gamers Voice Group

There are more MPs out there who want to support the UK video games industry rather than malign and demonise it and blame it for society’s problems with violence.

Mediasnoops salutes those MPs who wish to counter the scaremongering nonscence that comes out of the tabloid press about video games and those MPs like Kieth Vaz who seek to censor and ban games that they dissaprove of.

From Game Politics Courtesy Of Melon Farmers:

MPs Facebook Group Gains Support of Additional UK Pols

November 12, 2009

Gamers’ Voice, the pro-gaming Facebook group set up by West Bromwich East Labour MP Tom Watson, has drawn support from another pair of UK politicians.

Watson, who setup the group in response to comments made by Leicester East Labour MP Keith Vaz, invited Sion Simon, Minister for Creative Industries, and Shadow Minister Ed Vaizey to check out the online group, which they both did. Both left messages of support for Watson and the group.

Vaizey wrote, “Tom, congratulations on setting up the group. It’s about time gamers had a voice to represent the huge success of the UK video games industry. We spend too much time attacking games and not enough time celebrating their huge success and contribution to the economy.”

Simon added, “The government understands the importance of video games. we make games better and play games more in this country than anywhere else in the world. It’s an important industry and an important part of millions of people’s lives. But it’s a very young industry which is still finding its voice. I think this group is an important step in that process, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

The group is also now fielding questions that Watson hopes to direct towards Vaizey and Simon for responses.

Watson wrote of the pair, “Sion and Ed are a little bit different to other MPs though. They both have responsibilities in Labour and the Conservatives for policies towards the Games Industry. And I think they’re both genuine in wanting to help.”

“We spend too much time attacking games and not enough time celebrating their huge success and contribution to the economy.”

Here here!

More power to their elbow!

It’s high time the mainstream news media gave as much time to people who are pro-video gaming and against censorship of adult games as it does to those who are anti-games and seek to ban certain titles.

Pattison Pukes As Kids Get Sick on TV Ethanol

She’s raking the rent-a–quotes up now.

 She’s getting Beyer’s eye for a bandwagon to jump on and a chance to promote herself and Mediawatch UK.

She’s been quiet in the embrionic stages of her directorship of everyone’s favourite moral guardian group but she’s going hell for lether now.

Lol!

From The Daily Mail:

Six pupils rushed to hospital after copying scene of schoolchildren drinking deadly ethanol on BBC’s Waterloo Road

By Daily Mail Reporter
 13th November 2009

Six schoolchildren at a specialist science college had to be taken to hospital after they copied a TV storyline and made cocktails from a chemical.

The five girls and a boy, aged 14 and 15, mimicked scenes from an episode of the BBC drama Waterloo Road which aired on Wednesday evening.

The episode of the Manchester-based drama which centres on a troubled comprehensive school featured a girl being taken to hospital by a teacher after drinking the pure alcohol liquid sold by other pupils at the fictional school.

The lobby group Mediawatch has today demanded tighter content control after the incident at Aldridge School, in Walsall, West Midlands.

Dangerous: A schoolgirl drinks ethanol in the BBC drama Waterloo Road

Vivianne Pattison, director of the watchdog, said it was worrying events on screen had translated to real life in such a shocking way.

She said: ‘People say television does not have any effect on real life and then something like this happens.

‘Broadcasters keep saying viewers can tell the difference between TV and reality but this shows this is clearly not the case.

‘They need to know that what they put out does have an effect, especially on young minds.’

The chemical was stolen during a science lesson on Thursday and the alarm raised after the pupils confessed to a member of staff.

They told headteacher David Mountney how they had watched an episode of the BBC show in which teenagers made ethanol cocktails.

Three ambulances, a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle and an incident support officer were sent to the school and took the children to Walsall Manor Hospital.

Impressionable: Six teenagers stole ethanol during a science lesson in imitation of the Waterloo Road scenes

In a statement, Mr Mountney said: ‘Following the theft of a sample of pure ethanol from a science lesson yesterday six students having admitted drinking some of the liquid, were sent to the local hospital for a blood test.

‘All were returned home with their families after these tests.

‘There are no concerns about their health and well-being and all of them are fully engaged in their GCSE exams at school today, as normal.

‘We are now undertaking a full investigation of these events, but can confirm that a full health and safety report will be undertaken and appropriate disciplinary procedures will be followed.

‘We are working with all relevant agencies on these aspects. We take pride in our care for students and all lessons that can be learnt from this event will be.’

Tony Stainer, managing director of Walsall Children’s Services, agreed with the head teacher and said the incident was being treated very seriously.

He said: ‘We are pleased that all the students are well and back in school today.

Not glamorous: Wednesday’s Waterloo Road episode clearly showed the dangers of using ethanol, claims the BBC

‘We are satisfied that the school is taking this matter very seriously and are working with them in order to gain a complete understanding of how this happened in order to prevent a further occurrence of this type.

‘All schools in Walsall have rigorous health and safety procedures and we will be sharing lessons learnt from this incident with them.’

The BBC was criticised for screening the pre-watershed scenes that inspired the potentially deadly stunt.

A parent, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I was watching the programme at the time and I said to my husband that I thought someone would copy it.

‘It never should have been screened because children are very impressionable. I think the BBC should be punished in some way for this – it could have turned out so much worse.

‘These are developing minds that we are talking about. The BBC has a responsibility to take more care about what it puts out.’

Councillor Rachel Walker, who represents the council’s children’s services said the broadcaster had taken a gamble with the programme.

The six students were all from specialist science college Aldridge School, in Walsall, the West Midlands

She said: ‘The BBC has taken a risk with their programming as they do with lots of their gritty storylines.

‘It’s unfortunate that the young people had access to the chemicals involved and did not take on board the further content of the show.’

In the broadcast on Wednesday, a nurse repeatedly told the pupils they could die and told them it was very dangerous.

A spokesman for the BBC defended the content of the programme and insisted it had tackled an important issue in a proper manner.

He said: ‘Waterloo Road has always tackled serious issues of the day in a responsible manner.

‘Wednesday’s episode clearly showed the dangers of using ethanol and did not glamorise it in any way.

‘Each storyline is thoroughly researched using experts within their respective fields.’

“Broadcasters keep saying viewers can tell the difference between TV and reality but this shows this is clearly not the case.”

Oh yeah Viv! This shows that viewers are all infentile morons who cannot tell the difference between TV and reality.

And they need you and Mediawatch UK to protect them for “their own good” right?

Bollox!

“People say television does not have any effect on real life and then something like this happens. ”

But what actually happened Viv?

This is what happened, some kids saw an episode of Waterloo Road where some kids drank ethanol and got really ill. Despite seeing that the kids in the programme got really ill after drinking the ethanol these children went a drank some ethanol and got sick.

So in this case TV had NO effect on real life because the message from TV that ethanol is dangerous was ignored by these children.

We note with humour how The Daily Mail tell readers near the start of the story that Mediawatch UK is demanding greater controls.

As if Mediawatch UK are of some great importance and authority!

No doubt The Mail and their Tory allies will use this incident to bash the BBC yet again.

Yep those evil lefty liberal PC types turning our children into ethanol drinkers!

Pop Stars Make Kids Smoke Dope…BAN EM NOW!

As we saw with the sacking of Professor David Nutt anyone who dares disagree with the views of the establishment on drugs shall be shouted down, silenced and censored.

And  this pile of horseshit from the Daily Mail shows that those that don’t take right-wing Tory middle England’s line on drugs shall be branded as evil corrupters of children who want to turn them into stoned zombies.

From The Daily Mail:

Joss Stone ignites drug row as she describes cannabis as less harmful than alcohol

By Simon Cable
 

 

Singer Joss Stone has been condemned for glamourising drugs after an astonishing diatribe in which she claimed cannabis is less harmful than alcohol.

She also trivialised the dangers of harder ‘more horrible’ drugs, which she described as ‘fun’.

The 22-year-old has enraged anti-drug campaigners after it was suggested she made the comments in a desperate attempt to drum up publicity for her new album.

Joss Stoned: The singer told Star magazine that she smokes cannabis regularly and doesn’t see why the drug as been given such an ‘evil stamp’

It follows an admission last year by singer Lily Allen that cocaine abuse was ‘not a problem’ and that the risks of were overstated.

Asked if she took drugs herself, Stone told Star Magazine: ‘I smoke weed, but I don’t think it’s really a drug.

‘It’s more of a herb. I don’t regret saying that at all. I think everyone smokes weed and people who say they don’t are lying!’

The Devon-born star, who has had a string of number one singles, said that her parents were aware that she still smoked the drug regularly but that they didn’t mind because, ‘they smoked weed when they were younger’.

She dismissed the dangers of cannabis, despite ministers upgrading the drug from a class C to class B drug last year saying it was ‘like having a drink’.

Asked if she smoked everyday she replied: ‘It depends if I’m working, and on what song. And whether it’s a smoking studio or not! It’s like having a drink.

Controversial: The singer at the MTV Europe Music Awards last week and (R) in London smoking a cigarette back in 2007

‘Weed has been given this evil stamp, but how is it dangerous? It’s going to make you laugh your arse off? You might go to sleep? I think alcohol is much more harmful.

‘People beat the f**k out of each other on alcohol. But I don’t smoke weed all day long.

‘I live in Devon and hardly ever go to clubs. When I do, I’ll drink three or four beers then move on to a vodka. I don’t want to take all those horrible drugs. Although some sound fun, so I might dabble now and then!’

She was unapologetic about her outburst adding: ‘I’m very honest and I’ve been punished for that over and over again. Every time I say what I think I get s*** for it. But that won’t stop me from being an honest person.’

Lily sparked fury in January after saying the risks of cocaine were overstated

Stone shot to fame in 2003 after her debut album became an instant hit and she won two Brit Awards in 2005. In 2006 became the youngest woman on the Sunday Times Rich List with a fortune of around £6million.

The Devon-born singer has always cultivated a hippy image and in 2007 she was widely criticised for speaking in a fake American drawl when she arrived on stage to present an award.

She quickly developed a reputation for her diva behaviour and her latest album also features a hidden bonus track which is full of expletives aimed at her ex-boyfriend.

Her comments, which come just weeks after she released the album, brought a furious response from David Raynes, head of the National Drugs Prevention Alliance.

He said: ‘She should consider the effects that her comments have on other people, especially young fans who look up to her.

‘People like Joss Stone should keep their mouths shut about things like this.

Read the full story in this week’s Star magazine – out today

It is terribly damaging and she clearly hasn’t considered the wider effects of the drug, although she clearly didn’t get to become a pop star because she is a student of social sciences.

‘We already have a drug culture in the UK and she is simply adding to that.’

Her comments follow those of Lily Allen, who in January this year said that the risks of cocaine were overstated.

The singer, 24 at the time, said: ‘The only story is that drugs are bad and they will kill you – you will become a prostitute, a rapist or a dealer. But that’s not true.

‘I know lots of people that take cocaine three nights a week and get up and go to work everyday, no problem at all.’

Her comments also come weeks after Professor David Nutt was sacked as the government’s drugs advisor for controversially claiming that cannabis, Ecstasy and LSD are less dangerous than alcohol or cigarettes.

 

Mediasnoops thinks the only thing that Joss Stone should be criticised for is saying that alcohol is more dangerous than drugs like Cannabis because it will only further the cause of the anti-booze health police who want more restrictions on the avalibility of alcohol such as price rises and the banning of all adverts for alcoholic drinks.

Other than that she’s entitled to express her views. But anti-drugs campaigners clearly don’t think so as they believe only those who agree with them should be allowed to speak…

“People like Joss Stone should keep their mouths shut about things like this.”

In other words people like Joss Stone should not be allowed to express their opinions if they are the opposite of what anti-drugs campaigners think.

Only those who say drugs are bad mmmkay should be permitted to air their views.

And rather than put forward arguments as to why Joss Stone might be wrong that drugs like Cannabis are “safe” or “less dangerous” than alcohol anti-drugs campaigners like David Raynes just try to silence her and tell her to “shut up”.

The anti-drugs campaigners don’t put forward any arguments against those who’s views they disagree with they just try to get them to “shut up” or even sacked.

It’s childish and doesn’t address the key issues which cause drug addiction and abuse in the first place.

But of course drug abuse is all the fault of “drugs glamourising” pop stars like Joss Stone….

“She should consider the effects that her comments have on other people, especially young fans who look up to her.”

In other words young people, and especially her fans will hear Joss Stone’s pro drug views and then instantly want to go out and smoke dope and take crack cocaine.

Yes, apparently that’s why young people take drugs. Nothing to do with the pressures of everyday life, or things such as abuse or violence. It’s just those “evil” drug glorifying celebrities telling them to go and do drugs.

Maybe the government can just drop all their drugs rehab programmes and just say drug taking is all the fault of Joss Stone!

Bollox!

(On a seperate note Mediasnoops needs a few drugs to calm down after seeing that lovely picture at the top of the article of the gorgeous Ms Stone! Phew!)

  

 

Call Of Duty 2: Row Erups In Commons As MP DEFENDS Video Games

This is just brilliant! An MP DEFENDING video games from nutters like Kieth Vaz and the moral panic scaremongering of tabloids like the Daily Mail. The link to Tom Watson’s Facebook group Gamers Voice is at the bottom of this story. From the BBC: MPs row over Modern Warfare game

By Daniel Emery Technology reporter, BBC News The game puts the player in the role of present-day combat troops Video gamers are being asked to join a Facebook group set up to help defend games from critics. Set up by MP Tom Watson, the group aims to coordinate responses to articles in the media which, gamers claim, do not give a fair view of their hobby. Mr Watson set up the group in reaction to comments from fellow Labour MP Keith Vaz who strongly criticised Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The game goes on sale on 10 November and is expected to break sales records.   Labour MP Keith Vaz: “It contains such scenes of brutality that even the manufacturers have put in warnings within the game” Quoted in the Daily Mail, Mr Vaz said he was “absolutely shocked” by the violence portrayed in the game. Modern Warfare 2 is rated 18 in the UK. Set in a near-future scenario, Modern Warfare 2 sees The West engaged in fight for survival against Russian ultra-nationalists. Mr Vaz’s disquiet centres around one section in which undercover soldiers pose as terrorists and are asked to help shoot civilians. Footage of the section caused controversy when it was leaked onto the internet. Tom Watson is planning to hit back with his own views on the gaming industry Rory Cellan-Jones Technology correspondent   The MP for Leicester East pledged to raise the issue in Parliament on the day prior to the release. Publisher Activision said the section was “not representative of overall experience”. Warning screens advise players that the scene may be upsetting. Announcing the Gamers’ Voice group on Twitter, Mr Watson said the group was for gamers that want to form a pressure group. The Facebook description of Gamers’ Voice describes it as “unashamedly pro-video games”. “We aim to discuss how UK video gamers can find their voice in newspapers and government,” it said. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=189974734041 We need more people like Tom Watson speeking out against the moral panic about violent video games and against MPs like Kieth Vaz who wish to impose censorship on the video game industry. “The group aims to coordinate responses to articles in the media which, gamers claim, do not give a fair view of their hobby. “ Indeed those articles do not. The mainstream media generally give the view of video gaming as dangerous and corrupting. It’s great to see there are people out there speeking out against that. And one of them is an MP which is amazing! Maybe not all polticicians are moral guardians who think they know what is and is not good for us after all.

Pattison Plugs….Call Of Duty 2

Oh the hilarity! Viv’s little piece was in yesterday’s Sun alongside an article which was one big publicity vechile for Call Of Duty 2.

Her implying that the game should be banned (although she does not say it directly but that’s what she’s obviously getting at) will make it even more of a hit than it’s already tipped to be.

From The Sun:

MY VIEW

BY VIVIENNE PATTISON

Head Of Mediawatch-UK

THERE are numerous studies linking exposure to violence in entertainment with violent behaviour.

 

Bearing in mind the cost to society – and the misery of the victims of violent behaviour – if there is the slightest possibility that violent games can cause harm, is this worth the risk?

We know that violent games with 18 Certificates are being played by children.

Do we really want to find that we are training a new generation to be killers?

Here’s the full story from The Sun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2721713/New-Call-Of-Duty-video-game-hits-the-shops.html

“Bearing in mind the cost to society – and the misery of the victims of violent behaviour.”

Misery of the victims of violent behaviour which has been caused by violent video games in other words.

“We know that violent games with 18 Certificates are being played by children.”

Which means everyone should be stopped from playing them then?

“Do we really want to find that we are training a new generation to be killers?”

Our governments already train generation after generation to be killers in illegal and unjustified wars Viv!

It’s unlikely Viv will see the stupidity of allowing her views to be put alongside an article that is publicising a violent game that she fears will produce a “new generation  of killers”.

Her doom mongering vision of how this game, and other games like it will cause players to go out and murder people in real life will further it’s notoriety and make youngsters want to play it even more.

It looks as if Viv Pattison will be follow in Beyer’s footsteps in lending outraged rent-a-quotes to the tabloid press about controversial entertainment that will no doubt increase public interest and make more people want to find out what all the fuss is about.

Meanwhile the Daily Mail reports on a “political storm” about Call Of Duty 2 allowing players to “masaccre” civilians:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226588/Call-Duty-Political-storm-brutal-video-game-allows-killing-civilians-airport-massacre.html

What political storm?

Oh Kieth Vaz being outraged!

Yep, one MP being outraged constitutes a “political storm”.

And look some MP is outraged about the game and wants it banned….

The kids will be lapping it up!

Airbrushing Causes Anorexia Say Health Police

The media gets the blame for making people fat (junk food ads), making people drunk (alcohol ads) and it gets the blame for making people too thin.

From The  Mirror:

 

Airbrushed adverts of “thin-ideal” models pose a “significant risk” to the health of young women

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By Bob Roberts 9/11/2009

 

Airbrushed adverts of “thin-ideal” models pose a “significant risk” to the health of young women, say experts.

 

Women’s daily exposure to “images of perfection” is linked to depression, insecurity and eating disorders, says a study by 40 doctors, psychologists and academics.

 

The findings have sparked fresh calls for the Advertising Standards Authority to clamp down on airbrushed pictures.

 

So far the ASA has said there is not enough evidence that such images do harm.

 

The Impact of Media Images on Body Image and Behaviours report said: “Body dissatisfaction is a significant risk for physical health, mental health, and thus well-being. Any factor, such as idealised images, that increases body dissatisfaction is thus an important influence on well-being.”

 

 

It added that exposure to “thin-ideal images” produced “significant increases in self-reported depression, stress, guilt, shame, insecurity and body dissatisfaction”.

 

Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson, who has campaigned against airbrushing, said the ASA “now has all the scientific evidence it needs to act”.

 

Last month, there was an outcry after a digitally altered photograph of Filippa Hamilton-Palmstierna showed her looking emaciated in a Ralph Lauren shoot. The 8st 6lb model was later sacked by the fashion house amid allegations she was too fat.

 

Maybe these airbrushed pictures might have an impact on how some girls think they should look.

 

But eating disorders such as anorexia are linked to wider problems such as depression and abuse.

 

Of course tackling those problems would be harder and more costly than just banning pictures of thin women.

 

Just as banning ads for alcohol or “junk” food is seen as an easier and cheaper way to deal with alcoholism and obsesity.