Keith Stuart of the Guardian‘s “Gamesblog” has torn apart a broadcast on UK TV last night by “supernanny” Jo Frost, in which she sought to smear videogames as “desensitising kids to violence” and “reducing empathy”. As Keith points out, Jo’s methodology is highly suspect, open to contrary conclusions and highly misleading – which means we can expect to see Michael Atkinson relying on it any day now.
I’m not much of a scientist, but I sure am good at patronising people with bullshit.
Just thought you should be forewarned with the details of this fakery before you see it reported uncritically.
Yes, sadly this is just one of many bullshit documentary-style television programs that passes for worthwhile viewing in my country. And one that, it would seem, is only too happy to jump on the anti-videogame bandwagon.
Now, now, she would know – she’s SuperNanny. Sadly, she is not a child psychologist or any other type of psychologist, which means my view on the situation is just as valid as hers. My boys love a good violent computer game and I dont see the harm. I broke and had broken a few bones when I was a kid when we had sword fights with cricket stumps (was worth it though). Kids are not getting their bones broken (unless its their trigger finger from overuse) whilst playing computer games