Posted on 12/02/2008 9:05:24 AM PST by Sopater
Kids Sent Conflicting Messages About Good Cheer with Video Games that Glorify Sex and Violence
Contact: Stephen Ally, Timothy Plan, 800-846-7526
MAITLAND, Fla., Dec. 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- Is it purely a coincidence that the Christmas shopping season kicks off with a day called 'Black Friday'? Maybe so, but how is it then explained that the gifts in the most demand this year seem to be violent video games?
Art Ally's Group, The Timothy Plan, is a Mutual Fund company that only invests in companies who reach very quantifiable moral and ethical standards.
Suffice it to say, Ally draws the line well before investing in companies that provide products that harm children. In fact, The Timothy Plan took this matter so seriously, that it performed an exhaustive amount of research in identifying games that parents should think twice about before letting Santa put them under the tree.
For shoppers buying video games on Black Friday, the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season, and beyond, it could wind up being a black day indeed.
Violent video games have become increasingly more popular as graphics and improvements in technology have improved over the years. Studies have shown that aggressive attitudes and even actions can be increased after playing violent games for as little as 20 minutes. Yet, video games have emerged as one of the most popular forms of entertainment for children, with over 70% living in a home with at least one video game player and 33% of children have one in their bedroom.
Art Ally, president, of the Timothy Plan family of mutual funds contends that, "Many, if not most, parents who buy their kids video games really don't know the extent of sex and violence imbedded in them. From drug use, prostitution, murder and mayhem to vulgar profanity and blasphemy these games have become a powerfully negative influence on our kids."
Mr. Ally is offering concerned parents a complimentary report detailing the myriad of shocking gaming choices now available in the marketplace. At Timothy Plan's web site, www.timothyplan.com , you can download and print a report detailing what Ally describes as "some of the most violent and offensive video games ever to be available in my lifetime." "I believe, if parents would take a moment to look at the report we've created, their game selections would be quite different," he continues.
The Timothy Plan family of funds conducts proprietary research on publicly traded companies based on their moral integrity. They then apply that information to maintain a "Do Not Buy List" for their family of morally responsible mutual funds. They do not invest in companies that are involved in abortion, pornography, anti-family entertainment, alternative lifestyles, as well as alcohol, tobacco and gambling.
Timothy's research process for the funds' Anti-Family Entertainment screen, includes (but is not limited to) gathering information on popular video games and, with Christmas and the gift giving season approaching, they are offering this information to anyone concerned about the content of the video games they may consider buying as gifts for their children.
And let's not forget the violence portrayed in the common, everyday television commercial. There's one running now featuring John McEnroe hitting a tennis ball that strikes a guy in the head and knocks him off his feet. And there's another one featuring a woman who shoots a paralyzing dart from a blowgun into the neck of another woman seated across from her who falls from her chair to the floor. Both of these attacks are intended to be amusing to viewers, although in real life both McEnroe and the blowgun user would be arrested for assault if they did what they're shown as doing.
parents bad
What computer games and/or video games have you played in depth, just for point of comparison?
That's not true. The most popular games are for the Wii, and they're mostly family friendly titles like Wii Music and Wii Fit.
“Is it purely a coincidence that the Christmas shopping season kicks off with a day called ‘Black Friday’?”
No, it means they hope to become profitable with sales made on that day (as in black ink). It’s not violence, it’s accounting.
My 17 yo son asked for Grand Theft Auto for Christmas. For crying in the beer.
I removed it from his “list” before I forwarded it to his family and told him so :)
I keed, I keed!
They make Ned Flanders look like Marilyn Manson.
A lot of what is seen as a problem is less so when it is examined why it is a problem.
Take a violent video game. Why do children, especially boys, like it?
While most people say they like the violence, this isn’t accurate, because it is more complex than that.
Most boys have a hunting instinct. The Boy Scouts used to have a “Trailing, Tracking and Stalking” requirement for one of their lesser ranks, teaching boys these “hunting” skills. There is no violence inherent in this, but many boys are as instinctively attuned to this as are border collies attuned to herding.
So it isn’t wrong, it’s natural.
Many boys also have a morbid curiosity, though this is foolishly discouraged, because many adults cannot distinguish the interest in a subject with the desire to engage in it. Just because a boy reads about Charlie Manson or Adolf Hitler, doesn’t mean he wants to be like him.
There are lots of websites that are full of gruesome pictures of hideous death and dismemberment. This is hypnotically interesting to some boys, who personally would never willingly harm animals or people.
So no problem with video games with virtual hunting, or satisfying morbid curiosity.
How about fighting? The last part of violent video games is that they somehow teach children to fight. But doesn’t this only apply to boys who cannot distinguish between a game and real life? No doubt there are some, but they are equally susceptible to being taught by a movie, TV show, book, comic book, or just some braggart.
But it's OK for Timothy's Plan, apparently.
Which is rated M for mature- I got carded at Best Buy when I bought it. It's not meant to be played by 12-year olds. The game deals with a lot of mature themes, but then, so do the Godfather and MacBeth.
The entire world does not need to be kid friendly.
I mean that Timothy’s Plan holds about as much moral sway as Ned Flanders. They make mainstream Christians look like the tired old media stereotype.
You either have that standard, or no standard.
Because if your standard is based on anything subjective, that subjectivity is subject to slippage.
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