• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Maine GOP attack Dem for playing World of Warcraft!

apdst said:
The Libbos--the diversity promotin' folks--just can't believe that there are people out there that aren't into the same **** they are. When they find out we're here, they call us, "Amish", which is code for, "backwards", since the Amish basically live in the 19th Century.
Click to expand...

More like conservatives attempt to portray opponents as lunatic fringe and when proven wrong claim persecution.
 
Lachean said:
Depraved how?
Click to expand...

It's a rather strange idea to want to control a person that is going to go on killing rampages in gruesome detail, or play a character that will break seemingly every law including banging a hooker (before killing her), and so forth. Furthermore, it's even stranger to conceive that behavior is tolerated, rewarded, or even required to progress. It instills a nihilism that cannot be ignored.

Yet, it often shows up in the old "are video games art" dispute. Should you criticize the mechanisms through which your characters are engaging in this behavior, we are told "it's just a game, get over it." Yet, whenever the product shows a small amount of script writing, voice acting, or camera direction, we are supposed to be in awe of its storytelling and ought to take it seriously.
 
Fiddytree said:
It's a rather strange idea to want to control a person that is going to go on killing rampages in gruesome detail, or play a character that will break seemingly every law including banging a hooker (before killing her), and so forth. Furthermore, it's even stranger to conceive that behavior is rewarded or even required to progress. It instills a nihilism that cannot be ignored.

Yet, it often shows up in the old "are video games art" dispute. Should you criticize the mechanisms through which your characters are engaging in this behavior, we are told "it's just a game, get over it." Yet, whenever the product shows a small amount of script writing, voice acting, or camera direction, we are supposed to be in awe of its storytelling and ought to take it seriously.
Click to expand...

Well it is it's just a different medium of story-telling, art, and entertainment if you're going to criticize someone for playing violent games criticize people who watch violent movies.
 
soccerboy22 said:
Then I shall help break that mold. Soccerboy22: Law Student, TA, and Holy Paladin defender of the Alliance.
Click to expand...

Sure. Where's that clip of Stan's Dad telling his boss about his awesome role in WoW. :D
 
0bserver92 said:
Well it is it's just a different medium of story-telling, art, and entertainment if you're going to criticize someone for playing violent games criticize people who watch violent movies.
Click to expand...

We do that as well when a film displays such wanton violence and other depraved behavior without any real consequences.
 
Fiddytree said:
We do that as well when a film displays such wanton violence and other depraved behavior without any real consequences.
Click to expand...

Why, it does nothing. I go aorund punching people on the streets in Saints Row The Third, do I do that or even think about it in real life, no. There is nothing wrong with them it's just entertainment.
 
Your Star said:
It's not porn.
Click to expand...

Sometimes they are close enough to sexual porn, but I am referring to violence to such an extent it would be pornographic..violence seemingly for violence's sake.
 
Last edited:
Fiddytree said:
Sometimes they are close enough to sexual porn, but I am referring to violence to such an extent it would be pornographic..violence seemingly for violence's sake.
Click to expand...

Not in all games, look at Heavy Rain, Limbo, Portal, just for a few examples.
 
Your Star said:
Any more common than what is on TV, and in the movies no.
Click to expand...

I would say proportionately, the gaming market is far more saturated with that content.
 
soccerboy22 said:
Compare it to my 30-45 hour work week, where I probably play 12-15 hours, either she is not playing enough or I am playing too much. And it isn't excuses because as I stated I am doing fairly well in school, but I need a way to get rid of stress. Playing video games is one of those ways. Like I said, it is a stupid attack on something that is minor.
Click to expand...

If it's effective in swaying the voters, then it wasn't a "stupid attack". And yes, just more excuses. That you feel compelled to make them says you feel you spend too much time gaming. Doing "fairly well in school" isn't the bar you should be shooting for. Imagine how much more you could do, achieve, if you put the same time and mental effort as you do with your butt parked on the couch.
 
clownboy said:
If it's effective in swaying the voters, then it wasn't a "stupid attack". And yes, just more excuses. That you feel compelled to make them says you feel you spend too much time gaming. Doing "fairly well in school" isn't the bar you should be shooting for. Imagine how much more you could do, achieve, if you put the same time and mental effort as you do with your butt parked on the couch.
Click to expand...

I think this whole argument and the way it seems to mostly follow political orientation is very indicative of a consistent theme here. In the OP, a woman is being attacked because of the legal way she decides to spend her leisure time. There is absolutely no proof that it interferes with her ability to function otherwise. The right here supports the ad claiming she really does represent a fringe group, is lazy for choosing this form of entertainment, and won't be able to adequately perform her legislative duties. The fringe group concept has been pretty thoroughly dis proven even to the point the conservatives are now claiming their lifestyle is being persecuted. They claim that this would somehow prevent her from holding office appears just plain ludicrous. She has obviously been able to scale back her playing when warranted and if the average senator does "work" ungodly hours I have to ask how many of those are focused on getting reelected. Now we come to the laziness factor. No one owes it to anyone other than their dependents to spend their free time, or their life for that matter, in a manner dictated by someone else. You may wish to push yourself non stop and achieve as much as possible on your way to a coronary at age 55. I really don't care. I do care when you suggest anyone without the same priorities is somehow inferior. To be honest I sincerely doubt many people on their death beds express how they wish they had worked more.
 
clownboy said:
If it's effective in swaying the voters, then it wasn't a "stupid attack". And yes, just more excuses. That you feel compelled to make them says you feel you spend too much time gaming. Doing "fairly well in school" isn't the bar you should be shooting for. Imagine how much more you could do, achieve, if you put the same time and mental effort as you do with your butt parked on the couch.
Click to expand...

Again, me playing isn't an excuse. Doing reading and studying for 12 hours straight simply is not very effective. Your mind gets tired and wanders and you do not focus as much. This isn't just true of me, but mostly everyone. So every two hours simply taking a break an maybe watching a show, or playing a game for 30 minutes lets your mind dewind and destress and therefore when you get back into studying your mind is a bit fresher and you are actually a more attentive reader. So, yes I can imagine what type of student I would be without taking these breaks, sometimes which consisent of playing a game. I would be a worse student. Maybe instead of the top 25, I would be in the top 35. And maybe then I wouldn't be looked at as a potential TA. So, no it simply isn't just excuses, it does actually help. By the way, on average that is about 2 hours a night. My time on DP has gone a lot since I started school because I do not have the time for it. My possible two hours of gaming a night is less then what some people spend on this site. You know, just for perspective.
 
clownboy said:
If it's effective in swaying the voters, then it wasn't a "stupid attack". And yes, just more excuses. That you feel compelled to make them says you feel you spend too much time gaming. Doing "fairly well in school" isn't the bar you should be shooting for. Imagine how much more you could do, achieve, if you put the same time and mental effort as you do with your butt parked on the couch.
Click to expand...

I enjoy playing video games, it is my favorite hobby, and I may even work in the industry one day. Now how is playing games any different than watching TV, following a sports team, reading a book for enjoyment, or posting on this forum? Think of how much you could get done if you just stopped posting on this forum, and got to work? This line of argument falls apart very easily.
 
... What is this? 1995? Anybody who doesn't play any kind of video game (through mobile, console, pc etc) today is either too broke to afford them or senile. That anybody in politics still thinks going after video games is a "legitimate" issue is ridiculous. Social troglodytes, back in yer caves.
 
Juiposa said:
The part that is shameful is actually two. First, that I am supposedly an Obama supporter, which I am not!!!
Click to expand...

Then I can certainly understand why you would feel insulted.
Secondly is your rational that I play video games because I need to retreat into a fantasy world because I cannot handle the real world!!!! I play video games because the are fun FFS. Not because I am some dim witted uneducated sack of fat that cannot handle himself in the real world.
Click to expand...

You said
If my MP Canidate was a hardcore gamer, I'd be much more likely to vote for them. Shows me that they just don't have their head stuck up their ass and know how to have fun. I'd be able to relate to show one like that much more.
Click to expand...

You implied that anyone who wasn't a "hardcore gamer" had "their head stuck up their ass".

This is why I made the claim that "gamers retreat into make-believe and fantasy".

I play video games because the are fun FFS. Not because I am some dim witted uneducated sack of fat that cannot handle himself in the real world.
Click to expand...

You mentioned "hard core gamer", not just someone who just plays video games. I have my opinion of "hard core gamers", whom you describe as "some dim witted uneducated sack of fat that cannot handle himself in the real world". That might be a little harsh, but only just.

But the point is that you have your opinion of non hard core players as those who have their heads stuck up their ass while I have my opinion of hard core gamers.

We are each entitled to our opinions.
 
The GOP did it wrong. They shouldn't have gotten on this guy's case for playing WoW....the GOP should have accused him of buying gold...
 
apdst said:
I wouldn't have even participated in this thread, if not for the suggestion that the folks that don't play vidoe games, or at least spend a limited amount of time playing them are the folks that are the weirdos.

I was only pointing out that thise folks aren't the weirdos, they're the normal folks, who perform tough, dirty, dangerous jobs everyday, to make a living.

Most of the gamer dorks I've worked with were substandards workers, lacked maturity, motivation, common sense and social skills. They couldn't take an ass chewing; when I got in their ass about something, they wanted to throw a hissy fit and drag up. They had problems telling the difference between a discussion and a lecture; had an inability to respect authority; believed that instructions were optional.

My dad told me when I was a kid: "There are two kinds of men in the world, roughnecks and ******s." The gamer dorks usually AREN'T roughnecks.
Click to expand...

Maybe not weirdos but certainly the minority if you don't, games like madden and call of duty are as mainstream as going to the movies.

Also video games have nothing to do with work, I work 70 hours a week and I still play games (well only one game really), you can claim you know lazy gamers but I can claim to know people of any persuasion that makes my argument sound better, what you haven't provided is any sort of real rational reasoning as to why someone who would play video games is a weirdo or somehow less productive.

As far as to the last point enjoy your false dichotomies, makes life easy if you can put them in a nice little box and ignore them due to the label you created for them robbing them of credibility in your eyes.
 
Man of all the stupid things to attack your opponent on... gezz.
 
Your Star said:
I enjoy playing video games, it is my favorite hobby, and I may even work in the industry one day. Now how is playing games any different than watching TV, following a sports team, reading a book for enjoyment, or posting on this forum? Think of how much you could get done if you just stopped posting on this forum, and got to work? This line of argument falls apart very easily.
Click to expand...

Vast difference between playing a video game and reading a book, that should be fairly obvious. But where did I even suggest that watching TV was any better an activity than playing video games? I've been pretty clear about the couch potato thing.

As to posting to this forum, yes, were I younger and had a different profession, gone a different path, I'd be laughing at folks who spend their time railing at one another online, telling them to "get a life". For the time of my life when I was young and working outdoors I didn't even own a TV.

But right this moment I am working (actively monitoring 13 servers) while posting here. So, no, not a whole lot more I could be doing at the moment.

What falls apart easily are the excuses. Why excuse the behavior if you don't feel it's out of hand?

And again for those commenting later in the thread - it wasn't about the video game per se but the time spent playing the game.
 
Last edited:
clownboy said:
Vast difference between playing a video game and reading a book, that should be fairly obvious. But where did I even suggest that watching TV was any better an activity than playing video games? I've been pretty clear about the couch potato thing.

As to posting to this forum, yes, were I younger and had a different profession, gone a different path, I'd be laughing at folks who spend their time railing at one another online, telling them to "get a life". For the time of my life when I was young and working outdoors I didn't even own a TV
But right this moment I am working (actively monitoring 13 servers) while posting here. So, no, not a whole lot more I could be doing at the moment.
Click to expand...

Even comparing reading to playing video games isn't black and white. Some games teach analytical skills and planning while reading trash romance novels isn't likely to greatly expand your horizons.
 
Somerville said:
Pete, I'm sorry - most of the time I agree with your comments but in this case . . . the correct spelling is - g e e z
Click to expand...

Grammar Nazi!




yea I know, but I blame Google spell checker!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom