This is relatively way off topic for Y2K, but then again, maybe it isn't...

Last night the spose and myself got the first night off in I don't know how long from the baby. We went to the Mall up the road apiece to do some shopping, and to generally bum around. Part of the time that I am on this net, I notice the number of references to 'America on the Slide' or how Kids today are really out of hand, yaddayadda...and also theres always the omnipresent tinfoil perspective that gets posted now and again. Well last nite I began wondering about the 'foils, and how correct they might be.

I made a stop off in Ye Ole' Video Game Palace that seems to be present in every mall in America, and decided to hit some of the cool new games. Its been ages since I've done this, and my wife sez I'm nothing but a big kid at heart. I hit the new Star Wars game, and even played that 'Shoot-'em-up' Time rescue or something or other when I saw a new game that made my jaw drop to the ground. Called "Silent Shooter", It incorperated what appeared to be a chopped Heckler and Koch PSG-1 Sniper Rifle on a podium and a senario that you are the sniper, charged with 'rescuing' the president and his family. The scope on the 'rifle' actually functioned, and when I tried it, the game had a 'spotter voice' yelling out new targets for me to zero on. When you get excited, the spotter yells for you to relax, the rifle transmits recoil...whew...I hadn't seen anything like it in my life. Even in sniper school at Benning they had absolutely NOTHING like it. It even gave extra points for a headshot! Real Blood and guts on contact as well! The TOTAL sniping experience in the local Mall.

Now the crux of the matter is, this thing could not have been developed without the sanction of one or more of the .gov agencies. Now I know I'll get flamed for being a 'foil, but Jesus come quick...this thing...you gotta see it to believe it. This was almost an exact sniper sim. What the hell are we teaching our kids?

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasn@Yahoo.com), October 05, 1999

Answers

Dear Billy-Boy, Your thread chills me more than I am already chilled. (not chilled out either) My little boy plays video games and even the mild ones he is allowed to play (rated for everyone) are very weird. There is one really cute one called Mario Smash Bros. (I hope I am getting this name right) anyway this game brings other beloved, cute characters from other games and they are now enemies. Now this game is very cute and there are no realistic type weapons but I have always been weirded out that this is sort of training them to think of a friend as an enemy. I don't know, this world is out of control in a million ways. Something's got to give.

-- a mom (what@world.com), October 05, 1999.

Yes, there is a DoD guy who goes around crusading to take these trainers out of the hands of kids. I watched a whole program on this. THese definitely teach kids to kill without thought.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 05, 1999.

Hey mom,

You are the gatekeeper, my dear. If the games your kids are playing give you the creeps pull the plug. You state you feel the world is out of control..well take control. No more stupid video games under your roof. Period.

-- goldbugged (goldbugged@idontthinkso.com), October 05, 1999.

I've heard the guy Mara referred to. He talks about how "entertainment" is accomplishing what the military has struggled with for centuries: overcoming the basic resistance most of us have to killing another human being. Mind you, the military has come a long way on its own, but his point is that a lot of the same principles are unwittingly applied through the desensitizing effect of today's games, movies, etc.

-- Thinman (thinman38@hotmail.com), October 05, 1999.

Dear Goldbugged, You are absolutely right. I am my child's gatekeeper. Sometimes things slip by no matter how on top of it I think I am being. Somethings are also very subtle and in the hustle and bustle, not to mention y2k, I am not as vigilant as I should be(even though I am much more vigilant than most of the parents' I know). Thank you for another wake up call. It is an ever continuing housekeeping procedure to keep things straight in our kid's lives. Thanks again.

-- a mom (what@world.com), October 05, 1999.

Who said it? "Propaganda is designed to get you to do in cold blood what it would otherwise take passion to accomplish." Propaganda is nothing more than the same idea played over and over and over and over.....

Natural Born Killers? Reap what you sow?

Feed a body toxic waste and shards of glass and what would happen to it? Feed and mind this sort of stuff and who should be surprised?

-- JIT (JIT@rightherennow.net), October 05, 1999.

The greatest favor any parent can do for their children is to get rid of the tv set and all video games. Unless you want them to be dullards, or worse. Teach them the mantra: "when the tv is on, your brain is off."

-- Spidey (in@jam.storage), October 05, 1999.

The military expert is Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (US Army, ret.), whose specialty is the psychology of killing. His article from August of last year, Trained to Kill, was written after the Jonesboro massacre and prior to the Columbine tragedy, and analyzes how American children are becoming de-sensitized to violence.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), October 05, 1999.

thanks for this post...

We have allowed video games, but severely restricted as to which. Has been an ongoing struggle to use it for limited reward/entertainment value and keep it balanced.

I appreciate this thread.

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), October 05, 1999.

What makes you think gov.org was involved? Did the sim. require hold-off for moving target, range, wind? was the rifle free moving enough for the shot to be effected by trigger control or breathe? If not it doesn't sound like a sim. accurate enough for any gov.org.

-- BILLY (BILLY2269@yahoo.com), October 05, 1999.

Billy,

Hard to say. The weapon was mounted by the rear stock, and was mounted on a universal joint. The trigger was a standard single pull, but apparently had enough play w/tension to remind me of the two stage trigger on my M-24. The sight on it was a little unrealistic in that there were small red arrows flashing inside for you to follow to the next target. Also, another thing. I used all my breathing techniques when I shot this thing, and it still had the sight picture obsured for a split second by flash/smoke/recoil that required a re-aqusition of target. Believe me...this thing was uncannily real. (If you read some of my other threads I usedta do this for a living!) So real as to make me realize that the .gov org had to have something to do with the creation of this sim. Even the bad guys, If you missed, would duck and fire and manuver!!

It just really bothers me that the targets were 'militia members' and that you are "Preserving the American Way Of Life!" by saving , first, the Presidents Daughter, (a Chelsea look-a-like) the Presidents Wife, (Hillary Natch) and the Prez himself (didn't get to see him as I had to leave, but I figure he musta looked like Bubba!) That, plus the fact that there was a line of teens lining up (!!!) to stuff quarters into this thing made me go HMMMM.....you can decide for yourself. Its probably at you local arcade. Go check it out...

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasn@Yahoo.com), October 05, 1999.

I read an interview with one of the boys that did the school killings in Arkansas. When asked how he learned to shoot so well he replied it was from video games. You think they don't teach our kids ? Be vigilante as to what goes into their minds. Garbage in, garbage out

-- B.Clark (mrmomx6@aol.com), October 06, 1999.