22 Jan, 2010
Welcome to our weekly Community Q!
Once a week we flip the tables and listen to what you guys have to say . . . rather than sitting back and make you listen to us . . .
Last week a PS3 player alleged that she was sexually assaulted in the free-to-play virtual world of Home.
Her roommate has called for virtual restraining orders and even a virtual prison to combat the increase in online stalking and the actions of ‘future rapists’. Whilst some aren’t taking this particular case seriously, at the University of Melbourne, Dr. Jessica Wolfendale states that “unwanted sexual attacks” can emotionally scar victims – even if the assaults are not real.
But what do you think?
Community Q: Given the growing prevalence of adult themes in gaming, including sex, rape and sexual assault, when do the lines between VR and reality cross – if they can cross at all? Is it morally reprehensible to portray one crime like rape or sexual assault in video games, but not another such as murder? Where should we draw the line?
Via Videogamer.com
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Morality in videogames is always a big topic of discussion, it’s quite hard to put my opinion into words, but I’ll give it a go.
The line should be drawn when the act that is being displayed or even played is no longer in the realms of entertainment, if said act is only there to shock the player (in a non-entertaining way) then it shouldn’t be allowed.
That does however raise the question…. who defines what ‘entertainment’ is, but I think the easiest answer to that is simply; what the majority sees it as, because I’m sure….. or should I say, I would hope, that the majority can actually define between good and bad.
Another point to be raised here is that animations and other such things that happen to your character in a game, are completely different to when someone on an online game is abusive towards you. People get ‘in trouble’ for talking in an indecent way in chat rooms etc, and games should be no different. They still provide a way for people to interact with each other.
Well my friend says that whenever she plays Home, she’s always approached by several blokes saying, “You’re cute” or “Hot” or whatever and then messaging her with some sort of explicit message.
Really it’s just these kinds of lonely idiots that give the rest of the players a bad name. It’s a shame.
Personally, I think the line is crossed when one party approaches another in any way that makes either person feel uncomfortable and/or violated. I think this mostly applies to online gaming, rather than normal gaming. Because in most cases, when you are gaming alone you can choose whether or not you have a ‘sexual encounter’, and if you find that disturbing thats your own fault for excepting it. I, do, however think there should be restrictions and regulations for online gaming. Sexual harassment is sexual harassment, no matter if it’s in real life or online; and should be responded to accordingly.
To me, there should be no limits in video games, but that could be because i know it is a video GAME.
The difficulty is portraying sex and violence in a video game as fun, which is what a video game should be.
Can it be done without making it look the norm?
Well i think so reguarding the violence, as far as the sex? well i am a man so i can’t say, but we do have age limits, and if they can’t be adhered to whose fault is that?
No one should be attacked or assaulted, ever, in any way. People are inherently violent, malicious, and sexually driven – this sounds very harsh perhaps, but it is the reality of it. These traits will playout in virtual settings just as they do in real life. The nice thing about virtual settings are that they’re easier to police (ban the attacker from the game) and the victim can choose to logoff. The victim, in my opinion only perhaps, is being ridiculous. If the game means that much to her then she needs to readdress her priorities. Games are entertainment and should be fun, but if it’s unfun or that serious to you then you need to stop. She’s not in the wrong, but she is making a choice to login. Should an attacker dictate her gameplay? Is that fair? No, but she has every opportunity to remove herself from the assault.
The internet is a raw place, and all users need to wear thicker skins because of it.