Most of the criticisms of GTA are justified imo. Especially the socio-medical criticisms directed at exposing young people who have not formed the necessary constructs (social, moral, etc...) to that level of reckless amoral violence really is socially irresponsible. Their brains cannot distinguish on certain levels between what happens in real life and these complex virtual reality worlds.
I would go even further than that and extend some of those criticisms to gangster rap (though there are important differences of course) because the same thing is happening in the brain but not on the same level.
I remember the first time I played GTA III at someone's house I could actually feel mentally/emotionally a disconnect occurring at a deep level. Getting in the car after a couple hours of that I actually had to refocus for a minute before heading out. Now I am a competent responsible adult with the necessary constructs and I felt it.
AllhoodPublications wrote:I can't help but wonder if I made a game like this would I be allowed to put it on shelves and would I find myself in criminal court facing charges for creating a monster like this...
I think its ashame that these people are able to target the kids with such violence and not put huge portions of that money back into the community for educational programs, computer training, and business management.
