from the no-shit dept
The frenzy accountable video video games for all of the world’s ills is, after all, nothing new. Whereas among the extra novel examples of this blame-game embody present Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson’s declare that video video games are the explanation the Medicaid is abused (yes, seriously), this nonsense is extra generally trotted out every time violence is dedicated, sometimes for mass shootings. It’s irresponsible and never primarily based on something remotely resembling scientific information and it should stop.
Within the wake of Charlie Kirk’s horrific homicide, we bought to see this as soon as once more in motion. The shooter’s online game platform accounts and gaming habits have been scrutinized, as was his communications on Discord. After which got here bumblefuck RFK Jr. with the typical level of stupidity.
The suspected shooter and his obvious connections to gaming and web tradition raised questions on whether or not the White Home or Congress would possibly reply with larger scrutiny of these communities. Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy not too long ago steered that the federal government ought to examine connections between first-person shooters and mass shootings.
The Kirk capturing wasn’t a mass capturing. There isn’t a concrete analysis to recommend that one of the crucial common genres in gaming one way or the other leads individuals to shoot many individuals without delay. The suspect doesn’t seem to have been deeply steeped in first-person shooters anyway. Kennedy’s feedback, in different phrases, are basically a non-sequitur. Par for the course.
However Republican Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie managed to get in on the motion himself, as did Democract Ro Khanna.
“I haven’t particularly mentioned that with anybody, however I feel that we should always take a look at how video [games] have an effect on younger individuals,” mentioned Guthrie. “I feel that’s a good factor. We’ve spent a variety of time on children’ on-line security, and that might be part of that.”
California Consultant Ro Khanna, a Democrat who not too long ago made headlines for calling on the builders of Roblox to guard youngsters who play their recreation, additionally steered that he can be open to a congressional probe into video video games.
“We’ve bought to have rather more regulation on social media, and I feel we have to take a look at video video games and the hurt they trigger by way of getting younger males addicted, and being intellectually draining,” he informed Courthouse Information.
Subsequent to all of that, a briefing from the National Counter Terrorism Center leaked with what should be one in every of most “no shit” sort of briefings potential. In it, the NCTC makes an attempt to boost the alarm over the truth that video games, gaming platforms, and game-focused chat platforms provide methods for avid gamers to speak with each other. Clutch your pearls, expensive readers.
If somebody can clarify what in any of that is new, please go for it. I’ll wait. And whilst you’re doing that, please discover simply what number of caveats and hedges there are on this doc. Some violent extremist US teenagers “most likely” play these video games and “might” talk with those that suppose like them.
Properly, no fucking shit, guys! Adults can do all of that, too! As can completely peaceable people. Or they may talk by way of telephone, or chat message platforms like Google’s or Microsoft’s! Hell, they could even meet up on the native playground and discuss all types of untamed shit. I certain did after I was youthful. And there are a ton of those that use these platforms and handle not to shoot anybody in any respect. It’s nearly like, and I hope you’re sitting down for this, none of those platforms are some frequent denominator for violence.
Which isn’t actually the purpose. The purpose of the briefing is to present authorities a doc to level to with a view to additional infringe on the privateness and communications of each day residents.
This sort of evaluation gives a pretext for surveillance of atypical actions. It transforms mundane habits like enjoying Fortnite into an indicator of extremism. It’s the identical logic that justifies infiltrating activist teams and sustaining large databases of people that’ve finished nothing mistaken. And positively did fuck all to cease the homicide of Charlie Kirk. However that doesn’t matter, as a result of when the intelligence neighborhood is tempted with a brand new large information set to gorge on, there’s no stopping the feast.
Sure, that. This nothing-burger of a briefing will find yourself being twisted to permit the surveillance state to hone in on their political enemies. None of this has a single factor to do with Charlie Kirk’s homicide, nor some other violent exercise. It will likely be used selectively, much like our Mad King’s current feedback about utilizing the federal government shutdown to shutter “democrat agencies” or additional cut back their workforce.
All below the vulgar and cynical banner of doing this all in Charlie Kirk’s title.
Filed Below: blame game, brett guthrie, nctc, rfk jr., ro khanna, video games
Firms: blizzard, discord, microsoft, roblox, sony, valve
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