CVG's W.R.O.N.G campaign continues to gather pace, with national UK TV exposure from the most unlikely of sources.
Okay, so Matthew Wright does perhaps show his true colours by calling us and our readers a "bunch of brain-dead computer nerds" on Channel 5 - fair and balanced as always - but just think of the publicity. In a way, he's become our champion.
After kicking off his Friday show, Wright and fellow W.R.O.N.G'un Anne Diamond paused for an unscheduled attack on our little campaign and all those who have spoken out in support of it. We should feel at least a little honoured, as he was making toast with Prince William's face on it at the time.
"And you," retorted Diamond. "They're having a go at both of us, aren't they? Because of what we said about computer games."
Except "freedom of speech" never really came into it, did it? Rabid libertarians, us. To refresh, our beef was more with dear Anne bizarrely linking the storage of consoles to the harbouring of automatic weapons and her dismissal of all empirical research on violence in computer games.
She continued: "I've come across these people before. If you write anything critical or say anything critical of computer games, you become a victim of really vicious hate mail."
Wright: "Yeah yeah yeah."
She's correct, you know. We gave Vanquish 7/10 and it kicked right off.
At this stage in Friday's show, Matthew showed CVG's W.R.O.N.G logos for a full 13 seconds, covering both his and Anne's faces. Genius. And here we were thinking we'd have to rely on Twitter to spread the word.
Anne added that our campaign suggests "it's like you've got no right to open your mouth on this [subject] at all and no right to be concerned as a parent".
Not true. You absolutely do, Anne. We're actually pretty concerned by the thought of parents that let regularly their kids play ultra-violent 18-rated video games - and we have no problem with you voicing your take on it.
It's when you assert expert status on the subject, dismiss research and then start making nonsense claims that things start getting our goat.
And, of course, when you clumsily and unfairly tie genuinely tragic events to interactive software - merely in the name of inane entertainment.
Comments
81 comments so far...
lordirongut on 18 Apr '11 said:
Oooooh, they're hitting back, are they? I wonder what OFCOM will have to say about that 'Brain Dead Computer Nerds comment...
mitch91 on 18 Apr '11 said:
This campaign is a good idea, shame you're going about it in a completely childish way. Its playing straight into their hands.
CorpusGM on 18 Apr '11 said:
'Brain-dead computer nerds' sounds a little derogatory. Obviously they're afraid to argue back
Strollingchimp on 18 Apr '11 said:
Coming from him?
Most of the time he hasn't got a clue what he is talking about. I don't see how a clean sweep of A*'s at A-Level is "brain dead".
shibling on 18 Apr '11 said:
looked at their twitter feed to see if they had any additions:
'Games like Modern Warfare or Call of Duty - do they make gun violence seem normal?'
.... says it all really.
I think we need to focus on getting across the key issue which they don't seem to understand...
You are entitled to have the opinion that video games lead to violence
You are NOT entitled to say studies have proved it / it's a fact / GTA caused Tupac's death etc.
And finally getting personal by calling people 'nerds' is just childish and ignorant (although I agree with the above post that CVG may be guilty of the same... although they put their insults far more elegantly).
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
gotta agree about the brain dead s**t,have you seen the boards around here!?
it seems games are the new rock and roll,responsible for everything from earthquakes in japan to economic downturns that hinder my country's financial strength. it was games that forced nick clegg to sell his party out,games that caused iraq,games that kidnap and harm kids,did you know an atari 2600 was responsible for the space shuttle blowing up in the 80's?
all nonsense,of course,but if enough people talk the same nonsense it gathers weight. sad but true.
these people are,unfortunately,ignorant of the fact that games are just a pastime/hobby,an extension of media that is actually interactive and damn good fun.
now,while i think cvg is making us all look a bit silly with this wrong campaign,i can understand the staff's frustration at being almost labelled as lesser beings for actually liking something these people can't identify with.
on the other hand,it's ann diamond and wright,for f*cks sake.
as for the brain dead thing ann/wright stuff: i've seen the shows you people turn up on and the people it's pitched at. you are f*cking kidding er,wright?
alexmladek on 18 Apr '11 said:
Agreed. Whenever anyone tries anything like this, it inevitably end up as a torrent of "THEZE GUIZ R F1KIN R3TARDED" comments, abusive emails, and other 'support' that plays right into the hands of the ignoramus.
What we need is a 'real' dialogue, not a bunch of "angry nerds" sending abusive emails to the very people we're trying to convince.
TheLastDodo on 18 Apr '11 said:
You gave Vanquish 7/10? You utter *****.
F*** it I'm defecting
.
Wrighty & Diamond are spot on, I'm setting up my own campaign.
I'll call it R.I.G.H.T. Reality Is Gamers Hate the Truth
.
rbt2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
She continued: "I've come across these people before. If you write anything critical or say anything critical of computer games, you become a victim of really vicious hate mail."
Blimey, you got my letter quick!
DIDn'T mEAn It aNne.
Domin666 on 18 Apr '11 said:
Thing is been 34 and playing console shooters makes me think these twits have a point,stop buying 18 rated games for your kiddies but dont bash on at us about things you really know little about.Come on tell me what you know about video games as such and i would shut you up with a lifetime of information about one of the biggets entertainment industries around,go give the adult smut pushers a beating now we cannot be bothered with your raving comments anymore.
PS and stop your kids from trash talking on 18 plus games would be a start for sins
WHERESMYMONKEY on 18 Apr '11 said:
'Brain dead computer nerds'. Well I guess he's going to have to fix his own computer next time he get a virus from looking at donkey porn all afternoon.
This isn't an attack on free speech anne. It's an attack on uninformed scaremongering and unresponsible journalism. Reasoned and informed debate on the subject has been welcomed by the games industry for the past twenty years.
The continued assault on gaming is the responce from an incredibly scared industry that is under threat from a newer and more intelligent form of entertainment. I know i'd much rather sit down and play bioshock ( heavily influenced by platos the cave and anne rand) for a couple of hours than turn on the wright stuff and rot my brain listening to your special brand of nonsensicle and derogatory drivel.
rbt2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
All this is about is 2 Z-listers, one who'll never get on primetime telly and one who used to be but desperately wants to be back on primetime telly, stirring up summat over nowt to get themselves in the headlines. Attention seeking media whores are all Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber are!
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
If they reserve the right to tell me my hobby promotes violence murder and rape, I'm going to reserve the right to email them calling them ignorant ass-hats. I feel the term is positively tame in comparison to their insinuations.
ricflair on 18 Apr '11 said:
Exactly.
You've probably made it 'worse', if such a thing is possible (it's only a couple of people on TV's tabloid style opinion). The way you've gone about it has been completely and utterly wrong - the 'campaign' and the comments on here make gamers look immature and aggressive.
TheLastDodo on 18 Apr '11 said:
Problem is they're on TV and talking s**t, but they're on TV showing their faces, whereas you just look like a typical internet coward, talking smack just because (due to the anonymous nature of forums) you can.
EDIT: Not you ric, but anyone who's sent vicious and/or threatening emails.
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
I completely disagree. We have sat back and taken this bull for far to long, it's about time we started fighting back. We have to remember that this isn't just an attack on gamers, it's an attack on an entire section of our economy. There are Jobs at stake. Millions of them. Misrepresentation of games and gamers is on the increase and we need to go on the attack. The average person on the street doesn't listen to the most coherent argument they listen to the loudest. And the politicians take their opinion to legislate ( trust me, I work in education where all manner of ill informed crap has been introduced because of "popular opinion" no matter how wrong headed ) We need to be at least as vocal as our detractors otherwise we will wake up one morning with draconian laws legislating what adults can and cannot play in our own homes.
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
"whereas you just look like a typical internet coward, talking smack just because (due to the anonymous nature of forums) you can"
Which is why we need a proper campaign, which is why I support W.R.O.N.G. The mistake CVG could make is to give this up after the joke has worn off rather than making it an international campaign gamers can rally behind.
rbt2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
CVG, could you not contact Wright and Diamond to participate on some sort of live discussion on here with yourselves and a select few forumites? They can put their pov forward as can the gamers.
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
exactly. Tell them you want to open a dialogue and go on their show. Go on as many shows as you can.
TheLastDodo on 18 Apr '11 said:
Of course we should defend video games and the industry, all i'm saying is sending vicious emails calling them ignorant ass hats is only going to make things worse, responses like that just set the cause back.
Just think before making any abusive remarks via Twitter or email or whatever. They're saying gamers get all nasty and abusive when video games are threatened so don't live up to the stereotype and don't get all nasty and abusive.
Marlonjb on 18 Apr '11 said:
Freedom of speech has nothing to do it Mathew Wright but knocking something you know nothing about does. As for Anne Diamond I really couldn't care any less. I don't know why's she's still on TV anyway this isn't the early 90's anymore and when I wake up first thing in the morning the last thing I wanna see is her! Or mathew Wright for that matter. Someone who looks like a clown made out of leather then left in the sun to tan some more.
Oh and, I own my own business while we're throwing about the "Brain dead computer nerd" Line God forbid I have a hobby that doesn't involve drinking, drugs, or pushing old ladies over or, ya know, knocking other people for what they choose to do in their own time without bothering anyone.
The pair of them are a couple of Brain dead idiots themselves.
FeelSureal on 18 Apr '11 said:
Hate to say it but this campaign smacks of publicity stunt. Also if you're sending someone hate mail because they don't share your opinion on computer games, well...
Then you've got issues and need to get life's priorities straight
OriginalJonty on 18 Apr '11 said:
E-Mail Sent:
Dear Mr Wright,
Nice to see that when exercising our freedom of speech we're called brain dead computer nerds. I can tell you I am far from brain dead. The WRONG campaign started because people such as yourself and Anne Diamond demonise a hobby without trying to understand. Have you ever sat down to play a computer game at all? Things have moved on considerably since the early 90's. For example, did you know that the gaming industry is the biggest entertainment industry in the world now? Did you also know videogame consoles are more than entertainment devices?
For example:
http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/1357.html - PS3's are being used to help biomedical research.
http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-feature ... er-surgery - Microsoft's Kinect has now been used to help in surgery to speed it up and reduce risks of contamination.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/222445/k ... igate.html - Microsoft Kinect helps the blind navigate.
http://www.gamesaid.org/ - A charity by by gamers to help various causes.
I'd say the games industry is doing a lot more positive things in this world than your blind hatred does.
You'll probably ignore this e-mail though and any intelligent debate because it obviously doesn't fit in with the audience you wish to attract.
Regards,
originaljonty (
"A brain dead computer nerd."
ricflair on 18 Apr '11 said:
I think you're massively over estimating the influence of The Wright Show and Anne Diamond. Matthew Wright just plays Devil's Advocate for most of it anyway.
It's a huge over reaction, and basically CVG just stoking the fires again, in the same way they do with some of the articles, getting people all in a tizz and worked up over something that ultimately doesn't really matter.
Unfortunately, with the way they have gone about this campaign, they've lost so much credibility already. They should have waited and tried to engage them directly and calmly state the facts (in much the same way Tim did on the Titchmarsh show) - the fact these games are for adults, parental responsibility, countering their specific points and showing them up as being sensationalist and ill informe, and also taking on board some criticism that maybe games aren't all positive... going mental and whipping up their website members into a fervour simply doesn't work.
Take the moral high ground. CVG lost me the minute they commented on Anne Diamond's weight.
dannyhulse on 18 Apr '11 said:
It's funny, I don't remember Freedom of Speech protecting somebodies right to outright lie and distort reality in order to push their own agenda/opinion at the detriment of your opponent,
I also don't remember Freedom of Speech protecting your right to insult others and make a sweeping generalisation in order to try to discredit your opposition, or protecting your right to launch ad hominum attacks against your opposition when all they have done at this moment is say that you are W.R.O.N.G and tell you why, something that seems to have escaped you.
God, people are dumb aren't they, especially us Gamers who actually tell you specifically why you are W.R.O.N.G rather than just call you "Brain Dead Morons", you stupid brain dead morons.
</rant>
Palimpsest on 18 Apr '11 said:
I don't really see the point in reacting to Wright and Diamond, just let them get on with it. Their views are not going to have an effect on or influence anyone who matters, just some OAPs and housewives. This is a classic case of taking yourselves down to their level by justifying what they say with a response. Just giggle and move on.
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
"calling them ignorant ass hats is only going to make things worse"
You are of course right. We should be taking the higher ground which is why we need a serious campaign to get behind. That said, I'm no spring chicken, I've given up arguing with some people. Some people you just have to turn round and tell them to shut the hell up.
rbt2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
Whilst I agree that this comment was misplaced and ill advised, their rants are see on national tv. Rants that are also misplaced and ill advised. However, their comments are going out to a much wider audience than any internet forum. We all know video games have been targeted with negative press virtually from day one. Trouble is, shows like this exist to stir up hatred and people listen. Scary, isn't it?
I agree with you that silly comments and hate-filled correspondence gets you nowhere but statements were made at the expense of games and it's followers and there must be a right to address this.
markyR on 18 Apr '11 said:
hahahahahahahahahaha go go go Diamond and Wright.... keep talking your spew with NO as in ZERO FACTS to back up ANY of your claims on national TV, go on, keep going, I'll then make a complaint to OfCom and we will see how far you get then, my guess is not very...
But thanks for the free exposure....
Currychips on 18 Apr '11 said:
It's a show that attracts 750,000 viewers. Anything they can do to antagonise people will gain publicity, gain viewers, please advertisers and keep them in a job.
The computer games industry is worth billions. Do you honestly think the opinion of 2 luddite's will make any difference??
Be the bigger person, ignore it and move on.
TheLastDodo on 18 Apr '11 said:
I'm all for a serious campaign too Lupe101 and I believe that speaking to the right people, on neutral grounds with each side getting equal treatment and time that Wright/Diamonds baseless opinions would be destroyed BUT its not going to happen.
Zabba 2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
It's funny, they say we attack them in response to any claim that shows videogames in a negative light, which of course is not true at all, yet they attack us in response to any claim that what they talk about is utter nonsense, which of course is true.
They know exactly what they're doing, which is irritating when they act all offended. The majority of the time these people know their claims have absolutely no solid proof behind them, and it's just wild assumptions and non-existent correlations, but rightly they know parents will believe them no matter what they say.
Why? Because naturally when something is your fault you have the urge to blame someone else. When you're sitting in your home and your 13 year old son is sat in the other room playing an 18-rated game, you have everything in your power to stop it happening, it's likely are you even bought the game for your child (2 years in retail here, I've seen it countless times) but when the TV is saying to you that it's someone else's fault, the game companies, subliminal messaging, whatever, they're going to be inclined to believe that.
JakeyBaby on 18 Apr '11 said:
Who cares what they say? They're a pair of buffoons. In 'defending' their supposed right to (offend people) free speech, they've gone and completely denied ours. I'd rather be a nerd than a closed mined moron.
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
"Do you honestly think the opinion of 2 luddite's will make any difference??"
Yes. Very much so. Quick story. I work in education, recently the government introduced legislation stating that students had to produce course work under "controlled conditions" This meant all course work had to be done at school rendering "homework" effectively redundent. This was a direct response to a tabloid issue regarding kids "plagerising" from the internet. As most of you can probably deduce, this was a mindblowingly stupid thing to do but it was passed anyway exactly because of people like this brainwashing the general public about the evils of the internet. As a result we have a generation of kids who not only can't create course work on computers or use the valuable resources the internet provides while writing it, It's also made spotting plagerism impossible as course work has to be hand written and can't just be pasted into google so w can check if it's been nicked.
Ignorance presents a very real threat to many areas of society including computer games and I believe it should be tackled head on.
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
i struggle to see how the likes of diamond/wright warrant a campaign,never mind a serious one. i just don't put that much stock in either persons opinion.
anyway,there is no greater insult to a person than to ignore them.
still,on a slightly different tangent: i believe that life is cyclical,that we never truly move forward and that we live out our days running in circles.
does anyone remember the pmrc in the states in the 80's or the mary whitehouse brigade over here demonizing music,etc.. as the root of all our ills?
exactly. the faces change but the song remains the same.
i'm surprised that people see this as something new. it's not.
markyR on 18 Apr '11 said:
I think a lot of people replying on here seem to underestimate the power of media?? So you all think the regular 750,000 plus viewers of the show will just ignore what they say about computers games and gamers then? You think they ignored what Titmarch said?
hhmmmmm, now what does history tell us about the power of media......
Whilst you may sit there and just think, grow up and ignore it and move on, I think you need to see that this is gaining some movement as the subject of games and violence is repeatedly being openly and wrongly discussed on national media...
So rather then just choose to sit there and ignore it, how about you do something to help keep your favorite hobby alive. Or would you accept games being regularly banned from UK sale or import because of what the popular media says about them? Because that can happen...
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
It's not like this is without precident. Germany ? Australia ? do we really want their gaming laws ?
_Marty_ on 18 Apr '11 said:
"She's correct, you know. We gave Vanquish 7/10 and it kicked right off. "
This amused me immensely
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
it's not exactly mccarthyism is it?
honestly,who're the biggest scaremongers these days? these people or the gamers who blow it out of all proportion?
Bryanee1983 on 18 Apr '11 said:
I've been a member for a decade CVG and this is quite possibly the best thing you have ever done. Good stuff.
hi0marc on 18 Apr '11 said:
Both sides are teetering on the childish, they clearly don't know what they are talking about and CVG are nudging parts of there articles up for entertainment.
Surely getting CVG on the show is the next step because they way they've orchestrated themselves and the information they've put out is absurd, attacking an easy target on a well-debated issue that most gamers do support.
However we see it as down to the consumer not the producer, but that's a different story.
Considering how a lot of the gamers response to all these articles are sarcastic, brushing it aside as they know they are not affected by whatever claims the ill-informed make, the views of gamers must be taken from elsewhere in a more considered and non-anonymous format.
beemoh on 18 Apr '11 said:
I do agree, but I also have to ask what other option is there? If the mainstream media as a whole was interested in "a 'real' dialogue", then this particular show wouldn't have rolled out in the way that it has- Anne Diamond wouldn't be saying she had been lynched 'just' for criticising games, she would have taken it on board and changed her stance accordingly. Previous to that, if Panorama was interested in "a 'real' dialogue", then its pre-emptive missive to the games press would have been a bit more than sticking its fingers in its ears and saying "La la la, we're right, we're not listening". If Alan Titchmarsh was interested in "a 'real' dialogue", then Tim Ingham wouldn't have been steamrollered in the way he was.
Gaming does not have the platform Anne Diamond has, speaking to three quarters of a million through this show, over two million via her column in The Daily Mail, and a fair few on her radio show. If she continues her anti-game rhetoric through either of those channels, it goes basically unchallenged, as we do not have our own TV shows or newspaper columns where we can go "Okay, Anne said this, but that isn't the case because x, y and z" What we do have is magazines with circulations below 50,000 and little websites like CVG which nobody reads and due to being a website, is basically invisible anyway.
W.R.O.N.G., if nothing else, got the show to sit up and take notice. The nicely-worded email Gamers' Voice is going to send them will be summarily ignored.
surfy on 18 Apr '11 said:
My first post here so go easy on the noob eh?
I've been posting this campaign elsewhere on the net because I don't actually like being put in the all gamers are evil, all games are evil and now gamers are brain dead catagory.
I volunteer for a large gaming community and deal with gamers daily. All of us are different. It would be like me saying all T.V presenters are brain dead autocue readers. This statement would not true and merely a statement based on ignorance. I don't know any T.V presenters personally. I don't know what makes them tick and what their lifestyles are. So therefore it wouldn't be my place to judge.
So I ask myself how said T.V presenters can be so presumptious as to think that all gamers are brain dead? If I was brain dead I am sure I'd have real trouble posting this up, let alone holding down a job and being god forbid.. FEMALE!
Another stereotype I've just broken
Wouldn't it be lovely if these shows actually gave a voice to gamers and allowed them/us to defend ourselves. The way things stand its a bit of a one way debate unfortunately.
Dazzaroonie on 18 Apr '11 said:
This. It's the way that so-called 'freedom of speech' sidesteps the main issue that winds me up.
Parents are responsible for the games their kids play, so if their 12 year old is playing Modern Warfare or GTA, then it's THEIR own fault! Game publishers & developers are not in the habit of deploying agents who sneak violent games into your child's Xbox; they get there because parents allow them to be there.
Passing the buck in this way is totally irresponsible and these 'brain-dead' scaremongers need to stop blaming the entertainment industry for their own parental shortcomings.
ricflair on 18 Apr '11 said:
I totally agree that the points they made were ignorant and sensationalist and that they should be addressed, but there are ways to go about things if you want to be taken seriously. They can look at this site and the articles/comments and then reprint some of the comments here back to their larger audience, and it's just more ammunition for their anti games argument.
But it's The Wright Stuff and Anne Diamond!! It's light hearted, silly, tabloid, day time discussion stuff. It's has no real sway or influence. Someone like Keith Vaz, who actually has some influence on politics, is much more 'dangerous'.
The whole thing is a mountain out of a molehill. Just ignore them, or at leaststop fuelling the fire. Video games have been getting a negative tabloid press since Night Trap. Rap music was hammered in the 90s by the Mary Whitehouse type brigades, and it's the biggest genre in music. Violent films haven't stopped. Films like Saw are probably more important than ever.
This is not a sustained anti gaming agenda. It's a couple of people spouting off on TV, and they've probably moved on by now.
And yeah, the main issue is kids playing these games when they're not allowed to. It's parentla responsibility and it was mentioned for about five seconds on Thursday's show.
Windowlicker79 on 18 Apr '11 said:
Why don't we see if we can get any of our opinions read out on air?
wrightstuff@channel5.com
Please, if you're going to email them then please try to make it an actual sensible, adult point of view and not just some idiotic rant that would only serve to back up his "brain dead computer nerds" comment.
If we could all focus on the difference between "freedom of speech" and they way they are using a position as TV show hosts to peddle lies, idiotic opinions and a complete disregard for actual evidence, then I think we might be able to get a point across
We also need to make them aware of the BBFC and Pegi ratings systems that is on most games nowadays (which they seem to be completely unaware of or just blatantly ignoring) and how its the parents responsibility to make sure their children don't play unsuitable games in exactly the same way its their responsibility to make sure they don't watch unsuitable films.
Currychips on 18 Apr '11 said:
Adult games getting into the hands of minors lays firmly at the feet of the parents. Plain and simple. The games themselves are not to blame.
Diamond has a very well documented history of not paying enough attention to her children. Even admitting in the previous article that her kids play these games. So, how about trying to be your kids' parent, not their friend. Stop them.
I have a young son who's very much into games, he plays what he wants with my supervision. He buys games with my supervision. And that is the end of it.
Once this current generation of luddites dry up, people in the know will take their place. Interactive media will be thought of as just another form of entertainment, not a demonised tool of destruction.
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
i remember much worse than that tbh. i recall one time in the mid 80's where a load of bible bashers in the south west of the states set up their own book burning club but instead of books it was black sabbath,ozzy osbourne,judas priest,maiden,etc... albums.
they torched them and then ran away because they swore the fumes of the vinyl lp's (ask your dad,kids. better than cd's all day long) would lead to demonic possession.
and they expected people to take them seriously.....
as for the age thing: sure,kids shouldn't be seen near black ops,mw2 gta IV,etc.. and if any parent buy's their 10yo child that type of entertainment they should hang their heads in f*cking shame. that 18 sticker is there for a reason. i just don't think throat cutting scenes in black ops or the airport scene in mw2 are good viewing for minors imo but then the industry doesn't put it in 'little timmy's' hand,the parents do.
so,is society to blame or the industry?
chronicwombat on 18 Apr '11 said:
hi0marc,
i think you touch on an interesting point there when you mention responsibility of consumer and producer, and i think that its an area that needs more discussion in the industry. while its always really important for parents to monitor their kids game playing habits, there is also a responsibility from the game makers/publishers as well as the gaming media. i cant be arsed getting into it properly on here, but if you think there isnt then you are wrong. and i dont mean just slapping an age rating on a game.
twistedfiend on 18 Apr '11 said:
Ah, I wondered when the ol' "free speech" nugget would be thrown out. The first defence of the extremist view. Problem is Matty ol' son, as my Religious Studies teacher used to say, as part of a society we have rights, sure, but we also have responsibilities. Matthew Wright and his ilk have to remember that they have an audience of almost a million people, most if not all of whom take what they say extremely seriously. Freedom of speech isn't, Matty, simply about being able to say whatever you please. You enjoy a priveliged position and with that comes responsibility to use it wisely. So when you tell your audience that videogames are directly linked to gang violence you are part of the problem, not the solution.
Anyone interested in further debate go to Facebook and "like" my page - Matthew Wright - Zip it. It only has three likes, one's me, one's the wife and one's my sister. It's all looking a bit pathetic. Ta.
Fr33Kye on 18 Apr '11 said:
Almost forgot about the 7/10....f**k YOU CVG f**k YOU. Expect some hate mail....
Altered Idol on 18 Apr '11 said:
What a right pair these two are.
Espousing innaccurate "facts" and often, outright lies to sensationalise their own ill-informed opinions on a subject they know practically nothing about. Then they have the nerve to call gamers "brain-dead?"
I wonder what their response would be if one of us got our faces on TV and call his show a pile of s**t, proclaim as fact stories linking his show with the increase in Necrophilia and then state we had never even bothered watching it. Because in effect, thats what these two are doing.
This has nothing to do with Freedom of Speech. This is to do with making unfounded accusations about a subject you know almost nothing about. Freedom of Speech doesnt given people the right to make up lies about something they've taken offence to.
What I would say is that we should not stoop to their level. We need to rise above this sort of ill-informed nonsense and focus on the facts. If we do that, then they simply have no argument and will resort to name-calling which will further vindicate our case.
dangermou5e on 18 Apr '11 said:
I 100% agree with you. Having 3 small children myself 2 of which are into gaming I feel it is my responsibility and not the industries to supervise what they can and can not play. Too many parents are happy to buy little Timmy Black Ops just to keep him happy with no idea of the content of the game yet ask those same parents if they would let their child watch Saw and they would say not a chance.
CVG I agree with the idea of your campaign but feel we need to target a more specific problem which is the parents, So I think my idea of "Don't blame the games blame the parents" would maybe be more constructive then attacking a few T.V personalities and we at least would be doing something to help solve the problem.
subform on 18 Apr '11 said:
I have to say that I support the W.R.O.N.G. campaign wholeheartedly.
As a previous poster said, the gaming industry has taken over the market as the dominant form of home entertainment and the average age of gamers today are in their 30's.
The issue - again, as previously mentioned above - lies with the parents buying BBFC rated games with explicit content for their children. The industry is doings its part, by classifying them. The retailers are doing their part by enforcing it.
Some parents are displaying a horrifying amount of ignorance (or lack of basic parenting skills) by allowing their children to play these types of games. I was in a queue at Game a few weeks back and a woman was talking to her son about what Black Ops was about. The kid was younger than 10. I told her that it had explicit content and then the child protested - she went on to try and purchase it. I told the guy at the counter and the sale was refused.
Cue dirty look from the mother... and I expect that they went to another retailer to buy it later... all to save earache no doubt!!
The fact that The Wright Stuff calls an entire ecosystem of gamers "brain dead computer nerds" clearly displays a horrifying level of ignorance that is only matched in depth, by the layers of foundation seen on Matthew Wrights face.
This is daytime TV Hell folks. Remember that Anne and Nick has been gone for years. Wrighties place as head gossip puppet for The Sun dried up long ago. These two figures are clinging onto their TV careers with the skin of their teeth. Next stop... insurance and life cover ads here we come! Free gift?? A CARRIAGE CLOCK you say??
Where do I sign??
Who cares what topics a reactionary and sensationalist "DEBATE" show covers and to hell with trivial things like facts, reason and balanced discussion - as long as it keeps those successful people who are not at work, not paying taxes and not making a meaningful contribution to society, captivated.
So if you'll excuse me... I need to take my MA qualified brain deadness off to run a team with a £10m annual budget...
rbt2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
As much as I find Diamond's contribution to all this pointless and sensationalist, I do hope that wasn't referring to the tragedy she suffered due to a cot death.
If not then apologies in advance.
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
missed that rbt. i hope he didn't mean what you think,i really do. brain dead is one thing,being a complete c*nt is another tbh.
views like that aren't representative of us as a whole,i hope.
tbf,the lad probably just meant she lets her kids play these games,she shouldn't complain.
Imaduck on 18 Apr '11 said:
Damn man, they just love themselves don't they?. They didn't even come back with a decent response, they just made a half-assed childish snarky remark and hoped someone else would get their back. How is this s**t allowed on TV? It's not just the problem on gaming, it's just people this f**king stupid and ignorant stating "facts" and then using "freedom of speech" to void any responsibility
I hate political correctness, I hate all that "rights" stuff too. Basically for the reason they've demonstrated: Cowards use it as a shield. It's good to see you getting publicity though!
And I think anyone with 1/3 of a brain cell would realise regardless of opinions, who's right in this case.
1lemon on 18 Apr '11 said:
Putting aside the terrible one-sided journalism doesn't Matthew Wright have a face you want to slap, I mean no offence to him but it's really long and perfectly shaped for a good bit of hand to face contact.
That sounded a bit wrong actually.
boskersrevenge on 18 Apr '11 said:
I believe Curry is referring to Anne admitting to buying inappropriate games for her young children.
Imaduck on 18 Apr '11 said:
I'm actually going to write a complaint about this. Top Gear and the likes have to apologise for a little black humour at the allowed time of day when they get 13 complaints
. These guys can spew biggoted bs and shows 18's game content at 10.30, stereotype and insult an entire generation or 3 and attempt to degrade an art form and they get what?
Enough is eough, I'm not one to complain, never have before, but well, this crosses the line. I've played games since I was 4. Starting with Sonic, Quake 2 and racing games. I've seen the most violent games out there from a young age. You know what? I've never got in a fight. I learnt how ugly violence can get from a young age. Sometimes violence works, often it just gets people hurt. Even those ancient mindless shooters like Quake 2 showed the dark side of violence in the sort of human processing lines and dead friends.
Soaps on TV hah, there's your problem if you must look for one source. Prime time TV showing murder, violence and every other bad act on the list and meant to show real life and normal people!
. But because arseholes like these guys love them, it's fine!
So, I'm actually personally insulted by their ignorance and stereotyping. I'm basically the complete opposite of what they clearly envision. Enough is enough. A merry old f**k you is on the way.
GuyWhoLikesBlue2 on 18 Apr '11 said:
I say we sort this all out with a nice cup of tea......with the tea thrown in Anne Diamond's face of course
Moribundman on 18 Apr '11 said:
Agree with all the commenters telling you to be a bit more grown up in the way you conduct this campaign CVG... You come across no better than some of the most flaming fanboy trolls on your boards when you pick apart every word they say and do literary silly voices and air quotes around every point they make, however ill-advised...
Please start printing mature constructive stories disproving their bulls**t rather than making every WRONG-tagged article a recap of "what we said/what they said/what we said back and how silly they are and how they smell of poo"...
She may be a silly hack speaking with assumed authority about a subject she knows nothing about, but I haven't heard such unwarranted attacks on the woman since David Baddiel in 1991...
(Dig that one out of the vaults and publish it - I'm sure they'd love to stick some quotes around that and attribute it to CVG!)
Flamey UK on 18 Apr '11 said:
its like an episode of Brasseye but real...
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
What the hell is wrong with you people ? Where I come from if someone acts like a dips**t you politely ask them to stop being a dips**t, then if they continue to act like a dips**t you scream "Stop being such a f**king dips**t" at them till they shut up.
Jesus, what happened to people with balls. When someone acts like an ass-hat you call them on it and if they carry on you up the ante. All this ivory tower "we're better than this" bulls**t makes me sick.
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
maybe,just maybe,it's because i don't give a f*ck about any of it. they haven't gone for me,per se. they haven't gone for my family or any of yours for that matter so let's just drop all this solidarity reg (monty python) s**te please.
we'll all be at each others throats next week because x said killzone,halo,mario,etc.. was s**te. give me a f*cking break.
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
what they're going after is artists. Creativity, personal expression. That's what p**ses me off.
ste hicky on 18 Apr '11 said:
way of the world fella. nothing new and it doesn't diminish the accomplishment of artists or yours/my enjoyment of their work.
f*ck em. if i thought they had half a good point i'd argue til i was blue in the face but,frankly,i'd rather throw perfect dark on and go for some leaderboard crowns.
that's a better use of my time.
ricflair on 18 Apr '11 said:
CVG didn't politely ask them to stop. They name called right from the off. As did numerous posters on this site.
And what's wrong with asking politely a few times, or just being a bit firmer and more determined before the petty name calling starts? It's the ridiculous knee jerk, OTT reactions that they will use (rightly or wrongly) as arguments that gamers are angry and explosive with no grip on reality.
Being polite, reasoned and showing a little perspective doesn't mean you're sitting in an ivory tower. People here are not happy because gamers are being presented in a certain light. And I think the way people are reacting to the show and the campaign is presenting a lot of gamers in an equally negative light.
I'm not against the 'campaign' at all. I just think shouting stupid things at them will achieve nothing.
I lost my save on Perfect Dark after going back to it last night. Now that makes me angry.
Lupe101 on 18 Apr '11 said:
Your choice. Personally when I see this sort of thing I speak out. Reminds me of the poem:
First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I was not a communist...
etc.
chronicwombat on 18 Apr '11 said:
yeah i agree with you its your responsibility to supervise them, but im sorry there is still a reponsibility on the industry. just one expamle: should an 18 rated game like call of duty be advertised on tv well before the watershed?
im not trying to condone these idiots off the wright show, but i do think that this is an issue that needs to be talked about maturely.
gmcb007 on 18 Apr '11 said:
Isn't it highly frowned apon in the TV world to blantantly offend people like he did? But really 80% of his audience are probably benfit spongers and the other 20% are OAPs. His show has as much influence as a speed bump in a council estate.
roland82 on 18 Apr '11 said:
Its true, we do need to stay away from childish insults. Otherwise we'll be as bad as them. In our defence us posters on the site are not professional broadcasters.
solamon77 on 18 Apr '11 said:
I'm for the US and I don't know if you guys get Glen Beck over there, but Wright really reminds me of him (trust me, that's not a compliment). Guys like this are preaching to the converted. Nobody watches his show that doesn't already agree with him. Wrights job is to give these people something to rage at. Hopefully, the 4 or 5 people who aren't already in agreeance with him come on over here and check out our arguments too. Wright and his cronies would love to paint this issue as a free speech problem, but any rube knows free speech doesn't include the right to slander.
AegisK on 18 Apr '11 said:
Frankly they're pretty brain dead if they think showing footage of Modern Warfare 2 at 10:30 in the morning is a clever thing to do. Last I checked, its an 18 rated title.
PandyBear on 18 Apr '11 said:
I agree with the sentiments of what your saying. But sadly society as a whole, blames the problems they have, on things that it doesnt understand. I've found that with the "increase" in violent crimes (may not technically be an increase in crime itself, but more to increased media coverage of when such crimes are commited) Violent video games and other media are always at the top of the "Blame" List.
For example, i found that alot of people of an older generation, or those who werent involved with gaming from a young age, or never took an active interest in gaming, usually blame it because they never see the Positive side of it or are scared of technology and significant changes in social mobility. I've never seen an article praising games for its cash revenue, contributions towards technology, social awareness or just good old fashioned story telling, a la Bioshock etc. They always see the negative sides of it, like the constant use of the No Russian airport mission. Which sadly is the only ammuntition people need in believing that ALL video games are like this, and the general sensationalist media doesn't help the matter.
Society itself needs to take its head from it ass and actually LOOK at the problems we have in hand, rather then crying about it and looking desperately for someone to blame, other then ourselves. If kids are playing violent games, it begs the question, How did they get hold of such games? (Majority of the time it will be thanks to a parent or legal guardian) Why are they being allowed to play them? (Usually because said parent or guardian is completely unaware of the content of an 18 rated game and treat them as some sort of "babysitting" tool.)
Also the industry itself has to take some of the blame, why are violent games being advertised before the watershed, even if the ad itself has no scenes of violence etc. Why Aren't consoles, by default set up with parent control switched on, i.e the parent has to take an active command and disable it if they wish to play mature games. Rather then it being the over way round at the moment.
Now the death of Agnes Sina-Inakoju is a tragedy, but Annes irresponsible comment on how she likend the storage of an SMG and a gaming console to be similar, is very snide and completely irrelevant. "Well in fact, having just that sort of armoury under his bed - just like you'd have a couple of Nintendos and a PlayStation under your bed." Now what would have been a more intelligent question to ask would be, "Where did he get a gun?" "Why did he shoot up a Take away, did he hold a grudge against the owner or someone else inside?" "What was the kids mental well being, because no rational person would ever contemplate shooting up a shop and killing a young girl."
As for CVGs campaign, its a good idea on paper, but as it's progressed over the week. Its turning into a very Tit-for-tat affair. And at the minute, its playing into Matts and Annes hands. They've been kicking the dog for years and now the dog has bitten them. Cvg is stoking the fires with comments, us readers/commenters are getting angry, making irrational comments and will only fuel Matts ratings. Cos we all know for a fact that they wont read the clever and intelligent comments on air. So quite frankly we should all go back to ignoring them, and wait for them to move on, retire or whatever. Then my generation can move in, and complain about how our kids are playing games on their holo-stations, and vitual reality-boxs etc
Anyway, i apologise for the long post and inane ranting. But i've wanted to get it off my chest, and what better place to do it then on the internets infront of anonymous folk
ricflair on 18 Apr '11 said:
Trust me, Matthew Wright isn't a tuch on Glen Beck. He is certifiable, Wright just stokes things up and plays devil's advocate most of the time.
meh2allfanboys on 19 Apr '11 said:
i bet most of w.r.o.n.g are closet wii fit fans
Moribundman on 19 Apr '11 said:
Matthew Wright hasn't got anything on Beck. He doesn't grandstand or seem to deeply believe the things he says, he's just a whorish hack. True he says things he knows will pitch well to the jeering masses of white trash (and trash of all colours TBH) that watch his show, but I get the feeling if it turned out 99% of his audience reacted like CVG he'd soon "reconsider" his opinions (Would probably feature a game of the week, and more name calling...)
Beck's dangerous. He started out as a relatively sensible right winger and drove off the cliffs of sanity long ago like a kid who realises he gets attention in school when he acts out. He seems to actually believe his own crap now. Even Fox has canned his show now, right?
Dajmin on 23 Apr '11 said:
Do these broadcasters not know that technically in the UK we DON'T have freedom of speech? It's a First Amendment right in the US, but here it's just implied. Prime example is the kid who jokingly threatened to blow up the airport - with real freedom of speech laws there'd be nothing the police could have done to him without evidence.
But I think it's good that they're actually taking note. I wouldn't even mind so much if they were negative in an educated way. But when it's obvious from what they say that the only experience of video games they have is second-hand at best, it's all rumour, hearsay and baseless, fact-devoid accusations.
But look into your history of popular culture. Rock music was blamed for people going crazy. TV had claims of mind-control that made people nuts. Now video games are the latest scapegoat. People have always been mental. There have always been bad parents.
There's no danger of anything coming of their wild accusations, other than helping to identify the kind of people who strike out at things they don't understand without any shred of actual hard evidence. And that means we'll know exactly who has credibility and who doesn't. With comments like this they're only helping our cause.
jtthegame on 23 Apr '11 said:
who watched channal 5 anyway lol
almanac2015 on 23 Apr '11 said:
Except it's not about that. It's about making an informed opinion. Opening your mouth to spew out prejudice s**t is pathetic. If you want an opinion, make an informed opinion and a well reasoned argument. Don't intentionally misinterpret criticism to avoid answering.
I'm all for freedom of speech. But with shows such as this and Loose Women, it isn't a freedom of speech issue but an issue of good journalism. and if you have an IQ similar to that of a sea monkey, keep your f**king mouth shut.
We have Freedom of Expression from the Human Rights.