MSNBC writer denounces games as media’s main scapegoat

Back on Monday (February 18, 2008), MSNBC published an article by writer Winda Benedetti criticizing infamous Miami lawyer Jack Thompson’s far too well-known crusade against videogames. Benedetti even went so far as to suggest that certain games can actually be thought-provoking enough to warn against the dangers of such things like obesity, which gaming is also often blamed for.

Yes, you read that paragraph right. In the wake of the recent shootings at Northern Illinois University, someone in the media actually didn’t try to sensationalize the perpetrator’s entertainment tastes to suit any sort of existing agenda.

Being a gamer since the early ’90s, when controversy of Night Trap and the original Mortal Kombat was running rampant, I have grown increasingly numb to every harebrained accusation levied at the industry to the point where it just seemed a painful cliche. I have tried to avoid doing it myself out of fear of giving the typically opportunistic crusaders any kind of desired attention (which has been consistently true, from Lieberman to Thompson).

It feels so good to be able to put something like this up, even if I kind of agree with the obesity allegations, even if it’s no more responsible than regular television viewing, internet surfing or any other activity that involves constant sitting on one’s ass, indoors. Give it a good read though, anyway. Maybe give it two.

Read [MSNBC] Also Read [Joystiq]