4 ms·

The romanticization of gangsters (Yakuza included) really bother me. Video games aren't the devil and aren't real, but they can have real effects in how we reac

The romanticization of gangsters (Yakuza included) really bother me. Video games aren't the devil and aren't real, but they can have real effects in how we react to the world. When we play "gangster" video games and interview "real life gangsters", it seems really edgy and cool. But these people commit real life crimes, and are actual criminals. Not in a video game: in real life. And aside from law enforcement, one big disincentive to actually be a gangster is societal censure / disapproval. As cool as it is to have a realistic video game, pieces like this are a good example of the insidious impact they can have on how you treat the world. I am sad to see a genuinely bad person being lionized.

davorb 11y ago
Are you bothered by literature like Vladimir Nabukov's Lolita, as well?
- appleflaxen 11y ago
  Great point. I think it's dependent on the saturation. The more pro-gangster things we see, the worse it is. But the first one or ten artworks have no impact. If we saw hundreds and hundreds of Lolita-style works, yeah, it would bother me a bit and I would object as much. But please don't misinterpret me: I'm not advocating censorship. I'm advocating for all adults to consider the insidious aspect of "cultural acceptance creep" into their media consumption, and make their own decisions.
- bryanrasmussen 11y ago
  maybe they would be if Humbert were described in flattering terms.
formula1 11y ago
The invisible hand of capitalism tends to let crime/manipulative videogames flourish and educational fail. Whats at fault here? Human instict? Marketing? Will censorship result in people not glorifying it? I believe that games like Yakuza, GTA and movies like the Godfather are symptoms of a greater problem, "nice guys finish last". By imagining your a cold hard thug, you get the feeling of getting what you want, instant gratification, similar to masturbation. The solution isnt to take it away because videogames are practically sedatives, making people far too lazy to buy a gun. I would argue that virtues need to be shown in the positive light they create. As it stands, virtues are an excuse for storylines rather than practice or habit to feel. Difficult/competetive games are interesting in that they reward those who practice regularly. That is a life lessons. Organization can also be taught, as well as trying to see the big picture (cardgames and meta). Playing fair/empathy seems more difficult. Ive thought a lot about this because I also don't want criminals idolized. But I certainly dont want censorship to be the solution either

davorb 11y ago

Are you bothered by literature like Vladimir Nabukov's Lolita, as well?

appleflaxen 11y ago
Great point. I think it's dependent on the saturation. The more pro-gangster things we see, the worse it is. But the first one or ten artworks have no impact. If we saw hundreds and hundreds of Lolita-style works, yeah, it would bother me a bit and I would object as much. But please don't misinterpret me: I'm not advocating censorship. I'm advocating for all adults to consider the insidious aspect of "cultural acceptance creep" into their media consumption, and make their own decisions.
bryanrasmussen 11y ago
maybe they would be if Humbert were described in flattering terms.

formula1 11y ago

The invisible hand of capitalism tends to let crime/manipulative videogames flourish and educational fail. Whats at fault here? Human instict? Marketing? Will censorship result in people not glorifying it? I believe that games like Yakuza, GTA and movies like the Godfather are symptoms of a greater problem, "nice guys finish last". By imagining your a cold hard thug, you get the feeling of getting what you want, instant gratification, similar to masturbation. The solution isnt to take it away because videogames are practically sedatives, making people far too lazy to buy a gun. I would argue that virtues need to be shown in the positive light they create. As it stands, virtues are an excuse for storylines rather than practice or habit to feel. Difficult/competetive games are interesting in that they reward those who practice regularly. That is a life lessons. Organization can also be taught, as well as trying to see the big picture (cardgames and meta). Playing fair/empathy seems more difficult. Ive thought a lot about this because I also don't want criminals idolized. But I certainly dont want censorship to be the solution either