On Thursday, ABC 4 News reported on a new, online game called
TEA PARTY ZOMBIES MUST DIE. (
Click here to see Jonelle Merrill's story and
click here to see the game.)
In a nutshell, the game puts the heads of prominent conservatives on zombie bodies and invites players to blast and hack away with a choice of weapons.
I apparently committed the journalistic, unpardonable sin by commenting on air that my first impression was that the game was "
strange."
I thought I said it with measured sarcasm. Apparently it was lost on this viewer:
What the hell’s the matter with you? I saw your report last night about the video game that portrays violence against Tea Party members, and the only way you can describe it is “strange”? The game clearly depicts shooting and hacking Tea Party caricatures to death. Is this OK, especially in light of recent horrible events against politicians? If the game had pictures of Gabrielle Giffords, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, or Barack Obama in it, people and media reporters would come out against the game as evil. Yet, to you it’s just strange. No, it’s not strange. It’s a horrible game. Further, what happened with the left’s stance against violent video games? I guess they’re fine if conservatives are the target. I find you to be a hypocrite and despicable reporter.
Sincerely,
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I do not include the name of the writer because I don't want this to be misunderstood as an attack against him.
Setting aside his attack on my tender ego, I believe he brings up a valid point.
Didn't certain commentators rake Sarah Palin over the coals for "targeting" certain members of congress, including Gabrielle Giffords?
One accuser wrote former governor Palin: "You targeted this woman - literally with a target on her district - one of your freaky Fox followers hunted her down - and now you try to distance yourself from blame."
I do not buy into such accusations. I believe they stretch logic to the breaking point.
There is no evidence the shooter, 22-year old Jared Loughner, was a "Fox follower," or that he ever saw Palin's "target list."
By the same token, I also do not buy that turning politicians and pundits into target zombies is "just harmless fun."
So, here's my point: Is there a media bias -- a double standard -- that says it's no big deal for people to kill conservatives (in a game), but it is a big deal to use even a vaguely aggressive word when speaking of political opponents?
The viewer who complained probably won't be inviting me over for BBQ, but I am not unsympathetic to his complaint.
(Yes, that's a double negative. I heard that's a very British and therefore very sophisticated way of writing.)
I also promise to work on my sarcasm.
