Violence, Sexism, Porn and ... Games?

I have posted my views, along with the facts, on these issues many times across the internet. But they still keep showing up, and those who find cause to attack video games, specifically, often rely on old arguments that have been addressed, and completely debunked, many times. So I shall gather my thoughts on these matters for this post, and offer a glimmer of fact on these matters.

The common lies often stated are as follows:

1. Violence in video games makes people violent.
2. Images of females in specific clothing styles objectifies women.
3. Porn is bad.
4. There are not enough female heroes in games.

The first one is an ancient argument, thus I will sweep it away first. One simple fact demonstrates how fallacious the statement is: as video game sales increase, crime decreases across the country.

Specifically about the US, but this fact destroys that first point because it demonstrates that there is not even any correlation to video games and violent crimes. If there is a correlation, and if correlation could prove causation, then the opposite of that statement would be true. So there is no possible way in which video games can cause violence in anyone who is not already prone to violent behavior.

The second annoys me, though it's fallacious and just plain stupid, because it also says that the way I choose to dress is somehow wrong. I love wearing miniskirts and light blouses, tees, or other less prudish clothing. Is it wrong that I choose to wear these? Does my wearing these make me a slut? No, quite the contrary, my motto is "you can look, but if you touch I will have your hand on my wall."

If an asexual person, like myself, can admit that these clothes are really cute, then why can't sexual people admit it as well? But the evidence of why this second point is fallacious is another very simple fact: cultures in which women are forced to cover all their skin also demonstrate the highest number of rape cases.

Looking more into that, the Middle East countries have outlawed any woman to show "too much" skin, and yet to them women are nothing more than sexual objects to please their man. So no, less clothing will not cause men to objectify us any more than they already do. But men are not the only ones to objectify humans, women who often complain about images that they don't like tend to objectify men just as often. They are asserting, by claiming that images of any particular type will cause men to behave in a negative manner, that men are nothing more than ravenous beasts who cannot control their own behaviors.

The third claim is so silly that I can't help but snicker each time I see it. Personally, I dislike porn, I see no value in it. Sexual activity of any sort bores me, actually. But porn is neutral, meaning it doesn't influence behavior. When asked to show scientific evidence to back up the claim that porn can cause harm, all they show are anecdotes peppered with their own personal desires, not any actual evidence. There is no evidence that porn, or sexual content, is in any way harmful. If you doubt me, them prove me wrong, send me real scientific evidence to support your argument.

The fourth point can almost be considered valid, almost. The problem is that it misses one major aspect to the market, it is dominated by male players. When playing a game you like to put yourself in the shoes of the hero, you become that hero in your imagination. So to appeal to the market they have to make most of the heroes male. They need to appeal to the market to gain profits, profits that allow them to make more games for the fans to play.

I would love to see more heroines, many times they are really strong figures and powerful characters, offering us something to look up too. But that cannot be the case until the female players dominate the market. This is actually happening too, a decade ago you could talk to almost any male about games, but finding a female gamer was difficult. Today you can find female gamers in almost all gamer groups.

If you ever see these arguments posted anywhere, ask them for scientific evidence. If they cannot produce any then dismiss their argument as foolish and move on. Enjoy your gaming, enjoy your porn too if that's what you like, but if you don't like something, then just leave it lie.