There was a time, long ago, that reporters for news networks and newspapers went out into the field and researched the news they were bringing to the people. Whether it was news from front lines of war, or news from a natural disaster, or some amazing thing that happened to a family in peril. The reporter went and talked to the people who knew. The Solder at the battlefront, the eye witness of the crime, the father of the family. But lately it seems those days are gone. Now hearsay and “I heard” seems to be the research for so called “reporting.” Is it so hard to get the news from the source anymore? Or do these reporters even care? For some it’s just a matter of viewers. How many eyes can I get…

That, I believe, is the case for Mr. Glenn Beck. Jumping on the “video game” bandwagon with apparently no expertise in the area he has called on some “sources” for comment on the GTA:IV controversy. Let’s take a look:

Yes, I know what you are thinking. These two “sources” know about as much about video games, especially the game mentioned, as I do about breeding penguins. But that doesn’t stop Mr. Beck. He is not interested in what knowledgeable sources have to say, he is interested in being on the “bandwagon.”

Mark Methenitis is one of my favorite blog writers as he has experience in both playing video games and legal matters. Why Beck hasn’t had Mark on his show should be no surprise; Mark will not bow to the “popular” view but prefers to think for himself, analyzing the facts and responding most eloquently I might add. Please take the time to read his response here.

I was going to respond to the above video but Mark does such a great job, his post stands on its own.

Today a new interview surfaced between Dr. Cheryl Olson, who is the co-author of a book called Grand Theft Childhood, a book with actual research done in the world of video games and violence. Watch his face as he realizes she is not going to bend over and agree with every little thing he says.

But wait, did you hear that?

“I will tell you that all these video gamers: they’re bloggers, as well as video gamers – they’re writing all kinds of stuff about me [that] I’m the enemy now of video gamers. I could care less about video games. Video game bloggers? They’re losers”

Not that I care at all what Mr Beck thinks of me or “video game bloggers” in general, is this the kind of rude, blanket statement we can expect from CNN reporters now? I don’t have cable television, but I do know people who (as of now) watch his show. Now I know what I have not been missing.

On the topic of GTA. I have said it before and I will say it again. This game is made for mature adults. Just as I would not let my child watch The Godfather or Platoon I would not let my children play or watch this game. That is why I was asked for ID when I purchased it, despite looking way over 17 years of age. The issue at hand has to do with parenting, not video games, music, books, movies or television. It has to do with parents being involved in their children’s lives. Ask you child about the games that they play. Watch them play them if you have trouble with the controls. You cannot pass the responsiblity to monitor your child’s media habits to the 18 year old clerk at GameStop or Blockbuster. You have to take action to raise your child.

MKG out.