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Gaming Noob, Whittell, Angriest Guy Ever!
He loves mountains, the air, tents, and rain on his face. And that’s why his children won’t see a Nintendo or Playstation in their house… Ever.
when it comes to video games. He hates them with a passion, online or offline, because they “suck real people into fake worlds and hold on to them for decades.”
Not only that, but he associates Gaming with heroin use and teenage pregnancy.
I can at least see an argument on the addictive nature of games having possible credit in a discussion. But having a baby when you’re a teenager? What the hell is the association?
Wait, here’s the explanation:
This is not because of anything wrong or bad about video games or heroin or teenage parents. It’s not even because of game-induced homicide or web-grooming of little girls by perverts - serious problems, but statistically low-risk. It’s because, compared with everything else on offer in a kid’s life, video games and heroin and teenage pregnancy are a colossal waste of time.
Oh, okay…
He also added that “only when [he's] dead” would any kids of his be playing video games for three or more hours at home during a school day, since some Doctor in England says a third of ten year olds there spend that kind of time gaming. Oh, the horror…
So instead of wasting time gaming, Whittell wants his kids enjoying such things as gravy, mud and overcooked bacon. Obviously things that today’s gamers (especially kids!) take for granted.
Know what I think?
Other than wishing this had been printed on April 1st and I could chalk it up to some April Fools prank and laugh; I think Whittell got pwned playing World of Warcraft, and has since blacklisted gaming of any kind for him and his kin due to the shame and ridicule he experienced when he cried for help in chat and everyone told him to quit whining and being such a muppet.
I’m also willing to bet my $0.02 that he was a female Night Elf Hunter, no less.
In all seriousness, I don’t know what could have sparked these kind of strict feelings towards gaming from him. But whatever it was, it looks like Whittell’s kids are shit out of luck if they want to do anything other than roll in the mud while eating gravy covered bacon sandwiches for a little fun.
What bothered me the most about Whittell’s argument was his seemingly baseless lashing out at the fact that people are drawn into video games. It’s a common argument many anti-game crusaders make, that video games don’t possess the same depth and quality of storytelling that novels, or even motion pictures possess.
I simply point out to those who make this argument that fifteen years ago they were saying the same thing about comic books and graphic novels. Then I point out that “Road to Perdition”, a film based on a graphic novel, was nominated for six Academy Awards.
That usually quiets them down.
Thanks JW, great comment. I guess no matter what, people like Whittell need a villain in one form or another to crusade against.