October 19, 2007
Earlier this week GamePolitics was highly critical of an appearance by Dr. Susan Bartell on Fox's The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet.Bartell, a psychologist and author, ripped violent video games in general and Halo 3 in particular. Putting it mildly, we took issue with her comments. (see: Who is This Person & Why is She Saying These Awful Things About Halo 3?)
Apparently, GamePolitics readers flooded Dr. Bartell's e-mail with protests following our coverage. A dialogue of sorts developed between the good doctor and longtime GP reader Hayabusa75. Eventually, this led to my own correspondence with the psychologist.
Dr. Bartell was gracious, especially considering the cirumstances. I learned that she does quite a bit of TV. Fox, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC - she's been on all of them multiple times. She's written four books and does a good bit of public speaking.
That being said, I was fascinated - and concerned - by what she told me about how the Halo-in-church discussion went down. If you haven't seen it, watch the clip:
Here are some excerpts from e-mails between myself and Dr. Bartell:
GP: One thing I found especially concerning... was [an e-mail] comment that you only saw the [Indiana University] brain scan pix five minutes before air [of The Morning Show]. That being the case, do you think it appropriate to go on and offer a professional opinion based on the scans to the audience?
Dr. Bartell: That's the way it is with TV -- it's just not a black and white thing. I am genuinely sorry that it caused such a sense that I was being so disrespectful [to gamers]. The scans aside I stand by my opinion that violent games should not be played by teens... As to whether I should have responded to the scans -- my intent was going on air to discuss whether the church should be holding Halo nights, clearly that was derailed.
GP: In all honesty, I’m having difficulty reconciling “that’s the way it is with TV” to responsible professionalism. It smacks of sensationalism. Just being candid here.
Dr. Bartell: I can understand how you feel... there is an element of sensationalism to it I suppose, but no less, IMO than all the hoopla created by the GP posters in response to my appearance. I appreciate candor -- it will always help me grow as a person and as a professional. I couldn't -- five minutes before going on air -- say, sorry I won't do it, I don't have enough background information about this brain scan! I'm just not that much of a purist...
Nice person, Dr. Bartell. But that aside, I can't condone allowing herself to be portrayed to the audience as a subject matter expert, yet in actuality trying to explain a study she'd never seen until a Morning Show producer handed it to her just before air time.
And while I don't doubt that some gamers were nasty in their e-mails, I'm not sure that's relevant. Flame e-mails don't help the gaming image, of course. But who's got the greater responsibilty here?
I'd submit that it's Dr. Bartell, who made these remarks on national TV because... why? The show must go on?
Comments
They are not all quacks but the ones fox used sure are
..Did I just say that..? I'm never going near Coffee again.. Well, not Nescafe certainly..
Yes, what this woman did: speaking about a subject she didn't really know about while feigning knowledge, was indeed reprehensible.
The fact that she owed up to it, and that she was polite in her responses, does make me have a bit of respect for her.
But why won't she admit what she did on tv? Or would that hurt her career?
Me? Flagged? Pah. It's the snails. Snails everywhere. But i'm ready for them! I've built a fort up in the mountains. The secret entrance is under the floorboards, but don't tell anyone. It's a secret.
Maybe I am flagged.. Must have... Gunpowder..
........Explain.
Isn't IGN owned by News Corperation, the same people that own Fox? If I'm wrong, somebody let me know.
She may be the first intelligent violent video game critic ever. *Gasp*
It's because she doesn't appear to be on a religious crusade against us lowly sinners.
She also doesn't appear to be trying to replace the parents of America.
Lastly, she's not filing gay porn in her report. That one's key.
I limit any news station viewings for when a big event happens to get actual news. The moment a so-called "news" show featuring opinion comes on, I change the channel. I can decide what I think for myself, thanks.
Speaking out once doesn't make you a critic.
Well she seems to be getting there
And yet, she's not there yet.
that would be like saying if someone had a sip of beer and felt slightly tipsy, the brain was 'changed' -it's a temporary emotional thing
Pretty much what I just said.
It's not intelligent to use evidence you don't understand to support your claim.
On a news story on Fox News about Manhunt 2 (this was a couple days ago),the screenshots of Manhunt 2 they used had the "IGN.COM" web watermark on them. Make sure that when you see any new news storys about the game on Fox News that you look for that watermark.
True, MSNBC and (especially) CNN have their own bias and left-leaning agendas. Fox gets a bit more of the hate lately because of:
A) Liberal types are still coping with this "new" media. People typically label outlets of opposing viewpoints to be "biased". It happens everywhere.
B) Fox News constantly claims to be "fair and balanced" to the point of redundancy and they really wear it on their sleeve. The fact they are anything but "fair and balanced" highlights the irony.
as for this lady i have no comment
So you are giving up Coffee (Nescafe. Didn't know they still made that... shudder), IGN (which would also include Gamespot which is a pity) and FOX? The sacrifices you make in the name of..... er what is it in the name of?
Guess that leaves All the more time for you to spend warping your greamatter into something violent and making odd posts here.
@BlackIce
The reason why I said to watch for it was the possibility of the same screenshots to be used in the Jack Thompson interview tomorrow on Fox News.If the watermarked screenshots show up in that interview and that interview hits the web,it could really effect the cred of IGN in the gaming community.
Gamespot is not part of Media Corp.It's part of Cnet.You might be saying that GameSpy is part of IGN enertainment and Media Corp.
The cause of Communism. I'm giving up Nescafe and IGN. I didn't watch Fox to begin with. Aside from the occaisional Simpson's Episode, but I get that on Sky One and Channel Four..
@MR.B
Will do. Will need a link though. I can't watch Fox to save my life. Stupid conservatives..
You are aware that communism would limit your rights in ways that even the "stupid conservatives" can't?
Read up on your history plz.
Do you really hate anything involving News Corp that much? I know Fox News is not the best ever, but I'm not blowing off IGN because their staff has something in common Fox News (Rupert Murdoch's ownership).
@MR.B
I did not see that segment.
I could not find the Fox News story.But I found a video of "Adam Vs. Jack" for you.Enjoy.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/10360.html
The Average American Mindset:
I. PERFECTLY OKAY:
1. Teaching a child who is barely capable of reading elementary text books about an insanely complex religious tradition that venerates a "REAL" God that kills for pleasure, commits acts of genocide, threatens free people into submission, and is not supported by any emperical evidence, whatsoever.... (all done while the child is often forced to attend services, does not learn of the negative aspects of the religion, and does not have access to other religious theories. PERFECTLY OKAY!
II. OH MY GOD, WTF?
2. Allowing children to play a fictional game that depicts a man fighting to save life on the planet earth from swarms of evil intergalatic aliens. NOT OKAY!
...Does anyone else see a MAJOR problem here?
Shut the fucking hell up you stupid dick.
Actually, I had the exact opposite reaction.
She knew she didn't know enough, but she went on the air and pretended she did because it made good TV. And doesn't seem to feel the slightest real regret over it.
No professionalism, or at minimal she is not a professional. You try that excuse in ANY real profession not only would you get laughed at but you would probably loose your lisence.
I am talking about the parts where he fails to realise that religious people have a right to post here without beratement over their beliefs on a topic which has nothing to do with Religion in the slightest.
Ah, I see. You are correct on that one.