Mainstream Media Hypocrisy? Bully Blasted, But Buy an Airsoft Gun
With a new round of controversy brewing over today’s release of Bully: Scholarship Edition, we happened across a cautionary story about the game on the website of Ontario radio station CD98.9.
The article begins with “a warning to parents to investigate what their kids are playing…” before recounting much of the information from today’s Globe and Mail coverage, which we’ve already cited in the preceding GP story.
What caught our eye, however, was the ad directly below the Bully warning - a ten-inch wide banner pushing Airsoft weapons (see pic).
Now, GP has nothing against Airsoft guns. Don’t use ‘em myself, but as long as those who do use them appropriately, I don’t object. But I’m willing to bet the ranch that many more people have been hurt by an Airsoft gun than a video game.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:27 am
They sting a bit, and there are photos where they’ve punctured the skin, but outside the minimum safe range they hurt less and leave less of a mark than paintballs.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
XD irony at its finest.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Here’s the thing though, its still hypocritical for them to advertise pseudo-weapons on their website, but still criticize video games that aren’t even violent to the degree of shooting a gun is.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I just looked attehir site. Now there is an advertisment for a career in game design. It is an advertisment for Brown College’s game design degree.
Google ads FTW.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:45 am
The sad thing is, they wouldn’t recognise the hypocrisy if you thrust it under their nose with a huge neon sign to go with it.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Mmmm, nothing like the taste of fresh brewed irony first thing in the morning. It goes especially well with stale re-heated controversy.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
@ steelcobra I had a friend that lost a tooth playing airsoft and i want to point out that most people use the airsoft weapons within the “safe range”
the argument isn’t about airsoft safety its about a news source thats blasting video games but has the gall to advertise airsoft guns and i can guarantee more people have lost an eye using an airsoft gun than playing a video game.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
As an airsofter I had hoped that this day never come… but it has.
Mainstream media has attacked and misrepresented airsoft on numerous occasions. Namely,
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/11/student.arsenal/index.html
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pqK3jg3bo30
so PLEASE don’t pull the hypocrisy card here. Airsofters are fighting just as hard to be accepted (more so than videogamers) in the mainstream.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Well I am shocked and appalled! I never thought I’d see hypocritical reporting from mainstream media outlets…okay, I can’t finish that sentence with a straight face. It’s too early in the day for that.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Important lesson for the kids its okay to shoot people with a airsoft gun but god forbid they play a T rated game theres totally nothing wrong with that.:3
March 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Important lesson for the kids its okay to shoot people with a airsoft gun but god forbid they play a T rated game theres totally nothing wrong with that.:3
March 4th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
While it is kind of ironic, it’s hardly worth discussing. It’s a Google Ad, what Google picks as a relevant ad to the page, more often than not, contradicts the context of the page/site itself.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
BE VERY CAREFUL HERE!!!
I’m an avid gamer, and also an avid airsoft player. Airsoft is an awesome sport. It’s already under legal attack many different ways and there is no reason to use it as a scapegoat the same way people use games.
Airsoft isn’t violent, and it isn’t dangerous as long as you aren’t a total moron. Frankly, it’s a great workout unless you’re a total camper.
Anyway, the point here is the freedom to do what we like without hurting others. Games don’t hurt anyone, no serious airsoft player hurts anyone. Government has no business restricting my access to either. No need for a comparison with negative connotations.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I’m willing to bet that the anti-game crusaders do not care that they are hypocrits.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Long ago as a kid, I remember the local news doing a story on the dangers of video games, this time they were going after Mortal Kombat. It was your standard fear-mongering piece about how the violent images were corrupting children.
10 minutes later, they showed footage of the Good Guys hostage standoff. I don’t remember the details, but what I DO remember is the camera being zoomed to the max on the front door, the guy inside shooting the tied-up hostages.
But it was video games that were wrong.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Oh Lawd. Love me guns AND games, but that’s ridiculous. Of course, leave it to the mainstream media…
March 4th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Hmmm maybe i should have clarified my response. I have many friends that are into airsoft and thats is completely fine i would love to get into it but its expensive as hell, they take it seriously and safety is a big part. but here is the thing; if someone picks up an airsoft gun and doesn’t know how to use it chances are they are going to hurt themselves. if someone picks up a videogame and doesn’t know how to use it and they manage to hurt themselves then Darwin was full of shit. cause they person should be dead.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
PS
I love my airsoft.
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7097/1001016wt7.jpg
(that’s me)
Don’t even tell me that doesn’t look fun. Also notice that I do use proper safety equipment, making it perfectly safe. While it is true, at ~375 FPS, they aren’t toys, but when used responsibly, they are highly entertaining and one heck of a workout.
They are just like video games, while they may simulate violent acts, no one is hurt. I’ve never been in a fight and have real tendency for violence, but I love airsoft. Why? Because a war game is the ultimate competition of strategy and ability. When everyone gets to go home at the end, I think they are very healthy and give both body and mind a good workout.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Of course. Blast a video game but then advertise for what could be used to train with a military weapon
March 4th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
@stranger Danger
About being expensive. There are high end knock off guns on the market that actually outperform the guns in the top price ranges. JG guns are extremely high powered and high quality, yet are very cheap (by comparison). You can get a JG G36C for less than $100, and they will compete with any gun made.
I have 2 JG 36Cs and they have both been punished for nearly 2 years with no problems. (I gave them a custom paintjob)
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5887/guns1ql1.jpg
You can get a cheap paintball mask (which will work just fine) for $15, and any other gear can be found on discount at Wal Mart or another retailer after hunting season. You can play all day on $5 worth of BBs.
If you know what to look for, you can have a pretty professional setup for less than $200. I suggest the JG G36C for starters. Excellent buy, and you’ll never be badly outgunned, even by the $700 guns.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I have nothing against airsoft, but trying to say that the degree of similarity and simulation between video games and real violents acts is the same as the degree of similarity between airsoft and video games just isn’t right.
Is a real gun more complex than an airsoft rifle? Sure. Are they exponentially closer than video games? Absolutely.
And in either case, it’s the connotation. Airsoft RIFLE. It IS a gun, an actual object you hold in your hand and fire at other people. They don’t die, and if used properly they don’t get hurt, but it’s still hypocritical to say that video games are going to cause harm but airsoft won’t.
I don’t think EITHER causes harm, but if you have to pick one or the other as a more likely candidate to cause an accident…
March 4th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
heh, airsoft guns. Friend has a couple, we screwed around a bit with them. Accidentally took out one of the ceiling lights. Still waiting for the dad to find out…
Airsoft guns are worse than video games, because they can ACTUALLY train a person, without the recoil of an actual gun. I’m not saying attack that more, but I am saying that there are much worse things out there than video games.
@Steve
Friend has a similar model, but with attachments at the side of the barrel, 1 with a flash light. Also has a red dot on the top (But doesn’t work at the moment).
March 4th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Of course, as that LOVELY Mr. Jack Thomson said, videogames caused the Holocaust, so videogames are the deadlier of the two. [/Sarcasm]
hehe Well naturally, the right-wingers can blame anything they don’t approve of for violence, but to pull that add would be to impede the common market!
March 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
@ Steve
Thank for the info! We have a couple of high end japanese airsoft replicas here at work. and they get punished more then any airsoft gun out there (they are used by our group for a couple of projects and now are being used as motion capture props, in fact all but 2 are busted). I do have a paintball rig myself and I’m more into that. maybe at some point I’ll tag along with one of my co-workers who does airsoft but for right now I got bill that need to be paid.
March 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
@Lumi
——————————
Is a real gun more complex than an airsoft rifle? Sure. Are they exponentially closer than video games? Absolutely.
——————————
I really don’t see airsoft as much different than videogames. Well, war videogames, for clarity. Both are just a simulated representation of the real thing. Not because anyone like real war, or real violence, but because it is one of the most ultimate forms of competition. On one level, you have a team or group strategy, then you have personal strategy, then you have actual skill and conditioning involved to carry out those strategies.
In both airsoft and video games, you are simulating violence in a safe environment. In neither should anyone get hurt. I would put them on par with each other. An airsoft gun (excluding those wild custom built miniguns) is about as handy a weapon in real life as a wiimote is.
So I’m just saying Airsoft should not be considered any more harmful than a video game. Yes, you could likely lose an eye if you manage to shoot youself directly in the eye, but someone that dumb couldn’t be trusted not to hurt themselves with a joystick either.
—————-
I don’t think EITHER causes harm, but if you have to pick one or the other as a more likely candidate to cause an accident…
—————-
An accident is an accident. I’ve seen people pretty seriously injured with a pencil. I have been hit in the face by a friend swinging a wiimote. I’ve seen people accidentally shoot airsoft guns. I can’t say that any is more likely to happen, or more dangerous. Frankly, falling on a pencil was more harmful than an airsoft gun or a flinging wiimote. So there is really no need to label one as more dangerous.
March 4th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I think I’d just like to point out that the hypocrisy ISN’T with AirSoft… it’s with the radio station.
It would be like ranting about the movie industry’s obsession with violence, while the ad below was for the TV premiere of Saw II…
I know there’s supposed to be a separation between editors and marketers, but geeze…
March 4th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
It’s obviously one of those random banner ads. That’s how their sites stay up because they’re too cheap to pay for the space themselves.
March 4th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
This is not news. They aren’t directly supporting airsoft just because they have an ad. The editors never see the ads before their placed, only the advertising department, which may even be 3rd party.
Do not let yourselves fall in sensationalism, GP.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
===================
Airsoft guns are worse than video games, because they can ACTUALLY train a person, without the recoil of an actual gun.
===================
Train them for what, to be a better airsoft player? Granted, the high end guns are 1:1 nearly exact replicas, so you will learn the best way to hold the gun, and get a feel for the weight and balance of a real gun. But that’s about it. When shooting a real gun, you do not aim 10 feet to the right over a distance of 30 yards in high winds. You also don’t aim by actually watching the projectiles fly to their target then adjust accordingly. (walking them in) Pouring BBs into a wind up clip or gravity fed hopper will not teach you how to load a real weapon (not that a 3 year old couldn’t figure it out for themselves anyway). Changing the battery on your airsoft gun isn’t going to teach you gun maintenance either.
It is a fun and challenging sport, not a murder trainer (which you are coming dangerously close to calling it). Just like gaming is a fun and challenging hobby/competition, not murder training. Playing games and airsoft, and they have not taught me a single thing about using a real gun. In fact, I haved owned guns since I got a .22 chipmunk on my 10th birthday. I’ve shot and even owned a very wide range of guns and can be quite accurate with them. Nothing in a game or airsoft has ever made me feel any impulse to do any of it with a real gun. And the idea that either is any means of training for using a real gun is laughable.
Both may train you think tactics, but a game chess will do about the same thing, and that train of thought can be usefully applied to many life scenarios, that fact that you learned to think in such terms from a violent video game or airsoft match in no way means you are going to apply that skill to real life violence.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
This has nothing to do with hypocrisy. These are just random Google banner ads. The radio station or the person who posted that had no clue whatsoever what Google ads will appear on their site — they rely 100% on Google on the content those ads.
There are many reasons to argue why the article on Bully was misinformed and poorly written. But accusing them on hypocrisy because of a random Google ad just gives them an excuse to dismiss legitimate criticisms about their article out of hand.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Well which is closer to firing a real gun? Airsoft or Video games?
March 4th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Conveniently, the google ads now reflect things such as ‘School Anti Bullying’ and ‘Video Games Too Voilent?’. Hmmm..
March 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
@ Insanejedi
Precisely. One is a hell of a lot closer than the other. Do video games and airsoft both “simulate war”? Yes. But the difference in how they simulate it is non-trivial.
Again, I have nothing against Airsoft, but there IS a notably hypocritical stance.
And for the people saying “they don’t know what Google ads are going to show”… aren’t those pulled from a pool of interest-based selections? You’re not going to see, for example, a Google ad for a video game on some website for the DMV. Somewhere in the chain, someone decided Airsoft ads would be a good fit for this site that is criticizing game violence, and no one from the site has seen fit to correct that.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
@Steve
If you want to talk about quality internals for a great price, I’d sooner go for an Echo 1 than a JG (they’re make in the same factory, but Echo1’s are made with higher quality control). The latest Vector Arms Echo 1 is of higher quality than any Mauri or CA out there. (gasp) But more to the point, I’m behind you 110%.
Point being, there is no hypocrisy here. A GOOGLE ADD showed a banner for airsoftsplat.com. The radio station has no control over it whatsoever. And who’s to say that the radio station isn’t appalled by airsoft as well. Now we have a bunch of you guys calling the anti-video game people hypocrites. What the hell? GP readers need to be smarter than this.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Reminds me of Kansas 2 years ago. Passed an act allowing concelead weapons but had a huge lawsuit over the state legislature even looking at CONSIDERING allowing Intelligent Design being taught in private/public schools.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
@ebonheart
….
how the hell does that situation remind you of this? there is no logical connection there.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
@ Stranger:
He’s referring to the people of Kansas finding Intelligent Design to be dangerous to children while having no problem passing a law to allow concealed weapons (infinitely more dangerous than ID).
March 4th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
*hangs head and sighs*
March 4th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Echo 1 or JG, G36 FTW. I have an Echo1 G36C for CQB work, and a (heavily) modified CA G36 sniper for outdoors. I’m looking to pick up a TSD MP7 for when people close within that pesky minimum engagement distance that my 500fps sniper has.
Anyway, also behind everything Steve has said so far. I really can’t believe that a community that has spent so much time fending off incorrect media impressions and false journalism would bash another form of recreation that is equally harmless.
March 4th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
@ Munin
No ones bashing air soft guns(well I am not)
It’s just being noted that the site that bashes Bully wrongly and states more than a few false claims about the violence in the games, then advertises for something that really is violent, and has hurt people.
It’s not a bash on air soft its just showing the irony of the situation
March 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Hell, I love vidja games and air soft guns, and we deserve both, God damnit!
March 4th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
A final thought:
Airsoft and video games share a lot of common ground. Both are very misunderstood and misrepresented by those not familiar with them. Both have lawmakers salivating at the chances to do away with them “for the sake of the children”. Both have had the actions of nutjobs and idiots misrepresented as typical of the community. Both have been accused of being “violence trainers”. Most importantly in both, the only thing hurt or damaged at the end of a match is the losing teams ego.
Interestingly enough, when we have Halo parties, most of the airsoft team is also in attendance. That’s no coincidence. Airsoft, like FPS games, has all the copetetive elements that a real war would have, but none of he violenece. That’s why people like games, because real violence isn’t fun.
The irony of it is that some people on this site, sympathetic to the plight of the game industry under attack from media and government, buy into the propoganda that airsoft is a dangerous and violent sport. It’s sole purpose is to allow you to fight without any real violence or threat of injury.
The biggest difference between them is that gaming has millions of people backing them, and due to that following, has some protection from government. Airsoft does not have that kind of following, making it a much easier target (and has been under much heavier assault than video games, since laws banning airsoft generally pass and aren’t struck down).
I realize there is not a purposeful effort to attack the sport, but the context in which it is being used here is harmful and negative, as if airsoft guns are something that should be looked upon more scornfully than gaming.
They are both great hobbies that allow participants a great experience of an ultra-competitive, yet safe, environment. Both feature that main thing that draws a distinct line between reality and game, respawn.
March 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
WOW advertising is everywhere….even where “Parents watch your kids” site’s banners have AIRSOFT GUNS…..*brain asplode*
March 4th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
adblock, will you?
March 4th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
HAHAHAH!! The IRONY!!
Video game violence is WRONG!!!
Please check out our sponsor Airsoft guns…
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!
March 4th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I am more disgusted by the promotion of so many cheap chinese crap guns (JG/Echo 1/etc) than the supposed hypocrisy.
JG and Echo 1 internals (hell, even Classic Army if you ask me…) are iffy. Tokyo Marui and the like for life.
http://www.alphamatte.com/hosted/airsoft/Left_Side.jpg
On a more serious note, I am distressed by the gamers on here who fall right in line with the same fear mongering that attacks gaming, but is much more acceptable when directed at a little known hobby like airsoft.
March 4th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
@lumi
We could go into a 3-hour “heated discussion” about whether allowing concealed weapons is dangerous or not…but teaching ID in school completely ignores what the majority of scientists believe and obliterates the “Separation of Church and State.” What if a kid believes in evolution? What kind of science test would they have, what COULD they have that isn’t religious, and teaches anything at all? It would be a complete and udder waste of tax dollars (not that I live in Kansas).
March 4th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
It was a random banner ad, whoever wrote the article had no idea which ad would be displayed at the bottom.
Move along….
March 4th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
@Shidarin
that may have been the case a year or two ago, but (and I have a well-experienced airsoft smith behind me on this one) Echo1 has really turned the airsoft market upside down. Now, if you want everything to remain stock, I can see how a TM would be a solid bet for you, but if you’re a custom whore (like me), and Echo1 is as solid a base as any I’ve ever seen.
@Ebonheart
what does intelligent design have anything to do with this?
@Steve
“The irony of it is that some people on this site, sympathetic to the plight of the game industry under attack from media and government, buy into the propoganda that airsoft is a dangerous and violent sport.”
Again, you’re a mind-reader.
March 5th, 2008 at 12:39 am
It doesn’t matter that it was a random ad, it’s still irony, still funny.
However, real irony is the fact that soldiers deployed to a combat zone get in trouble if they’re caught playing with Airsoft or pellet guns, regardless of how good their defensive equipment (designed for actual war, or special-purchased for play) is or how nonrealistic the guns.
March 5th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Only in America can kids can buy Airsoft guns without ID (Federal Law classifies them as toys) but need a parent to buy an M-rated videogame. It’s a miracle Jack Thompson hasn’t gone after them.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:18 am
@Kincyr
In most cities the definition of “firearm” has been expanded to just sort of squirt guns. In NYC, you need a license for an airsoft gun. In Michigan/Texas, there are restrictions as to the sale of airsoft guns.
March 5th, 2008 at 3:02 am
SHOCK AND HORROR.
“Kids! Yer can’t play these darn vidjagames! Go outside an’ shoot each othar wit’ airsoft guns ’stead!”
Anyway, I think airsoft is a sport/hobby/whatever just as any other. Here in Sweden you have to be I think 15 or 16 years old to buy an airsoft gun.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:48 am
I really don’t like airsoft, and not for the usual reasons.
However, im willing to bet that the article is context based and they have no control whatsoever over the actual ad that appears.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Wow i am so glad i found this site and article. It really shows how ignorant people are. I see no one attacking r movies where they show people being torture or mutilated do i? so this is pretty much why you guys should vote for me in the upcoming election!
March 5th, 2008 at 11:57 am
@Kincyr and @Necromancist
With all do respect, no one’s head explodes, showering blood in every direction in an airsoft game. Those things DO happen in an M-rated game.
Remember when- before video games- kids used to go outside and play with toy guns?
March 5th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
come on guys. its a GOOGLE AD.
A google ad is certain code put into the page that allows google to display a certain ad. This site was just a victim of an unfortunately placed ad.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
edit to my comment:
A google ad is certain code put into the page that allows google to display a random ad. This site was just a victim of an unfortunately placed random ad.
No hypocracy going on here.
If you want more proof, you can probably find an anti-smoking story somewhere and sooner or later, come up with a cigarette ad. Its the way google markets.
Please mention this in the story so no one is blamed of sheer coincidence
March 5th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
@ ChuckLez
I agree, but having become aware of the unfortunate placement, they should be endeavoring to fix it.
@ Chadachada
Please don’t misunderstand. I do not believe that ID should be PREACHED in schools, but I believe it should be taught. Just as I believe evolution should be taught, as well as the creation stories of at least the major religions. This is the sort of thing people should be educated about so that they can make their own decisions. I agree that no teacher should say “this is how God created the universe”, but I do believe that they should say “this is one belief of the origin of the universe”. It is not harmful to make children aware that these ideas exist.
On the other hand, there’s every possibility that a child with an airsoft gun, who doesn’t know or care to use it properly, can injure someone. The degree of potential danger between the two is pretty obvious.
@ people decrying “airsoft hating”
I guess I’m only speaking for myself, but I’m pretty sure I’m not alone here… but as I’ve already said in this thread, I’m NOT against airsoft. I think you should be properly trained before owning and using one, but whatever, I enjoy paintball and it’s pretty much the same thing. There’s a very real chance of injury with either, despite the safety gear and regulations. More so than video games are ever going to cause.
Again, I am NOT demonizing airsoft, I’m just being realistic. It’s ridiculous to say “video games are dangerous, but airsoft isn’t”. Here, let me try this and see it it satisfies everyone:
“Airsoft rifles are a part of an accepted and legitimate hobby, much like video games. While they are regularly used in a safe and responsible manner, it is possible to cause serious injury, accidental or intentional, if one is used without adherence to the safety guidelines (e.g. shooting someone who isn’t wearing protective gear, shooting an unprotected part of the body, etc.)
There is a greater risk factor of injury involved in the use of Airsoft rifles than in the use of video games. They should only be used as intended in the properly safeguarded environments intended for such activity.”
Seriously, is that better? I don’t see anything wrong with them, but you can’t deny that there’s a better chance of hurting someone with an airsoft than a video game, and the simulation of real violence is greater when you’re holding a replica gun that actually fires projectile ammunition, and can actually cause bodily harm. No computer simulation is ever going to draw blood, no matter how realistically rendered.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
@ lumi
There is no real way to “fix” it beside taking down all google ads (which they would never do because google ads can turn a profit and help ALOT with search engine rankings)
I work at a website development company that takes advantage of google ads. Any company can submit ads to google and have them display on any website that even hints at a certain keyword.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
@Lumi
true true, I’ve no problem with creation stories…but they shouldn’t teach it as if it’s fact, or that it’s backed by the majority of scientists
March 7th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
While taking a look back in your archive I found this…
Pokémon: First Seizures, Now Armed Robbery?
February 9th, 2008
The kid held up another kid with a gun, want to guess what kind?