ELSPA responds to Boris Johnson’s acerbic gaming comments
“Garotte the Game Boy and paralyse the PlayStation”. Some of you may think that Jack Thompson uttered these words, but no, he isn’t the one who said ’em this time around. These were the words of British Parliament member, Boris Johnson, in an opinion piece which got published on The Telegraph last December.
He also mentioned that kids who play games “become like blinking lizards, motionless, absorbed, only the twitching of their hands showing they are still conscious. These machines teach them nothing. They stimulate no ratiocination, discovery or feat of memory.” Wait a sec! I certainly don’t wanna be called a lizard!
Anyhow, these acerbic comments earned the ire of Paul Jackson, director general of UK‘s ELSPA (their ESRB). Mr. Jackson, through a statement issued at GamesIndustry.biz, said that he respects Mr. Johnson’s opinion but he mentioned this:
The games industry is often a scapegoat for many problems society encounters with youths. But instead of placing blame where it should not lie, we need to educate parents and carers of the 21st Century child.
He shares that point of view with Connecticut Senator, Joe Lieberman. Aside from that, he also noted that games like Brain Training and Myst among many others is a “great source of education in their own right”. As for the blinking lizards jab, the ELSPA head said that a large number of games require a huge amount of movement and social interaction – take for instance Wii Sports or Guitar Hero.
Mr. Johnson has gotta keep up with the times, it seems.
“Garotte the Game Boy and paralyse the PlayStation”. Some of you may think that Jack Thompson uttered these words, but no, he isn’t the one who said ’em this time around. These were the words of British Parliament member, Boris Johnson, in an opinion piece which got published on The Telegraph last December.
He also mentioned that kids who play games “become like blinking lizards, motionless, absorbed, only the twitching of their hands showing they are still conscious. These machines teach them nothing. They stimulate no ratiocination, discovery or feat of memory.” Wait a sec! I certainly don’t wanna be called a lizard!
Anyhow, these acerbic comments earned the ire of Paul Jackson, director general of UK‘s ELSPA (their ESRB). Mr. Jackson, through a statement issued at GamesIndustry.biz, said that he respects Mr. Johnson’s opinion but he mentioned this:
The games industry is often a scapegoat for many problems society encounters with youths. But instead of placing blame where it should not lie, we need to educate parents and carers of the 21st Century child.
He shares that point of view with Connecticut Senator, Joe Lieberman. Aside from that, he also noted that games like Brain Training and Myst among many others is a “great source of education in their own right”. As for the blinking lizards jab, the ELSPA head said that a large number of games require a huge amount of movement and social interaction – take for instance Wii Sports or Guitar Hero.
Mr. Johnson has gotta keep up with the times, it seems.
About The Author
