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UPDATE: Gamers Assault Bulletstorm-Criticizing Psychologist On Amazon

News
by Tim Turi on February 10, 2011 at 03:00 PM
21,205 Views
164

UPDATE: A new development has surfaced regarding the controversial FoxNews article containing a quote from a psychologist claiming there are direct links to sex acts in video games and real life rape. The team of Dr. Carole Lieberman, the psychologist in question, has responded via Amazon, insisting that she was misrepresented by FoxNews.

The statement suggests that the FoxNews writer John Brandon used the Dr. Lieberman's quote out of context. Here it is in full:

"Hi there,

It appears that you have recently read an article on Fox News in which Dr. Carole was misrepresented on her views on video game violence. I hope you understand that it was the publication that chose to represent Dr. Carole's views in this light, and that the statement was taken out of context. Her books also do not condemn the use of video games.

It is clear, however, that this statement has unintentionally caused you some deep emotional turmoil and we would like to rectify the situation.

Please contact carole.lieberman.md@gmail.com with your contact information, and we will be in touch to clear up any misunderstandings that may have been caused. It is important that we create a dialogue regarding this situation.

Please be aware that there are real people who are being affected by your comments. I know we can both approach this situation in a kinder and more civil manner. Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Team at Dr. Carole Lieberman "

We've contacted Dr. Lieberman for comment on FoxNews' misrepresentation.

[Thanks to Andrew Vasbinder for the tip]

ORIGINAL STORY: Two days ago FoxNews posted an article warning the world about the dangers of Bulletstorm, and how it may be the "worst game ever." Within the article, psychologist Carol Lieberman suggested that increases in rape can be blamed on sex scenes within video games. The author of the post didn't provide support for this statement, and a posse of gamers have slammed a book of hers via Amazon's reviews.

“The increase in rapes can be attributed in large part to the playing out of [sexual] scenes in video games," are the words Lieberman chose to use when expressing the dangers of Bulletstorm. Over the past two days her book, "Bad Girls," went from having a handful of positive reviews to having over 30 1-star critiques, including the following:

"Ignoring the fact that she didn't provide any examples of a video games where a player would be "playing out sexual scenes," she also never cites sources to such a statement. She goes for baseless assumptions, presents speculative arguments as fact, and provides as much research as an 8th grade term paper. This is just another grand standing, wannabe author yelling out, using her title as a form of absolute authority on any subject she chooses to write about. Don't reward this type of shoddy behavior. "

I have my doubts that every reviewer on Amazon purchased and read the book before commenting, but it's an interesting response to Lieberman's unsupported claims about a game that hasn't been released yet.

What do you think about this type of eye for an eye behavior? Does she deserve to be lambasted, or are these derisive Amazon reviews just reinforcing the whiny gamer stereotype?

[Via Destructoid]

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Comments
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  • by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:35 PM
    Yes, she does deserve this, even if only for one reason: she provides no evidence. If you are going to claim that video games cause rape, at least try to prove it.
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    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:37 PM
    Those people are doing the same thing she did. She had no sources and claimed something to be fact. Those "reviewers" didn't read the book but claimed knowledge of it.

    Update: Ok, she claims she was misrepresented, but will only rectify the situation through personal email. Not only does this re-insult the entire gaming community, but the entire message is condescending.
  • by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:38 PM
    She probably doesn't deserve to have her book to be torn apart by people who haven't read it but she also put herself on the chopping block when she decided to accuse an entire medium of a serious real-world crime without citing any facts. If she wanted proof for the type of retaliation she was likely to get she should have seen what happened to the author who commented without knowing her facts during the Mass Effect news piece.
  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:40 PM
    As long as the responses are as thought out and written as well as the statement you posted in this news article, Tim. A bunch of people saying "you're dumb" followed by a slew of curses would only support the whiny, unintelligent gamer stereotype. On the other hand, responses like the one posted in the news article bring out valid points and certainly calls into question the professionalism of the "expert."
  • by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:40 PM
    Personally, I think it is kind of childish to go out and bash her book when they never even read it. That said though she pretty much did the same thing.
  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:40 PM
    Whiny gamer stereo type? This pathetic sensationalizing has to stop eventually. Adults now play video games and the mental dinosaurs of the world need to understand that. "Gamers" need to stop feeling self conscious about being "nerds" or whatever else (whiny?) and take some pride they are part of an industry born of creativity and passion. I've read her so called book, and these criticisms are not without foundation. She is grand standing and she completely deserves to be challenged on an academic level for it. Logical fallacies should be called on, and her book is over flowing with them.
  • by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:42 PM
    It does come off as whiny, but what else are you gonna do? Buy her book first?
  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:42 PM
    this is why i love gaming and the gaming industry, especially in the online space. while maybe multiplayer games like call of duty contradict this, i find users on this website and the gamers mentioned above to be actually rational human beings, not like the "trolls" found on sites like youtube and other non gaming sites. gaming ftw!!
  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:46 PM
    you need evidence to back up findings, otherwise it'll end up like the bible
  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:46 PM

    If two little words on screen suddenly compel you to commit an act of violence; sexual or otherwise, you have probably been brainwashed. :P

    It is such a hallow argument.

  • by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:47 PM

    I just read her book, which I acquired without paying for.  Let me tell you, it is one giant pile of dog filth.  Can't talk more, I'm off to Amazon.

  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:49 PM

    Making baseless claims is something that should always be called out. I applaud the gamers who actually went out of there way to show that if you are going to analyze something you should at least have some facts to back it up. I in no way think that the act reinforced the whiny gamer stereotype, rather it showed that gamers truly care about their medium.

  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:53 PM

    I am a 2nd year psychology major and avid gamer and this is very disappointing. The field of psychology is already barely considered a science and has barely any solid foundation. People like her make don't help the cause of the field whatsoever especially since a lot of research I have done points to video games only being as dangerous as the person playing them.

  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:54 PM

    As most psychologists shes a total joke. Gamers deserve to defend ourselves, not even sure what whiny stereotype you guys are speaking of but regardless... Rape is not something you gain from anything which proves how idiotic she is. There is no special correlation no matter what a study says. Rape is about control, inducing fear and harm... just focusing with the desire of lust versus violence or others (self-harm w/ drugs or w/e else). Basically this *** is saying monkey-see monkey-do which is the most pathetic argument against anything, EVER. If they are going to complain about rape go focus on a game that has it in its freaking title, I've give you a clue, it ends with lay.

  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:56 PM

    Spread lies and get fried...BOOM!

  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:58 PM

    I for one am happy to see the gaming community beginning to fight back agains all of this political BS. Neither we nor our favorite passtime should have to be subject to such unreasonable criticism. As long as those who participate in acts such as the one in this article keep their arguments calm, cool, and logical so as to avoid coming off as immature and displaying negative characteristics such as violence or uncontrolled anger that the enemy can point out as being caused by video games I think it is a good thing.

  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:59 PM

    people need to realize that gamers will fight back especially on the tubes

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    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:59 PM

    I don't see where she gets off saying anything, really. I highly doubt that rape is caused by anything other than the rapist's own twisted mind. People just like to blame problematic behavior on something and don't want to face the fact that the world is just a sick place sometimes. I've played the demo to Bulletstorm and as a mature, non-rapist person, I am looking forward to it. I don't expect my mature, non-rapist person status to change because I'm kicking a green guy and then slow-motion headshotting him into a wall.

  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:59 PM
    So, let me get this straight. We want all the respect in the world for our industry... Yet as soon as somebody says something against it, we go into whiny, insecure mode. We deserve to be treated this way if this is how gamers are going to react. Grow the *** up.
  •
    by Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 01:59 PM

    Haha...it's Mass Effect all over again.

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