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UPDATE: Gamers Assault Bulletstorm-Criticizing Psychologist On Amazon
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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