Should you read the Geneva Conventions to play Call Of Duty 4?
War can be hell, I’m sure. I wouldn’t know, having chosen not to partake in it, especially as it’s pointless 99 percent of the time. But my conscientious objector ways don’t stop me playing war games, and video games that require me to shoot people in the head until they die. The question is, should I be required to read the Geneva Conventions in order to play a little Call of Duty 4?
It may seem a bizarre question but it’s one prompted by a real-life incident involving a guest writer on Boing Boing, Hugh Spencer, and his 13-year-old son. Spencer is a responsible father and so keeps an eye on what games his son Evan plays.
Faced with the dilemma of letting his just-turned-teenage son play a T-rated game which shows some of the horrors of war, Spencer decided to do the only sensible thing – make Evan read the Geneva Conventions and vow to stick to them while playing Call of Duty 4. I kid you not.
The Geneva Conventions are a set of four treaties which mainly deal with the treatment of prisoners and civilians during wartime. So in a war-based video game, this could mean intentionally killing a civilian caught in crossfire or mistreating an enemy that has surrendered.
I think setting this rule may be a little over-the-top, and Evan may grow up resenting his father for spoiling his fun. However, it does show up an important difference between video games and other forms of media. No-one would even consider reading the Geneva Conventions before watching a war film because you’re not in any way in control of what happens on screen. While video games can be played out according to an individual’s set or morals and idea of right and wrong.
Apparently, Evan and anyone he plays with online has to abide by the rules set out in the Geneva Conventions, or the game gets taken away from him for a while. So if you see Evan online, shoot the nearest woman or child in the head (in the game, naturally) and watch him cry.
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5 Responses to “Should you read the Geneva Conventions to play Call Of Duty 4?”
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February 23rd, 2009
“So if you see Evan online, shoot the nearest woman or child in the head (in the game, naturally) and watch him cry.”
Haha! That was what I was thinking as I read the article. You are going to hell Dave.
February 23rd, 2009
pfft… Europeans and their “Geneva” conventions… and their “Human Rights”…
ONLY AMERICANS HAVE RIGHTS BIATCH!!!
February 23rd, 2009
dumb. why not force his kid to read the local driving manuals before playing a racing game.
February 23rd, 2009
So I guess we won’t be seeing Evan online playing GTA IV anytime soon, huh?
February 23rd, 2009
Not unless he has.. I don’t know. Criminal’s handbook. I expect they have those in the eastern europe.