Daily Mail 'fabricated' anti-games article

By compl3x
in Gamers' Hangout

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

compl3x

Posted
Posted

Jd7lA.jpg

Several news outlets including the Daily Mail and BBC have been accused of "fabricating" an article claiming games are turning children into "zombies".

In its article headlined 'Stoned with tiredness: Generation of children are becoming zombies because of late-night gaming sessions, claims charity', the Mail states games such as FIFA 12 have caused a generation of children to become "living zombies".

Both the Mail - which often pushes an anti-gaming agenda - and the BBC quoted Robert Hart-Fletcher of charity Kids and Media as saying: "Gaming is a phenomenon that's been around quite a while. Now we are starting to see the effects in behaviour of young people.

"In the past people had genuine relationships with empathy and compassion which has been replaced by this virtual relationship where they are not necessarily having to show empathy or compassion. That's starting perhaps to change the way they interact on a day to day basis."

However, Hart-Fletcher has come out to claim the quotes attributed to him in the articles are 'completely fabricated', and that he's in fact a proponent of gaming for children, provided they're suitable and played in moderation.

"Our stance is that gaming, being in constant contact with friends and playing with other gamers around the world, is good for most kids most of the time," Mr. Hart-Fletcher told BeefJack.

"While people can over-use games or smartphones, they can over-use anything - and that's no reflection of the value of the activity."

Mr. Hart-Fletcher supposedly provided an MP3 file of the interview to prove the comments are indeed erroneous.

The BBC has since amended its story to "clear" up the comments, while the Mail story - complete with picture of man dressed as a zombie - is still live.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/333867/daily-mail-fabricated-anti-games-article/

Grand Master

Dotdot

Posted
Posted

Papers get closed for hacking phones, but its perfectly acceptable to report on what is little more than made up bull ****?? Should this be against there code of conduct?

Not to mention that if I was the developer of a certain Football game Id be looking at making a case of slander. Mind you this is nothing new, the papers have been at this for years. I once heard that if something is said to have come from "sources" where no name is given or the attachment is vague, then chances are its been made up.

I've always liked it being referred to as the Daily Heil, moslty due to it being a supporter of the Nazi's back in the early 30's under Lord Rothesmere ;)

My Gran refuses to read it for the same reason, shes 90 and remembers Lord Rothesmere`s bs propaganda well.

Mentor

Paul Ferson Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

I'm surprised the Daily Mail still operates, since it's about the only thing they haven't yet declared causes cancer. The list of links on that Facebook page of things that cause cancer to Daily Mail readers is fantastic.

Grand Master

compl3x

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It was the Daily Mail, the BBC and several other news vendors... Yet only the Daily Mail had it's name plastered all over the article..

The Daily Mail was the source of the fabrication. The daily mail has had an anti-gaming agenda for a long time. The BBC amended the story. Seems fairly obvious why The DM is being singled out.

Grand Master

Chicane-UK Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

Daily Mail lacking in journalistic integrity? I won't hear it!

But then on the flip side of that, it wouldn't surprise me if the message is fundamentally true... I know if I spend too long playing games I end up feeling an utter wreck.. can't over emphasise how much better I feel after a day outdoors, doing stuff, etc! I try limit myself to 1-2 hour sessions tops a couple of times a week!

Grand Master

compl3x

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Daily Mail lacking in journalistic integrity? I won't hear it!

But then on the flip side of that, it wouldn't surprise me if the message is fundamentally true... I know if I spend too long playing games I end up feeling an utter wreck.. can't over emphasise how much better I feel after a day outdoors, doing stuff, etc! I try limit myself to 1-2 hour sessions tops a couple of times a week!

The point the article was trying to make was that because of "virtual realities" people are losing compassion and empathy for others. You might feel wrecked after a long session, that is true of all of us, but I don't think it effects your humanity in anyway. You don't become amoral because of video games.

Mentor

Xerax

Posted
Posted

The Daily Mail was the source of the fabrication. The daily mail has had an anti-gaming agenda for a long time. The BBC amended the story. Seems fairly obvious why The DM is being singled out.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Marshall Major V Bluetooth headphones are now up to 47% off on Amazon

      By Ivan Jenic · Posted

      Marshall Major V Bluetooth headphones are now up to 47% off on Amazon by Ivan Jenic The Marshall Major V in Midnight Blue is currently $89.99 on Amazon, down from $169.99. That's 47% off and $80 saved on a pair of wireless on-ear headphones from one of the most recognizable names in audio. The Major V is Marshall's take on a long-lasting everyday headphone. The headphones deliver 100+ hours of wireless playtime, which puts them in a completely different category from most Bluetooth headphones that hover around 30-40 hours. You’re charging this thing once a week at most, and with wireless charging supported, you don’t have to worry about additional cables. Marshall promises its signature sound profile, with strong bass, smooth mids, and clear highs. There’s a customizable M-button, which you can set to quickly access Spotify Tap, your EQ settings, or a voice assistant. The design is foldable and lightweight at 186 grams, so it’s easy to pack for travel. And finally, the faux leather finish gives the Major V a sleek, premium look. At $89.99, the Major V Midnight Blue is a genuinely strong buy for anyone who wants a reliable daily headphone without paying premium prices. It’s also worth mentioning that the Cream and Brown variants are also discounted to $89.99, though from a lower original price of $99.99. Marshall Major V Midnight Blue - $89.99 | 47% off on Amazon This Amazon deal is US-specific and not available in other regions unless specified. This is a first-party seller link (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you also purchase from a first-party seller link only. If you don't like it or want to look at more options, check out the previous deals that we have covered, OR you can also visit Amazon US deals page. Get Prime (SNAP), Prime Video, Audible Plus or Kindle / Music Unlimited. Free for 30 days. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • what other retro software do yall use

      By C:Amie · Posted

      +1 on XVI. I still use it. 
    • UK to ban under-16s from social media following a six-week trial with teenagers

      By Skyfrog · Posted

      Age 16, old enough to get a full-time job, your own bank account, a passport, get married, even join the military and go to war. But talking to your friends on the internet? Oh hell no!
    • Steam Next Fest returns with thousands of new demos to try out

      By Skyfrog · Posted

      I remember when all games had demos; it was a normal thing, not a limited time promotion.
    • Forza Horizon 6 gets big bug-fixing and balancing update

      By TarasBuria · Posted

      Forza Horizon 6 gets big bug-fixing and balancing update by Taras Buria Today, Playground Games released a big Forza Horizon 6 update with a long list of fixes, patches, and balancing tweaks that the studio promised earlier. Version 375.327 is now available on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox, offering users improvements for AI, audio, design, performance, road discovery, upgrades, visuals, online play, and more. Some of the most notable changes in the Series 2 update include rebalanced drivatars, particularly their difficulty and race start behavior. As such, the game should be more balanced on higher difficulty levels, and AI cars should not shoot out when the race starts as if they have rocket boosters. Speaking of difficulty, developers nerfed Drag Tires physics for a more expected and realistic behavior. They are no longer the go-to option for record-breaking times in road racing, and all leaderboard entries with drag tires will be removed. Completionists will also be glad to get a new feature that lets you see road discovery percentage in each region, which should make discovering all roads easier while keeping it quite challenging and interesting (I spent quite a long time finding the last road). Festival Playlist is also getting some much-needed fixes, including patches for bugs that allowed completing Seasonal Jobs ahead of time or where weekly challenges would not unlock for some players. Developers will retroactively give reward points to all who could not complete all challenges due to these bugs. Other changes include changes to Horizon Play progression so that it is easier to reach Level 100, audio improvements on lower-spec devices, fixes for visual glitches, including pixelated smoke, and more. Developers also addressed the currently non-working Eliminator, an online mode gamers used to farm credits with a Hummer EV exploit. Playground Games plans to re-enable it soon. As a gesture of goodwill, players will get a free McLaren Sabre. Those who used the exploit will not be banned, but developers plan to roll back credits to a maximum of 10M for all who farmed credits using the exploit. You can find the complete changelog for the latest Forza Horizon 6 update here.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Reacting Well
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • First Post
      Cosminus earned a badge
      First Post
    • One Year In
      ThatGuyOnline earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Week One Done
      Jeroen Wilms earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      rolfus earned a badge
      Week One Done

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      484
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      185
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      122
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      83
    5. 5
      neufuse
      73
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!