LongShot #110: The Uphill Battle

[GamerDad]

David Long's LongShot #110: The Uphill Battle article - http://www.gamerdad.com/detail.cfm?itemID=3047

[txa1265]

... now on my business trip next week, where I planned to have my DS as my primary gaming source while travelling, I'll have to play Resident Evil without headphones so people will know I'm a sick & twisted violent gamer rather than a sick & twisted pedophile ...

Mike

[SiW]

I'll have to play Resident Evil without headphones so people will know I'm a sick & twisted violent gamer

I don't want to know what people would think if they heard me playing Feel the Magic.

"mmmMmmmm.. break time.."

[txa1265]

I'll have to play Resident Evil without headphones so people will know I'm a sick & twisted violent gamer

I don't want to know what people would think if they heard me playing Feel the Magic.

"mmmMmmmm.. break time.."

that you'd be taking a break to do a little PictoChatting ...

PERV

[GamerDad]

I'm telling Nintendo about this. I might also use it as an opportunity to show that not only is GamerDad getting into the newspaper - we're also helping to set them straight. I think this link should be spammed at Channel 6 in Philly.

Good job Dave and... nice try.

[SiW]

Yes, I forgot to comment on the column again, sorry Dave!

I think the article title says it all really. I don't think you can fight a reporter who has their mind set on a story and will use or abuse their sources to make the story work. I do think there is a shred of truth to the story and that as parents we should include this in the "danger stranger" instructions, I just don't think it's a massive problem. FWIW, the ugly scenario I'm imagining is someone in a public place hanging out in a bathroom (stall?) and using PictoChat and asking kids to come and find them.

[txa1265]

I'm telling Nintendo about this. I might also use it as an opportunity to show that not only is GamerDad getting into the newspaper - we're also helping to set them straight. I think this link should be spammed at Channel 6 in Philly.

Good job Dave and... nice try.

That is a great idea - here was an opportunity to talk about something in a serious manner without being alarmist, but they blew it pretty badly, thereby losing credibility and making me wonder if this really happened ... and *what* really happened.

[Justy Ueki Tylor]

I commented on that article to the newstation. I don't have children yet (don't kick me out! ^_^) but I definitely believe in protecting them. I agreed with the pros of the article, but I also set the record straight about the DS Wi Fi capabilities. I also umm...questioned the credibility of their internet security expert. :::laughs:::

If this story makes its way to Los Angeles, I have a feeling I'll get stared at when I'm playing my DS or PSP on the way to work.

[SiW]

The intelligent gaming site Idle Thumbs mentions Dave and GamerDad by name over on their site, nice to see

[MarkRugby]

Yet one more example of why you have to take a grain (or pound) of salt when watching tv news.

[GamerDad]

The intelligent gaming site Idle Thumbs mentions Dave and GamerDad by name over on their site, nice to see

Cool. Please either post or send me an email whenever you see this happen.

[Dave Long]

It's on /.

[GoBigelow]

Hey guys,

What strikes me is apparently this is some hotshot reporter with an Emmy. I wonder how many other news pieces she did where she cherry-picked her information and sources. I wrote a complaint letter to the local station that aired her piece, accusing them of slander. This is just really upsetting.

I can't leave my house with my DS anymore!

Bigelow

[Atras126]

This article got linked to by "Clicked" on MSNBC's blog page. Something along the lines of "Parents need to learn technology to avoid falling for alarmist trends." Good work!

[momGamer]

Thanks, Atras!

So you can read it, the link is http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6409077/, and the paragraph reads:

A theme I often emphasize is that the Internet is not a safe place for unsupervised children. A corollary to the rule that parents need to learn technology to protect their children, however, is that parents need to learn technology so they aren't duped by trendy fear mongering.