High Fructose Corn Syrup VERSUS Video Games

In 1954 Frederick Wertham published a book called The Seduction of the Innocent. In the first half of the Twentieth Century comic books had become an increasingly popular form of entertainment among young Americans.

In the infamous tome he argued that heavy themes of perverse sexuality and violence permeated the books and had a profound influence on children in the United States. Some examples were that there was an improper, homosexual, underage relationship between Batman and Robin. Another of Wertham’s concerns was that Wonder Woman was a lesbian because she exuded strength, confidence and independence.

Wertham gained some fame due to his authorship of this book and was a key expert to participate in Robert Hendrickson’s subcommittee on juvenile delinquency. The subcommittee looked very closely at the influence of comic books and their impact on young Americans. This negative press led to mass burnings of comic books and severe backlash against comic book publishers and newsstands that sold them. The result of all this drama was the adoption of the Comics Code Authority, heavy censorship and the demise of pulp horror and crime comics.

Similarly, in the late 1960’s, movies came under extreme fire from parties concerned about the violent and sexual themes prevalent in films and the ease at which minors were able to be exposed to them. This eventually led to the creation of the MPAA and their ever evolving ratings system. This is a concern that is still fairly prevalent today.

Likewise, in the early-to-mid nineties, television shows came to the forefront of the debate with regards to the exposure of minors to violence and sex. Television shows like NYPD Blue and other maturely marketed productions came under heavy fire and this and other concerns lead to the television rating system. Like the film industry, the television debate is still ubiquitous, particularly with animated television shows like South Park and Family Guy that are accused of targeting children, despite their mature themes.

The previous paragraphs are a loose gloss of some very complex social concerns with regards to popular forms of entertainment that were very poignant in the past and still remain a major concern for many. The music industry has also gone through, and still continues to go through, the same kind of criticism, but the point is brought across with the summaries I have provided. I am bringing them up to set the environment for my main point.

Concern for video game content was inevitable, and in 1994 the ESRB, a self-policing rating system within the industry, was established. It was not until the violence at Columbine High School occurred that the concern of video game content was shot into the mainstream media and the hearts and minds of the American public.

The accusations and concerns of that incident are well known and if you are not familiar with them a quick Google search will bring you up to speed. Since then, criticism of video games has been continued in the mainstream media, being addressed as recently as the 2008 Democratic Primaries by Senator Clinton.

Perhaps though, none of the movements against video games are as famous as the 2007 Jack Thompson crusade against the industry, which was very similar to Wertham’s over-the-top and exaggerated campaign against comic books. This also is well documented and if you are unfamiliar, Google it.

It was on the Gamasutra front page and various other media outlets today that President Obama addressed the American Medical Association and how to reduce medical costs by increasing health saying, “It means quitting smoking, going in for that mammogram or colon cancer screening. It means going for a run or hitting the gym, and raising our children to step away from the video games and spend more time playing outside.” (Transcript: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-06-15-obama-speech-text_N.htm )

The major point of the President’s speech was a discussion of how to reduce healthcare costs. Putting smoking and video games into the same sentence provides a corrupt and unfair implication. To me this is evidence that the idea of video games contributing to the decline of America’s youth is becoming an unconsciously accepted idea.

First it was violent behavior that video games were being blamed for and now it is the unhealthy state of America’s youth that video games are being blamed. And now, we get to it – Mr. Obama, if you really wanted to improve the health of America’s children, or the population in general, you would have criticized the use of high fructose corn syrup in an astounding amount of foods marketed to children instead of a pastime activity.

While I agree with the basic tenet of the President’s statement – that children should get more exercise, the use of high fructose corn syrup is, on every possible level, much more damaging to the physical status of the American public as a whole then video games ever could be. It is ridiculous that video games have become the popular thing to blame for just about all of American children’s tribulations.

In the June 13th-19th 2009 issue of The Economist an article called “The Underworked American” broached the subject of the laziness of America’s youth, particularly academically. In the article they argue the complacency of the United States education system shoulders much of the responsibility. The President has argued that there is a need to “rethink the school day” and modernize it to make better use of children’s time.

I believe that Mr. Obama is right to point at the education system as being part of the problem. But, while we are talking education, how about reinstituting a proper physical education programs in schools that have been hit so hard by budget cuts, instead of pandering to the laziness of overweight and unhealthy children and their parents? Where is this sense of responsibility with regards to health?

The Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and The British Journal of Medicine have compiled exhaustive studies that refute the idea of video games and violent behavior being tied together. Jack Thompson was disbarred for his exaggerated and erroneous statements concerning video games. It is time for everyone, especially at the top, to take responsibility for their statements and actions.

Video games, like comic books, movies, music, and television shows are not to blame. In the end Video games are simply the most recent scapegoat. Despite their egregious exaggerations the Werthams and Thompsons of the world bring some valid points – there should be policing of the exposure of violence in video games to minors, and there is. But, the reason video games are under so much fire is because of their popularity and the lack of responsibility in the public. Nobody wants to take blame so they point at the easiest target.

Games are already one of the largest forms of entertainment in America today and continue to be one of the fastest growing, but they are not to blame for the degradation of our children’s health or lack of accomplishments. It is disappointing to see the President using an old, accepted and improper crutch (video games) as a reason for unhealthy children while the other, real issues like poor diet and lack of proper physical education are ignored. For shame Mr. President.