[Drizzt]

I was watching T.V. a bit over this last weekend, and realized that I am viewing a few things differently now. What brought it to mind, was the commercial that is out for Ghost Recon, showing different scenes of troops in combat. I always thought it was a pretty cool commercial, and was usually surprised to see it on T.V., but now, it's just not the same. Maybe it was the fact that it came on so soon after seeing some of the images from the ongoing combat in the Middle East this last weekend, but I just didn't see it as being quite so appealing any longer. I would have thought I knew better, but maybe I've been thinking of all this as a big video game.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the commercial shouldn't be run, or that Red Storm Software should provide counselors to those who witnessed the commercial ;) . I'm just talking about what I personally thought and felt. Maybe I've been out of the military too long, and I was just a bit too detached.

I listen to some of my guys at work, calmly discussing their latest go at Counterstrike, and who shot who, and who got 'owned'. Or maybe I'm looking through a magazine and see the ad for the newest version of "Hitman". It just starts sounding a bit surreal to me.

Even leaving the Pro-Saddam protestors out of the equation for the time being, are we as a country really taking this seriously enough? Are we a bit too casual when it comes to death and destruction?

[QuarterBoreGunner]

You're correct. We’re in a weird place now, what with watching battles unfold in real time, and the total information overload available via print and various electronic media, we’re able to see these incredible sights from the safety and comfort of our own homes.

I watched the Marines in a skirmish outside Umm Qasr; after some small arms fire they launched a Javelin rocket that blew out a big chunk of the building, and I thought ‘damn- thousands of miles away, they just did that and I’m seeing it here’ and yes..it was surreal. I’m a big player of Half Life TFC on-line and I haven’t touched it since this started. I don’t see this as a video game, it’s just that it seems somehow disrespectful to “play” at combat while real soldiers are bleeding on live TV.

Mmmh. I don’t think I’m expressing myself very well, but I get your point.

[Peetmoss]

I don't see what is disrespectful about enjoying the freedoms that our soilders provide. But to each there own

[QuarterBoreGunner]

peetmoss: you're correct of course, but it just feels strange to from watching combat on tv to playing it on the pc.

There's no 'do over' or 'respawn point' in what our soldiers are doing.

Nevemind. I can't seem to put what I mean into words.

[Hkmp5sd]

I view computer games as merely games. To me, it is no different than watching a fictionalized war movie. It isn't real and I'm aware of that. I'm not pretending I'm in combat and I'm not thinking that combat as easy as it is portrayed in the game.

The issue is similar to playing games such as Grand Theft Auto 3 where you play the badguy and succeed in the game by working your way up in a crime syndicate.

[cslinger]

It is healthy to feel that way.

Action, adventure, fake violence, fake destruction can be extremely fun and entertaining. I grew up playing army, GI Joe, watching violent movies etc.

I do however think that any real violence is wrong and should be the absolute last resort. It is necessary sometimes but it is never glorious or pretty.

I still like violent video games, tv, etc. but have a very clear cut division in my mind about what is real and what is not. The war has made me a little more sensitive to fake violence right now though.

I guess that's what seperates us from serial killers and psychos.

[Bulldozer]

No problems with playing violent games or watching war movies.

It is fictitious. Being able to clearly demarcate that line between real and unreal is all important, along with the ethical reasoning that comes when a concious decision is made to exercise lethal force in the real world.

[UnknownSailor]

QuarterBoreGunner

/me raises his Soldier RL in greetings

*snicker* I wouldn't really consider playing TFC in any way similar to what we've been seeing on the tube. When have you ever seen anyone conc-jump on Foxnews? :D

Watching this has given me a new appreciation of what the "green machine" does, and how well they do it.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

unknownsailor-

heh, well it would be cool to see a couple of HWGs waltzing around Basra... I wonder if the marines spam 'nades?