Oh no, I’ve been Flamed!

Earlier this week on Fox’s The Morning Show, psychologist Susan Bartell spoke out on video game violence. In particular about how playing Halo affects a different part of your brain than when your playing a non violent game. Yet her credibility was seriously called into question as GamePolitics.com interviewed her today.

GP: One thing I found especially concerning… was [an e-mail] comment that you only saw the [Indiana University] brain scan pix five minutes before air [of The Morning Show]. That being the case, do you think it appropriate to go on and offer a professional opinion based on the scans to the audience?

Dr. Bartell: That’s the way it is with TV — it’s just not a black and white thing. I am genuinely sorry that it caused such a sense that I was being so disrespectful [to gamers]. The scans aside I stand by my opinion that violent games should not be played by teens… As to whether I should have responded to the scans — my intent was going on air to discuss whether the church should be holding Halo nights, clearly that was derailed.

GP: In all honesty, I’m having difficulty reconciling “that’s the way it is with TV” to responsible professionalism. It smacks of sensationalism. Just being candid here.

Dr. Bartell: I can understand how you feel… there is an element of sensationalism to it I suppose, but no less, IMO than all the hoopla created by the GP posters in response to my appearance. I appreciate candor — it will always help me grow as a person and as a professional. I couldn’t — five minutes before going on air — say, sorry I won’t do it, I don’t have enough background information about this brain scan! I’m just not that much of a purist…

Much respect to Dennis McCauley of GamePolitics for calling out Miss Bartell. My question is, who gives these people doctorates? Did she get her diploma in the mail? “I couldn’t — five minutes before going on air — say, sorry I won’t do it, I don’t have enough background information about this brain scan!” This just goes to show its all about ratings, and therefore the blame can’t solely be placed on Miss Bartell. Fox would have paraded out some other “Specialist” who wanted to promote book sales.

In addition if you look at the brain scans on the show, while playing Halo you can clearly see the activity is at the back of the brain. The back of the brain is referred to as the Occipital Lobe, the region of the brain that controls visual movement, as well as shape and color recognition. Sounds like a pretty consistent description of a video game to me. Yet with the non violent game, the diagram of the brain activity is diffused in different areas, meaning the individual was thinking about other things and NOT fully focused on paying the game. Probably because the non violent game they gave this guy was boring as hell.

Sensationalism indeed Miss Bartell. One thing is for certain, until the first generation of adults who grew up on Grand Theft Auto and Madden become parents themselves, we will continue to have these blind accusations about videogame violence. Take heart gamers, the freedom of entertainment shall be ours … eventually. When the suburban housewives get as sick of hearing about video game violence as we do, it will be game over for the Jack Thompsons and Dr. Bartell’s of the world.

Source: GamePolitics.com

Tags: Brain-Diagram, Bungie, Dr.-Bartell, GamePolitics, Halo-3

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