G4TV's Endorsement of 4/20
Why gamers should be angry with the cable network's 4/20 special
Derek Hidey
Issue date: 5/2/07 Section: The AT Wire
With all the evil in the world being blamed on the playing of video games, there isn’t much else one can do to further the negative image of gaming in society. Well, that is true, except for when a cable-television network dedicated to video games decides to theme its programming after a holiday based on the smoking and lifestyle of marijuana.
Wow, and I thought that we (gamers) had actually managed to escape the death trap of being associated with the consumption of drugs. Here comes G4TV, proving that what they think they know about gaming culture is actually wrong.
The following was a blog post made on G4TV.com called “The
Best Games for 4/20?”:
“TheFeed loves 4/20. It’s a very relaxing day that lets us get in touch with ourselves and re-connect with the wonders of life. Like, what if there’s an entire universe is just one atom under our fingernails, and, get this, what if like our Universe is just one atom under the fingernail of some gigantic dude?? Woah…we just blew our own minds! Also, do we have any more Cheetos?
Anyway, we also play videogames, and thought we’d present you with a short list of some of our favorite 4/20 games, in no order. It’s by no means complete, so add your favorites below.”
I don’t see how 4/20 directly or indirectly relates to gaming at all. Sure, there are probably thousands of people who smoke marijuana and play video games. Hell, I knew a few people from my old gaming community that did, but that is not the point. I bet there are a bunch of fashion designers who smoke marijuana, but you don’t see the Home and Garden Network doing a 4/20 special!
My concern is that people who don’t know anything about the gaming culture are going to watch G4TV and see the 4/20 promotional specials and think, “Wow, gamers and drugs go together.” Now, I’m sure we aren’t going to see a huge backlash of negative feelings because of G4TV’s little “special,” but from the perspective of a gamer looking for some respect from society, it pisses me off.
I’m a gamer who doesn’t “celebrate” 4/20, and I don’t need to be high to “pwn” you in Battlefield 2142!
Other gamers have expressed their concerns and displeasure with G4TV’s apparent lack of attention. If G4TV knew their target audience at all, maybe they wouldn’t have done a 4/20 special.
One user called “blizzard147,” replied, “What’s with G4 always giving innuendo about smoking marijuana?”
Another user, “freeway8989,” commented on one of G4TV’s shows called “Attack of the Show,” saying that the 4/20 episode “was basically just Olivia and Kevin trying to convince you to do pot. I don’t care if you smoke or not, but please don’t try to convince me to do it.”
Of course, there were a lot of comments that supported G4TV’s endorsement as well as just the holiday of 4/20 in general. However, my concern is not the 4/20 holiday and whether it is stupid. Nor is it with whether marijuana should be legalized or not. My concern is about how the connection made by G4TV between 4/20 and video games will cause further problems for gamers and gaming in general. How will anyone take us (gamers) seriously if all they see is how G4TV represents us?
We don’t all smoke marijuana, G4TV, so stop treating us like we do.
Wow, and I thought that we (gamers) had actually managed to escape the death trap of being associated with the consumption of drugs. Here comes G4TV, proving that what they think they know about gaming culture is actually wrong.
The following was a blog post made on G4TV.com called “The
Best Games for 4/20?”:
“TheFeed loves 4/20. It’s a very relaxing day that lets us get in touch with ourselves and re-connect with the wonders of life. Like, what if there’s an entire universe is just one atom under our fingernails, and, get this, what if like our Universe is just one atom under the fingernail of some gigantic dude?? Woah…we just blew our own minds! Also, do we have any more Cheetos?
Anyway, we also play videogames, and thought we’d present you with a short list of some of our favorite 4/20 games, in no order. It’s by no means complete, so add your favorites below.”
I don’t see how 4/20 directly or indirectly relates to gaming at all. Sure, there are probably thousands of people who smoke marijuana and play video games. Hell, I knew a few people from my old gaming community that did, but that is not the point. I bet there are a bunch of fashion designers who smoke marijuana, but you don’t see the Home and Garden Network doing a 4/20 special!
My concern is that people who don’t know anything about the gaming culture are going to watch G4TV and see the 4/20 promotional specials and think, “Wow, gamers and drugs go together.” Now, I’m sure we aren’t going to see a huge backlash of negative feelings because of G4TV’s little “special,” but from the perspective of a gamer looking for some respect from society, it pisses me off.
I’m a gamer who doesn’t “celebrate” 4/20, and I don’t need to be high to “pwn” you in Battlefield 2142!
Other gamers have expressed their concerns and displeasure with G4TV’s apparent lack of attention. If G4TV knew their target audience at all, maybe they wouldn’t have done a 4/20 special.
One user called “blizzard147,” replied, “What’s with G4 always giving innuendo about smoking marijuana?”
Another user, “freeway8989,” commented on one of G4TV’s shows called “Attack of the Show,” saying that the 4/20 episode “was basically just Olivia and Kevin trying to convince you to do pot. I don’t care if you smoke or not, but please don’t try to convince me to do it.”
Of course, there were a lot of comments that supported G4TV’s endorsement as well as just the holiday of 4/20 in general. However, my concern is not the 4/20 holiday and whether it is stupid. Nor is it with whether marijuana should be legalized or not. My concern is about how the connection made by G4TV between 4/20 and video games will cause further problems for gamers and gaming in general. How will anyone take us (gamers) seriously if all they see is how G4TV represents us?
We don’t all smoke marijuana, G4TV, so stop treating us like we do.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Emilie Autumn
posted 5/02/07 @ 12:46 PM EST
Do you gamers really get too much disrespect from society?
I think gaming is probably significantly more socially acceptable than smoking. Which is sad, because I've met a few pot heads in my day, and they're signficantly more well-adjusted and intelligent than any WOW player. (Continued…)
dhidey
Derek Hidey
posted 5/02/07 @ 1:36 PM EST
Well, yes I do think that gamers are interpreted negatively by society. Also, my column doesn't have to do with the legalization of marijuana, so I have nothing to say about that. (Continued…)
Emilie Autumn
posted 5/02/07 @ 4:16 PM EST
But I don't hate videogames, although I don't identify myself as a gamer because they're purely a recreational activity, not a "lifestyle", "identity", "profession" or anything that would require a noun. (Continued…)
dhidey
Derek Hidey
posted 5/02/07 @ 8:28 PM EST
You obviously don't realize how controversial video games currently are. If you did, you would understand where I'm coming from. Also, you seem to have stopped gaming at the SNES level and I just want to point out that you've been missing a lot. (Continued…)
Emilie Autumn
posted 5/02/07 @ 9:42 PM EST
I didn't 'stop gaming at the SNES level', I just like Super Nintendo games a lot more than most of the newer ones. It's not like I'm living in a time capsule, I read the newspaper and keep up with the news pretty thoroughly. (Continued…)
Grant Morrison
posted 5/02/07 @ 10:02 PM EST
Video games are hardly controversial at all these days. Video game idiocy laws passed by legislatures around the country have been repeatedly struck down by judges in review. (Continued…)
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