Enemies of Reason Poundshop potshots at the media moral maze.

I’m a bit behind on this one…

I missed it while I was away last week. But it's incredible, whichever way you look at it.

The StarNow talent agency advertises that a national newspaper is looking for criminals who want to pretend that computer games made them do it - and will pay 'hundreds of pounds' for the right person.

A national newspaper wants your story and will pay hundreds of pounds to the right person.

Write a few lines about how computer games turned you to crime and if it's something we like, we'll call you straight back.

A couple of points which doubtless have been made elsewhere. Firstly, isn't this allowing criminals to profit from crime? A newspaper is apparently offering to pay hundreds of pounds for a criminal to describe their criminal activity - they're not offering any money to the hundreds of thousands of people who play games but never commit crimes. It's discrimination against the law-abiding!

Seems to me there's an agenda to demonise computer games for crime; and, unable to find real evidence at their fingertips of this actually being the case, they're willing to pay some crim to pretend that 'it was those pesky games what made me do it, honest guv'.

Let's not even bother with the argument that those predisposed to certain criminal tendencies might actively seek out games that reflect their personality - too complicated for a newspaper to get across, and implies some shades of grey in a black-and-white world. Let's just look for straight causality.

Also on StarNow:

The Daily Express is looking for attractive women to appear on its pages.

Did you develop an eating disorder later in life? Has it changed you forever?
Were you once bully - either at school, at home or in the workplace. Do you bitterly regret the way you behaved?
Have you been diagnosed with or have you overcome an unusual illness?
Do you just have an interesting real life story that you would love to share?
If any of the above apply, please send me a short synopsis of your story with a recent picture of yourself (not for publication).
Payment details: paid role

Attractive bullies and sick people need only apply. Don't bother if you've got a great story and you're a minger.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Related posts:

1. Computer game dog attack confusion