Is the rape simulator video game good or bad for democracy? Essay Example

watched non-violent programming. At the end of the study, teachers observed no difference in aggressive behavior among the students. However, those students who had previously shown a tendency towards aggression based on personality tests did show a decrease in aggression. Since these students were only a small minority, it disproves the validity of the Catharsis theory in this case.

In contrast to the Catharsis theory, the Aggressive Simulation theory argues that individuals are influenced by what they witness and exposure to violence can incite them to imitate it. Alexander (2009) states that video games which break down social barriers for those inclined towards aggression can weaken democracy as they influence individuals to engage in violent behavior through observation and imitation.The effective functioning of democratic societies relies on the maintenance of law and order.

We live in a world where we are constantly inundated with information, much of which persuades us to purchase various products. The power of marketing has already been proven through the long history of our Public Relations industry. The PR industry and media collectively possess significant influence over the minds of individuals. In this context, individuals who lack the ability to differentiate between right and wrong are highly exposed to violence through advertisements and other marketing campaigns, resulting in disastrous consequences such as brutality, anger, savagery, torture, sadism, etc (all of which are promoted by Rape Simulator). Therefore, it is crucial that these games undergo censorship or be banned from public consumption (Haydon, 2009).

The issue with Rape Simulator is that it promotes sexual acts involving schoolgirls, which implies pedophilia. Despite being intended for adults, the game depicts characters who are adolescents. This criticism also

extends to the sale of schoolgirl costumes in adult stores, as both encourage pedophilia, rape, and promote deviant behavior and mistreatment. These actions go against democratic principles. It is no longer valid to argue that these things are harmless and have no societal impact. In fact, considering the threats to democracy we have previously discussed, one could make a case for banning any video game that includes murder, war, theft or gun violence. At least in those instances there may be potential justifications. For instance, theft can be justified as a means of providing for oneself or supporting one's family; gun violence can be justified in self-defense or protecting lives from a murderer; and war can be justified as an action taken by the government. However, the rape simulator video game undermines the very core values of democratic civil society.

While censorship and freedom of speech are contradictory, it is crucial to restrict extreme expressions such as the Rape Simulator game in order to safeguard democratic societies. Supporters of sexual assault victims' rights acknowledge this dilemma as they oppose the exploitation of civil rights that foster a culture tolerating rape and violence against women (Haydon, 2009).

Banning or censoring something draws attention to it and generates free promotion. Upon discovering this game, my immediate response was to investigate it, and I'm certain many players had the same reaction. Even if the game becomes prohibited, there are still numerous methods of obtaining and playing it. Censorship only heightens awareness and attracts more players. However, legalizing the game would not serve the greater purpose of democracy because it implies a decline in ethical values and moral judgment within society.

Hence, a cautious and nuanced approach is required to address this matter. Otherwise, democratic societies will inevitably deteriorate into decadence and anarchy.

Bibliography

Race Simulator game becomes a viral sensation and sparks controversy over censorship. The article can be found at www.smh.com.au and was retrieved on 5th November, 2010.

Leigh Alexander, And You Thought Grand Theft Auto Was Bad: Should the United States ban a Japanese “rape simulator” game?, Monday, March 9, 2009, www.slate.com

According to The Free Library, a website, the availability of rape simulator games contributes to the normalization of sexual violence. This information was retrieved on November 5th, 2010 from a specific URL that discusses the topic.

On 13th Feb, 2009, Harry Haydon discovered a Rape Simulator being sold on Amazon. He obtained this information from www.thesun.co.uk.

The video game featuring virtual rape was taken down from Amazon on November 5th, 2010. This information was obtained from digg.com.

The website www.saynotoviolence.org features an article titled "Say No- End Violence Against Women" which discusses Japan's rape simulator games and the normalization of sexual violence. The article was accessed on November 5, 2010.

www.smh.com.au reported that a game called "Rape Simulator" has gained popularity and caused controversy, resulting in calls for censorship. The article, written by Asher Moses, was retrieved on November 5th, 2010.

The HTML code below links to a website on YouTube called http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Da54Pu9dTJfQ.