Kevin McCullough

[bayushisan]

As I said on the front page he dared the gaming community to call his show. Since I've no desire to be harangued about my stance on this I sent an email. I thought I'd share it here with you all. Figured this would be the right forum to post it in.

Mr. McCullough

Rather than call your radio show to be haraungued by you, as I know your type would do. I'll send this email. By no means should you take this as an act of cowardice on my part, I just know that I'm far better at getting my point across in written form.

Now I have to, yet again, mention that we in the gaming community weren't calling you a liar because we didn't like what you said, we called you a liar because that is precisely what you did. I'll begin with some basic corrections about the industry in general.

1. The Federal Trade Commission has consistently been giving the ESRB better grading for their enforcement of the voluntary rating system that they use. Keep in mind that the only people who can actually enforce this are the people on the retail level. Stores like Best Buy and Target have computer programs that prompt the cashier for the buyer's ID before even going to the ring up screen. Considering how young the system is in relation to others I think we're doing a pretty decent job of enforcement.

2. Parental involvement is paramount in this issue. A game's rating is clearly visible on both the front and back of the box, as well as content descriptors.The ratings aren't that hard to figure out and if you do need help all you have to do is go to the ESRB website or ask the cashier or whoever else works in the gaming section of your local store to get an explanation. Now once a parent understands they are more likely to make intelligent decisions based on that knowledge. Case in point, I used to work at a game store. During my tenure there a mother and her son came in looking for one of the Resident Evil series. The son was obviously a minor and when I asked her if she was aware of the rating she said know and was glad to be informed of it. She made the decision not to buy the game based on that. Retail level and parental involvement working in concert with one another, that's what's needed here.

You accused Bioware of creating a game in which you were capable of "the most realistic sex acts ever conceived" among other fairly ridiculous accusations. Now I realize that you admit to not having played the game and only used what other people told you about it, but doesn't that make you irresponsible as a journalist? Shouldn't you have looked into the matter beyond a 57 second video that's only a very small part of a 20+ hour game? Others have repeatedly called you on this. The "alien lesbo sex" you seem so focused on is not how you portray it. The alien in question is a member of a race that is genderless. When in the company of other races they only go by the feminine pronouns to avois confusion, again this is something you've been told repeatedly.

I'm a 34 year old man, I've been in the gaming community since the days of the Atari 2600; long before there even was a gamer classification. I've seen this type of hysteria during the eighties when Dungeons and Dragons was the cause for all the world's ills and again during the nineties when the focused switched to Vampire the Masquerade. Every time something new comes along people blame it for society going to pot. The problem is that what you advocate is patently unconstitutional and you know it. You have to know that you're stretching when you say that there's already precedent for censorship.

As a Christian I also understand your point about the inroads of smut, however you're reaching with this one. As a free market guy I believe that the market will tend to itself, it has in the past after all. I think you know that too, you just want the publicity of speaking out about something whethere you know anything about it or not.

You deliberately wrote a piece that was a lie. You admit as much when you say you only wrote about what you had heard instead of doing research first hand to find out if it was true or not and whether or not there was context to the scene. Again this is why we called you a liar. Not because we wanted to make fun of you but because you lied and we can prove it.

The gaming community is here to stay. Our average age is 33 and we vote. We make our voices heard when something like this happens and I think that it bothers you that so many are willing to take a stand for free speech. No one is breaking the law here and we shouldn't be treated like it.

Next time you decide to go off on a tirade why don't you do the research before you open your mouth. After all Abraham Lincoln once said "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

Thank you for your time
John

[ConstantNeophyte]

As I said on the front page he dared the gaming community to call his show. Since I've no desire to be harangued about my stance on this I sent an email. I thought I'd share it here with you all. Figured this would be the right forum to post it in...

I've just read his response to the criticism of his article in his blog (http://kevinmccullough.townhall.com/blog/g/ad4fece3-3a1e-42bd-8546-295599024191&comments=true#commentAnchor). Since you haven't mentioned anything about his son sodomizing anyone I doubt you'll get any recognition or response :(

[kurisu7885]

Of course he won't step outside his blog to defend himself or his opinions.

[ConstantNeophyte]

Of course he won't step outside his blog to defend himself or his opinions.

Blog=Safety blanket?

[kurisu7885]

Blog=Safety blanket?

That's my guess. In there he can be as scathing he wants without repercussions
And can edit/delete comments as he sees fit.

[ConstantNeophyte]

That's my guess. In there he can be as scathing he wants without repercussions
And can edit/delete comments as he sees fit.

Yes, somehow I doubt we'll be seeing him engage in a debate or even a conversation with anyone smarter than your average door anytime soon.

[beemoh]

I've just made the mistake of emailing him as well (although I'm much wordier and a bit more diplomatic) and offered him an interview. Let's see how that pans out.

[kurisu7885]

Yes, somehow I doubt we'll be seeing him engage in a debate or even a conversation with anyone smarter than your average door anytime soon.

Thompson style.

I've just made the mistake of emailing him as well (although I'm much wordier and a bit more diplomatic) and offered him an interview. Let's see how that pans out.

Doubt it will, but let's see.

[ConstantNeophyte]

I've just made the mistake of emailing him as well (although I'm much wordier and a bit more diplomatic) and offered him an interview. Let's see how that pans out.

He's probably only reading emails that get stuck in his spam filter, trying to find further evidence of how deviant we are.

[kurisu7885]

He's probably only reading emails that get stuck in his spam filter, trying to find further evidence of how deviant we are.

Giving his Star Trek convention comment he likely beats up or used ot beat up nerds in school.

[Kincyr]

calling out Mass Effect for "alien lesbo sex" is akin to calling Christians "gay for God" seeing how God is refered to as male.

[ConstantNeophyte]

Giving his Star Trek convention comment he likely beats up or used ot beat up nerds in school.

Given all his other comments about the sexual content of ME, he likely should be committed for a psychiatric analysis.

[KN]

Giving his Star Trek convention comment he likely beats up or used ot beat up nerds in school.

Nonono, the people who did that can't afford computers now.

He WAS one of the nerds.

[BlackIce, British Commie]

Nonono, the people who did that can't afford computers now.

He WAS one of the nerds.

That makes no sense. Everyone knows American Nerds own the world.

[bayushisan]

Update on the situation is that he's apparently apologized for the dust up on his blog. Of course he then goes on to say "can't we do better than 42%" in refrence to the FTC reports.

So all things considered it looks like we came out ahead on this one.

[Jabrwock]

He apologized for the "marketed and sold to kids" stuff. He has yet to apologize for the "you're all a bunch of sex crazed shut-ins who are just trying to protect your source of masturbation material" (paraphrased of course).

Or the fact that his "facts" about the game weren't ever remotely close to reality. A shot of a buttock is hardly hard-core porn...

[BlackIce, British Commie]

Or the fact that his "facts" about the game weren't ever remotely close to reality. A shot of a buttock is hardly hard-core porn...

I tried to tell the Police the same thing.. They made me put a shirt on :D

[Soldat_Louis]

Here is the blog entry where he apologizes (http://kevinmccullough.townhall.com/blog/g/cdfe6d1d-9595-45c5-bdae-af17bcfd244e&comments=true#commentAnchor) :


Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Gaming "M" ratings follow-up...

On yesterday's show, I allowed the gaming universe to tee off on me in whatever capacity they wished to vent a bit about my most recent column.

It was a great conversation.

Two of the callers pointed me to the "Undercover Shop" survey that had been carried out by the Federal Trade Commission to help document the trend of underage purchases of "M" rated video games, I was eager and glad to hear the news.

As my callers had pointed out, the ratings enforcement - particularly by nationwide chains had dropped some forty percent between 2000 and 2005. In 2000 85% of minors attempting to purchase "M" rated video games were successful in doing so. In 2005 that number had been sharply reduced to 42%.

In other words 58% of the time children were now unable to purchase "M" rated games. Despite my own feelings about removing "M" rated games from easy access points all together (National retailers), I have to admit - it appears the enforcement of the rating system has taken a decided turn toward improvement.

Since yesterday's response many gamers who have written have offered more assistance in unlocking obscenity and dangerous content in the video game world. That is much appreciated.

Based on the multitude of response by gamers who share my concern for decency in the entertainment of our children, it is obvious that I had been misinformed on at least two points of substance in my original column.

For this I DO apologize to the gaming universe!

For the strides that retailers HAVE made to attempt to keep smut out of children's hands, I thank them! (Though can't we do better than 42%?)

And thank you to the many who have volunteered to help lend a hand on future gaming issues...

If enforcement numbers track similarly in terms of improvement as they have from 2000-2005, then the critical concern I carry with me deeply in regards to minors getting inappropriate material and spending tens of hours at a time removed from society absorbing it will be minimized.

I still do concur with my original position that the objectionable content in Mass Effect is still offensive, and should be kept out of the hands of those under age.

Mass Effect fans have demonstrated that the three minute cuts on YouTube are only arrived at after hours of play. So in their argument the "percentage" of objectionable content is heavily outweighed by the overwhelming amount of content leading up to it. Point well made...

It is for me however the presence of the content at all that I reacted strongly too.

OK, he apologized for only one or two things, but at least his tone changed and he realized that he was plainly wrong. I don't care if it's only half-apology, or whether he's sincere or not. At least, he listened a little bit and apologized. I wish we could say the same to Cathy Ruse (remember the "selling pornography to children" ?).

Forgive, but don't forget.

[POLE]

OK, he apologized for only one or two things, but at least his tone changed and he realized that he was plainly wrong. I don't care if it's only half-apology, or whether he's sincere or not. At least, he listened a little bit and apologized. I wish we could say the same to Cathy Ruse (remember the "selling pornography to children" ?).

Forgive, but don't forget.

Completely agree.

At first, this guy seemed like Jeff Fillion. But an apology is a first step. I'm ready to accept it, but not to completely forgive it.

[Kincyr]

That makes no sense. Everyone knows American Nerds own the world.
to quote Rainier Wolfcastle in Undercover Nerd: "The geek shall inherit the Earth."

A shot of a buttock is hardly soft-core porn...
fixed, at least going by what's on kids' cartoons nowadays.

[Jabrwock]

A shot of a buttock is hardly soft-core porn...
fixed, at least going by what's on kids' cartoons nowadays.Meh, even more like "A shot of a buttock is hardly PG-13 nowadays." Hell, it wasn't "adult" material in Monty Python's day... or gawd forbid, the Greeks...

[kurisu7885]

Though can't we do better than 42%?

Give it time.

[ConstantNeophyte]

Give it time.

I'm pretty sure 42% is better than movie retailers can claim.

[kurisu7885]

I'm pretty sure 42% is better than movie retailers can claim.

True, of course the movie retailers would likely lie to look better in comparison

[ConstantNeophyte]

True, of course the movie retailers would likely lie to look better in comparison

I think the problem lies with... ah screw it, humanity is just a big ****ing mess.

[kurisu7885]

I think the problem lies with... ah screw it, humanity is just a big ****ing mess.

In a world where three seconds of sideboob is considered hardcore porn, no argument here.

[KN]

Book this man a relaxing holiday to the Netherlands.


Wait until he turns on the tv.

In the afternoon.

[kurisu7885]

The guy basically did the same as prodding a tiger with a sharp stick and then wondering why you get clawed.

[Hannah]

Book this man a relaxing holiday to the Netherlands.


Wait until he turns on the tv.

In the afternoon.

For his sake, I hope he never reads a classical Greek comedy... I have to read some of Aristophanes' work for class, and ye gods is it dirty. The sodomy jokes alone.... well... let's just say that I'd recommend it to all of you :D

[ConstantNeophyte]

For his sake, I hope he never reads a classical Greek comedy... I have to read some of Aristophanes' work for class, and ye gods is it dirty. The sodomy jokes alone.... well... let's just say that I'd recommend it to all of you :D

Wow, that bad huh? So, *cough*wheredoitgetit?*cough*

[Hannah]

Wow, that bad huh? So, *cough*wheredoitgetit?*cough*

Just do a search for Aristophanes and you'll find his work. I would particularly recommend Lysistrata and The Birds :D

[Lock]

I wrote to Mr.McCullough yesterday, which now I instantly regret. I just found out a few hours latter that the man is so small time that the out lash he received from the video game community is the largest (and probably last) major reply he has ever gotten. Of course, he didn't reply to my e-mail. I assumed that he would at least extend the professional curdasy(SP?) of answering my rebuttal but instead he wrote another malformed, half-correction, side stepping column where he partially admitted some mistakes yet still managed insult the video game community.

For this I'm partially to blame. I should have never e-mailed him. The man is too small minded and too close minded to change his tune. Reply to his rants, or even acknowledging him, will only give him undeserved notoriety and more material to work with. And seeing as he has no real sponsors to speak of, the only way we can knock him off his moral high horse and send him hurdling to the black depths of obscurity that he crawled out from is to simply ignore him.

[Soldat_Louis]

As you probably know, McCullough's original column has been retired from Townhall website. There's an Australian article about it (http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23084609-5014108,00.html), that seems to make him a victim :


Sex Scene Critic Silenced Over Mass Effect
By Chloe Lake, Technology Editor
January 21, 2008

OUTSPOKEN conservative Kevin McCullough has been censored by his own website after angering the gaming community with his views on in-game sex scenes.

Last week US conservative website Townhall published a column by Mr McCullough titled "The 'Sex-Box' Race For President", a tirade against the Xbox 360 game Mass Effect over its M-rated sex scenes.

"With (the Xbox's) 'over the net' capabilities virtual orgasmic rape is just the push of a button away," Mr McCullough wrote.

"The video game 'persons' hump in every form, format, multiple, gender-oriented possibility they can think of."

After the column was published, outraged gamers flooded forums and blogs claiming Mr McCullough's descriptions of the game's sex scenes were inaccurate and inflammatory.

One user on an Australian gaming forum even suggested hacking the columnist's website.

In a response to the gaming community, Mr McCullough was unrepentant and declared "I will always speak up!" He published several abusive emails he had received from gamers.

The next day the controversial columnist published an apology to the gaming community, but stood by his original argument and said the game was "offensive".

Now Mr McCullough has been silenced – by his own website.

All links to Mr McCullough's original post on Townhall either return an error or redirect to the website's homepage. Links to his biography do the same.

Mass Effect was banned in Singapore last year for containing same-sex love scenes. The censors later reversed the ban after deeming the content suitable for gamers aged 18 and over.

The game was released last year with a 17+ rating in the US, a 12+ rating in the UK and a 15+ rating in Australia.

Mr McCullough has built a reputation on his conservative religious views using the internet, radio and appearances on right-wing news channel Fox News. He has published one book, titled MuscleHead Revolution: Overturning Liberalism With Commonsense Thinking.

Traffic to Mr McCullough's Townhall blog almost doubled in the week after he posted the attack on Mass Effect.

Some gamers speculated the columnist's tirade was an attempt to deliberately stir controversy after his radio show in New York was cancelled earlier this month.

Popular gaming webcomic Penny Arcade published a strip depicting Mr McCullough musing to himself: "Pissing off these video game people might be my ticket out of obscurity!"

A request for comment has been sent to Townhall.


And now, there is this Fox News crap... (http://gamepolitics.com/2008/01/22/1993/)

[Soldat_Louis]

And for anyone who wants to read the full original column that sparked the controversy, here it is :


The Sex-Box Race for President

I know that they all probably assume they have better, much more important, urgent, timely, things to campaign on, but I sure would like to get their individual takes on the new video game that one company is marketing to fifteen year old boys.

It's called "Mass Effect" and it allows its players - universally male no doubt - to engage in the most realistic sex acts ever conceived. One can custom design the shape, form, bodies, race, hair style, breast size of the images they wish to "engage" and then watch in crystal clear, LCD, 54 inch screen, HD clarity as the video game "persons" hump in every form, format, multiple, gender-oriented possibility they can think of.

The objections to such filth should be simple to understand.

Starting with the disgusting idea that one can "create" their own versions of what people look like, removing warts, moles, and bald spots while enhancing - shall we say - the extended features of the game's characters tends to objectify women, sex, and human relationships. Right? We can all agree on this?

Then there's the dishonesty behind the game' title. "Mass Effect" sounds like a war game with a deadly virus that is spreading unless the GI-Joes are able to defeat the evil and deadly substance and it's covert war plan. By it's design, kids could ask for it, or for their parents' Best Buy Card to go purchase it with nary a raised eye-brow. Generic, non-descriptive, and relatively harmless.

But it IS marketed for the X-Box 360, perhaps the most visually stimulating gaming system ever made. The software for such allows the blending of DVD video, component graphics, and the manipulation of actual pictures so that an alternate reality engulfs the fifteen year old boy playing it without much objection.

Now if I have trouble with my son taking his James Bond 007 games a little too emotionally, imagine the powerful effect that hormones add to the mix when the player's own character is copulating like jack rabbits with super-models, actresses, and anyone else they can spend the patience to create, name, and "put into play."

I hear the libertarian Ron Paul's answer already, "Government has no business censoring freedom of expression." Figures, he's a libertarian.

In the race for President there has been a lot of discussion about faith and it's impact on the lives of the individual candidate. Some pretty inane ones like Carl Cameron's less lucid moment this past week when he posed the inquiry about marital submission to Governor Mike Huckabee.

Yet here's a question that deserves to be asked, and in all likelihood will not be: "How much moral judgement should the President push into legislative issues that are likely to severely damage our children's innocence, function, and capability?"

I hear the nay-sayers claiming I'm being the wild and crazed Bible thumper I've always been - but its a worthwhile question isn't it?

If a pre-teen, teen, young adult, or adult male plays such a game in which the women DO submit without choice, are made to appear as Barbie streetwalkers, and perform whatever act can be imagined, what's to stop that same male from assuming that the women in his "other world" shouldn't be forced to do the same.

We now know because of the lengthy track record of serial killer after another that addictive use of pornography was prevalent in case after case - long before the switch got flipped and what their masturbatory imaginations have given into became what they were forcing real live human beings to do.

And because of the digital chip age in which we live - "Mass Effect" can be customized to sodomize whatever, whoever, however, the game player wishes.

With it's "over the net" capabilities virtual orgasmic rape is just the push of a button away.

Yes there will be many snickers that I decided to bring this issue up in the Presidential cycle of 2008 but how refreshing would it be for a President to prove to the nation that his own manhood was not in question and put his pen and signature to a bill that dealt with such simulated sex excess in a way that was punitive to its creators to such a degree that they would never recover from it?

As technology continues to push the limits of imagination and interaction more and more the brain, the emotions, the feelings will integrate with physical responses in reality. And while the makers of such trash seem to be pushing our next generation of young men through the gates of hell as fast as is humanly possible, it needn't be that way.

Here's hoping that as the next President will be forced to deal with this continual emerging reality - and enemy that has set its site to our destruction from within - that we will have elected a man of such character that he will have precision in the clarity of his response.

How would that be for a bold and uncompromising "Mass Effect?"

[beemoh]

As you probably know, McCullough's original column has been retired from Townhall website. There's an Australian article about it (http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23084609-5014108,00.html), that seems to make him a victim : [/URL]

Believe it or not, I wouldn't be too surprised if his sudden change of heart wasn't in some way influenced by the people upstairs at townhall- he seemed to be a little bit too passionate about the issue- and stubborn about his beliefs- to be able to have such a sudden and drastic change of heart.

[BlackIce, British Commie]

Just do a search for Aristophanes and you'll find his work. I would particularly recommend Lysistrata and The Birds :D

Now how would Hannah, our gracious Liberal/Neo-Nazi know about such filth?