Modern Warfare 3 came out and, for me, that means delving into the contemporary perma-adolescent psychological milieu your average young adult male exists in especially when it comes to video games, oh and smoking noobs. This mind-state can be no better experienced than on XBOX Live and its PS3 equivalent. Imagine a world where boys ruled, only might is not measured by muscle density, but by digital kill count, all with the sweet freedom of anonymity. I've learned a few things about the male psyche in between trying to avoid throwing my controller through the TV. We are marginally evolved. We will fight any feeling of insecurity with racism, homophobia, and comments about one's mother. And, a 12 year old can make you blind with rage. At least Lord of the Flies had a semblance of order before devolving into a near-cannibalistic state of primal humanity. In online gaming, the boys would've shoved the conch shell up Piggy's ass and kicked him off the cliff.
If the online world of video games were viewed as it's own society, an outsider might make these following observations. They LOVE weed. There are thinly-veiled references to it in the games they play and blatant references to it in the names they use. Any female voice shall not be met with a "hello," but an "are you hot?" If the answer to the latter question is no, they have no use for her...unless she's better than them. Accents are ALWAYS funny especially the Brits. If a person's cadence is different from their own, it's hilarious and eminently mockable. Do not expect them to recognize the distinct advantage of virtual invisibility when saying racist, odd, and pompous things. Apparently the mass of them, especially the ones with Southern accents, have some distinct views on race relations, homosexuals, and immigration in America. The commentary on alternative lifestyles seems to be at odds with the fact that there is a supermajority of gay people online. It's either that or everyone just calls everyone else a fag.
I will, however, continue to immerse myself in this world of stunted maturity much to the chagrin of my fiance because it's fun. But, wow, it just adds to the degradation of my faith in humanity. Play on future backbone of society!
-K
