isn't gang violence a part of life too?Gang violence is an unfortunate aspect of our world, yes. What I have a problem with is how that violence is being presented.
The indiscriminate killing of policemen, the ability to kill prostitutes as well as ordinary citizens, the drug culture that is reflected in San Andreas, these are all things that the young ones in my community strive for, they look up to the thug, the pimp, the hustlers who sling rock in my community. Theses are not the things I would want my child to concentrate his attention on. The language is absolutely deplorable, and theres more to come. Snoop Dog is going to have his own game to come out soon; Fear and Respect, a game of similar content.
Theses games solidify the stereotypical imagery of black life in Amerikka and society as a whole. Though I'm probably viewed as hypocritical of violence in video games, as I am an avid player of war games such as Ace Combat 04 Shattered Skies, a game which allows you a clean, surgical type of killing, where you don't see your opponents die face to face but watch their planes destroyed as you hear them radio back that they've been hit and are bailing out, the stage where one is doing the killing is my problem.
There exist no good whatsoever from the violence you can do in San Andreas, it's all based on glorification of what is wrong in the 'hood. Your degree of killing is your only key to respect. Though not a proponent of having to kill by any means, if it is required of me to kill, I'd much rather do so for a much nobler purpose.
That being said, I am one who supports the troops in Iraq and Ahfghanistan, who everyday put their lives on the line in an effort to support the noble cause of freedom for those oppresed in that hellish environment.