I just don't get it

So I'm not a big oogler, never have been, and I'm not just saying that because my wife might read this, but because she has been forced in the past to insist I check out a girl on the street. Now It may be because I'm often lost in my head, or not particularly observant, I like to say I only have eye's for one gal, (and that I say, just in case she reads this :).

So the linked article from The Star is a meandering look at oogling, and I can't say it comes down any where in particular on the issue. Lets face it, some people dress seeking attention (guys and girls) while others shun any public attention. You would be surprised the looks of horror one can receive just by say "Good Morning" to a passing walker. So it's a difficult subject to navigate.

I for one am not xenophobic enough to reject observation, nor exhibitionist enough to demand the praise of my street peers. I think what is key is the decorum of the observer. A polite look, is probably fine, a hooting cat call not. If your caught, admit your defeat and look away, none of these squinty eyed full body appraisal leers. Finally non of those stereotypical hoots and hollers, those are just crude.

Different rules apply in a night club, but I think everyone appreciates that difference, not that I have a wealth of experiance to build that opinion on.

So lets recap, leering bad, private observation of the human form, acceptable.

Hopefully I haven't come accross as a kill joy, or a sexually repressed troglodyte, but I think we all just need to have some basic request for one another, and that is, as they say, that.

Something lighter

Just a funny column from The Star thought I would share.

Letter to the Editor: "Too Graphic for Kids?"

I sent the following to the editor of the Toronto Star, and I figured 1) I read the Star online so I may never know if it is printed or not, 2) It sounded like something I should put in my blog. I did fact check myself, and it is a pretty short letter (although longer then there requested 300 words,) so while not my largest, nor my best reasoned, post, but its a post, and you haven't got one for a while.

A friend of mine often reminds me of a sign he once saw posted on a beach, the sign read “Parents you are responsible for your children.” In its context it meant that there was no life guard on duty, but neither is there in life.

In this age it seems that we try and place blame and responsibility for our actions, and the actions of our youth, anywhere but where they belong. We see US attorney Jack Thompson sermonizing on the immorality of video games and the violence they sometimes contain. Hilary Clinton beseeching law makers to punish game studio’s for content that they never released (in the case of the Grand Theft Auto ‘Hot Coffee’ modification.) All of this with in the assumption that these games are affecting our youth, all though Statistics Canada (presumably an authoritative source) has reported a drop in both property crime and violent crime every year since 1991 (except 2004.)

As a life long gamer, and a life long non-violent person I have become angry and frustrated (as many of my colleagues and friends) with the brush we are often painted with in the media. Our games have not made us murders, criminal or antisocial; they are just a different form of entertainment, one I personally think to be more engaging and stimulating then passively watching television. I strongly agree that the content in games should be fairly assessed and rated, but only to serve as a tool for parents.

I ask for parents to do for your children what mind did for me, take an active interest in your children’s interest, and you be the judge of what content you feel your children are mature enough to handle. The ratings should act as a guide line for what is in the game, and its up to you to decide if it is appropriate. If you are a parent and you’re just not sure, check online, or ask the staff at a specialty retail store (EB, Microplay etc) they more often then not are passionate gamers who can give you more information, or even show you what the game contains.

In closing to combat all the negative press, two gamers started a charity in 2003 for gamers to give back. They initial goal was to gather toy and cash donations for their local children’s hospital, so that children going through a very difficult time would have something to play with. The response from gamers was so overwhelming that the charity grew each year to more and more Hospitals. This year gamers raise over a million dollars in donations for over 25 children’s hospitals world wide, including our own Sick Kids. For more information about the charity you can look them up at childsplaychairty.org.

Sincerely

Geoffrey Peart