Internet and console video games have been popular for more than two decades and have educated and entertained people of all ages. Unfortunately, a game occasionally comes along that causes extreme controversy. In this case, it is the United Kingdom online game called "Miss Bimbo."
For those who have not heard of this game, it is aimed at young girls and gives them "bimbo dollars" to spend on things in the bimbo world.
Sounds harmless except for the bimbo part, right? What if you found out these bimbo bucks were used for buying breast implants, trashy lingerie, diet pills and nightclub outfits?
The New York Times online reported that in the rules section it states that despite contestants wanting "'to keep your bimbo waif thin ... every girl needs to eat, every now and again.'" It suggests feeding the character to prevent her dying of starvation.
With experience, similar to other games, players advance levels. In "Miss Bimbo," Level 7's challenge reads as follows: "After you broke up with your boyfriend you went on an eating binge! Now it is time to diet ... Your target weight is less than 132 lbs."
This game has over 200,000 members, and recent scientific findings show that British kids as young as six have been developing eating disorders. No wonder there has been such an outrage among parents.
So the game is turning all these poor little impressionable British children into Paris Hiltons. Should it be outlawed?
Hell no. As with so many other dangers facing children, the burden of responsibility lies with the parents. If parents do not care enough to raise their children correctly, then it is not the fault of the game's makers that children sign up. If a kid goes online and becomes a dysfunctional teen with an eating disorder, then who is to blame? Is it not the job of the parents to raise their child and ensure their well-being? This game is harmful to children and should not be played, but it is the parents' job to keep them from playing it. Games such as this will create more and more dysfunctional, worthless wastes of space like Ms. Spears and Ms. Hilton. We really do not need any more phony women in this world - we have enough.
Some argue that these kids will view it when they are not home or when they are at school or go over to a friend's house. Here is the solution to each of these possibilities: Block it from your computer at home, make sure you discuss this with your child's friends' parents and if it is at school, go in and lay a whoopin' on the administrator for not having sites such as these blocked.
We need to take responsibility for the youth of the world and protect them from corruption, and do so without the government taking control of the media and entertainment.
Ben Schwarzwalder is a senior in journalism. He can be reached at schwarzwalder.3@osu.edu.
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