Teen Gamer

He sits in his bedroom,
Eyes focused on the screen.
Hands tight on the controller,
Today's typical teen.

Shoots an innocent pedestrian,
Then uses a machete to make sure.
The vibrations of the controller
Are the only feeling he has to endure.

Out of the lift in an airport,
Mowing people down like grass.
A kill streak of fifty is an achievement,
Awarded with a cyber trophy of brass.

He punches the air and thinks to himself,
Maybe I should go and actually do that.
Then quickly whips out an AK47
And makes twenty people go splat.

This is the image the world knows,
What is believed of people who game.
The negative press is rife
Games taking a lot of blame.

A teenage boy shoots his friend,
Yes, he played Grand Theft Auto.
But was that the real reason,
Did that make a difference, though?

If I were you I would take a closer
Look at his mind.
There had to be something wrong with his head
I think you will find.

What about the games that are beautiful?
Exploring the lush paintings of Braid.
Or investigating renaissance Italy
As a free-runner in Assassins Creed.

Some games are just plain fun,
Mario Kart with friends.
And if you lose why not endure
A party in the dunes on FFXI to make amends.

I know many who are gamers,
We don't kill and are not inspired
To carry out the things we do on games.
From where have these views transpired?

People who have nothing better to do
That to pick on the tiniest detail of a story.
Then shoot down the whole gaming world
And revel in their own glory.

Gaming is a form of entertainment
Just like movies and television.
It just media spite and lies
That has caused this division.

You wouldn't come out of the cinema
And find yourself trying to murder.
Some of these politicians are chatting rubbish,
Their views growing ever absurder.

So instead of believing what you read
Play a game yourself.
You might find yourself enjoying it,
And not leaving it on the shelf.