Is America really as cynical as Grand Theft Auto games portray?

[Salandrin]

Not counting the fact you are usually in control of a sociopath, is America really in resemblance to the sad, cruelly cynical satire that is portrayed in a common Grand Theft Auto game, or not even close? I have little social experience, so maybe you could answer.

[Deleted]

Totally fake, hookers are much more harder to beat up!

[Yvaelle]

Grand Theft Auto is clearly a documentary of life in America

JK

What exactly are you refering to - any specific examples? Some of it is obviously pretty accurate, the murdery-death-mass-shooting-explosions bit is only one day a week though

[worsthitmanNa]

Totally fake, hookers are much more harder to beat up!

You sir just won this thread 10/10. You play the role of a criminal not a law-abiding citizen so of course its not true.

[Salandrin]

Grand Theft Auto is clearly a documentary of life in America

JK

What exactly are you refering to - any specific examples? Some of it is obviously pretty accurate, the murdery-death-mass-shooting-explosions bit is only one day a week though

How everything is revolved around some sexual innuendo and greed, and how every pedestrian is so rude or drive hazardously.

[mvaliz]

Totally fake, hookers are much more harder to beat up!

This is quite posisbly the best post of this thread. Humor AND reality thrown into one! ^_^

Yeah, chances are they'd kick your ass if you lay a hand on them, nevermind their pimp. :P

Also OP - you got to remember that GTAV is a massive concentrated shot of all of America's problems cranked to 11 and delivered in one massive punch. It does quietly ignore all the good that there is too as, well, that's not what the game is about - is it? :P

[Vizardlorde]

Grand Theft Auto is clearly a documentary of life in America

JK

What exactly are you refering to - any specific examples? Some of it is obviously pretty accurate, the murdery-death-mass-shooting-explosions bit is only one day a week though

Maybe on national television, local news are still kinda Grand Theft Autoish at least here in South Florida, to the point where im finding some funny like man who got into a name calling argument got pissed broke bottle and cut the other man and fled the scene ON A BICYCLE. This week Ive heard of at least 1 violent crime per day in the news.

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How everything is revolved around some sexual innuendo and greed, and how every pedestrian is so rude or drive hazardously.

Idk about sexual innuendo, greed is a definite yes, pedestrians being rude depend on the location, ad driving recklessly HUGE YES.

[skatblast]

no? what the hell is wrong with you.

Your thinking of russia.

[Darsithis]

Nothing portrayed in video games, books, comics, tv shows, or movies is as real as real life. Even reality TV is specifically designed to be as dramatic as possible. GTA is no different in this regard.

[Kalis]

Pacman was based on a true story.

[Adam Jensen]

Somehow I knew, by the title of the thread, who the OP was.

To answer the question: of course not. GTA is just a fictional game and is not representative of anything.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Pacman was based on a true story.

Was Ms.Pacman a prostitute?

[Deleted]

Maybe on national television, local news are still kinda Grand Theft Autoish at least here in South Florida, to the point where im finding some funny like man who got into a name calling argument got pissed broke bottle and cut the other man and fled the scene ON A BICYCLE. This week Ive heard of at least 1 violent crime per day in the news.

But Florida is a special case isn't it? I mean just look at this https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan
or this http://www.reddit.com/r/FloridaMan

"Florida Man Screamed "Fuck Them Horses" Before Punching Police Horse"
"Florida Man Accused of Drive-By Dog Poop Attack"
"Florida Man Attacks Stranger's Car With Sandwich"
"Illegal Butt Injections Land Florida Man in Jail"
"Florida Man Rides Elephant Into Wedding "

[Belloc]

Most of GTA is satire -- a great big joke.

The rest of GTA is entertainment.

None of it is in any way representative of America.

[GennGreymane]

its all joke after joke

could use specific examples to what you mean.

[SirRobin]

You might find some nuggets of real America here and there. But 99% of the game is a satire of America. As in, greatly exaggerated for comedic effect.

Like when they were trying to get out of that one place and being attacked by the feds. The agent said it was the corrupt branch of the feds attacking. The retired bank robber guy replied that he thought that his agent buddy was the corrupt branch. The agent replied that he was only in the semi-corrupt branch of the agency.

While there might actually more truth in that conversation than most Americans would be comfortable with? Its nowhere near so bad that they are launching full scale assaults on public places in broad daylight.

[Fullmetal89]

But Florida is a special case isn't it? I mean just look at this https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan
or this http://www.reddit.com/r/FloridaMan

"Florida Man Screamed "Fuck Them Horses" Before Punching Police Horse"
"Florida Man Accused of Drive-By Dog Poop Attack"
"Florida Man Attacks Stranger's Car With Sandwich"
"Illegal Butt Injections Land Florida Man in Jail"
"Florida Man Rides Elephant Into Wedding "

Being a native Floridian now living in Cleveland, this has to be the greatest time-sink I have ever seen. Thank you so much for this Vathdar now I will no longer be bored at work.

[Wafffles]

Except for the lack of airbags and mandatory seatbelts, it's practically a carbon copy of America. I have to admit, sometimes after I play for a few hours, I forget which one is real and find myself wantonly shooting pedestrians in my neighborhood with the minigun I somehow manage to keep entirely concealed in my pocket along with 17 grenades, a rocket launcher, a nightstick and a cell phone.

[Salandrin]

Except for the lack of airbags and mandatory seatbelts, it's practically a carbon copy of America. I have to admit, sometimes after I play for a few hours, I forget which one is real and find myself wantonly shooting pedestrians in my neighborhood with the minigun I somehow manage to keep entirely concealed in my pocket along with 17 grenades, a rocket launcher, a nightstick and a cell phone.

It's amazing how far GTA has come and there is still no two weapon limit. Like where is the protagonist or online character keeping all these weapons? It's the one thing that still breaks the true realism in my opinion.

[Deleted]

Being a native Floridian now living in Cleveland, this has to be the greatest time-sink I have ever seen. Thank you so much for this Vathdar now I will no longer be bored at work.

Don't thank me, thank Jesse Cox and WoWCrendor, they mentioned it ages ago on their podcast. :P
Here's an animated short they did about Florida Man! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc-lA-S9qkA

"C'mon Man, You Know I Can't Answer That," Says Florida Man After Police Ask Him Why He Has Weed in His Beard "
God, this stuff always cracks me up.