interactivecultures

Our digest of links for February 2nd:

• British politicians engage in modern warfare – Interesting artcile re the old media effects debates as it relates to computer game violence. Tom Watson's position as presented here is an increasingly common one. I've heard a number of commentators come up with the same points in news articles (though I have never heard an MP come out against the moral backlash before). What is particularly interesting is that it is now possible to take a moral position that supports the development of any computer game, including violent ones, but which is always located with in a discussion about the creative industries and the value of the computer games market: the text itself is seen as subordinate to the industry.
• Hashtags and the desire to own and organise – jon bounds – When two tribes (both self professed "social media experts") went to war over a hashtag, we saw a breakdown in folksonomy, a drive to own in the intangible, and a final denouement of ridicule heaped on all parties.