Target Australia has angered the gamer world with its recent announcement that it will no longer sell the popular Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA5) video games “following feedback from customers about the game’s depictions of violence against women.”
After considering customer feedback, we have decided to remove Grand Theft Auto 5 from sale. See full press release – http://t.co/RFI9A40pPh
— Target Australia (@Targetaus) December 3, 2014
Target Australia reportedly made this move based on this petition demanding they remove GTA5 from its stores:
https://twitter.com/sasr68/status/540089199873896449
@WeAreADL @GraceBellavue @MattTarrant @Targetaus IT is a feminist thing. Petition is full of lies https://t.co/qLtJ8W60yo
— Darji (@Darji) December 3, 2014
@bajopants you have any thoughts on this? Myself, pretty disappointed @Targetaus have caved in to this…
— BlakeGL (@BlakeGL) December 3, 2014
https://twitter.com/mlsvljvc/status/540085769180676097
https://twitter.com/adamccopy/status/540090338958786561
https://twitter.com/realcalves/status/540093236950220800
As Target Australia freely admits in its press release “that it will continue to sell other R-rated DVDs and games,” their move to ban just GTA 5 is confusing and leading to questions of what they’ll ban next:
@Targetaus What a laughably uninformed decision
— Josh W ?? (@Mario__Bones) December 3, 2014
https://twitter.com/TheDanBarrett/status/540078753917829120
https://twitter.com/benschy89/status/540087965330841601
Others want to know why Target Australia had to get involved at all. Summarized by the argument, “If you don’t like it, don’t buy it and if you don’t want your kids playing it, don’t let them”:
https://twitter.com/benschy89/status/540085537344737280
Unbelievable @Targetaus. There is a reason why Australia has an R18+ rating for video games just like #GTAV.
— Gavin Shaw (@suregavinshaw) December 3, 2014
@Targetaus so you're suggesting you are above the decision making skills of adults, and the classification board? Crazy decision.
— Matt Tarrant (@MattTarrant) December 3, 2014
And how come Target Australia is just figuring out now that the GTA franchise is violent?
@BlakeGL GTAV came out in September 17, 2013. Did they only just get copies?
— Bajo (@bajopants) December 3, 2014
@GraceBellavue @MattTarrant @Targetaus violence against women. Also, the game has been around for a while. Is it the first person thing?
— WeAreADL (@WeAreADL) December 3, 2014
Some agree with Target, however:
@Targetaus THANK YOU for leading the way in standing against #VAW
— Deb Malcolm (@DebMalcolm) December 3, 2014
@Targetaus Thank you for being considerate! By setting an example!
— Jenifer Miloferd (@MiliJen10) December 3, 2014
@benschy89 @Targetaus I agree with this. I haven't played it… Because I don't like it! Wouldn't buy it for a child either.
— Melissa Miranda (@Melly85B) December 3, 2014
@Targetaus has just put real women's &girls safety &rights be4 men who want 2virtually rape &murder us in a game-GTA 5.
Well done target!!!— REAL for Women ? (@LilyRMunroe) December 3, 2014
But as the pro-Target Tweeters argue with the anti-Target ones, there is a question of why Target Australia doesn’t ban games that depict violence against men:
@MiliJen10 @Mitch_J_Hooper So violence against men is totally fine? In GTA you can kill everyone and that is what equality means.
— Darji (@Darji) December 3, 2014
@MiliJen10 how does GTA target violence against women? It targets violence against anyone (as well as many other aspects).
— Matt Tarrant (@MattTarrant) December 3, 2014
@thereminfan @LilyRMunroe I love how you specialize women as some weak ass gender. Violence against men fine against women you monster.
— Darji (@Darji) December 3, 2014
There’s also a question if Target’s move — or a ban in general — will really do anything to stop violence against women:
@MiliJen10 @realcalves @Targetaus Please demonstrate the link between this game & violence against women.
— Sandy Lanceley (@sandylanceley) December 3, 2014
https://twitter.com/Mr8nd3rs0n/status/540101045737631745
https://twitter.com/AsatorPrime/status/540101466212425730
@Mitch_J_Hooper @MiliJen10 Then why are you celebrating this decision when it only stands for violence against women?
— Darji (@Darji) December 3, 2014
Target defended its decision and doesn’t look to be backing down:
@ross_lumbus Thank you for feedback, this was a decision we made after careful consideration of extensive community and customer concern.
— Target Australia (@Targetaus) December 3, 2014
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‘Wait, are you serious’? ‘Breaking Bad’ star Aaron Paul rips Toys ‘R’ Us for caving to Florida Mom
Editor’s note: A typo was corrected in the headline of this post.
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