On one level, I sorta understand why they are squeamish. That is, I understand why our military is. Gamestop's just agreeing to something that they were asked to do. I don't fault GS for avoiding the problem, but I fault our military for the request on another level.

I mean, on one level, you have military people out there, risking their lives, and when they go to blow off some steam online, suddenly they're Afghanis. The same people they're out trying to stop, suddenly they're playing one online. That might suck. Maybe. Depends on how traumatized the soldier is, I'd imagine.

Then again, why would a traumatized soldier be playing a game where you're gunning down people anyway? Why would a soldier who might be offended by playing as Taliban be playing a game featuring the modern day combat? Why does the military have to protect its fragile soldiers from a game that its own soldiers could protect themselves from by ...not buying the game?

I guess ultimately my problem with it is the same problem I have with so many attempts to censor or ban things. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Don't take it out of the stores. So many military gamers are posting online they're picking it up online or at an in-town GS/BB/Walmart/Target, etc. What's the point of banning it from the GS's on military bases except for the military to be making a point about they're not liking the game's content? They say its to protect their soldiers, but that cannot be true unless they ban every game that has gunplay in it because any game with people gunning down other people could be harmful for soldiers traumatized by war.

PTSD does not affect just games based on Afghanistan. It could affect gamers who play any game that reminds the affected of the trauma. And who can guess what game will do that? Which is why the argument for banning them in the name of the soldiers breaks down and the true purpose is clear. They're banning it because they disagree with the content, not for the health of anyone.

And they're disagreeing with the content is enough reason to make the request, but it doesn't speak well to the moral certainty of their purpose there if they question the message of a game so clearly dedicated to showing our military is heroic in the face of horrible circumstances. I say that based on everything they've shown about it and how much emphasis is placed on the advisors they've used.

Of course, Call of Duty: Black Ops will not be sold in military GS's either because of the Vietnam segments which might offend or traumatize Vietnam vets, right? Right? Uh huh.