news-record.com

Something parents should keep in mind if video games are on their kids' holiday wish list. That it's not just whether the game they're playing is too violent or sexually explicit.

It's what they might be exposed to if they're playing the game online.

That's also true, unfortunately, if they read comments on stories posted at newspaper Web sites.

A blog entry ("Online gaming's dirty little secret") by technology news company CNET follows the recent release of the smash-hit "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2."

The video game has generated plenty of controversy regarding the gory depiction of a terrorist attack in an airport.

"But while the bulk of the mainstream media criticism of these games tends to focus on the violence, gore, and questionable ethics in such combat-centric titles, little is spoken about a growing issue that can affect online gamers playing any title: instances of racism, misogyny, and homophobia," Jeff Bakalar writes.

"Perhaps the cloak of anonymity that playing a video game online provides increases the prevalence of these instances."

No kidding. I was playing a Tiger Woods golf video game with others online one time and this guy kept using the N-word. Would he walk down the street saying that? Let's just say I don't think it was Tourette syndrome.

But it's not just video games. Newspaper Web sites are dealing with the same problem regarding comments posted on stories and are struggling for answers, too.

Where do you draw the line? Some people say they want to remain anonymous out of fear of some sort of perceived threat by others. Whatever.

But what about those who remain anonymous so they can pretend to be someone they're not?

Here's an example: A guy routinely posts comments to stories at news-record.com pretending to be a black woman so he can play the race card. (Examples here and here.)

What's next? Someone posting comments under the name "Guido" so he can write about ma's spaghetti and his family ties to the Mafia?

How about someone going by "Mi Yong" posting comments that she is a terrible driver but great at math?