Dogpile Video

Of all search engines, I utilize dogpile most frequently. A lot of people tell me I should check out yahoo or google and I have to scoff at them. Why? Dogpile is a collection of search engines, including, you guessed it, yahoo and google.

Yesterday, I was attempting to research a headline I saw at ESPN.com, that Vince Young stated Michael Vick is a good person. Well, as I found out, if one types the words "Michael Vick" or just "Vick," once they press enter, a video will pop up toward the very top of the screen, followed by a series of pages that fit the search qualifications. What's this video consist of? An African-American quarterback in a black uniform, the ball being snapped to him, then running with the football and being tackled and eaten by the search engine's logo/mascot, dog Alfie. At the end of the video, Vick's blood and body parts lie around all over the place and fans in the stands are all giving a standing ovation to Alfie.

I understand that some are extremely angry with Vick, some even believe the guy should be executed. I've heard/read some people talk about the dog world needing revenge against Vick, how he should be chained down in an auditorium with pit bulls having at him. Again, to each their own. I, for one, do not believe in the death penalty, so just as I would say in any other scenario, I hold that belief in this one. I have as much right to believe that as others do in being pro-capital punishment. But, isn't this a little graphic?

If one (or a group) wants to include such graphic images or videos on their site, shouldn't a name and password be needed to view such things, so that children are not able to watch it? I'm about as liberal as they get, but unless my child (hypothetical one, of course) comes to me and talks to me about a potentially obscene movie, cd, book, painting, or video, so he/she and I can talk about it and I can conclude on if they're ready or not for such material, I'd rather my child not be able to see such violent videos when just typing a single four-letter name into a search engine. I'd be upset if at yahoo, a video of large breasts appeared if one just typed in the name "Parton." I'd be upset if I simply typed in the words "video games" at google and up top appeared a violent video clip from Grand Theft Auto, with the obscene language included in the clip. There are personal sites where such imagery can be viewed and will most likely stay away from the eyes/ears of children, but up top at a search engine when the child only has to type the word "Vick" to see it? It's not like the video clip is small and toward the very bottom of the page, making it more likely the child wouldn't even see it if they didn't scroll all the way. No, it's at the top, for all eyes to see.

What does this teach kids anyway? An eye for an eye? A tooth for a tooth? Violence deters violence? Heck, what if a child doesn't pay attention to the sports world or the news in general? Such a video could frighten him of dogs. I know it may seem silly, as I have had three dogs and can't imagine ever being frightened of them, but there are some people who have had bad experiences with these animals and are very much scared of them. I used to be frightened of cats, so it is possible. What is a lovable creature to one is a monster to another.

I hope there have been similar complaints to Dogpile about this, because while I think such videos should be allowed in certain areas as a freedom of speech, I'd rather they not be allowed for all children's eyes to see.