Chronoblivion

I've seen the argument that illustrated children "normalizes" pedophilia and emboldens them to target real children at some point. Eventually it's not enough and they need the real thing. I've also seen the argument that it provides a "safe" outlet for their urges and can mitigate their risk of actually molesting someone. But in typical internet fashion, I've seen no hard evidence to support either of those claims.

I live in Wichita - the biggest city in Kansas (not saying much) - and this is pretty much what we do for fun here too.

My kids are 5 and I still instinctively cover my junk when they approach me if I'm sitting or in bed.

We may not all be born with equal circumstances and opportunities, but we all equally have 24 hours in a day and 7 days in week. My 24 hours are no shorter or longer than your 24 hours.

I agree with your overall message but I want to nitpick this point. Whether school, work, families, or whatever, many people have non-optional obligations that take up some or most of their free time. If your dream is to become a doctor but you're already 30 with a wife and two kids, you're going to have to make some sacrifices to make that dream happen. You can't quit your job because you still have to support your family, and you don't have enough free time to go to school full time. So you'll finally finish sometime in your 40s, with a mountain of debt that you won't pay off until you're nearing the end of your estimated lifespan, having missed most of your kids' childhood along the way, likely no longer married since there was never any time to maintain your relationship with your wife. Was the dream worth it?

You're not wrong that people always have the choice to better themselves, and that they are largely responsible for their own success, but for some the hill is so steep, and the pace so slow, that the likelihood of ever seeing any payoff for their efforts is practically none. To say that one person's 24 hours are the same as everyone else's is a bit disingenuous and a bit naive.

What should we as consumers (i.e. not game developers) do to effect a positive change in how society/the media perceives/portrays games and gamers?

As a follow-up, how, aside from voting with our wallets, might we go about pushing for positive change within the industry itself, including but not limited to some of the changes or innovations suggested in your episodes?