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Gaming Laws

Discussion in 'General Open/Public Discussion' started by Hamma, 30 Nov 2005.


  1. Hamma

    Hamma Commanding Officer Officer

    Officer
    http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=249368&&
    I think this is BS personally, not because I dont think younger kids should be buying some games (Ultimatly, parenting is key imo) but because the ESRB needs to be fixed itself. :lol:
     
  2. (sigh)...I knew this was coming. (Thanx again Rockstar.)
    Unfortunately, it is assumed that a law will 'make things right' or 'make the problem go away'.
    This is topic that will be rehashed in one form or another until the end of time (ad nauseum).
    I lived through the Tipper Gore days when she tried to ban records as well. A politician needs a “high-horse”…I’ve posted what I feel about politics vs. career politicians in another thread, and will not re-hash here, but will sum by stating (it is something to champion themselves for to give them the cause to keep on campaigning).
    The fact is, selling AO material to minors, selling “M” CD’s to minors etc. are prohibited. Yet they still do.
    Take the Charlton Heston speech “Winning the Cultural War” regarding many things including his address to Time-Warner regarding Ice-T’s “Cop Killer” CD.

    If you are not acquainted with his speech, I suggest you give it a read. On many levels, he is telling adults to face reality and grow up.

    My pontification is cut short as my daughter is calling me….

    Toodles~!

    ~PM~
     
  3. Hamma

    Hamma Commanding Officer Officer

    Officer
    Interesting speech
     
  4. symen

    symen DragonWolf

    Clinton is my state senator, so I'm strongly considering writing a letter to her about this one. Not that she's likely to read it, but I can try. :p My view is that there is ultimately no point in having this law -- almost all retailers already refuse to sell Mature/Adults Only games to people younger than 17. And more federal regulation of anything is generally a bad idea in my opinion.

    What kills me about the whole thing is that her crusade is prompted by the fact that you can download a mod for one of the GTA games that allows you to have sex with prostitutes. Right now, it is possible to download, with no age verification, a game that allows you to play as a sniper and re-enact the Kennedy assassination, a patch for a game that allows you to play as Osama Bin Laden and terrorize a city, and I'm sure many other simulations of fairly antisocial activities. (For the record, I neither have a particular interest in any of these, nor do I care overmuch whether they exist. To each his/her own.) All this, and Clinton is worried that children might see a simulation of sex. It's probably not a great idea to expose children to either sex or violence, but I suspect that exposing them to violence is as much or more damaging (I'll have to ask my wife about that, she's a child psychologist), yet nobody ever seems to care about that. Frankly, I think our priorities as a society are somewhat skewed.
     
  5. Om

    Om DragonWolf

    Yeah, make love, not war! <3
     
  6. Indeed Symen~! The only reason that she moved to NY is because she was chastised for not living there after announcing her campaign. And also....I've written to several politicians, and have met with...various results~!

    Indeed Queenie~! While performing demonstration of Dead Man's Hand at the Atari Editor's day, I stated, "Now that I'm a parent, I really, really am an advocate for peace and love." Then I turned and blasted a bandit at the top of the stairs, with a double barrel shotgun. "However, there are times when nothing is more gratifying then sending a bad guy ass-over-tea-kettle."

    But those are stories for another time - I must dash off and bring my son to Pre-school~!

    ~PM~
     
  7. I personally feel it's the parents job to monitor what their kids play, watch and do. Not the governments. But a lot of parents today are just too busy or don't care. It's sad. My son is almost 6 and he loves video games. I only allow him to play certain games. I only allow my kids to watch PG movies or ones that I preview. However my nephew( almost 7) gets to play and watch things that are totally not for kids. I have a hard time letting my kids go over there but they like to play with their cousins. I just wonder about some parents choices. That's my two cents.:D
     
  8. Many kids are buying M rated games. Most of the them are buying them at Walmart or Target. But that being said many kids ar also buying R rated movies. They are also getting into R rated movies. I don't see one bill addressing this issue. I also agree that I would rather have my kids see somebody making love than somebody being blown away by a shot gun.

    The bill won't pass and if it does it won't stand up in the courts. Third the feds don't have the right to pass a bill that should be covered by the states. That's the real issue to me.
     
  9. That is very true Panthera. I am not a parent yet but it must be very difficult trying to do right (or what you think is right) with your kids only to have others taint that as soon as they step foot out the door. Then again if you raised them right (or are in the process of raising them right) then you can only hope that they take what you teach to heart and make the right decisions...

    As far as all of this "regulating" crap goes. I am for it - treat it just like movies or cigarettes. If it is an M or AO rated game then you have to show ID to purchase or rent.

    JUST DO NOT ALTER THE CONTENT OF MY VIDEO GAMES BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BREATHING DOWN YOUR NECK!!

    As far as Mods go...I don't think politicians and most parents grasp the concept at this point. They are still trying to get their heads around the fact that video games are coming hot off the presses either too sexy or too violent...or God forbid - both. I think a major gasket could be blown knowing that a perfectly vanilla concept like CareBears The Action Game could be modded and turned into GayBears The Anal Action Game. Like Queen stated...there is probably far worse out there now that I can only imagine.

    It seems to me the next generation consoles are all gauged to 18 to 45 year old males anyway. Look at the prices of the systems - if I told my Mom when I was 14 years old that I wanted an Atari that costs 500 dollars - She would have laughed in my face.
     
    Last edited: 30 Nov 2005
  10. i think that is the main issue, parents dont want to take responsibility for their children. if there is a ratings in place thru the law, then when something happens they can say oh well its someone elses fault, even though their kid could be playing it right in front of their face and they do not acknowledge it, no matter how they obtained it.

    I am a firm believer of educating my children about everything. but i also try to protect them as well. i want them to have all of the knowledge so that they can make the right decisions in life. i want them to know how things affect everyone around them so that when they need to make that choice they can ask is it a good one or a bad one. i also encourage them to take possesion of the choices they make and whether they are good ones or bad ones to be responsible for the outcome
    Agreed!

    if my children were to ask me for something like this, the answer would be NO. however, if you would like to go out and earn your own money and buy it yourself, then you are more than welcome to! :)

    however, i do preview and know everything my children read and watch :) their video game room is right next to the computer room and so i can see and hear what they are doing. (they think i just ignore them, but i know whats going on) :) (its a parent thing) i frequently sit and watch tv with them to see what shows they are watching or the content. or even just walking by a room to see what is on the tv.

    i am just sad that they feel they have to "monitor" things, when what needs to happen is parents need to own up and take responsibility for what their children are doing. Video games are not "babysitters". The TV does not need to be on all of the time. Sure i understand that people work, and want to come home and relax, but your kids grow up so damn fast its unreal, and before you know it they are gone. Its kind of like the old addage, garbage in garbage out, if you are not there helping to mentor your children, then who is ??? and to think, this is our next generation coming up that is going to be responsible for helping take care of you :) what are we teaching them, if we are not doing it ourselfs?

    okay :) /rant off

    and uhmm.. i really wish billary would go back to arkansas :)
     
  11. Ok, my soap box is a bit worn out right now, so I'll stay off of it.

    I will say this though. Symen, because of anthrax and all that crap, most senators don't even get their mail till about 3-8 weeks after it's been sent. You'd be better off faxing a letter to her office. Usually, if what you've stated is clear and to the point, you'll at least get a letter from her staff. (If you're a regular writer, or give offers, or suggestions, for alternatives, you'll get a call from the cheif of staff.)

    Just some info if you're interested in writing her.
     
  12. Well It's nice to see that we have taken the responibility of being a parent and thrown it out the window! Likewise Blizz adding Parental controls is a good idea however if the Parents do not interact with their kids then the controls would be useless. So the other arguement would be what sort of funding would there be or office would enforce this silly law?

    "Big brother watching and taking bit by bit our freedoms away"
     
    Last edited: 30 Nov 2005
  13. Ingwë

    Ingwë DragonWolf<BR>The Goose!

    If this bill even would pass I do not see how it would succeed in its goal. To me it seems that most of the time these games are being purchased by their parents, and not the kids themselves. Even if this was not so, there will always be that one friend that gains access to such material.

    The answer to this problem is to educate the parents in what content exists in the game they are letting their children play. Possibly the real issue is the lack and vagueness of the ESRB warnings.
     
  14. Om

    Om DragonWolf

    this seems to be more "it takes a village to raise a child" philosophy to me.

    There are many parents who absolutely will not be there for their own children. From volunteering in public school I've learned the problem is much larger than I ever imagined. Could this be a way of putting the reigns in the hands of the village for those times when the parents themselves aren't involved to prevent training up criminals that will plague society in teh future?



    ...and symen, I was in a rush earlier so I just posted a quickie after your post but I believe our society places more emphasis on heavily censoring sex (violent sex, degrading sex, general sex, stuff like that) because it's so darned easy to have sex. So darned easy for men to find a victim for rape (anyone female and/or smaller than you will do.) This spreads disease and results in pregnancy, etc. Very real, very easy for young people to do and just casual sex is something very easy to justify (he/she loves me, nothing wrong with that), and the bodies of human beings were built to enjoy sex, it's a natural urge so the people involved don't even think of it as being something wrong...we have to put that thought in their heads.

    Now, youngsters obtaining firearms, masterminding criminal activities ...these are a little more difficult, take planning and people with a conscience generally stray from these activities.

    I'm not saying the way we handle these things as a society are right, this is just my observation.
     
  15. Om

    Om DragonWolf

    hahaha! you always make me laugh. Where's that book you should be writing, my friend? I'd like to buy a copy when it's published.

    ...and I must also add that my kids do watch pg-13 movies, play games such as wow that are rated above their age, but I'm right there with them. I like to think of these things as preparation for some of the harsh things they'll face in life soon. My children are good people who are generous and kind to small children and animals.

    They've learned some good skills from working in groups in wow like patience, leadership, organizing and planning, assigning tasks, being responsible for your duty, helping others achieve their goals. One of the most amazing things they've learned is empathy. From the story lines of wow particularly from the horde side, they've learned empathy. They've learned that someone can be hideous looking but still have values, feelings and feel pain. Someone can do something we view as heinous, but when you walk in their shoes a day, you understand why they did it.

    I wouldn't want them playing this game without supervision and I know my friends (that's you guys) have had a huge part in guiding them on the right path.
     
  16. mtx

    mtx Official Decepticon

    My mother is a workaholic. She doesn't have to work so much but she either likes it or hates my brother. I don't know which it is but I'm going with the "hates my brother" anyway. :p So she's never around for him to tell him to do his homework or supervise him. He's absolutely failing in school.. to the point where they keep him in the office and make him do all his late homework in this little room. The poor school is working it's ass off to compensate for the failure of his own mother just to get him to pass this year.

    I always see him pop up on my buddylist playing BF2, Counterstrike or something. He doesn't do his homework when he gets home he plays M rated games online instead... and why not? Not like he has some real parent there to guide him and bring order to his life.

    This is just the samething to me. Democrats are traditionally all about these kind of bills. Protecting children from their failed parents.. not all parents are bad. I don't see anything bad about passing a bill to make it harder for kids to buy certain games. We do the same thing with cigarettes and alcohol. When parents get in line to buy the games and a cashier says "may I see your ID this game is for 18 or older" maybe that'll be a wake up call to them and hey this game may not be suitable for thier children. As it is there are so many stupid people in the world and not enough smart people. That's why i think things like this come up...
     
  17. symen

    symen DragonWolf

    And a very astute observation it is. I have never thought about the issue this way, but it makes a lot of sense. I was thinking of it from the perspective that sex is (when practiced safely, of course) a much healthier activity to be participating in than wanton violence, but your take on it is very thought-provoking. :)
     
  18. Manitou

    Manitou Old War Horse DragonWolf

    Personally I am getting tired of the government telling me what I can and can't do and what they feel is or is not good for me. It is not the government's job to try and live my life for me, it is their job to protect me from foreign enemies.

    Just watch, next we will have national ID cards, checks at the state borders...
     
  19. symen

    symen DragonWolf

    Amen. I feel that as long as I am not violating anyone's right to life, liberty, and/or pursuit of happiness, the government has no business telling me what I can and cannot do with my life.

    Is there really a difference between "License and Registration Please" and "Papers Please"?
     
  20. Hamma

    Hamma Commanding Officer Officer

    Officer
    Time for me to run for senate and knock some heads around. :eek:
     

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