Video game ban in Illinois

[Mara]

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's proposal to bar stores from selling violent and sexually explicit video games to children unanimously passed a state House committee Wednesday, despite concerns that it might be unconstitutional.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7149850/

:read:

[DanTheManPR]

As much as I hate restricting stuff...

I think its a good idea.

[merlin3791]

You have to be 18 to buy a Cd with Explicit Lyrics why not do the same for video games. Its not like the parent cant buy it for them? I dont think thats unconstitutional, now if you ban it for adults I think that would be wrong.

[draco7891]

Sigh, yet another of our precious rights being secretly stripped from our grasp.

Banning the sale of video games (to anyone) is much like saying that no one under the age of 18 can view the statue of David, because he's naked and therefore sexually explicit. Would any of those Illinois politicians like to pass legislation to ban our children from viewing important works of art, simply because they depict violence and/or sex? Certainly not.

Games and gaming are an artform, one that has been neglected and shunted to the backroom for too long. I say that it is time for all gamers to band together and make sure that everyone knows that games are art, and should be treated thusly.

Blagojevich has been pushing the idea for several months, arguing in town hall meetings and national interviews that the games desensitize children to violence. He says they can lead to anti-social behavior and even obesity.

Know what else desensitizes children to violence? Violence. Reality is violent. Movies, TV, books, music, and all the trappings of our modern culture breed, spew, condense, or otherwise distribute violence in all it's various forms, yet only gaming is so utterly singled out as the one and only true cause of violence. Games are an escape from reality, a chance to live out a fantasy for a few moments in our violent lives. If anything, gaming is cathartic.

As to the anti-social behavior, just whom is to decide what constitutes "anti-social" anyway? Does not a gamer seek out his own kind for friendship and comraderie? Can anyone reading this honestly say that they have not met at least one of their friends while playing games?

Obesity? You know what really causes obesity? Convenience. Our lives have reached the critical point where things have become too convenient, where we as living beings are being replaced by our gadgets and our inventions. Such is the curse of our brain, to seek pleasure and to apply itself in making life as easy as possible. If one truly seeks to eliminate obesity, then things should be less convenient. Make people walk. Make them use bicycles. Make fewer microwavable products and frozen entrees. Close down fast food restaurants and coffee shops and all the various providers of spurious organic energy. Make people work. That's the solution to obesity, not banning games.

The ESRB was developed by the game companies to self-regulate, and I do not see why the American public should not be expected to do the same, to regulate themselves, and be given the choice to buy what they wish. If someone feels that they are emotionally and mentally capable of playing games with mature themes or sexual content, then they should be afforded that choice. Not to bring any political bias into this, but Republicanism is about limiting the control of the government, while Liberalism is about expanding the influence of the government. I am a Republican, and therefore cringe each time the government, in any form, thinks that it knows what's best for me, and this is a prime example. The government doesn't think that the average American consumer has enough foresight to introspect and choose the right game for him; instead he must be led by the hand by your friendly neighborhood politician, whom will choose for him.

Draco

[Avatar190]

Know what else desensitizes children to violence? Violence. Reality is violent. Movies, TV, books, music, and all the trappings of our modern culture breed, spew, condense, or otherwise distribute violence in all it's various forms, yet only gaming is so utterly singled out as the one and only true cause of violence. Games are an escape from reality, a chance to live out a fantasy for a few moments in our violent lives. If anything, gaming is cathartic.

Gaming is not being singled out, it is just one of the remaining unregulated forms of entertainment. Movies have had a rating system for over 30 years, and you have to be the appropriate age to purchase tickets. Television has been using the rating system for almost 10 years, and with the advent of the V-Chip (and other safeguards), parents can police what their children are watching even if they aren't around at a specific moment. Pornography, cigarettes, and liquor have all been regulated from purchase from minors ever since I can remember (and before that even).

Music has utilized the Explicit Lyrics label since the PMRC hearings in the mid-80's, and parents can at least observe what their kids are listening to and regulate them. Gaming has also utilized this system, however the failing in that system is that anyone can still purchase items with ratings above their age group (unless the merchant voluntarily honors the rating system and refuses sale). I, personally, don't feel that music is as actively influencing on behavior as gaming is on children.

There is are several studies out there about the effects of television violence and gaming violence on children. In particular, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman has written a book called Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill, which addresses the effects of gaming. He's made an interesting study about how our 3-D shooters are so similar to military training programs; so similar, in fact, that we are in effect being trained by them. He goes on to present the example of Littleton, CO, and how the shooters there were so deadly accurate, especially for individuals with no physical firearm training. He presents several other examples, and it is quite interesting.

As I said, I feel that gaming is more of an influence on behavior than music can be. The regulation on the sale of games to minors is a welcome occurance for me, as a parent. Gaming now joins the similar ranks of movies, porn, cigarettes, and booze; and is not being singled out.

Ultimately, the burden of regulation falls on the parents, and cannot be argued. However, parents in today's society are not there as often as they should be (admittedly, I fall into this category as well). Most families have both parents working, and it becomes difficult to watch their children at all times. Regulation is an aid to help parents police their children when they happen to not be there (you cannot lock your kids up in the house and keep them there til they are 18 now, can you?).