How Violent Media And Game Censorship Interact

Socrates writes "GamerDad has an article up called 'The Media War', a feature discussing videogames in the context of violent media and the well-meaning groups who try to censor it. 'The war against violent media is not new. Learn the history of media controversy, and take a sobering look at what's in store for gamers down the road.' The piece includes quotes from Douglas Lowenstein of the ESA and IGDA spokesman Jason Della Rocca."

Comments

I suggest we..

[wraith0x29a]

..just frag the censors.

Well

[FictionPimp]

If they take away my violent video games, I'll have no recourse but to kill people for amusment. I'll most likley start by buying a compound that I will make to look like a city and offering bums free food and shelter to act like they live in my town while I jack their cars and shoot them in the face.

Later, I would move on to more interesting games, like hunting down a human and stabing him in the back while he guards some ancient artifact. Or perhaps shoot people with a sniper rifle while trying to stop a terrorist plot.

It all comes down to this. I have to deal with idiot assholes all day. If I can't shoot virtual people when I get home, I'm going to have to shoot real ones.

On a serious note, what makes them think video games are more harmful then say movies or even the public education system? If children can be infuenced by 1 media type, couldn't they be infulenced by all? Does this mean that parents can also influence their children? If that is true, shouldn't all children be removed from their parents and awarded to a state approved center where they will only be allowed to view approved material and hear approved words?

Hmmm, perhaps we should sterilze the majority of the population and only keep dedicated breeders, and raise our children in factories. Yea...I mean after all, it takes a village.

Re:They are wrong

[Oddly_Drac]

"now being 24 and still playing I have no desire to go around and destroy things or kill people."

I'm eight years ahead of you, and the only thing I do is listen to repetitive music in the dark and munch vitamin pills and fruit.

Yes, I butchered the joke much in the same way I let Lemming after Lemming eat flaming death.

Phht.

[scowling]

I have been a consumer of violent movies, music, books and games for thirty-odd years. They have had no effect whatsoever on me, and I'll kill any son of a bitch who tries to tell me otherwise.

Absolute Hogwash!

[Robmonster]

If games really influence people, then all the kids who grew up playing Pacman would today be standin agound in darkened rooms, listening to repetative electronic music and eating lots of pills.