Slashdot Mirror
The Law as a Parent
RosethornKB writes "KillerBetties.com has an editorial about the continuing attempts by the legal system to pass laws regulating the sale of video games. From the article: "The latest is one coming out of Illinois. Governor Blagojevich is proposing legislation and his explanation says, among other things: "Parenting is hard work, and the state has a compelling interest in helping parents raise their children to be upstanding men and women." How does passing laws to restrict the sale of violent games and put tight restrictions on the industry's labeling systems help parents raise their children?""
We hear the "parents should take responsibility" mantra. Sound advice, no doubt. But at what level do children have rights and responsibilities themselves and at which do parents have them over the children?
I read in this discussion "leave law abiding citizens alone." Watching hardcore pornography is certainly law abiding. Would you allow parents to let their 8 year olds watch hardcore pornography?
Even watching people have sex is legal, if they want you to watch. Would you let parents let their children watch them have sex? Extremely disturbing, that's how you make a sociopath, but the parents should have the right, right?
Self-mutilation is legal, within people's rights. Would you allow parents to let their children watch them as they mutilate their own body? Or on that note, would you allow parents to let their children mutilate themselves?
I don't think cannibalism itself is illegal in the U.S, I could be wrong, it's not in Germany I know that! Would you let parents feed their children human flesh?
Do you want to give parents total responsibility and rights or take away some like ones mentioned here?