Clinton To Take On Rockstar

Hillary Clinton, protector of the innocent, has vowed to see an FTC investigation launched against Rockstar because of the 'Hot Coffee' sex mod (already under investigation by the ESRB). From the Gamespot article: "...following recent reports revealing that the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has graphic pornographic content which may be unlocked by following instructions on the Internet, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will hold a press conference to discuss legislative solutions to keep inappropriate video game content out of the hands of young people." ARGH! Okay...seriously...it's already rated M. It's out of the hands of children. If Rockstar actually left the content in that wasn't the smartest thing they've ever done, but it's not like they killed a puppy.

Comments

Re:legislative solutions?

[dusik]

>> "...politicians would rather pass laws regulating the flow of information and sale of materials that they feel are harmful to a child."

I wonder how many of them actually care about the children. I think politicians will do just about anything to enhance their public opinion.

So sex is the only BAD thing to have in a game?

[harryman100]

What kind of message is this going to give to kids really? It seems the issue is this:

"There's no problem with a game containing large amounts of violence and illegal activity, PROVIDING there's no sex in it!"

Really, if I was a parent (which currently I'm not) I'd be much more worried about the violence and stuff in GTA, than any amount of sex. Maybe if it was rape, then I'd be a little more sympathetic to their point of view.

I don't pretend to understand the ratings system in america, but in good old Blighty, GTA is rated 18, which means you can't buy it if you're under 18, yet you're allowed to have sex in real life at the age of 16. (which brings up an interesting debate as to why porn films are also rated 18 - but thats not the topic)

Really, this is a non issue, and the world could do with lightening up a bit on the whole sex issue. There really is nothing offensive about it, and depending upon your religion (if any), can be viewed as a good healthy (if you are sensible) recreational activity...

Re:legislative solutions?

[Intrigued]

Actually, in a twisted way, she is responding to her constituency. Parents these days will tell you how society has let them down, the schools failed them, didn't teach their children, and all the other ways that everyone failed to parent their children for them.

(irony)Someone has to take a stand and bring in the villiage to provide parenting for these children and the parents are sending a message to their representatives that they won't stand for society's failure at this.(/irony)

BTW - to head off any flaming, I have 5 children that I home-parent (yes, I'm one of those psycho parenting fundamentalists) It works for me.

I have a neighbor who's children were never taught the basic laws of not trespassing, respect of other people's property and laws dealing with fundamental consideration for others. The police have been out many times to fulfill society's obligation to teach these kids, but the police seem poorly suited for the job. I wouldn't have any problem with parents being forced to take parenting classes after the 3rd time that their kid has the police called on them. If it were my kid, I would happily go to the class even if I felt it was unjustified just to know that somewhere, some parent that really needs it is forced to go too.

If I truly want the government to stay out of my personal life, I respect the society laws in dealing with other people and teach my children to do the same so no one has to step in and do it for me. Then everyone can leave me the hell alone. I call it parenting.

Oh, come on

[ALeavitt]

Hasn't anybody considered the fact that downloading this patch requires the internet skills necessary to locate the patch, and then the computing skills necessary to apply it? If a kid can find the Hot Coffee mod on the net, he/she can find porn on the net. Hell, most people who couldn't find the Hot Coffee mod could find porn on the net. But censoring the intarweb was sooooo 90s, and it didn't succeed, so now they're going after video games.
As a complete non-sequitir, does anybody know of a country where the right to free speech actually exists, and the government doesn't tell the citizens what they can and can't choose to view?

Social Conservatives

[boot1780]

First she's teaming up with Newt Gingrich and now this. The point is to curry favor with social conservatives before her inevitable run for president. Just the sound of her name makes the fundamentalists empty out their wallets and pocketbooks. Look for more of this to come.

Re:I like hillary

[Cornflake917]

Not only that, she repesents the "government knows better than you" wing as well.

I would hope that the government is more informed and intelligent than than I am. If not, we are in bad shape.

Hence, we are in bad shape.

Re:Makes sense (not!)

[mooingyak]

I happen to agree that this nation has it priorities a little screwed up.

But consider that the negative consequences of violent acts tend to be fairly obvious, while the negative consequences of sexual acts are a good deal less so, especially since there's no guarantee that any particular time will have a negative consequence.

So some people are not that worried about the violence their kids are exposed too. They expect it to be clear what the problems with violence are. But the same people get nervous about exposing their kids to sexual content, as the problems are less clear.

I think we (Americans) freak out way too much about nudity, though I feel it's a bit more justified in the case of pornagraphic material.

Re:legislative solutions?

[j-turkey]

I find it funny that whenever republicans do this, everyone starts talking about "THE RADICAL RIGHT," but when democrats lead the way, it's all about "the government" or "politicians" in general.

It works the same way with gun control: when republicans do it, it's "big government," when democrats do it, it's "the liberal's" fault.

What's the difference in this case? They're all assholes, right? ;)

Seriously, though...the radical right and left both share a similar desire -- to control us. From a social standpoint, the far right seem to act as the moral elite, and those on the far left are the intellectual elite. They both want to ram their agenda down our throats at the expense of freedom (although they both claim to embrace freedom in their rhetoric).

I'm with you -- they're pretty much the same. I was expecting to see some fiscal conservatism in our recently elected republican government (executive branch, house, senate), but this didn't happen. Dominant parties always seem to spend enough to stay dominant. I guess that this makes them even more similar.

Re:I like hillary

[Golias]

When the Libertarian Party's alternative quits being "the government knows nothing", I'll vote for them.

As a libertairian, allow me to steal freely from Mark Twain to say that the problem with government is not what they don't know, but what they do know that isn't so.

Re:And Jack Thompson's reply....

[goreking]

Wow...I never thought that I'd be in a position to feel the need to support Hilary Clinton (whom I've always considered a bit of a Lady MacBeth). But doesn't anyone in this forum get that it has absolutely zero to do with video games...and everything to do with a larger economic neccessity. For our economy to grow, both parents (remember that 52% divorce rate) work. Which means most kids grow up in environments where they are left alone, or with outside assistance or with neighbors &c. This means that there is no or little check on what those kids are doing for a go portion of the day. They are exposed to games, music and films. Television shows not designed for them (but incredibly alluring...Come on! You were a kid once!). I'm all for the freaking government to get off of our backs, especially when it comes to my tax dollars being spent on huge pork barrel projects designed only to enrich the "friends" (aka large corporate campaign donors) of congress. Hilary's gripe, is to say...okay...who can we call upon to show some dignity...some class. Now she may disguise it, after all, she's a Clinton gearing up for a presidential campaign and trying to center herself (thus making her more attractive to the bible-eating middle) by railing against obscenity. But the true fact, the undeniable fact is that Rockstar's games are played, marketed and geared to children...M rating or not. Their promos, their ad campaigns...everything. Don't believe it? Open your eyes. Look at the television shows that they sponsor...look at the times of day those ads are on. Look at the magazines that Rockstar chooses to advertise in. It is no accident that they sell so many games. Now, I know the parents have to put down their foot every once in a blue moon (fucking parents today are way too fucking indulgent...if you ask me)...but I think it is also okay to expect a modicum of respect to the children of this country (or is that company) by respecting where and how you advertise your entertainment material. That's just some more Commmon Sense.