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Dissecting U.S. Violent Game Bills
Many reactions to last week's violent games bill. Primotech writes "I first heard of California's AB1179 late Friday night. Like most others, who simply shrugged the bill off as inconsequential, my first thought was strikingly indifferent. Beyond the perfunctory glance, however, it becomes evident that this bill brings into focus and, more importantly, actually probes some of the more serious issues facing the industry. Above all else, examining and dissecting the proposal reveals some truly frightening facts." Relatedly, Shodan writes "Hal Halpin, the President of IEMA, today issued a statement in response to California Assembly Bill 1179, which is on the floor to address the issue of violent videogames." Other states are taking their lead from Illinois and California. KymBuchanan writes "I'm sad to say my state is on the bandwagon, and the charge is being lead by Democrats. From the article: 'Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has announced that she will sign legislation later this week that will make the sale or rental of mature or adult-rated video games to children illegal ... The fine for anyone caught selling a "violent title" ( apparently defined by the bill as real or simulated graphic depictions of physical injuries or physical violence against parties who realistically appear to be human beings) to minors will initially be $5,000, and can go as high as $40,000 ...'"
I don't know why I'm bothering to post this, as I'm sure it'll never be seen, but hey why not try ...
What strikes me as amazing is how many people jump to the defense of games where you can simulate: carjacking someone, killing police, stealing, looting, burning... yes, this is entertainment. Nothing more exciting then a simulation of how to kill hundreds of people in the convenience of my own living room. Forget puzzles, that's not any fun.
The idea behind all of this censorship is that there is a proven link between the violence in media (and that includes ALL media combined) and violence in people - and, like it or not our society is producing adults with less and less respect for other humans. The problem is, of course that nobody knows where to direct a response. There's a murder where the suspect says something about video games, and our focus changes to them. Wait, it's movies, focus changes there.
The bigger picture is that society as a whole - media being a part of that - has graduated each and every component towards this problem. That's where we need to focus our efforts, but nothing would come of that either - we need a free market for violent video games so geeks (myself included) can play our first-person shooter as much as the gangbangers in Brooklyn need rap music to roll to.
Like it or not, video games are a small part of this. As is violent music, violence in movies, crime itself, and how we punish and litigate criminals in less and less meaningful ways.
But try telling that to a rap music fan, a gangster movie buff, or a defense lawyer because you'd just be another idiot trying to ruin their freedoms.
If, 50 years ago, 4 or 5 children (one 2 months old) were shot in a period of a 5-day workweek, the whole world would have noticed. It barely made the front page in my city last month.
I oppose this kind of legislation, because the govenrment is not your mother. Because if it IS your mother, it is a homeless teen aged alchoholic crack ho mother. The government is good for managing trade with forign countries, invading middle eastern dictactorships, and building overpriced freeways, and that is about it.
Explane to me how the government is going to properly define a violent game, without pissing everyone off. Hell, there might even be grounds for a lawsuit in the attempt.
It's crap like this that makes me hate the democrats as much as the republicans.
HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
Let's ignore that whole "freedom of speech thing" (even if that refers to only political speech).
Remember when the dems used to pretend to be the defenders of free speech against the anti-porn bible-thumpers?
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
Let me count the ways
- The FSM says so
- The nation's healthcare siuation rewards genetic abnormality by spending gobs o' resources to ensure it's survival. (Watch Discovery health sometime.)
- Folks with severe drug problems have this cycle: Partake, almost die, rehab, partake, almost die...Rinse and repeat.
My solutionStep 1 : Legalize drugs
Step 2 : Deny healthcare if narcotics are in the bloodstream at the time of treeatment
Step 3 : Remove human rights from certain types of prisoners. Doing crimes are a personal choice.
This advocates...... Wait for it..... Taking responsibility in the choices you make!
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