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National Review Defends Gaming
The National Review has a piece up entitled National Born Regulators, in which they lay out the problems with legislator decision-making processes when discussing videogames, and lay to rest some of the most common misconceptions around gaming. From the article: "Those games are the exception to the rule. The vast majority of video games sold each year do not contain intense violence or sexual themes. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), the video-game industry's self-regulatory labeling body, places ratings and numerous content descriptors on almost every game sold in America today. These ratings and descriptors are remarkably detailed and displayed prominently on all game cartons, making them easy for parents to evaluate."
It's not unusual for people to want to pass of their responsibilities to others. Parents are no different.
:(
Just because someone has responsibilities, does not make them responsible in any fashion.
Sad but true
What else can happen when an unstoppable force collides with an immovable object?
Some days you just have to sit back and dream because reality is far too confusing. Conservatives actually espousing their correct value set concerning government regulation? Democrats (Hillary and cohorts) trying to "save the children" with mindless studies that egrediously waste tax payer money that could go to something like education?
Some days you just wish for a party that would be the proponents of a moderate and fiscally responsible social safety net and completely disregard this moral safety net idiocy. A long shot, I know. But since when did the government have the right or even the ability to make subjective judgements about morality? Religious people should be up in arms that the government is interfering with their baliwack (instead of just muddying up religion with politics). Church groups should be pounding the street protesting the latest GTA, not trying to get politicians to deal with it. I can ignore street protests...laws are a little harder.
I am and always will be a stereotype, because who in their right mind prefers mono?
Honestly, if you bought your 12-year-old a copy of GTA San Andreas, it's not Rockstar's fault, it's not the US Government's fault, it's not the store's fault, it's yours, because you made a conscious decision to buy your kid that game when the title and the carton art tell the whole story.
Very true. However, there are plenty of cases where the child buys the game outside of the parent's presence. What do you suggest then? Following your kid 24/7, never letting them out of your sight? Weekly room searches?
Yeah, parents need to take an active role. But we don't allow the sale of pornography to minors. I don't see any fundamental difference between that and many of these adult-themed games, such as GTA. What is wrong with not allowing stores to sell games that even the publishers themselves claim (falsely, in my opinion) are not meant for the underage market?
If the parent wants to buy adult-themed games for their 11-year-old, I could care less. That's their problem. What most people who are for regulation suggest is simply to make it harder for the kids to get these things on their own.