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Massachusetts Looks To Jack Thompson for Game Law

Posted by Zonk on from the i-would-have-sooner-had-cookie-monster-do-it dept.

Game Politics is carrying the news that the state of Massachusetts is asking Jack Thompson for help in drafting a piece of videogaming related legislation. The bill aims to block minors from purchasing games which fall under one of these categories: "Depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community, so as to appeal predominantly to the morbid interest in violence of minors. Is patently contrary to prevailing standards of adults in the county where the offense was committed as to suitable material for such minors. Lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors." The bill has strong backing in the state, from mayors all the way up to state senators.

4 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. Seriously? by realinvalidname · · Score: 3, Funny

    First Mitt Romney, now this? Massachusetts, you used to be cool, but now y'all have a lot to answer for.

    1. Re:Seriously? by Smidge204 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Maybe it's like... Jack Thompson is the guy you go to when you want to know what not to do, y'know? Like they'll take anything he proposes and do the exact opposite.

      (One can only hope...)
      =Smidge=

    2. Re:Seriously? by Asmor · · Score: 2, Funny

      Maybe I can put it in perspective a bit... I'm 22 years old, and I've only really started following politics in the last couple years when I started listening to NPR and watching The Daily Show. Feel free to make fun of me/ignore me as appropriate based on those two primary sources for keeping up.

      Anyways, my point is that I have no idea what the political landscape was like even 4 years ago, aside from Dubya being in office (don't blame me! I voted Kodos/strike> Badnarik. I especially don't know what Massachusetts politics is like, as most of what I follow is national interest kind of stuff. I only know aout Romney because he's been in the news a lot lately.

      From what I understand, he's basically done a major flip-flop. I don't know if it's true, but from what I've heard it sounds like he used to be pro gay marriage. From anecdotal evidence, it certainly seems like Massachusetts is a very gay-friendly state, but then again I don't have much exposure apart from the Boston and North Shore areas. Therefore, his attack on gay marriage seems to be not just a flip-flop, but in fact a turn against what his constituents want, in a blatant attempt to curry favor with the nation at large at the expense of his home state for a white house run in '08.

      Anyways, this is just the image I've been given of the situation from my liberally-biased sources, so think of it what you will. I don't pretend that this is the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but it's what I've come to understand as a reasonable facsimile thereof.

      Oh, and before I get labelled as a liberal nutjob, I'd like to consider myself more centrist. Anti-corporation, pro-small business, anti-pork, pro-(well spent) taxes, etc. Only current potential '08 candidate I like is McCain.

  2. Re:Correlation and not causation by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, the video game industry is not paying their fair share to the political parties. Microsoft, for example, didn't pay a dime to the politicians until the anti-trust lawsuit convinced them otherwise that they would have fewer problems if they paid the politicians. Whenever there's a large amount of money being made, the politicians want their hush money.