Put blame where it belongs

[YNKYH8R]

I own a lot of game systems and I enjoy everyone of them. I play some pretty violent gaems, and I've seen video game violence that make "Passion of the the Christ' look like a tickle. I am so sick of high ranking government officials trying to make laws and blame manufractures for violent video games. I understand there are good intentions but there are warning labels and parents should be parents.

Ill. governor aims to restrict video game sales
Blagojevich wants to keep violent, explicit games away from minors

By Kevin Tibbles
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 7:45 p.m. ET Dec. 22, 2004


CHICAGO - On screen, the gunslinger blows away aliens with abandon in one of the hottest video games this season. Off screen, the trigger man is 11 years old.

So when Andy Martinez fires up his Xbox, his father's often riding shotgun on the sofa, ensuring the games his son plays aren't what he considers too violent.

"What they are watching and what they are doing is going to reflect on how they develop," says Frederico Martinez.

Now there's someone else who says he wants to assist parents by standing between violent video games and children — first-term Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich is 48 years old and a father of two. He plans to introduce legislation next month that would ban the sale of violent and sexually explicit games to kids under 18.


"The whole object of these games is teaching kids to practice things that we put them in jail for," says Blagojevich.

Beyond games with bad language and nudity, others in the governor's sights even reward players for stealing cars and shooting police officers. He says he's crusading for everyone's kids, including his own daughter.

"She doesn't have the constitutionally protected right to play a video game where she cuts somebody's head off and blood spurts from somebody's neck," says Blagojevich.

And the governor has publicly criticized Chicago Transit for allowing advertisements for some games on city buses. But merchants argue that games are already labeled with ratings recommending who should and shouldn't play.

"It's not the role of the retailer to be the violence or sexual police of the country," says David Vite, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. "And it's certainly not the job of government to step into the role of parents every time a problem is perceived."

Others also think the governor is going too far.

"We're now starting to call culture and communications products a public health issue like we do with tobacco or drugs," says Syracuse University professor of television and pop culture Robert Thompson. "I think that is a potentially very, very dangerous road to go down."

Still, in the $7 billion fantasy world of video games, one real-world governor wants to zap the sex and violence before it becomes child's play.

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[VenuStar]

*but there are warning labels and parents should be parents. *

ITA

[tammy77]

I remember when they made a big stink about one of the Grand Theft Autos.You were able to beat a prostitute with a baseball bat.Just because its in a game doesnt give a person the right to do that or give them something to blame when they do something wrong.Parents should monitor what thier kids play with and take responsity for thier childs actions.Videos games dont make people violent.They will be no matter what they watch or what games they play.TV and video games just give then an excuse and something to blame.

[mistressB]

and lets not forget back in the 90's with the whole mortal combat thing. they really need to give it a rest. same crap, different day.... or should i say decade?

[freebielover]

A friend of my moms just bought Grand Theft Auto San Andreas for her 10 year old son. Then she complains because he called her a b**** and she automatically it was the games fault, but she still won't take it away from him! I asked her what she was thinking giving it to him and she said she didn't think it was that bad. Parents definitely need to take responsibility for their own children!

[mistressB]

my 6 year old son has been playing videogames since he was a little guy. he started out with tetris when he was less than 2 years old and he now is really good at games. he's played them all just about and doesn't have a violent bone in his body and he never swears. i'm sure there are a lot of kids out there who grow up in households where every other word said is a cuss word, and those kids don't do it. lets not forget that now it's exceptable to say more swear words on tv as well.

[DivineMsDi]

My six year old has also been playing games since he was three or four but I do not let him play certain games. He is allowed to play anything I have seen first (I'm a gamer too). He plays Ratchet and Clank series which can be violent but you don't see blood.

I disagree with little kids playing very violent, inappropriate games like Grand Theft Auto. If I get a game that is not appropriate I do not let my son see it or watch it. His ex-friend, Timmy said that Grand Theft Auto is his favorite game. I was shocked. Parents NEED to censor their kids. There are ratings on those things for a reason.

I am against someone telling me what I can see or do. I think parents should take responsibility and know what their kids are doing, watching and playing. It is not the school's job or big brother's or anyone else's.

There was a time people were scared of tv and saying that was making people violent.

If you have a normal personality, a video game is not going to make you a nut. I also think that if you become obsessed with any one game, that is not good. There are plenty of great games where you can pretend to be something or someone else.

[mistressB]

my son mostly plays spyro, sonic, crash bandacoot, metroid, and mario games. he has a game cube, playstation, dreamcast, and gameboy advance. he also plays some RPG's. but even thought there are battles in those games they arn't exactly bloody.

[DivineMsDi]

my son mostly plays spyro, sonic, crash bandacoot, metroid, and mario games. he has a game cube, playstation, dreamcast, and gameboy advance. he also plays some RPG's. but even thought there are battles in those games they arn't exactly bloody.

For a 6 year old, there is nothing wrong with those games. My son is playing Spyro as we speak...

[mistressB]

does he have the newest one, a hero's tale? that is super hard, i gave up, haha.

[buglebe]

quoted from above ---------I am so sick of high ranking government officials trying to make laws and blame manufractures for violent video games.--------------------------------------------------------------------- How is this different from some trying to control others' choices of marriage partners, abortion, liquor, marijuana etc? It's not. It's all the same, some wanting to control the actions of others. I think parents should be parents , adults should be allowed to be adults and make decisions for themselves and not have the "moral" group make decisions for all of us.