I think dumbshits who are actually influenced by outside media like violent games should be banned from doing anything other than hard labor.

There should still be some form of a law against M-rated games, though, since we can't be sure if the person who's buying them isn't a moron, and we can't be sure if there are any older authorities that can keep said moron in place.

Lol True. I think that almost all of the time criminals who cite games such as GTA are just tiring to use it as a scapegoat. But it is sad that everyone needs to make a fuss over M rated games. If everyone were responsible for once then we would never have any problem. If parents were responsible for there kids, and if morons are responsible for what they buy.

I believe no one under the age of 17(age for rated R movies) should be able to purchase games with an M rating without parental accompanyment(is that a word?). So basically how it is now.

---

Here's my stance. People should be able to play what they want and there shouldn't be restrictions. If you don't like a game, don't play it. But, I think there should be a rating system, which there is. Now the problem is is that kids are getting ahold of these games and then do something stupid(like shoot up a school) for whatever reason. The media and stuck-up lawyers then proceed to blame the videogames when it is infact the parents' fault. One, because the parents had to purchase the games, it was they're fault they got ahold of them so the parents should be blamed, not the games. And two, had the parents been good parents and raised their children right, they wouldn't have done this, regardless of the games they're playing.

Take me for example. I listen to brutal, death metal dealing with killing and Satan(big suprise, eh?). I play violent video games and watch violent movies. I have never shot anyone, stabbed anyone, or have really been in trouble with the law. Why? Because of my parents. I wouldn't say they did the best job raising me, but they certainly aren't the ignorant pricks that raise these kids that go and start school shootings. It's the parents fault, not the children. If an adult wants to shoot peoples' heads off and watch 3D sex in his games, that's his choice as an American citizen. Should little Tommy be able to? It's up to the parents to decide. In which case, if he grew up and did something bad, it would infact be the parents' fault, not the games he's playing.

This big fuss is bullshit. If we can watch it in movies, we should be able to play it in games. I'm sick of hearing about this "But it's interactive so it's different" crap. That doesn't change a thing except maybe reduce crimes and such. I know games are an excellent stress reliever and are the obvious subsitute for really killing people.

Anyway, that's my little rant for today...

I think Luci covered it all.

---

I think they should lower the age limit to say... 16. If you are trustworthy enough to own a car and not run people over on the sidewalks then you should be trustwhorthy enough to own games like Halo and Counter Strike.

"Oh look, blood! Bump its rating up to M Joe." *cough* Yeah... =/ Let me go watch half the cartoons on any channel or turn on a violent movie. No different right? Exactly. The blood is even more realistic in those movies. Not on your little 256 Bit (it is 256, right? ) GameCube or XBox or whatever.

"I killed Jonny because he looked like some dude from GTA." As Anubis said, nice scapegoat. You shouldn't need an excuse if you're "mature" enough to own that game.


Last Edit: Mar 2, 2006 4:38:00 GMT by Chris

What these politicians fail to realize is that it isn't just games. Movies, music, books, etc. Any sort of media or entertainment could give some kid a sick idea. So should we ban the games and movies and music? No. They tried banning music(well, parents sort of rebelled against rock 'n' roll awhile back) and it didn't work. They're placing blame on the wrong areas. Most people who have these games are mature enough to own them or are deemed mature enough by the parents who bought them. The ones that go and shoot up schools have neglectful parents who should've heeded the warning labels. It's hardly fair to blame a video game for "influencing" the actions of a kid who was too young and immature to be playing it anyway. It was the parents' faults, not the kids. I don't know how many times I've said that. Politicians need to get the sticks out of their asses and focus on the real problem: parents. They fail to realize what's in these games since they think they're harmless, or atleast less harmless than movies. Many parents wouldn't let their children watch Sin City for example, but will buy them violent games because they are blind to the fact that games have the same content movies have. My mom freaked out when she saw me hit an old lady in GTA: Vice City. She got me the game and had no idea. This is a perfect example(though my parents think I'm mature enough. My dad got me Serious Sam and thought it was awesome when I played it(actually, he played it before me)).

All I had to do to convince my parents to let me get my first M-Rated game (Halo for PC) was download the demo and show them.

ESRB is doing its job buy enforcing minors not to buy them. Also, more and more stores are actually informing parents that the games have mature content. If people still overlooks this, it's their fault.