If parents can't raise their own kids, they shouldn't take it out on the entertainment industry.
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If parents can't raise their own kids, they shouldn't take it out on the entertainment industry.
I agree. But there's no harm in a ban of sale of games not intended for minors to minors.
True, I see nothing wrong with keeping games sales of M-rated games to those of age, but punishing people who do so with penalties similiar to selling cigarettes or booze to minors is excessive. This is clearly a case where the industry can regulate itself.
Well, since they don't always (regulate themselves), I disagree. I don't think the cost is that great. Whether it matches the benefit, I don't know. But the same thing could be said with smoking. What kind of benefit does society get for banning cigarette sale to minors? I don't like most of those people anyway ;p
Comparing smoking or alcohol to violent videogames is illogical. Both smoking and alcohol potentially pose serious health or safety dangers, there is no credible scientific evidence that playing violent videogames is detrimental to one's health. Is there a similiar fine for selling DVDs with violent content or CDs with explicit language? I don't think so, and yet I think that videogames are far closer to that side of the scale than being in with smokes and booze.
"smoking (poses) serious health or safety dangers"
Yeah, and it should be banned in public places.
"there is no credible scientific evidence that playing violent videogames is detrimental to one's health"
So you don't think subjecting young audiences to violent material desensitizes them and that they don't copy what they see glorified in other medium?
"Is there a similiar fine for selling DVDs with violent content or CDs with explicit language?"
Maybe there should be. Just because one doesn't exist doesn't mean that's the way it should be.
Simply put, I fail to see any good reason why this should not be a law. It's not expensive to implement.
Industry decides it doesn't want to sell M games to minors- fine, whatever.
Government makes it illegal- bad, bad thing.
Simple as that, really.
James
No it's not. That's just crazy anti-government talk with nothing but slippery slope arguments. "Oh no, 1984 revisited!"
No more than the 6 o'clock news or anything else. Desensitization is a term thrown around more than a cheap at a port of call. If the parents are there to explain reality from fantasy, appropriate behavior from inappropriate, right from wrong, then no amount of 'violent videogaming' is going to somehow turn an ordinarily normal child into a deranged psychopath. Atleast, there is no evidence to support that theory.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joust Williams
There is a reason why there isn't, though. Because it's obviously a job for parenting and not governmental regulation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joust Williams
It's constant "slippery-slope" arguments that keep us from going down the slippery slope. I'd much prefer erring on the side of caution when it comes to free expression.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joust Williams
Well, then make a law that requires parents to be good.
You can't.
"I'd much prefer erring on the side of caution when it comes to free expression."
What does this have to do with free expression? Nothing.