Do you live in WA? Time to contact your local congressman

[Eldorado]

Washington state legislators are apparently trying to put blame squarely on publishers for acts of violence when the violators/victims of said crimes use games as an excuse.

 

http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/billinfo1/dspBillSummary.cfm?billnumber=2178

 

(1) The graphic depictions of violence against others in video and computer games are becoming more disturbingly realistic, especially with the sophisticated advancements in technology;

(2) Some video and computer games give the player points or otherwise reward or encourage the player to assault, rape, torture, and kill other characters;

(3) Some of these games contain graphics of torture, sexual assault, and killing of women, persons of color, and law enforcement officers;

(4) These games choreograph violence in a stylized and romanticized way that encourages children and adolescents to associate violence and killing with pleasure, entertainment, feelings of achievement, and personal empowerment;

(5) Studies show a correlation between exposure to violent video and computer games and hostile behavior. Children and adolescents who spend hours playing these video games can become desensitized to violence against others, and such games can be a factor in creating conditions that lead to actual violence;

(6) Throughout the country, law enforcement officers report that offenders committing violent crimes admit that they are intentionally copying the types of violent acts they play out in video or computer games. There have been accounts reported in the media in which violent offenders boast of the similarity between their crimes and the games; and

(7) Manufacturers and retailers of these games are aware of the inappropriateness of violent video and computer games for children. Manufacturers and retailers are also aware of the studies and reports regarding the effects of these violent video and computer games on adolescents.

The legislature declares that manufacturers and retailers of these games should do their part in taking responsibility when individuals copy in real life the violence they learn from these violent video and computer games. Therefore, the legislature intends to create a private cause of action against manufacturers and retailers of violent video and computer games.

 

Reading the bill, some of these "facts" are extremely exaggerated. I have never seen an act of rape or sexual assault. And they explicitly point out killing "people of color" as if games are inherently racist. I must say that when I kill video game "people," race doesn't normally figure into the equation.

 

I am so sick of legislators trying to shoehorn every little thing into some far-fetched law that never really gets to the root of the problem. And, in my opinion, this is such a non-issue, it isn't even funny. Blame starts and ends at one place, parents. They need to realize that games aren't what they used to be. No parent lets their kid go see an hard R-rated movie, so how come they can't realize that games are rated the same fucking way. Just because there isn't someone checking ID's at every store in any given city doesn't give them an automatic reprieve from blame

 

Sean

[Derrik Draven]

Bullshit, ain't it? How we in American keep moving towards this "not my fault" society? :bh

 

I'd really like to know who supports blaming everyone else because anyone I ever talk to, HATES this kind of shit. Myself included. :confused:

 

As a lifetime NRA member and responsible gun owner, we get this bullshit everytime some whack job kills someone. "It's the guns fault"!!!! :mad:

 

Hmmm...I kind of think that the idea that a person want to murder someone, IS the problem.

 

Same thing with these games. Millions play 'em. Millions love 'em. And millions don't hurt anyone after playing them. That must not count for anything...

[EnemaEms]

Well, between this and now some fucking Conservative senator wanting to regulate Satellite Radio and Cable, the US is basically trying to throw away the 1st Ammendment. This Ultra Conservative government needs to go. :mad::mad::mad:

 

-Dean-

[Andy Sheets]

(5) Studies show a correlation between exposure to violent video and computer games and hostile behavior. Children and adolescents who spend hours playing these video games can become desensitized to violence against others, and such games can be a factor in creating conditions that lead to actual violence

 

One more time: Correlation does not equal causation. It's the same shit they pulled against comic books in the 50's. "All kids like comics. Juvenile delinquents are kids. Therefore, comic books cause juvenile delinquency." Wow, it makes perfect sense!

 

I was just reading some scientific article not too long ago that said that most politicians, now and historically, tend to have unusually low IQs...

[Mark E]

People and society love scapegoats.

 

That's how it has always worked and how it will probably continue to work for a long time, sadly.

[ChoiceStriker]

(2) Some video and computer games give the player points or otherwise reward or encourage the player to assault, rape, torture, and kill other characters;

Yes, outside of obscure archaic titles like Custer's Revenge, I can't think of a single title where I've seen depictions of rape or sexual assault, let alone the glorification of these acts.

One more time: Correlation does not equal causation. It's the same shit they pulled against comic books in the 50's. "All kids like comics. Juvenile delinquents are kids. Therefore, comic books cause juvenile delinquency." Wow, it makes perfect sense!

You took the words right out of my mouth. I wish people would realize correlation does not indicate causality. A similar argument is frequently used against pornography. You can say that 90% of all sex offenders view pornography, but you cannot say that 90% of all viewers of pornography are sex offenders. People need to take some basic statistics classes.

[Ryan FB]

Well, between this and now some fucking Conservative senator wanting to regulate Satellite Radio and Cable, the US is basically trying to throw away the 1st Ammendment. This Ultra Conservative government needs to go. :mad::mad::mad:

Before this turns in to some kind of "conservative vs. liberal" argument*, I'd like to point out that politicians on both sides of the aisle are to blame for this kind of crap. Joseph Lieberman, for example, has always been a predominant figure in the "Violent videogames are corrupting our children and the government needs to step in" camp. On this bill, there are both Republican and Democrat sponsors. If you want to ensure your representatives know your views, you should write them regardless of their perceived affiliations.

 

*In the most commonly used sense of these words which assumes that party lines also lie along these divisions.

[EnemaEms]

Oh, I agree on the both sides thing Ryan. What irks me, is I am sick and tired of the government trying to tell "Americans" what is naughty and what is nice. You know what, I pay for naughty....dont tell me I can't because it is bad for me. You know what? I like Video Games, I like violent films, and I like sex. Guess what, I am still a pretty damn good person. Fuck 'em all, that's what I say.

 

-Dean-

[Kain rising]

Oh' date=' I agree on the both sides thing Ryan. What irks me, is I am sick and tired of the government trying to tell "Americans" what is naughty and what is nice. You know what, I pay for naughty....dont tell me I can't because it is bad for me. You know what? I like Video Games, I like violent films, and I like sex. Guess what, I am still a pretty damn good person. Fuck 'em all, that's what I say.

 

-Dean-[/quote']

 

Such language and attitudes are clearly a result of the videogames that you play, thus demonstrating why such evil products should be taken off the market.

 

[Jordan_E]

I live in WA and freaking HATE our politicians! :mad: Going to jump on this one with both feet!

[Big Daddy Bling Bling]

Well' date=' between this and now some fucking Conservative senator wanting to regulate Satellite Radio and Cable, the US is basically trying to throw away the 1st Ammendment. This Ultra Conservative government needs to go. :mad::mad::mad:

 

-Dean-[/quote']

 

I think your anger is misdirected. Did you bother to check the political affiliations of the majority of sponsors of this bill?

[db]

Democrat does not equal liberal. Lieberman and other Democrats of his ilk, like the idiot sponsors of this bill, are as conservative as any Republican.

[Qui Gon kim]

This is true. Althouh he's a Democrat, Lieberman is actually rather conservative on many issues. I just have to laugh when conservatives label him as "liberal."

[GreenMonkey]

:bh

 

I'd almost vote for a Republican over Mr. Lieberman and his ilk (and my general philosophy these days is that anything but a Republican is OK). In a choice between the two I would chose not to vote at all. Leave my goddamn games alone already!!!

 

Good luck WA natives.

 

A tidbit for thought today about over-correlation...from Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

 

 

 

BEDEVERE:

Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.

VILLAGER #1:

Are there?

VILLAGER #2:

Ah?

VILLAGER #1:

What are they?

CROWD:

Tell us! Tell us!...

BEDEVERE:

Tell me. What do you do with witches?

VILLAGER #2:

Burn!

VILLAGER #1:

Burn!

CROWD:

Burn! Burn them up! Burn!...

BEDEVERE:

And what do you burn apart from witches?

VILLAGER #1:

More witches!

VILLAGER #3:

Shh!

VILLAGER #2:

Wood!

BEDEVERE:

So, why do witches burn?

[pause]

VILLAGER #3:

B--... 'cause they're made of... wood?

BEDEVERE:

Good! Heh heh.

CROWD:

Oh, yeah. Oh.

BEDEVERE:

So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood?

VILLAGER #1:

Build a bridge out of her.

BEDEVERE:

Ah, but can you not also make bridges out of stone?

VILLAGER #1:

Oh, yeah.

RANDOM:

Oh, yeah. True. Uhh...

BEDEVERE:

Does wood sink in water?

VILLAGER #1:

No. No.

VILLAGER #2:

No, it floats! It floats!

VILLAGER #1:

Throw her into the pond!

CROWD:

The pond! Throw her into the pond!

BEDEVERE:

What also floats in water?

VILLAGER #1:

Bread!

VILLAGER #2:

Apples!

VILLAGER #3:

Uh, very small rocks!

VILLAGER #1:

Cider!

VILLAGER #2:

Uh, gra-- gravy!

VILLAGER #1:

Cherries!

VILLAGER #2:

Mud!

VILLAGER #3:

Uh, churches! Churches!

VILLAGER #2:

Lead! Lead!

ARTHUR:

A duck!

CROWD:

Oooh.

BEDEVERE:

Exactly. So, logically...

VILLAGER #1:

If... she... weighs... the same as a duck,... she's made of wood.

BEDEVERE:

And therefore?

VILLAGER #2:

A witch!

VILLAGER #1:

A witch!

CROWD:

A witch! A witch!...

VILLAGER #4:

Here is a duck. Use this duck.

[quack quack quack]

BEDEVERE:

Very good. We shall use my largest scales.

CROWD:

Ohh! Ohh! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Ahh! Ahh...

BEDEVERE:

Right. Remove the supports!

[whop]

[clunk]

[creak]

[rustyjaw]

In the end, this is really an empirical issue, there should be research done to find out what effects, if any, violent games have on kids. Then there can be a (hopefully) reasoned response to whatever the findings are.

 

But it's irresponsible to legislate based on ignorance, and, as far as I know, there are no studies on this issue. I see lots of people making claims, but no long-term research results to back it up. Correct me if I'm wrong.