Jack Thompson's Anti-Game Law

[G SpOtZ]

there's a disease or mental condition that people have, causing them to not be able to tell the difference between fantasy and reality. that's the only problem i see in violent games: if kids or people with this condition plays these games like grand theft auto, then that might be a problem.

my cousin apparently has this type of condition, and he plays grand theft auto alot, which is my aunts fault. she KNOWS that he has this condition, yet she doesn't stop him from playing this. (my relatives are somewhat dysfunctional) a friend of my dad asked my cousin "what's so fun about these games?" and my cousin responded with "you get to kill people, it's a lot of fun!". yeahhh.... that's where i'd get freaked out and completely block out violent games for that kid.

[Lionx]

Jack Thompson just hates video games because somebody stole his Cloudsong on a game of Dark Age of Camelot and somebody made a recording of it online.

xD

[DMKA]

No parent would buy an R18 movie or magazine for their children, so I'm constantly surprised - and dismayed - that so many utter morons buy restricted games for their children.

Because videogames are made for kids, you silly. Just like all animated films are for kids!

[Winter Nights]

Actually, my mother is a manager at our local Blockbuster. You'd be surprised how many parents rent or buy rated R movies for their children, namely horror movies. And I mean 8-10 year-olds, at that. It's sick. Most parents just don't smurfing care until their kid stabs another kid with their pencil.

[Big D]

Actually, my mother is a manager at our local Blockbuster. You'd be surprised how many parents rent or buy rated R movies for their children, namely horror movies. And I mean 8-10 year-olds, at that. It's sick. Most parents just don't smurfing care until their kid stabs another kid with their pencil.

It's symptomatic of the whole "somebody else is responsible" culture. As you say, the parents are content not to care; but when their negligence finally has serious consequences, they want somebody else to be accountable. Very lame.

This kind of thing is exactly why schools in my country are actually gonna start teaching values again - trying to instill a basic sense of right and wrong.

[nik0tine]

As far as I have seen there is nothing in any video game that has ever existed that a ten year old cannot handle. There really doesn't need to be a rating system on video games, since the content in video games is harmless.

This isn't about video games being bad though, it's really about morons like this guy who want to get their 'bitch fix'. They overdramatize a situation to the point of absurdity, and argue their strong opinions on the matter. Why? Because it makes them feel good, it makes them feel right and just, and it quite possibly makes them feel better than others. These guys aren't on a moral crusade, they are just another link in the complain chain. Worthless, really.

This is kinda like the time when my schools english department had to stop teaching about a certain book because it contained sexual references and some parents complained. true story.

[Big D]

As far as I have seen there is nothing in any video game that has ever existed that a ten year old cannot handle. There really doesn't need to be a rating system on video games, since the content in video games is harmless.

Graphic depictions of violence, cruelty, sexuality. All potentially harmful/infleuntial on a developing mind. With games, there's an added factor: the fact that the player has control of what occurs, and can actively make said events take place on screen.

[nik0tine]

Graphic depictions of violence, cruelty, sexuality. All potentially harmful/infleuntial on a developing mind

I disagree. Although these things are in video games, I have never seen a game where any of it had reached even a mild form of intensity. Yeah, GTA is violent, but it isn't so violent and brutal that it scars the mind.

With games, there's an added factor: the fact that the player has control of what occurs, and can actively make said events take place on screen.

This is true, but I still don't think it is a big deal since they can only make mild forms of immorality occur.

[Big D]

I disagree too

Games that permit a player to cause violent death to others, or even seeing it around them, could easily have an effect. Even with slightly dated graphics systems - like the PS1 - it's clear what's happening. Graphicness can exist without realism; I'm sure few sensible parents would let their children watch South Park or Happy Tree Friends without expecting bad consequences...

[nik0tine]

I don't know what Happy Tree Friends is, but the worst that could come out of kids watching southpark is a foul mouth.

Aside from the low levels of intensity in video games, another thing that kind of waters down the 'damage factor' (please pardon my word choice, it's almost 5:00 am and I can't think of any more intelligent ways to word this ) is that video games aren't real. Everyone who plays video games knows this (at least, I hope so) and when you are commiting acts of violence against something that you know is not real it isn't really going to leave a lasting impression. Killing a living, breathing human being is one thing, killing a mass of pixels is another.

[Big D]

Even live-action movies aren't real, as the violence is simulated...

In Syphon Filter, it's possible to kill opponents by electrocution with a ridiculously powerful taser. Sure it's justified by the fact that they're nasty militants trying to unleash biological weapons, but watching a "mass of pixels" shudder, scream, smoulder and finally burst into flames was bad enough when I was 16. You eventually get de-sensitized to that kind of thing, so the effect is diminished, but it'd be worse for a younger mind.

[As for Happy Tree Friends... it's an animated series about a bunch of cute fluffly animal pals who keep on having accidents that result in brutal, agonizing death. It's all done with super-deformed 2D animation, but trust me - if a child saw this, it would mess them up something crazy. If you ever have the opportunity, watch an episode and see what I mean]

[nik0tine]

Even live-action movies aren't real, as the violence is simulated...

And I don't think that most live action movies will leave a lasting impression in the mind of a child, unless it is just insanely brutal and over the top.

In Syphon Filter, it's possible to kill opponents by electrocution with a ridiculously powerful taser. Sure it's justified by the fact that they're nasty militants trying to unleash biological weapons, but watching a "mass of pixels" shudder, scream, smoulder and finally burst into flames was bad enough when I was 16. You eventually get de-sensitized to that kind of thing, so the effect is diminished, but it'd be worse for a younger mind.

I remember that game. How could I forget that taser? I was about ten or 11 when I played that game and used that taser. I'll admit that it was pretty brutal, but not to the point where it would scar my mind. Fighting Anton Girdeaux (sp?) in the first Syphon Filter was also fairly brutal but I do not believe that it has the power to actually leave a lasting impression in anyones mind.

[As for Happy Tree Friends... it's an animated series about a bunch of cute fluffly animal pals who keep on having accidents that result in brutal, agonizing death. It's all done with super-deformed 2D animation, but trust me - if a child saw this, it would mess them up something crazy. If you ever have the opportunity, watch an episode and see what I mean]

haha, that actually sounds like it could be a half amusing show.

[Elite Lord Sigma]

Personally, I don't have a problem with the law, but I do have a problem with how much of an idiot Jack Thompson is when it comes to this issue.

[Samuraid]

My thoughts are...you just used a number of logical fallacies in your post.

Secondly, how the hell are all video games "murder simulators?" How does Tetris, Katamari Damacy, and Super Mario Bros. teach people how to kill?

Fallacy of the unrepresentitive sample.

Finally, saying that video games are the cause of all the world's problems proves that you are either an idiot or hate video games.

Ad hominem.

Post your thoughts on this topic.

Anyway, I think that Thompson is not well informed and over-sensational about video games that contain any sort of violence in general. Banning all M rated video games from minors may be far too hasty of a solution.

[Spammerman]

Jack Thompson, one of the biggest critics of the gaming industry, has been asked to write a law by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to ban the sale of M rated games to minors. According to Thompson, video games are literally "murder simulators" that are teaching our kids how to kill. He also says:

-that the original Doom was a major factor in the Columbine killings
-that multiple copycat killings across the US were inspired by the Grand Theft Auto series
-that the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the US game industry lobby, is a "criminal organization" with a "thug" president
-that the Sims 2 is packed with easily accessible "full frontal nudity", basically with private organs

Don't believe me? Go to Gamespot and you'll see this on the front page as part of a Halo 3 rumors article.

First of all, I think insulting everyone who likes video games will make people hate you a lot (and possibly get you killed, if you happen to be in the wrong place).

Secondly, how the hell are all video games "murder simulators?" How does Tetris, Katamari Damacy, and Super Mario Bros. teach people how to kill?

Finally, saying that video games are the cause of all the world's problems proves that you are either an idiot or hate video games. People that kill are usually mental, and that is the main reason that people kill, not video games.

Post your thoughts on this topic.

I agree with you. Except for the mario bros things. Swinging people around from a limb and throwing them at bombs or pointy objects may be considered attempted homicide.