General Music Chat

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/2010042 ... eogameslaw

You didn't provide any real options in the poll.

Was that on purpose?

oops! Lemme fix that!

Thanks, Craig!

I wanted to put up more than three choices, but being a non-paying member, I guess I'm only allowed the three.

I had some really good silly ones, too!

*sniff*

It's tough bein' a cheap bastid!

We're talking about MINORS here!

To my knowledge, kids cannot go into stores and buy "R" rated movies. Video games with similar content, should be no different, in my view. Parents should be involved in major decisions in their children's lives, where graphic materials are presented. It should be up to a parent to choose, what images or content is appropriate for their own children or not. Many people are unaware that games like Grand Theft Auto, and others, have, not only cussing, but occasionally nudity, or scenes where the main character has to go into a strip club and get a lap dance from a stripper, etc...

But what is more alarming, is the secret codes and places, that kids can find out about from other kids, or websites... In one game for example, there is a secret code that can be put in, where the character then gets a blow job, from a female character in the game, in full view. Now, you are getting into "X" content, and where MINORS are concerned... Parents have a right to make that decision FOR THEM, until they are of age themselves.

For adults, I am against ANY restrictions of free speech or expression, that is within society's acceptable limitations and laws.

I'm a firm believer in freedom.

I am also a firm believer that children are NOT adults, and cannot be allowed to make ADULT decisions without supervision.

To support no restrictions, where these new games are concerned, would also be saying... Kids should be allowed to purchase porn at any age too.

Do you really believe that?

These new games, are not your parent's games!

Laws should not replace parenting which is really the underlying issue. Bad parenting effects all of us personaly, financialy and leagaly.

Laws should not replace parenting which is really the underlying issue. Bad parenting effects all of us personaly, financialy and leagaly.

Of course, but...

Even the best parents in the world, have children who may purchase something they shouldn't, out of curiosity... from peer pressure, etc...

Don't you want those restrictions in place, for when they may push their boundaries, and you aren't there to stop them?

Absolutely not. The State should not rob me of opportunity to teach and explain why it is wrong. Thats the job. Raising and teaching and catching them doing things wrong. The State should not be baby sitting the parents. Parents should parent.

I don't really have a horse in this race. My son & my grandson are brought up with certain values, & in the case of my son, he's managed to get through this far without bowing to peer pressure, & hasn't caused me much grief.

The games ARE rated, same as movies. Places that sell these to minors should be fined.

I don't really think it's all that big a deal. Perhaps the stores should be monitored more closely.

Kids WILL get stuff they aren't s'posed to get, though. I have fond memories of Playboy magazine, when I was a wee lad. Didn't make me a pervert, though...well...just don't ask my wife about that!



This is just more fear-mongering, as far as I can tell. It's quite similar to the music ratings & such that Zappa fought.

Isn't there better things for our Supreme Court to worry about?

More distraction, clearly, from the real issues that face us.

Kids WILL get stuff they aren't s'posed to get, though. I have fond memories of Playboy magazine, when I was a wee lad. Didn't make me a pervert, though...well...just don't ask my wife about that!

Hahahahahahaha! I'm sooooooooooooo with ya on that one Phil! We also stashed Penthouses and Hustlers as well. Bad, bad, bad kids.

We all have a horse in this race phil. The effects on society due to bad parenting touches all of us. Mainly in the pocket. Bad kids grow up to be bad adults. Lazy parents raise bad kids.
Craig said on another post the one thing he would change in this world is posturing. This is the one I would change, BAD PARENTING.

Klugmo, I allowed my son to play Mortal Combat, with the blood & guts crap in the game, as soon as it came out. He was a young teen, then. He's in no way a violent man. My argument rests, cuz the proof speaks for itself.

Didn't you play with toy guns when you were a kid?

Didn't you share bloody horrible thoughts with your friends?

I sure did! And I grew to the point that I thought it got boring. Yeah, there are nuts out there, but it comes back to the old argument - are you gonna take cars away from everyone cuz one guy decided to hit someone on purpose with his Mustang? You gonna outlaw STICKS because someone bludgeoned someone else?

It's far past the time we kept blaming all our society's ills on music or games or books or movies. If you do stupid stuff, it's your OWN responsibility. I don't care WHERE you got the idea to do it.

Remember that movie a few years ago where teenagers were laying on the street, & they made the movie co censor the scene so kids would quit doing it?

C'mon! If you're gonna worry about this stuff, then you may as well censor the frikken NEWS!

But if the gov't wants to get involved, I won't fight it. I don't care about the games & I don't care about this particular loss of freedom. I'll leave that to the lawyers to duke it out.

It IS a loss of freedom, though, when you think about it.

Absolutely not. The State should not rob me of opportunity to teach and explain why it is wrong. Thats the job. Raising and teaching and catching them doing things wrong. The State should not be baby sitting the parents. Parents should parent.

Is the state being a "parent", when they place restrictions on DRIVER'S LICENSES too? What about CIGARETTES and ALCOHOL? STRIP CLUBS?


How about this scenario...

Your 13 year old son, slips out of the house at night with friends, and takes your car... he has a driver's license, since there are no restrictions on that for age, gets a speeding ticket, but the offficer sends him on his way after ticketing him... he then goes to the drug store and gets a few packs of cigarettes (no restrictions) and a bunch of ONE DOLLAR BILLS. Next stop is the liquor store, where he buys plenty of alcohol for the night, and starts srinking on the way to the next location!

He drives to the strip club next, with his buddies, and they get lap dances all night, and also get RIP ROARIN' DRUNK (no restrictions on alcohol purchases). Now when he finally runs out of money, he decides he better head home. But driving drunk, he ends up plowing HEAD FIRST into a Drunk Driving Road Block he sees too late, killing himself, and all the other kids in the car, as well as a few cops, in the process.

I know you would have heartily taken your chance to be a good parent in this situation, but the problem with that is...

HE'S DEAD NOW!


With restrictions, some opportunities to end this evening earlier:


1) No driver's license at 13 - He may not take the risk.
2) Pulled over for speeding - He would have been safely arrested.
3) Illegal attempt to purchase cigarettes, someone could be alerted.
4) Illegal attempt to purchase alcohol, someone could be alerted.
5) Tries to enter strip club illegally, someone could be alerted, and at least no alcohol purchased.

In my scenario, there were MANY opportunities to prevent this night, from ending in complete tragedy! Without restrictions, there is only your one chance, of waking up and hearing him, before he snuck out!

What if someone else watches your kid, who does not share your values?

I was pretty reliable about following my family's values, but many, if not most kids, are not so disciplined. I pushed boundaries, like all kids do. Without some restrictions, perhaps I would have pushed them further.

So, once again, to clarify... Someone's 10 year old son should be allowed to walk into a XXX Movie store or theater, and pay for a ticket or buy a movie to take home, just like any of the adults there? You don't mind someone's kid, sitting in a theater next to a bunch of horny adults, watching porn, and no restrictions on age limits to be there?

If you believe that, you are a WORTHLESS EXCUSE for a father.

C'mon, Craig...don't get yourself all worked up. This is just a friendly discussion, & I'm almost sorry I brought it up.

Remember - there ARE age restrictions clearly printed on the box of the game.

Why should we outlaw the game, when simple enforcement of the existing laws will suffice?

We all have a horse in this race phil. The effects on society due to bad parenting touches all of us. Mainly in the pocket. Bad kids grow up to be bad adults. Lazy parents raise bad kids.
Craig said on another post the one thing he would change in this world is posturing. This is the one I would change, BAD PARENTING.

We agree on THAT, but disagree that there should not also be RESTRICTIONS on things that minors should not have access to... like cigarettes, alcohol or pornography!

PREVENTING a minor from buying pornographic materials, is not stealing a parent's rights from them, any more than placing an age limit on getting a Driver's License!

It is LEGALLY REINFORCING limits and boundaries for MINORS.