Even more ridiculous video game violence stuff....

[Lord Nepenthean]

I can't believe some people.  This is taking it a step further than it already has gone.  Congratulations to you people in the Pacific Northwest for having brilliant politicians (Are they intelligent anywhere?).

http://komonews.com/stories/35494.htm

Bill Would Hold Game Makers Accountable For Players' Actions

March 1, 2005

By George Howell


[img align=right]http://www.komotv.com/news/images/violent_games_030105.jpg[/img]SEATTLE - Should the people who make and sell "violent video" games be held accountable if someone commits a crime because of playing them?

That's something our state lawmakers are considering, to open game makers up to more liability.

House Bill 2178 proposes to hold the makers and sellers of violent video games liable if someone under 17 years old commits a crime, due in any part, to playing the game.

Supporters of the bill, like Bill Hanson with the Washington Police and Sheriff's Association, say "kids" are getting the games, and they're becoming desensitized.

"If you sit up and watch this and play these games over and over again... it seems that this is alright to walk up and hit a police officer over the head with a bat," Hanson said.

Opponents argue that the proposed bill would shift the responsibility from the person who actually committed the crime.

Lew McMurran, with the Washington Software Association, says violent games are clearly rated for adults only, and that the responsibility should be on parents to use the video game rating system and control what their kids are playing.

"We're removing the responsibility from the person who committed the act, to somebody else who's completely removed from the situation" McMurran said. "There's a very strong video game industry in this state that we want to support. We don't want to bring undo attention to an area where there's actually jobs being created, where there's actually some good economic development in our state"

House Bill 2178 is still in the committee stage in the state House of Representatives.

[Zimbacca]

 Congratulations to you people in the Pacific Northwest for having brilliant politicians (Are they intelligent anywhere?).

You mean Phia and I?

Anyway though.  I've heard about this and have gotten in long arguments with people in class about it.  I don't think it will pass though, or at least it will turn out like the law they passed making any game where you can kill cops illegal.  It passed, then went to the Supreme Court and was thrown out.

[Lord Nepenthean]

Yeah I kinda doubt it will pass too.  You know more about the political climate up there than I do though.  I just was totally sickened when I saw that article.  I could not believe it.  I guess if it does pass though, I'll make sure that if I kill anyone, it is in Washington.

[Izret101]

These laws are so stupid.
I hate politicians.

[Tynstar]

Lets take all blame away from the kids and parents. We will be much better off if we do that.  

[captain_nintendo]

Lets take all blame away from the kids and parents. We will be much better off if we do that.  

That seems to be the way things are . I cant tell you how many times in a day I see a student at my school get away with things because the parents dont back the punishment given by the Principal  

[den68]

I guess if it does pass though, I'll make sure that if I kill anyone, it is in Washington.

you're not under 17. Anthony will have to do it.

[Izret101]

If everyone can get a small donation together i am all for it.

May want to delete this thread though. It would kinda be a liability issue

O ya and we would have to get this done pre-April 29

[Lord Nepenthean]

Yeah, nobody kill anyone.  I don't want the site to get sued and told we're responsible for you.  Besides, I don't have any money so it won't do you any good.  And those old video games?  They're just junk.  Not worth a penny.  Everyone knows that.

[Lord Nepenthean]

And now Hillary Clinton:

http://psp.ign.com/articl...9/599798p1.html?fromint=1

Former First Lady Slams GTA
New York Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton sides with right-wingers against violent videogames.
by Douglass C. Perry

March 29, 2005 - Hilary Rodham Clinton, D, NY, has taken sides. Apparently, the wrong one. In an article with the Sunday Times, the first-time senator and two-term first lady, said she wants to launch a $90 million investigation into the effects of videogames on children.

Her efforts mirror long-time Senator Joseph Lieberman D, Ct, though this time she has sided with right wing Republicans Sam Brownback and Rick Santorum.

She cites Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto as as a "major threat" to morality in America.

"Children are playing a game that encourages them to have sex with prostitutes and then murder them," Clinton said in a statement. "This is a silent epidemic of media desensitisation that teaches kids it's OK to diss people because they are a woman, they're a different colour or they're from a different place."

Apparenly Clinton is new to the subect of violence in videogames, which first erupted over the finshing moves in Mortal Kombat. Having sex with a prostitute and then running said woman over in GTA is not a goal or mission in the game, leaving that option open to the morality and choice of the gamer. Furthermore, GTA3, which kick-started this new wave of complaints against violence in videogames, came out in 2001, almost four years ago. Clinton's statement appears to be the first part of her bid for the democratic presidential election in 2008.

Clinton's proposed $90 million investigation will study the impact of games and other electronic media on the "cognitive, social, emotional and physical development" of children, reports the Sunday Times.

We'll have more on Clinton's pre-presidential campaign ideas in the near future.

As a side note, the author of that article is dead wrong when he says the subject of video game violence "first erupted over the finshing moves in Mortal Kombat."  I know for a fact that video game violence has been the subject of debate since at least 1976 when Death Race came out in the arcades.  The game was even banned in some parts of the country.   Quite a bit earlier than Mortal Kombat.


image from the KLOV

[Izret101]

Much earlier than MK.

The big deal about that was things squeled when you killed them and a headstone poped up. Imagine if they had still called the sprites humans how much more trouble it would have stirred up.
(I used that image on the cover of my english project)

MK i believe was in the second round of violent games under fire.

[Arrrhalomynn]

I enjoy reading about American idiocy. It fuels my European feeling of superiority. Keep articles like this coming!

[thx1138]

What he said.

I like reading about the horrors of video games, in the Sun, a newspaper which has a naked woman on the 3rd page, every day, and contradicts itself at least once a week, sometimes in the same  edition. LOL

[thx1138]

I agree with the Death Race thingymajig, I've read about it too, but never played, or have even seen a coin-op one.

I remember in 1983ish, a fair bit of moaning about Raid Over Moscow too.

[Sureshot]

You may have read this, but the funniest instance of this was a guy whom, I think, wrote for the Daily Mail.  He published a damning report on violent video games with what seemed like almost no research into them.  He was bombarded with mail from angry gamers.  

This came to light after a boy who allegedly played Manhunt a lot killed his friend.  Of course, the mother was naturally distraught and up in arms... and selling her story to every newspaper possible.

As it turned out, it was in fact the VICTIM who played Manhunt and not the killer.

Just goes to show how idiotic most scapegoat whores are when it comes to these issues.