Posted at 3:08 PM Jan 14, 2009
Admittedly, this would be far less of a problem if the jackass in question weren't Joe Baca, currently serving as a Congressman from California. The man whose job it is to make and approve laws--clearly finding our nation perfect, with no other problems worthy of his attention--wants to add a label which would read on all games rated Teen or higher, according to
The Escapist:
"WARNING:
Excessive exposure to violent videogames and other violent media has
been linked to aggressive behavior." Baca claims that recent studies
from the Pediatrics Journal, the University of Indiana, the University of Missouri and Michigan State University "point to a neurological link between playing violent videogames and aggressive behavior in children and teenagers."
Keep in mind that for every study which claims there's a link between videogames and violent behavior, there are a dozen studies which says here aren't, and that 99.9% of violent game players have no problems whatsoever. Just the ones who are already disturbed. Oh, and this label would be on Teen and Mature games, which parents aren't supposed to be buying for their kids anyways. Awesome.
Comments
In that case he needs to put a warning tag on himself as well for making people angry and violent.
Posted 01/14/2009 at 12:44:00 PMSomeone really needs to step up and declare a rampant spread of "Cart Before The Horse" syndrome amongst parent groups and legislators looking to get re-elected by the people who vote (because let's face it--if all of us 'liberal types' could just get off our asses and vote more often, these politicians wouldn't be constantly and blindly kow-towing to the soccer moms and old folks who essentially ensure their next Mercedes Benz payments, but I digress).
The people who commit these violent acts would have committed these acts in the first place, whether they played Halo 3 or exclusively read Little Golden Books and were only allowed to play with foam balls. These people have something wrong in their heads, they choose to solve their 'problems' with murder or other forms of violence, and it's easy and popular to get headlines by jumping up and down and declaring 'they played video games! that did it! it's all so obvious!'.
Video Games are everywhere. If you're a young man or even a boy that was born after 1975, you probably play video games regularly or semi-regularly. Among aaaaallll of those people, naturally some of them are going to turn out to be psychos. Were there no acts of strange, tragic violence before the release of the Atari 2600? I mean come on, folks.
Posted 01/14/2009 at 01:12:06 PMI'm all for warning labels on games, here are some examples:
Madden Football: WARNING: you bought exactly the same game 12 months ago.
PC Version of GTA IV: WARNING: you will probably be hugely disappointed.
Posted 01/14/2009 at 01:23:14 PMThis only makes sense if an exact same warning is placed on movies, TV programs, music, guns (engraved on the barrel is my thought), alcohol, caffeine, parents, politicians, bosses, jobs in general, and news articles on this type of bullshit.
Posted 01/14/2009 at 02:24:58 PMNanny state here we come! WOOT!
Posted 01/14/2009 at 02:26:49 PMAfter watching This Film Is Not Yet Rated, and hearing this, I am simply infuriated.
Posted 01/14/2009 at 03:24:22 PMI recommend writing a letter (especially if you are a California constituent) and let Congressman Joe know what you think.
District Office
201 North "E" Street, Suite 102
San Bernardino, CA 92401
(909)885-BACA (2222)
Fax: (909)888-5959
Washington, D.C. Office
Posted 01/14/2009 at 05:57:40 PM2245 Rayburn House Off. Bldg
Washington, D.C. 20515-0542
(202)225-6161
Fax: (202)225-8671
That picture just seems to say:
"If any one can sell you a Buick or Oldsmobile for less than Baca Auto Superstore, then my name isn't Joe Baca!"
Posted 01/14/2009 at 09:09:52 PM"there are a dozen studies which says here aren't"
show us ONE.
violence causes violence.
Posted 01/28/2009 at 06:14:56 AMyou're an idiot if you don't accept that.