Violent Video Games
- ihatethunderbay
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Violent Video Games
i'm sure this has been discussed before but i need this for school, so please vote.
if you could give a reason for your vote in a post it would be appreciated. after a few people have voted i will post my big rant on why a ban is stupid.
if you could give a reason for your vote in a post it would be appreciated. after a few people have voted i will post my big rant on why a ban is stupid.
hating thunder bay since 2003
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Okay, so I voted that any sane person knows that video games are fake, because....well it's true. I don't think the problem with kids today has anything to do with video game content.
What I think is smart is the rating system. If any parent has any care at all over what they are letting their kids play, they will look at the rating. Not many young kids can buy their own video games, so I think parents need to make an effort in that area. I mean, don't buy a 6 year old an "M" rated game. Thats just not right. (Most gamers today are between 18-25, so I think there should be more M rated games made, but that doesn't mean little kids should buy them) And stores arn't allowed to sell kids M rated games? right? (I'm not sure) But a lot of store don't give video games a lot of respect so they don't care how old the kid is who buys it, as long as they are buying it.
What I think is hurting kids is not the fact that they are playing violent video games all day, its that kids are sitting around doing nothing but playing video games all day. They can sit there for hours and do it. And if they arn't playing video games, they are watching tv, or on their computers. Today, all the most entertaining things for kids is to sit on their ass. Thats definately not healthy. If your a young kid, who gets whatever game they want, and plays it all day and does nothing else, thats what fucks people up. I'm not saying they are going to become killers in any sense, but they are not going to learn social skills or do thinks that kids are supposed to do.
If young young kids are going to be given violent and inappropriate games to play, then of course they are going to be affected by them. Little kids are impressionable. That combined with the lack of discipline that the recent generation of parents is enforcing is making some seriously unpleasent children. If a child is raised on video games, television and a mass amount of media influence, then any kid is going to get messed up. To blame this on violent video games is like saying that all horror movies should be banned. And while your at it, any book with anyone dying- ever, should be burned. It just doesn't make sense. Taking violence out of video games is not a magic fix that is going to solve all the problems. Life doesn't work that way.
I can't understand the other arguement either. I think too many people speak out of assumptions and exaggerations. Its like banning Harry Potter from schools. What is that going to do? Really now people...
le sigh.
What I think is smart is the rating system. If any parent has any care at all over what they are letting their kids play, they will look at the rating. Not many young kids can buy their own video games, so I think parents need to make an effort in that area. I mean, don't buy a 6 year old an "M" rated game. Thats just not right. (Most gamers today are between 18-25, so I think there should be more M rated games made, but that doesn't mean little kids should buy them) And stores arn't allowed to sell kids M rated games? right? (I'm not sure) But a lot of store don't give video games a lot of respect so they don't care how old the kid is who buys it, as long as they are buying it.
What I think is hurting kids is not the fact that they are playing violent video games all day, its that kids are sitting around doing nothing but playing video games all day. They can sit there for hours and do it. And if they arn't playing video games, they are watching tv, or on their computers. Today, all the most entertaining things for kids is to sit on their ass. Thats definately not healthy. If your a young kid, who gets whatever game they want, and plays it all day and does nothing else, thats what fucks people up. I'm not saying they are going to become killers in any sense, but they are not going to learn social skills or do thinks that kids are supposed to do.
If young young kids are going to be given violent and inappropriate games to play, then of course they are going to be affected by them. Little kids are impressionable. That combined with the lack of discipline that the recent generation of parents is enforcing is making some seriously unpleasent children. If a child is raised on video games, television and a mass amount of media influence, then any kid is going to get messed up. To blame this on violent video games is like saying that all horror movies should be banned. And while your at it, any book with anyone dying- ever, should be burned. It just doesn't make sense. Taking violence out of video games is not a magic fix that is going to solve all the problems. Life doesn't work that way.
I can't understand the other arguement either. I think too many people speak out of assumptions and exaggerations. Its like banning Harry Potter from schools. What is that going to do? Really now people...
le sigh.
-Sarah
Goodbye you liar,
Well you sipped from the cup but you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
Take apart your head
(and I wish I could inspire)
Take apart your demons, then you add it to the list.
Goodbye you liar,
Well you sipped from the cup but you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
Take apart your head
(and I wish I could inspire)
Take apart your demons, then you add it to the list.
its not that kids dont realize that its fake, thats just obvious.
it's that its desensitizing kids to violence. Any society that faces children with death being associated with fun rather than suffering is just sick. Ultimately, every parent would talk to their parents about the games, and make them understand that human loss is nothing to laugh at. Unfortumatly, that's hardly the case, and many parents either rely on some rating system, which doesnt help things at all, as kids see violent games as something they always want but won't get, or they will just buy them for their kids anyway.
I can't beleive i'm the only one who thinks they should be banned. I mean obviously there's no way of completely stopping them, with the internet and all that. they just have no use. there's no point in giving kids that are going to be dumb and insensitive anyway, games that tell them that's all right.
mostly i agree with sarah. kids dont need to be sitting around all day, doing nothing.

it's that its desensitizing kids to violence. Any society that faces children with death being associated with fun rather than suffering is just sick. Ultimately, every parent would talk to their parents about the games, and make them understand that human loss is nothing to laugh at. Unfortumatly, that's hardly the case, and many parents either rely on some rating system, which doesnt help things at all, as kids see violent games as something they always want but won't get, or they will just buy them for their kids anyway.
I can't beleive i'm the only one who thinks they should be banned. I mean obviously there's no way of completely stopping them, with the internet and all that. they just have no use. there's no point in giving kids that are going to be dumb and insensitive anyway, games that tell them that's all right.
mostly i agree with sarah. kids dont need to be sitting around all day, doing nothing.
I said they shouldn't be banned because it should be up to the parent's discretion. the govt shouldn't be telling ppl how they can have fun... especially when it isn't directly hurting someone.
I can't wait until the day schools are over-funded and the military is forced to hold bake sales to buy planes.
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
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Although having a rating system is great and a good idea, alot of children, including myself when i was younger, had M rated games ANYWAYS. Most parents do not take the time to look at the labels, they just figure its a video game.
My other issue with them is desensitization. The fact that you pay 80-100 dollars to kill people for fun on your TV screen doesnt make sense to me, especially living in a world such as ours.
My other issue with them is desensitization. The fact that you pay 80-100 dollars to kill people for fun on your TV screen doesnt make sense to me, especially living in a world such as ours.
sinead
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Why would you ban violent video games if most of the people that play video games (AT ALL) are 18-25? That doesn't make much sense.
I know that kids play them and blah blah blah, but as an 18-year old gamer I'm sick of all these lame ass kiddie games that they pump out insted of making a line of really awesome M rated games. Maybe I just know too many people with cubes...
I know that kids play them and blah blah blah, but as an 18-year old gamer I'm sick of all these lame ass kiddie games that they pump out insted of making a line of really awesome M rated games. Maybe I just know too many people with cubes...
-Sarah
Goodbye you liar,
Well you sipped from the cup but you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
Take apart your head
(and I wish I could inspire)
Take apart your demons, then you add it to the list.
Goodbye you liar,
Well you sipped from the cup but you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
Take apart your head
(and I wish I could inspire)
Take apart your demons, then you add it to the list.
- starseed_10
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i think i agree with yannic that the violent games are completely unnecessary, and it's wrong to desensitize people so much. even if they are over 18.
if the standards were completely changed people could go back to having fun playing less bloody crap, because they wouldn't be dependant on it as the only type of game made for adults.
shit-damn. Supermario and EA Sports were more than amaizing when i was playing a lot... and i'd still probably prefer a solid clean RPG or adventure game over the violent stuff they spend all their resources on now.
if the standards were completely changed people could go back to having fun playing less bloody crap, because they wouldn't be dependant on it as the only type of game made for adults.
shit-damn. Supermario and EA Sports were more than amaizing when i was playing a lot... and i'd still probably prefer a solid clean RPG or adventure game over the violent stuff they spend all their resources on now.
blah
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Syd ... 69650.html
Also... guys don't blame the games, blame the internet. the internet desensitises you more than anything else. I am the perfect example of that.

Also... guys don't blame the games, blame the internet. the internet desensitises you more than anything else. I am the perfect example of that.

- nikki4982
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I remember when game characters were just pixelated blobs that couldn't bleed even if the programmers wanted them to... man, those were the days.
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Queen of the Harpies <img src="../phpBB2/files/queen_of_harpies.gif" align="texttop"></td><td><font color="orange">President of the Pookie Brigade</font>
"If you put those on the internet, I'll kill you guys!" - Jer</td></tr></table>
<center><img src="../phpBB2/files/squiggle.gif">
<font color="#3C8C8B">Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try, no hell below us,
above us only sky, imagine all the people, <font color="#FFFFFF">living</font> for today...</font>
<font color="#50B4B3">Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do, nothing to kill or die
for, no religion too, imagine all the people, living <font color="#FFFFFF">life</font> in peace...</font>
<font color="#89CDCC">Imagine no possesions, I wonder if you can, no need for greed or <font color="#FFFFFF">hunger</font>,
a brotherhood of man, imagine all the people, sharing all the <font color="#FFFFFF">world</font>...</font>
<font color="#B1DFDE">You may say I'm a <font color="#FFFFFF">dreamer</font>, but I'm not the only one, I hope
some day you'll join us, and the world will <font color="#FFFFFF">live</font> as one.</font></center></font>
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The ESRB http://www.esrb.com/
provide ratings that are completely fair. The panel, which I've read involves parents of small children to teens, decide what rating a game deserves. Parents can be extremely harsh and are the most aware people of material they do not want their children to see.
A violent video game is always given a "M" rating, which you have to be at least 17 years of age to rent or purchase. Now, I know some people will say, "Well, the parents don't really look at what their kids are renting/playing." However, if the parents rent their children movies that are rated "R" or "18A" obviously they aren't going to care what kind of game their child is playing, but honestly, if their parents are aware and have guidelines for what movies their children are allowed to watch, they're going to be aware of what their kids are playing also.
The video game rating system works just like the movie rating system works. There is no way to be completely sure that children aren't watching or playing violent movies/games. There never was a 100% sure way to avoid that. The only thing they can do is censor everything.
Then what kind of world would be living in? A world that's policed from all aspects. Not a very free world if you ask me.
provide ratings that are completely fair. The panel, which I've read involves parents of small children to teens, decide what rating a game deserves. Parents can be extremely harsh and are the most aware people of material they do not want their children to see.
A violent video game is always given a "M" rating, which you have to be at least 17 years of age to rent or purchase. Now, I know some people will say, "Well, the parents don't really look at what their kids are renting/playing." However, if the parents rent their children movies that are rated "R" or "18A" obviously they aren't going to care what kind of game their child is playing, but honestly, if their parents are aware and have guidelines for what movies their children are allowed to watch, they're going to be aware of what their kids are playing also.
The video game rating system works just like the movie rating system works. There is no way to be completely sure that children aren't watching or playing violent movies/games. There never was a 100% sure way to avoid that. The only thing they can do is censor everything.
Then what kind of world would be living in? A world that's policed from all aspects. Not a very free world if you ask me.

For all those out there who are for banning video games, I sincerely hope you want violent movies, music and books banned as well. Are video games somehow the only violent material that can desensitize? Definetely not. Secondly its all on the parents. Its up to them to inform themselves on what their children are playing. If a game company places a M rating on a game, thats all they can do. Those ratings are a tool for the parents. If they cant read them, then its their loss.
First of all, this may not be the greatest panel for this survey. I'm just speculating here, but I'm willing to bet much of the CM is gamers.
Second, I agree that parents need to pay attention to ratings. However, you can't control what is not going on in your house. Honestly, you can't tell me if your parents didn't let you watch an R rated movie, you didn't just go over to a friends' house and watch it anyways. Or even at your own house when they weren't home and had your friends bring it over. Kids are sneaky, if they want to see or do something, they'll find a way. Ratings do little to deter it. In fact, an M or an R rating probably makes kids want to see a move or play a game even MORE. So, like a said, I think many of the decisions you guys are coming up with are biased because, well, you love your violent games and you don't want them banned.
Third, I don't think we should ban them. At least not all of them. I think games like Grand Theft Auto are just plain stupid. Why do games need to reward a villain? I have no problem with games like Doom where you're killing monsters. One idea I think might help parents keep track of what their kids are playing is maybe some sort of parental code for game systems. Kind of like what the Internet has. It still wouldn't keep your kids from playing the games at friends' houses but it would keep it out of your own. The parent would only know the code to unlock mature material in video games on their console. Just one thought.
The ultimate way to prevent your kids from playing video games, which I think would be way to extreme and expensive is to have some sort of personal recognition controllers. Where a controller is programmed to only allow an identified person to use it (recognizes the fingerprints while being held?). That controller would shut off if the wrong person held it or if the content wasn't allowed for the user. Yes, I realize I'm being silly here but its the only 100% way to keep kids from playing violent games. However, kids would still probably find a way around it... like i said, they are sneaky.
Wooh... this post got long.... sorry about that.
Ok, before I get responses about how parents should know what their kids are doing at their friends' houses, let me ask this. Do yours?

Second, I agree that parents need to pay attention to ratings. However, you can't control what is not going on in your house. Honestly, you can't tell me if your parents didn't let you watch an R rated movie, you didn't just go over to a friends' house and watch it anyways. Or even at your own house when they weren't home and had your friends bring it over. Kids are sneaky, if they want to see or do something, they'll find a way. Ratings do little to deter it. In fact, an M or an R rating probably makes kids want to see a move or play a game even MORE. So, like a said, I think many of the decisions you guys are coming up with are biased because, well, you love your violent games and you don't want them banned.
Third, I don't think we should ban them. At least not all of them. I think games like Grand Theft Auto are just plain stupid. Why do games need to reward a villain? I have no problem with games like Doom where you're killing monsters. One idea I think might help parents keep track of what their kids are playing is maybe some sort of parental code for game systems. Kind of like what the Internet has. It still wouldn't keep your kids from playing the games at friends' houses but it would keep it out of your own. The parent would only know the code to unlock mature material in video games on their console. Just one thought.
The ultimate way to prevent your kids from playing video games, which I think would be way to extreme and expensive is to have some sort of personal recognition controllers. Where a controller is programmed to only allow an identified person to use it (recognizes the fingerprints while being held?). That controller would shut off if the wrong person held it or if the content wasn't allowed for the user. Yes, I realize I'm being silly here but its the only 100% way to keep kids from playing violent games. However, kids would still probably find a way around it... like i said, they are sneaky.
Wooh... this post got long.... sorry about that.
Ok, before I get responses about how parents should know what their kids are doing at their friends' houses, let me ask this. Do yours?
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#define QUESTION (bb || !bb) --william shakespeare
#define QUESTION (bb || !bb) --william shakespeare
Corey wrote:
One idea I think might help parents keep track of what their kids are playing is maybe some sort of parental code for game systems. Kind of like what the Internet has. It still wouldn't keep your kids from playing the games at friends' houses but it would keep it out of your own. The parent would only know the code to unlock mature material in video games on their console. Just one thought.
The x-box has such a device built in. If you dont want your kids playing M rated games, you can move a few sliders and then any game with an M rating can only be played with a password. Hopefully in the next generation of systems Nintendo and Song will follow suite.