Video Game Violence: Are we doing enough to protect the children?

[Valinos]

I think we are not doing enough to protect minors from the damaging effects of mature content in video games. What do the others here think? What should be done in America? Is there really that big of a problem? I think our children are being led in the wrong direction by these horrible acts of violence they see in video games.

 

[Wallydraigle]

It says for mature gamers only on the box, so it's no one else's problem than the kids' parents. What's up with that? Parents plunk down the money for these games, and give them to their children, apparently unconcerned with what goes on in the game or anything else, and all of a sudden it's society's problem? WTF is that?

 

[BillGates]

OOOOOOOOHHHH!! THE CHILDREN!!!! DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CHILDREN!!

 

[Rallispec]

i played all those games as a kid--- i turned out fine.

 

[Valinos]

I cringe at the insensitivty in your reponses. Something should be done. Who is with me?

 

[DAWeinG]

Originally posted by: lirion
It says for mature gamers only on the box, so it's no one else's problem than the kids' parents. What's up with that? Parents plunk down the money for these games, and give them to their children, apparently unconcerned with what goes on in the game or anything else, and all of a sudden it's society's problem? WTF is that?

Or the smarter kids start stealing software

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Valinos
I cringe at the insensitivty in your reponses. Something should be done. Who is with me?

all the others who ignore the real problems...

well, you did ask what we thought. sounds like you just want us to agree with you.

 

[Wallydraigle]

Originally posted by: Valinos
I cringe at the insensitivty in your reponses. Something should be done. Who is with me?

Whatever should be done should be done in the home. Responsibility is the price of freedom.

 

[Aves]

Parents should be responible for their own kids and what they do.

 

[fatbaby]

Originally posted by: Valinos
I think we are not doing enough to protect minors from the damaging effects of mature content in video games. What do the others here think? What should be done in America? Is there really that big of a problem? I think our children are being led in the wrong direction by these horrible acts of violence they see in video games.

are you on crack?

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: lirion

Originally posted by: Valinos
I cringe at the insensitivty in your reponses. Something should be done. Who is with me?

Whatever should be done should be done in the home. Responsibility is the price of freedom.

well said

 

[Valinos]

C'mon guys...I need something better than this...

Gimme more arguing...

 

[IcePhoenix]

I think it is the parent's responsibility to determine what games their children can and cannot play. This also applies to movies music etc. There is no reason to do anything with these games We like these kinds of games. They are fun, and are things we can't do (for obvious reasons) in real life. Blaming violence on video games is just using a form of entertainment as a scapegoat. If you have to prosecute video games, you have to look at movies, pop culture, music etc. All IMO of course. Just how I feel.

 

[JellyBaby]

Are we doing enough to protect the children?

The correct question is, "What am I doing to protect my children?".

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: Valinos
C'mon guys...I need something better than this...

Gimme more arguing...

You probably aren't going to get any arguing because most people here realize that the responsibility falls on the parents and no one else.

The industry does their part by labeling the games and retail outlets don't sell them to minors.

 

[DAWeinG]

I don't think parents can do all that much to shield kids from any type of violence if they wanted to. They'll eventually get exposed ie going over to a friend's house to play video games unless the parents isolate them from society.... or have daughters I guess...

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: DAWeinG
I don't think parents can do all that much to shield kids from any type of violence if they wanted to. They'll eventually get exposed ie going over to a friend's house to play video games unless the parents isolate them from society.... or have daughters I guess...

they can choose who their children play with.

 

[Wallydraigle]

Originally posted by: DAWeinG
I don't think parents can do all that much to shield kids from any type of violence if they wanted to. They'll eventually get exposed ie going over to a friend's house to play video games unless the parents isolate them from society.... or have daughters I guess...

But they can train their children to deal with it by instilling the value of personal responsibility and a healthy discipline in them at an early age. Children who grow up knowing they are responsible for their own actions, and who have well balanced minds, are not going to go off the deep end after seeing this stuff. Sometimes the best way a parent can protect their children is by teaching them to protect themselves.

 

[CrazyDe1]

If the parents are doing their jobs properly kids being exposed to violence won't effect tehm negatively..I played all sorts of violent games as a kid and I'm not very violent.

 

[Howard]

Valinos just wants attention.

Oh, drop by Greece and say hi to the administration for me.

 

[Mani]

Valinos, regardless of how stringent our legislation or rules on mature video games, kids WILL get their hands on them, or at least be exposed to them. Be it through friends, siblings, or just downloads off the internet. The real burden is on the parents to teach kids right from wrong, and not to act on what they may see in video games, movies, etc.

 

[DAWeinG]

Originally posted by: lirion

Originally posted by: DAWeinG
I don't think parents can do all that much to shield kids from any type of violence if they wanted to. They'll eventually get exposed ie going over to a friend's house to play video games unless the parents isolate them from society.... or have daughters I guess...

But they can train their children to deal with it by instilling the value of personal responsibility and a healthy discipline in them at an early age. Children who grow up knowing they are responsible for their own actions, and who have well balanced minds, are not going to go off the deep end after seeing this stuff. Sometimes the best way a parent can protect their children is by teaching them to protect themselves.

I'm pretty sure most of us grew up that way. And we usually do something against our parent's will more often than not. How many times have you disobeyed your parents? If none, more power to you.

Originally posted by: gopunk
they can choose who their children play with.

Easier said than done. Hard but not impossible

 

[gopunk]

Easier said than done. Hard but not impossible


i don't think it's that hard... it's not like a 7 year old is going to just drive to some friend's house by himself.
and by the time they are old enough to do that, it's too late anyways.

 

[fatbaby]

first off, protect what children? I don't think a child at the age of 6 or 7 has the mentality to know how to play gta3, Resident evil, etc

and second, protect them from what? give me one instance where a child went and planted a bomb after playing cs, or went out and stole a car after playing gta3? the only cs related incident i can remember was one involving a stabbing outside a cybercafe, and that was gang related...

I think our children are being led in the wrong direction by these horrible acts of violence they see in video games.

such as?

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: Valinos
I cringe at the insensitivty in your reponses. Something should be done. Who is with me?

I'm with you all the way. I agree, the pansy legislators aren't doing enough. Kids caught playing violent video games should be beaten to death publicly.