The First Amendment continues to get raped

[Seth]

Why don't you want ESRB ratings enforced? If they were stringently enforced we wouldn't have this bull**** about trying to ban violent video games and the evangelical moms bitching. An enforced rating system takes the heat off the industry and puts it on the parents for not being aware of what their little kids are playing.

[Dylflon]

I think the rating system similar to the TV and movie systems should be adopted for games so that these parents will shut the hell up.

G for everyone
7+ for mildly violent
13+ for teen
17+ for mature

I think this is something that these parents would find easier to understand.

[Jason1]

Originally Posted by Dylflon

I think the rating system similar to the TV and movie systems should be adopted for games so that these parents will shut the hell up.

G for everyone
7+ for mildly violent
13+ for teen
17+ for mature

I think this is something that these parents would find easier to understand.

Wait...Thats suppoused to magically shut everyone up?

Dont we allready have the ESRB, which is remarkably similar to that? Would adding one little category really make it easier to understand/ shut everyone up?

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with the esrb as it is.

[Ginkasa]

Originally Posted by Jason1

Wait...Thats suppoused to magically shut everyone up?

Dont we allready have the ESRB, which is remarkably similar to that? Would adding one little category really make it easier to understand/ shut everyone up?

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with the esrb as it is.

I think what he's saying is that instead of having "T" or "M," which some parents may not immediately understand (and God forbid that do research), the ESRB should have their rating system with categories separated by the age. So rather than a parent seeing "M" and thinking, "Oh, that must mean 'for Most everybody'" he/she would see "17+" and realize, "Oh, that must be for people 17 years of age and older."

Or something.


*shrugs and walks away*

[Xantar]

Now what does the First Amendment have to do with all this? The First Amendment prohibits the government from abridging freedom of speech or the free exercise thereof. Where in all this would this be happening?

The proposed law would prevent minors from buying games with a certain rating. That's not censorship. Censorship would be if the game was banned outright so that nobody could buy it. And if parents can still buy the game for their kids if they think it's appropriate...then what exactly is the problem?

Quibble with the particular ratings all you want (I myself have issues with how the MPAA rates certain movies), but the First Amendment and the freedom of speech it protects has nothing to do with it.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Xantar

Now what does the First Amendment have to do with all this? The First Amendment prohibits the government from abridging freedom of speech or the free exercise thereof. Where in all this would this be happening?

The proposed law would prevent minors from buying games with a certain rating. That's not censorship. Censorship would be if the game was banned outright so that nobody could buy it. And if parents can still buy the game for their kids if they think it's appropriate...then what exactly is the problem?

Quibble with the particular ratings all you want (I myself have issues with how the MPAA rates certain movies), but the First Amendment and the freedom of speech it protects has nothing to do with it.

I actually thought about that, and I realize that it doesn't, yet. However, as some of these anti-violent super groups continue to build a presence, the more I think you will see things like "ban Grand Theft Auto." I believe it was Australia that banned Grand Theft Auto, and there have been numerous groups of angry parents that have wanted games like Grand Theft Auto taken off the market altogether. If politicians continue to be swayed by these groups of people against violent games, who knows what could happen.

[Xantar]

Angry parents have been trying to get various things banned throughout American history. If it's not violent videogames, then it's pornography. If not that, then it's violent music. If not that, then it's Huckleberry Finn. Needless to say, naked pictures, music by Eminem and the works of Mark Twain are still around for us to enjoy.

Except for a very brief period, people hung up on morality haven't even managed to get alcohol banned. And unlike violent videogames, booze has actually been proven to cause harm when abused. You can criticize people who want to ban certain videogames all you want (I certainly would join in with you), but I wouldn't get too worried or worked up about it. The tradition of allowing people to carry on as they like is too strong in this country to be overrun by a largely ridiculed segment of society (evidence shows that most Americans do not sympathize with people who want to ban violent media).

[Vampyr]

People get the expression wrong enough times to make it right.