Grahamr
11-06-2006, 08:54 PM
Well, i wrote this a long time ago, and just recentlly,i learned to copy and paste. So i put it through the spell checker. Normally, i would put this in one of the other folders, but this kind of defies classifacation, and we all know that only Politicians and personalities(Read,the JT thread) and off topic are the only bastions of activity on the forum. here it goes.
"Almost every Parent and Gamer has heard about it. The Widespread Moral debate over videogames that has been raging in this country. it has involved numerous personalities and debates,and has led to over a dozen pieces of legislation being struck down last year. the Proponents of Videogame censorship argue that violent videogames incite players to commit crimes. But how much of this argument is reality...and how much of it stems from our fears? First,allow me to agree with some of the legislator’s points
Young children should not be playing M(Mature,17+)rated videogames Without their parent’s educated approval. most purchases of adult games to minors have been made through their parents. By increasing awareness of such ratings,we can help keep violent game’s out of minors hands. the decision however, ultimately is that of the parents.
I also believe that if there is a dangerous speech(in whatever form) that DOES actually lead to genuinely negative or harmful behavior in it’s readers/viewers/ETC.,then it is necessary for the government to intervene. My Mother,who is around 50 years of age and is a stay-at-home mom,is enraged over the use of cell phones while driving. this distraction,she argues,has led to an increase in motor accidents across the country. she is considering founding a site called Justdrive.comalthough seeing how there is legislation pending to fine distracted drivers of that sort that will take effect in 2008,it may not be necessary. Alas,it is a proven threat,therefore,government intervention is justified.
But,back to the topic of videogames, i believe that politicians are stretching the definition of”Harmful to minors” and Playing off Parent’s fears in order to further political goals. Politicians are known to latch on to whatever issue is offending a certain audience,wheather it be real or artificial. which parent isn’t scared about the possibility of the playstation in their living room turning their children into murderers?
But life isn’t a Horror movie. there is no casual link between real life violence and media violence thus far. for one,most children can see the difference between reality and fantasy,which many people can’t seem to acknowledge. a videogame or movie is not a direct download into the brain. there are many moral filters which a message has to go through first,as there are some people who-despite seeing violent entertainment since a young age-are non-violent individuals.
Second of all,Youth crimes have gone down since videogames have risen in popularity. a chart issued from the department of juvenile justice shows this. the reason for this decrease,is that videogames(Violent ones especially) can function as an Insulator for our natrual aggressive tendencies that we possess as human beings. As a matter of fact,we’ve come a long way. Back in the roman empire,the coliseum was the avant-garde of entertainment. people went there for the same reason people buy violent movies or videogames nowadays. but back then,Humans and Animals of all sorts were slain in highly inhumane competitions,almost 5,000 animals died in the first few days of it opening. Today,we are able to simulate violent scenarios without inflicting physical harm upon flesh-and blood lifeforms.
My Suggestion to parents- Pay attention to the games your children buy. research is everything. but i would recommend staying off the bandwagon of government legislators,seeing as how the issue is becoming highly politicized. the way those bills are getting struck down now,it’s probably not worth the effort. devote your energy into more relevant causes. there is a vast number of hate groups in the united states,and illegal immigration is at an all time high. either way,you,your neighbors,or children don’t really benefit when people go after scapegoats. just remember....
You,and not the government,has the power. and if you’ve seen spider man with your kids,you would know that Power,comes with responsibility.
-Graham carpenter is 15 years old,part of the las virgenas homeschooling group,and a passionate advocate of free speech and the gaming community. he is also a member of the gamepolitics forums,where he is indenified as,”Grahamr”"
"Almost every Parent and Gamer has heard about it. The Widespread Moral debate over videogames that has been raging in this country. it has involved numerous personalities and debates,and has led to over a dozen pieces of legislation being struck down last year. the Proponents of Videogame censorship argue that violent videogames incite players to commit crimes. But how much of this argument is reality...and how much of it stems from our fears? First,allow me to agree with some of the legislator’s points
Young children should not be playing M(Mature,17+)rated videogames Without their parent’s educated approval. most purchases of adult games to minors have been made through their parents. By increasing awareness of such ratings,we can help keep violent game’s out of minors hands. the decision however, ultimately is that of the parents.
I also believe that if there is a dangerous speech(in whatever form) that DOES actually lead to genuinely negative or harmful behavior in it’s readers/viewers/ETC.,then it is necessary for the government to intervene. My Mother,who is around 50 years of age and is a stay-at-home mom,is enraged over the use of cell phones while driving. this distraction,she argues,has led to an increase in motor accidents across the country. she is considering founding a site called Justdrive.comalthough seeing how there is legislation pending to fine distracted drivers of that sort that will take effect in 2008,it may not be necessary. Alas,it is a proven threat,therefore,government intervention is justified.
But,back to the topic of videogames, i believe that politicians are stretching the definition of”Harmful to minors” and Playing off Parent’s fears in order to further political goals. Politicians are known to latch on to whatever issue is offending a certain audience,wheather it be real or artificial. which parent isn’t scared about the possibility of the playstation in their living room turning their children into murderers?
But life isn’t a Horror movie. there is no casual link between real life violence and media violence thus far. for one,most children can see the difference between reality and fantasy,which many people can’t seem to acknowledge. a videogame or movie is not a direct download into the brain. there are many moral filters which a message has to go through first,as there are some people who-despite seeing violent entertainment since a young age-are non-violent individuals.
Second of all,Youth crimes have gone down since videogames have risen in popularity. a chart issued from the department of juvenile justice shows this. the reason for this decrease,is that videogames(Violent ones especially) can function as an Insulator for our natrual aggressive tendencies that we possess as human beings. As a matter of fact,we’ve come a long way. Back in the roman empire,the coliseum was the avant-garde of entertainment. people went there for the same reason people buy violent movies or videogames nowadays. but back then,Humans and Animals of all sorts were slain in highly inhumane competitions,almost 5,000 animals died in the first few days of it opening. Today,we are able to simulate violent scenarios without inflicting physical harm upon flesh-and blood lifeforms.
My Suggestion to parents- Pay attention to the games your children buy. research is everything. but i would recommend staying off the bandwagon of government legislators,seeing as how the issue is becoming highly politicized. the way those bills are getting struck down now,it’s probably not worth the effort. devote your energy into more relevant causes. there is a vast number of hate groups in the united states,and illegal immigration is at an all time high. either way,you,your neighbors,or children don’t really benefit when people go after scapegoats. just remember....
You,and not the government,has the power. and if you’ve seen spider man with your kids,you would know that Power,comes with responsibility.
-Graham carpenter is 15 years old,part of the las virgenas homeschooling group,and a passionate advocate of free speech and the gaming community. he is also a member of the gamepolitics forums,where he is indenified as,”Grahamr”"