Indianapolis bans kids from playing violent arcade games

[JellyBaby]

From http://www.foxnews.com/vtech/101200/videogame_ban.sml:



<< The law requires coin-operated games featuring graphic violence or strong sexual content to have warning labels and be kept at least 10 feet from nonviolent game machines. The machines must also be separated by a curtain or wall so minors cannot see them. The law bars people under age 18 from such games unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. >>



So is this yet another infringement on first amendment rights? Or is it a reasonable compromise in light of society?s ever-decaying moral standards?

Will this lead to further government encroachment on individual rights? The fact that the feds are giving the states the ?OK? to actually govern themselves is a ?good? thing, at least in my eyes.

One thing?s for certain: expect Sen. Joseph Censorsman to applaud and praise Indianapolis.

 

[yakko]

I say we put a ban on all stupid laws so this society can become great once again.

 

[toph99]

glad i live in Canada...

 

[Killbat]

It's more evidence that we're kidding ourselves in America. Why are our kids violent? Gosh, it can't be THE PARENTS' fault, so let's pick a scapegoat at random and just drill away at it, yea! :|:|:|

 

[SilentBoB]

Sigh. Call up Russia, we are once again another step closer to being a communist country.

 

[Pretender]

I can't wait until a bunch of pissed off kids in Indianapolis start shooting in a school and take hostages until the government repeals that law.

Violent games aren't responsible for a fscked up society, but I guess the politicians need something to blame, and violence in media is the easiest scapegoat.

 

[SqUiRm]

Ok this sucks. i think this is the dumbest thing possible. Its the the fvcking video games or movies or ne of that sh!t. This is whut really pisses me off... I'm not an adult im acutally a kid and that doesnt make ne sence 2 me. If i see a movie where some guys gets his throat slit or shot or something im not gonna run out and think its cool to do that and kill somebody. No1 i know would. Its really the parents fault for letting there kids do all that crap. If they ban it here and ban all that other stuff like movies and al that im goin 2 be pretty mad. I already am tho

 

[toph99]

if anything they help by allowing you to vent anger though the computer and not on other people

 

[Imported]

That sucks. If it ever happens in California, I don't know what I'd do.

 

[Pretender]

All I can say is &quot;let 'em try this $hit in New York City&quot;. Besides, I play all my violent games at home, so I really couldn't care less.

 

[JellyBaby]

There is something beneficial in &quot;equalizing&quot; laws, i.e. making them the same across the board for all children. For example, some people are in favor of a federal age 21 drinking law. The article points out it's not legal for someone under 18 to buy a Playboy. So the politicans step in and say, &quot;Well then why are we allowing kids to play violent video games in public places?&quot;.

 

[CommunistParadise]

Good for them, go Lieberman!

 

[ForeverSilky]

Luckily when the U.S. totally goes to sh*t, I'll be dead or on some tropical island.

 

[tommyc]

Killbat is right ! I have several customers who are Psycologists and
psyciatrists that said the same thing. It's just another scapegoat !

 

[piku]

I say we ban morons from being allowed to make laws.

 

[chess9]

They had to do it. They met DirkBelig and he told them he was a normal kid until he started slipping quarters into the Kung Fu Fighters machine at the video arcade. Now look at the poor fellow. Just dreadful.

Hide the women and children!

 

[MWink]

<< I say we ban morons from being allowed to make laws. >>



Then there would be no one making any laws.

 

[pac1085]

I think we should elect John Carmack as President of the USA That way things would get a little more shaped up...lol.

 

[ForeverSilky]

<< I think we should elect John Carmack as President of the USA >>


Quake3 in every classroom!

 

[stomp]

Sucks to be an arcade owner I guess...

... I guess its this or have psychiatric review before inserting coins. Don't think it solves anything, nor do I think it hurts too much... more of a feelgood do nothing kind of law. Well, now the kids can go back to the streets where its safe...

 

[GameProgrammer]

Its just wrong to ban a kid from a video game! What is this world coming to?

 

[kamiam]

I have the solution...lets ban ALL politians

 

[JellyBaby]

I haven't been to an arcade in years. What I wanna know is who rates the violent content of those games? Does that industry have an ESRP board???

 

[Futuramatic]

I am ashamed to be a Hoosier. Damn the politicians. I played violent video games as much as I could as a kid, and I haven't shot anyone up yet. Parents just are not doing their jobs. How does the kid get to the arcade? Why is he/she alone anyway? I am starting to think those dudes in Montana have a point...

 

[Midnight Rambler]

A good, and courageous, move by the Indy politicians.

All you little kiddies who are upset and claim the blame lies with the parents are full of it, that's a total cop-out, and shows your immaturity, not to mention a lack of accepting accountability. Sure, lax parenting is/can be a contributor, but so also are these violent games, as well as many other factors and influences in today's society. No, not every kid who plays them develops violent traits, but just one who does is one too many.

When I was a kid, many, many years ago, there was accountability (and consequences) for one's actions, nor did we have violent influences like these games, or the movies of today (if you weren't of age to see a movie, you didn't get in, period). But we also did not have kids killing each other, or bringing guns to school, or using them to settle fights. We used our fists at most.

It's easy to see what has changed, and therefore what the suspect causes for these changes are. And it's not just parenting.

Russ was 100% correct - &quot;Quake IS a murder simulator.&quot;