Comments on: Warning: Video Games May Be Hazardous to Your Health

By: DtD Software

DtD Software — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:15:19 +0000

I agree, fix the f***ing economy instead of screwing with games. Does Mr. Congressman even play video games? It’s 2011 buddy! Things have changed since the stone age.

~DtD

By: George

George — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:58:48 +0000

I play T and M rated games all the time with no ill effects. This bill really pisses me off. It’s making me so mad that I want to go out and hit someone. Oh wait…

By: Incognito

Incognito — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:39:38 +0000

Yes, the majority of us have all played violent video games before and no, we haven’t went around shooting hookers and hijacking cars a la GTA, but I do believe that’s because the majority of us are regular people who are not influenced by such things.

It’s a sad fact that are people who are susceptible to being influenced by such things – not many, but there are a few.

As it’s been stated before, an extra little warning on the box isn’t going to cause much sway for most of the people – however it may make a parent think twice, especially if it is a game for a younger child – just as they may not let them watch an R-rated movie. (I think that’s the same as an ‘18′ rating in the UK)

(Not really for or against this per say, just thought I’d try and offer another possible viewpoint)

By: Tyler

Tyler — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:13:34 +0000

Something like this could only come from someone who has never played video games before. I mean, I don’t walk away from a video game wanting to kill everybody. In reality, I’ll shutdown a game because all the blood and guts on the screen are gross and make me like violence even less.

Someone should have Joe Baca play a few video games and see if he walks away feeling violent (and if he does, thats sad).

By: Florsie

Florsie — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:59:54 +0000

It’s the most retarded bill i’ve ever heard of. The US has other problems which are far more urgent than this. And besides, violence has little to do with videogames. I believe that if a child knows well the difference between fantasy and reality, there is no problem at all. My nephews (8 and 6 years old) are crazy about Mortal Kombat and they don’t spend their time hitting other kids or trying to kill animals. They are perfectly adapted and they are very good boys. What happens is that their mom is usually checking on them and being straight forward with them. She knows that they aren’t ready for stuff like “Grand Theft Auto”, but she won’t stop them from playing fighting games or other kinds of FPS. They know there are consequences in life and they can distinguish from good and evil. On the other hand, My nephew who’s 5 years old, he’s a little asocial boy. His mother has kept him disconnected from everything trying to avoid “violent toys and tv” and just providing him with “wholesome toys and television”. What happens is that the boy can’t relate with other kids, he’s quite whimpy, scaredy, doesn’t really understand that there are consequences to everything and doesn’t know how to play by himself. Oh yeah, and when he has “contact” with a violent videogame for like 4 minutes or so, he ends up wanting to beat the crap out of everyone else. Why is that? Because he doesn’t understand what’s real and what’s not. If we want a generation of kids who don’t understand consequences, completely pampered and utterly whimpy, this bill is a great idea.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:32:51 +0000

Where’s the warning label for U.S. Congressman Joe Baca (D-CA)? I have several suggestions.

This is just another example of focusing time and energy on the wrong target. The goal may be noble from certain perspectives, but a warning label will do absolutely nothing.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:16:26 +0000

As a Digital Entertainment and Game Design student I can’t tell you how many times I had to write a paper about how violence in video games has NO CORRELATION to actual real world aggression in children. To save a long and boring read my papers are summarized as this: In the 1800’s it was the demon in books, in the 1900’s it was the demon in radio, in the 1930’s it was the devil in comics, in the 1960’s it was the devil in TV and now it’s the video game’s turn to destroy humanity… that is unless parents try a radical new age treatment called PARENTING!! This is getting so ridiculous when does personal responsibility come into play? If I go out and mow down 3 people with my car is it Grand Theft Auto’s fault? Why not Chevy for making it SO easy for a deviant like me with no moral fiber to get behind the wheel of a 3 ton chariot of death!?!?! May it’s Jason Statham’s fault for making it look so awesome in Death Race that I just couldn’t figure out in my pea-sized brain that hitting folks with cars isn’t cool. Aww but it looked so cool when the cops did it in WILD POLICE CHASES CAUGHT ON TAPE EPISODE 327!! Seriously people, let’s wake up and smell the sh!t we’re sitting in here. We need reform in Congress and if this isn’t the screaming alarm then I think we’re in a little bit more trouble than I can dream up in GTA4. And if that’s the case… Good Luck to You All.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:05:37 +0000

Here we go again. First off aggression isn’t a health problem. We all have aggression and we will regardless of video games. Maybe they should be a warning on the terrorist organizations “Caution: Excessive exposure to terrorism causes aggression.”

Second there is plenty of research that shows no link between aggressive video games and aggression over the long term. Sure short term aggression can be increased just as people get more aggressive watching wrestling but that aggression peters out quickly.

Also there is research indicating that video games serve a important social role in the development of boys. And they can do thing like train us to be better drivers. Not to mention where else can I go to get out my aggression by killing real people besides Xbox Live? Oh yeah I guess I could join a terrorist organization.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:57:53 +0000

Funny how watchdog groups and politicians blame everybody but themselves for the behavior of young people today. The problem is parents coddle their kids instead of supplying much needed discipline and direction. It’s the same people who let their kids watch “Jackass” and “Jackass 2″ then blame the movie for their kids broken face instead of themselves for not teaching their kid that actions have consequences…and sometimes they hurt… When will we, as a people, realize that putting hand sanitizer on everything causes us to not build a healthy immune system? and coddling kids makes them not understand respect and consequences… it’s all the same thing.

By: LP

LP — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:05:42 +0000

It’s ironic that this news should come up today. Here is “George Carlin” quote for today:

“They try to blame movies and TV for violence in this country. What a load of s@$%. Long before there were movies and television, Americans killed millions of Indians, enslaved millions of blacks, slaughtered 700,000 of each other in a family feud, and attained the highest murder rate in history. Don’t blame Sylvester Stallone. We brought these horrifying genes with us from Europe, and then we gave them our own special twist. American know-how!”

By: LP

LP — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:59:39 +0000

This is ridiculous. I can’t believe they’re actually spending time working on this useless age old subject. I think the congress ought to punish this guy for wasting congress’ time.

Besides, how many smokers ACTUALLY quit smoking because the box says “Injurious to health”.

Oh, we got some really stupid people in the government.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:09:05 +0000

Some watchdog group got enough money together to get ole Joe to throw out a pitch. That’s all this says to me. The bill is so ridiculous that it’s passing is not even a concern. Not that (as Casey already said) *another* warning would have any effect whatsoever. Parents already have the high level info they need with the ratings.