Congressmen Joe Baca (D-Calif.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) on Monday introduced a bill that would require most video games to bear a warning label that says, "WARNING: Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior."
I guess the rest of our nations problems have been solved.
The Bill would require every game, except ones rated EC (Early Childhood), to carry the warning text. That means any game that is rated "E" for everyone, "E10+" for everyone 10 and older, "T" for teen, "M" for mature or "A" for adult. Even if the game isn't violent.
"Just as we warn smokers of the health consequences of tobacco, we should warn parents — and children — about the growing scientific evidence demonstrating a relationship between violent video games and violent behavior," Wolf said. "As a parent and grandparent, I think it is important people know everything they can about the extremely violent nature of some of these games."
I'm not going to waste my time pointing out how a link between violent games and real violence has never been established in any meaningful way, nor will I belabor the point that the people proposing this law are paid for with taxpayer money, nor will I point out that mandatory labeling of art work is almost certainly unconstitutional. Instead, I'll look on the bright side, and say, hey, at least it's a bipartisan bill, which proves that the Democrats and Republicans can work together as long as they're doing something dumb.
Source: The Hill
All of the best people are following Stephen Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
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WhiteWolfAssassin
Amen Stephen
Murkwater
Funny i live in Virginia, and have been exposed to many violent video games, so I guess when i'm voting I'll just in a fit of rage violently NOT vote for Frank Wolf.
Pyxidium
These Congressmen are breaking the NUMBER ONE rule of generic psychology: Never mistake correlation for causation.
WoWaddict142
Another one really? Just because there is violence in video games does not make somone a violent person if they play them. Yes some people may rage while playing it but there not about to go an shoot up a wal-mart. Plus it's not the game's fault that a little 10 year old is playing a game like CoD, Gears, or God of war. It's the parents fault for not reading the ESRB's rating of the game which is m not E10 or T which is for the people around the age the lower teens. M games are ment for people who are 17+ because that is considered mature enough to handle the intense blood and gore, sexual contnent, and any other things that make a game an M game.
Kody119
I wrote a paper on this, and in Japan, where video games are nearly 5 times more popular, they have about 2500 less violent crimes, 73, per million. And actually, as video game sales go up, violent crime rates go down, about 40% or more in the past 20 years.
/rainbow *the more you know*
Kody119
I just feel i should mention, i wrote a paper on this, and in japan, where games are nearly 5 times more popular, they have about 2500 less violent crimes, only 73, per million. not only that, but as video game sales have went up, violence and general aggressiveness among teens has went DOWN
/rainbow *the more you know*
deathraiser75
This would also mean, any habit you have to vent anger makes you have temper tantrums, which is total BS
Najja
I guess we should start putting warning labels on humans then eh? "Warning : Interaction with other people has been scientifically linked to violent behavior..." When will they get it that humans are just naturally violent, we hate, lie, kill and steal all on our own without any help from video games.
Zx2654
http://electronics.howstuffwor ks.com/tech-myths/5-myths-abou t-video-games.htm
here is a link to tell that there actually isn't any proof to video games cause violence. And as a Canadian it's not like your rating system makes sense. How is Sex worse than incredible gore?
DinDin<3
Barbies Horse Adventure would have a warning label saying it is a violent game.... So would Space Invaders., Cars 2, Cooking Mama, Pac Man and a lot more non violent games...It would essentially become nothing more than a joke that tells parents nothing except they need to start voting better.
Kardon47
They should of just titled this article, "Crotchety Old Men try to Pass a Bill Relating to a Subject They Probably Know Little to Nothing About."
comic_fan15
He is full of crap I had anger issues before I got into video games. ( 1999, 4 year old with anger issues)
ejj
Whew! I thought they were going to require labeling for sexual content, including homosexual content. I'm glad software companies like Bioware will be able to include homosexual themes, relationships and homoerotica in their games without labeling!
jimmyray73
Does this mean we can put warning labels on ballots that say "WARNING: Exposure to Congress is directly linked to occurrence of corruption in politicians!" ?
JustTheBeginning
If you are going to put this BS on my Littlebigplanet and Ratchet and Clank, you better put "WARNING: Exposure to violent movies has been linked to aggession" on every Disney movie dang it! Or how about slapping on "WARNING: Exposure to nude pictures has been linked to pedophiles" on all art paintings, even if its a bowl of fruit!
misfitkid86
chock it up to politicians to reduce all gamers to violent ingrates. there has been studies done that prove that violence in media does little to nothing to affect violence in real life. it just smacks of the antiquated notion that all games are for kids, and that's just sad this day and age.
CornCob_McGee
Slap one on kids too.
Warning: Improper raising of kid may lead to idiot child who thinks he can shoot up a public location.
its not the games, its the kids. Between the 60's and 90's, you didnt see kids blowing each others faces off because they watched too much looney tunes. that show was more violent than many games nowadays.
Oh, and parents- games are rated M for a reason. dont buy it for your 10 year old kids birthday.
Besides. putting this on games is a bit redundant. the ESRB was created to tell people what games are violent and which arent.
MasterBojangles
The largest flaw in there warning is that it's going on ALL videos games, even one's marked E for everyone that do not contain violence. This is not going to give parents any information on what games may be good or not for their child since all games are being equally weighted with the same warning. Parents should be smart enough to read the rating of the game before letting a child buy it. Slapping a generic warning on all games does not accomplish anything.
M0dSquad
Why don't we pass laws where we make a huge red label objects to point out the obvious or to just waste time and taxpayer money.
"Driving may lead to an accident or fatal crashes."
"Using a cell phone may lead to texting while driving"
Everyone I know who plays video games are not violent at all. If anything, we are the least violent people you'd suspect around.
Let the stereotype games begin!
durion
"WARNING: Exposure to congressmen who repetive ignorance of true facts has been linked to aggressive behavior. Please before so, set a copy of any of the numeous independent studies that porve otherwise covered by a bowl of Lobbist stew. MMM Lobbist stew no Washington politician can resist it"
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