Violence In Video Games

**THL** · 03 Dec 05,, 15:58

Court Strikes Down Illinois Video Game Law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A federal judge ruled Friday that Illinois' restrictions on the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors are unconstitutional and barred the state from enforcing the law.

State officials "have come nowhere near" demonstrating that the law passes constitutional muster, said U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly.

Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other supporters of the measure argued that children were being harmed by exposure to games in which characters go on killing sprees or sexual escapades.

Opponents declared the law a restriction on free speech and pointed out that similar laws had been struck down in other states.

"It's unfortunate that the state of Illinois spent taxpayer money defending this statute. This is precisely what we told them would happen," said David Vite, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, one of the groups that sued over the law.

Blagojevich said Friday he will appeal the ruling.

"Parents should be able to expect that their kids will not have access to excessively violent and sexually explicit video games without their permission," he said.

Other states this year approved similar legislation after hidden sex scenes were discovered in a popular game, "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." California's version, set to go into effect Jan. 1, is among those being challenged in court.

The Illinois law, which also was to go into effect Jan. 1, would have barred stores from selling or renting extremely violent or sexual games to minors and allowed $1,000 fines for violators.

The judge said that it would interfere with the First Amendment and that there wasn't a compelling enough reason, such as preventing imminent violence, to allow that.

"In this country, the state lacks the authority to ban protected speech on the ground that it affects the listener's or observer's thoughts and attitudes," Kennelly wrote.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177577,00.html

I am wondering if the same will be applied to music? There is a lot of music (at least here in IL) that one has to be over 18 to buy due to language/lyrics.

I think these laws are not needed. In regards to the music, most of the kids are going to hear this language anyway - do we not all have access to MTV - and since most of them have a computer, they can just download it.

The majority of video games are upwards of $50 a pop. It is not as though a 6 year old is going to the mall with $50 in his pocket alone to buy these games. Most of the kids would be of working age (14 in IL) or even driving age (16 in IL). I think most 14 and 16 year olds would be able to handle violence in video games and so I don't think this is that big of a problem, but this ban has been in effect in certain stores (two major discount retailers come to mind) for a while now anyway.

Now I am also basing this off of the idea that I, myself, am not an avid video game player. I can only base this on what I saw my ex playing; Max Payne, Hitman, the game where one has to pick up the hookers and take them to their tricks - I don't remember which one it is - maybe one of the Grand Theft Autos, and some Army sim game.

**TruthSeeker2** · 03 Dec 05,, 16:26

If a kid can afford to buy the video game, and his/her parents have not done a decent enough job of teaching thier child the difference between reality, and imagination. Then who do we blame if that kid goes off the deep-end.

A. The maker's of the Video game.
B. The Kid
C. The Parent's

Multiple choice... I choose.

C. The Parent's

Now there is always the option that the parents bought the game for the child, well, then Mr. or Mrs. Parents, should have had enough brain-power to LOOK at what they were buying there child. Now, I suppose the child could STEAL the game, but in that case I think the child is allready corrupting?

I still choose, C. The Parents
It's 6:00p, do you know where your kinds are? If you don't have time to take care of your children, why did you have any in the first place?

Just my thoughts...

"Truth"

**bull** · 05 Dec 05,, 12:37

Nithing changes becasue eof viedo games.What shown in video games is niothung but a reflection of reality. Violonce,sex,destruvtion and immorality which has become a hallmark of intl soceity.

**Leader** · 05 Dec 05,, 20:30

Let's just make all children wards of the state.

**THL** · 05 Dec 05,, 23:58

Originally Posted by Leader

Let's just make all children wards of the state.

I say people have to get a license before they can breed. One cannot even shoot a deer without letting the state know about it ahead of time, some people should not be allowed to reproduce.

**Parihaka** · 07 Dec 05,, 00:24

violence in video games? Not nearly enough

KAPOW WHAPPO ZAP

**~~giggs88~~** · 07 Dec 05,, 04:01

The whole association of violence in video games with real-life violence from children is so friggin' #@#$$%!~!!!!11

**Swift Sword** · 11 Dec 05,, 16:29

Originally Posted by giggs88

The whole association of violence in video games with real-life violence from children is s' #@#$$%!~!!!!11

I have the bare makings of a hypothesis based on several months of observing 20 fourth graders in a public school setting.

I am inclined to beleive that there may be some link between media consumption and behavoir in children with the caveat that the children have to have some predispostion to the behavoir question.

WWF wrestling was very popular among the ten year old boys and the body slams, headlocks, pins and general braggadocio seen in playground brawls looked remarkably similar to the televised and video game behavoir. The school had no wrestling program so the influence had to come from elsewhere.

In general, media consumption appears to be capable of influencing behavoir.

Why would political, commercial, military and religious concerns spend the exorbinant quantities of time, talent and talents on multimedia if there was no effect on the behavoir of the consumer?

If people can be induced to discriminate between brands of soap and brands of ideology via multimedia, there is no reason to believe they cannot be induced to discriminate between other types of behavoirs.

On a related note, yall might be amused with this while we are on the subject of programming people:

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/12/...ain/index.html

W.

**barrowaj** · 11 Dec 05,, 16:57

Originally Posted by giggs88

The whole association of violence in video games with real-life violence from children is so friggin' #@#$$%!~!!!!11

Actually that's not true. There have been tons of studies done that show that there is a direct link between witnessing fictional violence and reenacting it in life. Its especially important to not have kids from like 2-8 play these games, because it will affect their development of morality.

You could blame the parents, but that's pretty unrealistic. Not every parent is able to be around their children all the time to figure out what they are doing. A lot of people work long hours, and it doesn't necessarilly mean they are bad parents.

**Shek** · 11 Dec 05,, 17:14

Originally Posted by barrowaj

Actually that's not true. There have been tons of studies done that show that there is a direct link between witnessing fictional violence and reenacting it in life. Its especially important to not have kids from like 2-8 play these games, because it will affect their development of morality.

You could blame the parents, but that's pretty unrealistic. Not every parent is able to be around their children all the time to figure out what they are doing. A lot of people work long hours, and it doesn't necessarilly mean they are bad parents.

There are ratings on video games that show what the appropriate audience is. If a parent doesn't know that their 8 year old kid is playing a video game that is meant for teenagers, then they are failing in their duty as a parent.

As far as the studies that show a correlation, I haven't seen them, so I can't comment on them. However, kids will be rambunctious, and it doesn't take WWF to teach a 3 yr old to jump on daddy when he's laying on the ground. Now, if they then start walking around holding up a fictional title belt, then you've got a problem

**barrowaj** · 12 Dec 05,, 22:28

Originally Posted by shek

There are ratings on video games that show what the appropriate audience is. If a parent doesn't know that their 8 year old kid is playing a video game that is meant for teenagers, then they are failing in their duty as a parent.

True. But its not very realistic to just sit there and blame the parents. Some people are just bad parents, but you never know, they might be working 100 hours a week and never really get to spend time with their kids. I just think that stores shouldn't sell the games to kids who don't meet the age requirements. If the parents want to buy the games for their kids, then whatever, they are actively being bad parents.

Originally Posted by shek

As far as the studies that show a correlation, I haven't seen them, so I can't comment on them. However, kids will be rambunctious, and it doesn't take WWF to teach a 3 yr old to jump on daddy when he's laying on the ground. Now, if they then start walking around holding up a fictional title belt, then you've got a problem

True true. I'm trying to refer more to moral development though. If a kid sees that its ok to shoot someone and take their car in a video game, and they can get away with it, they are more likely to translate that into real life later on in life. Kids of a certain age have a lot harder time separating from fantasy and reality, and they also don't understand how there are different degrees of breaking the rules. They can't comprehend how its ok to break the rules in some situations (speeding to get to the hospital) and not in others (speeding to run drugs accross the border).

**Shek** · 13 Dec 05,, 01:19

Originally Posted by barrowaj

True. But its not very realistic to just sit there and blame the parents. Some people are just bad parents, but you never know, they might be working 100 hours a week and never really get to spend time with their kids. I just think that stores shouldn't sell the games to kids who don't meet the age requirements. If the parents want to buy the games for their kids, then whatever, they are actively being bad parents.

It doesn't matter how many hours you are working a week; your kids are your responsibility.

Originally Posted by barrowaj

True true. I'm trying to refer more to moral development though. If a kid sees that its ok to shoot someone and take their car in a video game, and they can get away with it, they are more likely to translate that into real life later on in life. Kids of a certain age have a lot harder time separating from fantasy and reality, and they also don't understand how there are different degrees of breaking the rules. They can't comprehend how its ok to break the rules in some situations (speeding to get to the hospital) and not in others (speeding to run drugs accross the border).

I agree that video games don't present a reality. However, if you own a gun, then you teach your kid how to shoot it and handle it safely so he is responsible around it, and you should teach him about when it's okay for him to use it. That takes care of that. As far as speed to get to the hospital, if he/she can't figure that out at age 16 when they can drive, then you have bigger problems.

**nejatti** · 04 Jan 06,, 13:35

effects of the violence in video games is related with the care of the parents i think...

**Gun Grape** · 06 Jan 06,, 04:28

Originally Posted by barrowaj

True. But its not very realistic to just sit there and blame the parents. Some people are just bad parents, but you never know, they might be working 100 hours a week and never really get to spend time with their kids.

Then they shouldn't have kids. Kids are not like goldfish. Feed the fish every few days and they take care of themselves. Kids require high maintenance. If your not going to commit to the obligations of being a parent, don't have children.

True true. I'm trying to refer more to moral development though. If a kid sees that its ok to shoot someone and take their car in a video game, and they can get away with it, they are more likely to translate that into real life later on in life. Kids of a certain age have a lot harder time separating from fantasy and reality, and they also don't understand how there are different degrees of breaking the rules. They can't comprehend how its ok to break the rules in some situations (speeding to get to the hospital) and not in others (speeding to run drugs accross the border).

You have no faith in the youth of today do you? Rest assured, I grew up watching the 3 Stooges, Road runner, Tom and Jerry and even went to watch Bambi without grief counseling afterwards. Owned a shotgun when I was 10.

At 40 something, I have yet to go on a rampage. Never been arrested and only have 2 speeding tickets.

**bonehead** · 06 Jan 06,, 18:34

Originally Posted by Gun Grape

Rest assured, I grew up watching the 3 Stooges, Road runner, Tom and Jerry and even went to watch Bambi without grief counseling afterwards. Owned a shotgun when I was 10.

At 40 something, I have yet to go on a rampage. Never been arrested and only have 2 speeding tickets.

Aside from the 2 speeding tickets, we lived the same life. I can't tell you what a load off my mind it is knowing I am not going to snap either.

IF video games push kids over the edge, it would only be as "the last straw that broke the camels back." The kid was more than likely going over the edge anyway and just needed an excuse. To me this is just another snap shot of the big picture. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions. This is a trait usually learned from the parents. Video games, music, how other people act, are just excuses. Unless there is a mental problem, the person has the ability to choose to do the right thing.