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I saw this news item about how Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to ban the sale of violent video games to children. I guess he wants a nation of sissies so he can feel that much bigger than everyone else.
This seems so hypocritical considering that Arnold’s whole movie career was built on violence; he was one of the nation’s leading violence innovators. So much of whats in video games today is at least inspired in part by what Arnold did on the big screen. Well, Arnold, you can’t just enthrall us with your violence and then not let us partake in violence ourselves. You don’t get a violence monopoly.
Also, one shouldn’t underestimate the knowledge kids get from violence in video games. If something is in your way: shoot it. If that doesn’t work, shoot it with something larger; that’s basic problem solving all kids need to learn. Are you fighting lots of enemies and only have a pistol? Then lead them towards a barrel and shoot the barrel to kill them with an explosion (never in the history of video games has a barrel been filled with something that wasn’t explosive). Have you ever tried decapitating someone in Mortal Kombat? The controller and button sequence isn’t simple; you need good memorization skills for that.
How exactly do people think exposure to violence hurts kids anyway? Is it supposed to make them more violent? If so, who cares? They’re small.
I never had video games in the strictest sense, but I was raised on Doom and Quake. And Doom II. And Quake II. And now that my computer is too advanced for those and yet not quite advanced enough for Doom III (video card thing, I think), I’m feeling more violent than ever.
Video games=good anger management. If you’re going to shoot something, let it be either paper or pixels… or hippies.
I have bad news for you Frank. Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 – Barrels do not explode. It thwarted me several times. (nothing a grenade launcher won’t fix, though)
There’s kids in far off countries that blow themselves up for no good reason.
Why can’t kids in the US play games in where things blow up?
THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
ever see the movie “mars attacks”? proof positive that letting kids play video games could one day save the president’s life…
Arnold things he can do anythink…
Frank, I agree with you 99% of the time, but what’s wrong with stopping sales of inappropriate material to minors? Do you think that carding for R-rated movies is wrong?
I figure if a parent wants their kid to beat hookers in the next GTA, they can buy it for them — I’ll loathe them with every fiber of my being, but unfortunately I can’t will them to get a brain tumor, apparently. The idea behind these laws is just to keep kids from sneaking something they’re not allowed to get behind their parents’ backs.
[What would you rather kids do with hookers? -Ed.]
Arnold use to be cool but then he married a Kennedy and she grabbed him by the sack and squeezed and he hasn’t done anything manly since! Just think in all those tough guy movies all the bad guy had to do was grab him by the balls like Maria and he would have whimpered like a school girl and run away to his mommy!
If he wants to curtail exposure to gratuitous violence, maybe he should think about going after the Rap “music” industry. If you want misogyny, gun violence, drug abuse & racism, Rap’s got it all. Not all rap exhibits those characteristics all the time, but I’ve yet to experience any that didn’t & still be considered decent form.
James,
Laws preventing the sale of mature games to minors are good on paper, but in practice they don’t work so well. It’s exceedingly easy for a kid to get around those laws. For instance, they could just ask an older kid to buy the games for them.
And why do we need a LAW to enforce this? Most video game retailers do this anyway, though individual store policies may vary.
Here’s a question: If you’re worried about your kids walking into a video game store and buying a violent video game without your permission, why are you letting them go out unsupervised?
Sorry Frank…I was only kidding…
Lemme tell you sumting…
I like you, Frank. Dat’s why I’m going to keel you last.
C’mon, dis is my weak ahm, – entertain me, Frankie.
…I lied.
I think James meant “get blown by hookers” in GTA. You get health points for that in GTA.