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Congressman Angry At The Daily Show For Sharing His Views On Video Games

Say That Again

from the in-the-ghetto... dept

Mon, Jul 10th 2006 11:41pm — Mike Masnick
Last month, we noted that politicians from both parties were getting together for some unconstitutional election-year fun, in blaming violent video games for all sorts of youth problems (conveniently ignoring, of course, that youth violence continues to drop as these games get more popular). The Daily Show had a spot on segment pointing out some of the more ridiculous statements from some of the politicians. Now, Dual writes in to point out that one of the Congressman called out by Jon Stewart, Joseph Pitts of Pennsylvania, is angry at the Daily Show and Comedy Central for the way they "portrayed" his words. The problem, though, is that all the Daily Show really does is let the Congressman speak for himself, suggesting that inner city kids are less able to tell the difference between video games and reality, but that "a wealthy kid from the suburbs" would have no problem recognizing it's just a video game. In fact, they let him speak for quite some time, and his words are pretty clear. It's hard to see how his words were portrayed incorrectly. In complaining about it, he then goes on to say that various tragedies, such as Columbine, help prove his point that these video games are a problem. Of course, as has been pointed out repeatedly, the problem here isn't video games, but children with serious problems. It's not the video games that make children do bad things. Most people understand the difference between reality and video games. People who can't separate the two have much bigger problems than what type of video game they're playing. Whether or not Jon Stewart portrayed this Congressman's words out of context, it seems Joseph Pitts has no clue what he's talking about -- but that won't stop him from trying to pass some legislation on the matter.
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94 Comments

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  • identicon
    Tashi, 11 Jul 2006 @ 12:35am

    Everytime I read an article like this I'm reminded of the first time Lion-o fought Mumra (Thundercats for those who don't get the reference. Frankenstein seeing his reflection in the water, same analogy).

    Mumra saw his reflection and was so terrified he fled in fear and hid in his coffin. Whenever something like Columbine happens that is in essence America getting a nice look in the mirror. But instead of dealing with the problem of levels of dysfunction in our culture, we bury our heads in the sand and blame videogames and movies. Damn shame that politicians choose to grandstand on the misery of others and hide their racism in pseudo-intellectualism.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 12:37am

      Re:

      it's Lionel

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 12:46am

        Re: Re:

        Jesus, I can't believe I'm taking the time to reply to this, but yes it is Lion-o.

        from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thundercats - "Lion-O - The Lord of the ThunderCats."

        Lionel makes toy trains.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Jesus, 11 Jul 2006 @ 4:01am

          people

          Thank you for setting the record straight, it's people like them, who think they know everything, and are usually wrong that do things like blame youth violence on video games. ;)

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 5:29am

          Re: Re: Re:

          Play video games.
          Don't commit violent crimes IRL.
          Learn the characters in Thundercats.
          Become a well rounded human.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          M. Craig Weaver, 12 Jul 2006 @ 10:41am

          Of course its Lionel....

          Lionel makes toy trains.

          Of course it does.. and those new fangled train toys are corrupting our youth and causing them to shoot each other. Columbine proves this

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    A pimp, 11 Jul 2006 @ 1:09am

    Life's hard out here

    Its clear to me that niether Mike nor Jon Stewart understand how difficult life is for a politician today. The liability that news programs like The Daily Show place upon publicly elected officials, by neglecting to posetively spin our uninformed rantings is slanderous!
    We are far to busy with the whole running-the-counrty thing to be bothered with such trifles as "facts" and "public opinion". It is my job to impose my personal beliefs on the public, especially with constitutional Law.
    For a supposed comedy program to make light of my "unconstitutional" political maneuvers by incorrectly failing to mis-quote me, can not be tollerated, and will be reinforced at election time- wait and see who lasts longer Daily Show: you or Democracy.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 4:33am

      Re: Life's hard out here

      Shame you and others call the daily show "news".

      Maybe you really are a politician .;)

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Brave Guy, 21 Feb 2007 @ 2:20pm

        Re: Re: Life's hard out here

        Shame you don't call it news. It deals with subjects in a fun way. Stupid. -_-'

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 8:46am

      Re: Life's hard out here

      Your absolutely right! It's too hard for a politician now adays, we should get rid of the news! Without the news they don't have to worry about the unwashed masses passing judgement on their actions!

      Oh... wait...

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Infested Templar, 11 Jul 2006 @ 1:14am

    That congressman is a moron! The situation is more likely to be the opposite of what he portrays. Does he really think that "a poor kid who lives in a neighborhood where people really do shoot cops" wouldn't realise that if you shoot at cops they have a tendancy to shoot back and quiet possibly have a better gun and better aim than you do? And that even if you don't get shot by the first cop then more will come, even to the point of SWAT turning up?

    If you've ever played GTA:SA then you would know that this is exactly what happens in the game as well. Now there is an extreemly small posibility that an extreemly sheltered "wealthy kid from the suburbs" might think that running back inside your house would get you safe from the cops but would "a poor kid who lives in a neighborhood where people really do shoot cops" think that the cops couldn't follow you inside?

    The only kids might possibly believe GTA:SA for real life are those who have serious mental problems to start with or possibly are victims of the overprotective fervour that these polititions seem to be trying to instill in parents.

    Beware the danger of listening to polititons!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      the way, you got it all backwards, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:48am

      Re:

      regardless of the politician's words, the problem is not necessarilly an increase in savage and bararic reampages among children who play violent video games. the problem is that these video games, like GTA, deadens emotions. where my parents, who do not play video games, are horrifyed at the violence witnessed in these games, most children find the games as "normal entertainment." this is a sad fate. Human life is devalued rather than uplifted. the only individual that matters in these games is you the gamer. your character's life is valued over the life of others and, in games like GTA, of the surrounding world. As an example of this, i point you toward the innercity of any large city. violence abounds in these regions. a person who lives in this type of area soon becomes accustomed to the gunshots heard in the distance or to breakins on their block. this is normal life for them. however, if i were to go down and live in this type of region, i would be unaccustomed to such behaviors (this is an understatement). likewise, the constant play of violent video games deadens the impact of violence and evil in your own life. as a result, one must be constantly looking for, in the case of video games, a greater threshold of violence to satisfy your need to be entertained. also, violent video games are often played to relieve stress, tension, or anger. this is not always bad, but playing video games habitually to relieve anger can be damaging to children. in effect they learn that the best way to relieve the pressures of life is through violence. the question then becomes for the habitual gamer mentioned above, what to do when there is no video game to turn to? what happens when your boss angers you, or someone swerves in front of you with their car? so, although the results of these violent video games may not be apparent in rampages, i hold that violent video games can be linked to rash actions in cases when there is no way to vent your anger. violent video games, in a way, condition us to vent our anger on others.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      the way, you got it all backwards, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:52am

      Re:

      regardless of the politician's words, the problem is not necessarilly an increase in savage and bararic reampages among children who play violent video games. the problem is that these video games, like GTA, deadens emotions. where my parents, who do not play video games, are horrifyed at the violence witnessed in these games, most children find the games as "normal entertainment." this is a sad fate. Human life is devalued rather than uplifted. the only individual that matters in these games is you the gamer. your character's life is valued over the life of others and, in games like GTA, of the surrounding world. As an example of this, i point you toward the innercity of any large city. violence abounds in these regions. a person who lives in this type of area soon becomes accustomed to the gunshots heard in the distance or to breakins on their block. this is normal life for them. however, if i were to go down and live in this type of region, i would be unaccustomed to such behaviors (this is an understatement). likewise, the constant play of violent video games deadens the impact of violence and evil in your own life. as a result, one must be constantly looking for, in the case of video games, a greater threshold of violence to satisfy your need to be entertained. also, violent video games are often played to relieve stress, tension, or anger. this is not always bad, but playing video games habitually to relieve anger can be damaging to children. in effect they learn that the best way to relieve the pressures of life is through violence. the question then becomes for the habitual gamer mentioned above, what to do when there is no video game to turn to? what happens when your boss angers you, or someone swerves in front of you with their car? so, although the results of these violent video games may not be apparent in rampages, i hold that violent video games can be linked to rash actions in cases when there is no way to vent your anger. violent video games, in a way, condition us to vent our anger on others.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        the way, you got it all backwards, 11 Jul 2006 @ 12:00pm

        Re: Re:

        by the way, i think you guys made some good remarks on my earlier comment. the idea that video games may lead to violence may not be directly supported by evidence. however, i do want to stress my main point. That is, that violence in general deadens sympathy, empathy, and other certain emotions. in a sense you begin to lose touch with your own emotions. This, of course, is readily apparent in extreme cases such as Vietnam. however, we must all be careful not to let violence harden our lives toward other's pain and suffering. this is not to say stop playing video games, because, personally, i like to play halo. i am trying to say that video games should be played in moderation. games with extreme violence against humans aka GTA should be played less than games like madden.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Hmmph, 11 Jul 2006 @ 1:16am

    Anyone ever notice

    ... How on one side youve got a stereotype of geeky kids who wouldnt harm a fly playing videogames, and then all of a sudden when they go on shooting sprees its only the violent kids who shitty parents and no where to turn except video games and real guns ones who play video games? They said the same thing about TV and Movies. The way I see it, Gengis Khan didnt play video games and I think he was a little more violent. Different issues, yes. But still gimme a break, ill play doom all i want and youll never see me shooting some kid who made fun of me because I have decent parents and had a decent upbringing despite these crappy politicians

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 1:20am

    notice how virtually all members of the house of representatives were a)old and b)republican.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Phobozad, 11 Jul 2006 @ 1:53am

      Re:

      Being old and republican has nothing to do with this. Any somewhat reasonable person knows that video games are not the problem. However, nowadays no one takes responsibility for their actions; they just look for someone else to blame.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Peter Lake, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:19am

        Re: Re:

        that was the point, old republicans aren't reasonable.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        M. Craig Weaver, 12 Jul 2006 @ 10:51am

        Re: Re:

        Being old and republican has nothing to do with this. Any somewhat reasonable person knows that video games are not the problem. However, nowadays no one takes responsibility for their actions; they just look for someone else to blame.

        I'm old and Republican, and strangely enough, I know that video games don't cause you to go out and shoot your classmates, any more than comic books, Rock & Roll, long hair, bell-bottoms, or whatever.

        Congressmen are presently looking to pass a law about something so they have something to brag about in their next election campaign. They don't want to handle real issues like illegal immigration until after the campaign because they might lose votes from one demographic or another if they take any effective action.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          M. Craig Weaver, 12 Jul 2006 @ 10:53am

          Re: Re: Re:

          Oh yeah, I forgot to mention (being old affects your memory). I play Halo (for the PC) online. --- When I get home from work each day, I need to shoot shit, and I figure doing in in a game online is probably best.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Wiley, 11 Jul 2006 @ 3:31am

      Re:

      I don't see any correlation between political party affiliation (They are all idiots, Dems and Repubs alike), but I do see a very valid point that age probably has something to do with it. He was probably born a poor white trash kid that never had the luxury of having access to a video system and therefore has no imagination. Most people that age are only looking for the security of making sure that they have enough blood money in their coffers so that they can retire in style. Most congressional leaders are the same. They know what is best and they need to take care of us poor lambs due to our nature. Damn Wolves!

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Bobacaluda, 11 Jul 2006 @ 8:58am

        Re: Re:

        Wiley,
        How does not being spoonfed entertainment equate to having "no imagination". The definition of imagination is "magination is, in general, the power or process of producing mental images and ideas. The term is technically used in psychology for the process of reviving in the mind percepts of objects formerly given in sense perception. Since this use of the term conflicts with that of ordinary language, some psychologists have preferred to describe this process as "imaging" or "imagery" or to speak of it as "reproductive" as opposed to "productive" or "constructive" imagination" - . That's very different than being fed images, scenarios, thoughts through some external medium. Other than that, I completely agree with your post.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        M. Craig Weaver, 12 Jul 2006 @ 10:57am

        Re: Re:

        He was probably born a poor white trash kid that never had the luxury of having access to a video system and therefore has no imagination.

        Actually, he grew up before video games were invented. Many people of his generation have trouble operating an ATM, much less working a game controller.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Joe, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:02am

      Re:

      Typically the politicians who speak out about video games the most are democrats. I.E. Lieberman, Clinton.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    DailyShow Viewer, 11 Jul 2006 @ 1:56am

    even better...

    did anyone else actually see this clip on the daily show? ... it had statements from about 5 or 6 congressmen who admitted that they play video games.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      chris (profile), 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:20am

      Re: even better...

      "did anyone else actually see this clip on the daily show? ... it had statements from about 5 or 6 congressmen who admitted that they play video games."

      yeah, one of them said he loved pong. i'll bet they like to "rock out" to the occasional patsy cline album.

      those old rich white guys are totally in touch with todays inner city youth.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    The Mighty Buzzard, 11 Jul 2006 @ 2:39am

    Pundits all around

    Thanks a million there, Mike. You took a perfectly good chance to rip a congressman for being an idiot by simply reporting the facts and pundited it up really nicely. And here I was just thinking how I hate news reports that don't have the journalist's political views layered on with a trowel.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Graham Stewards, 11 Jul 2006 @ 2:39am

    I think putting blame of carelessness on other things is not right. We all need to know our responsibilities before we blame somebody else. If you check out the video clipping it will help you in knowing that about 5 or 6 congressmen who admitted that they play video games.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    I Can't Believe It..., 11 Jul 2006 @ 2:43am

    Congressman Angry At The Daily Show For Sharing Hi

    It never ceases to amaze me how highly educated, elected representatives and supposedly wise people come to such ridiculous conclusions. This is the greatest country in the world and all we can do is put this kind of moron into the Congress??? I don't consider his words racially motivated, I consider them economically motivated...many of these individuals are so isolated due to their economic standing that they have abslutely no concept of what life is like outside their cul-de-sac or the capitol building...crazy kids do crazy things and the esteemed gentleman from Pennsylvania needs to check and see what types of behavior are going on in Harrisburg, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre up close and personal before he goes out on a limb and makes another inane statement lik the one touted above. Kids are struggling everywhere and at every economic level. Lets try and look at the root causes of such behavior vice indulging in hyperbole and pandering.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Rushonbye, 11 Jul 2006 @ 4:02am

    They used to say the same things about Dungeons and Dragons in the 80s before we had video games.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 4:42am

    Just an FYI.

    People kill people. Regardless of the reasons.

    We all have the ability to kill, most of us have even had the desire from time to time (I know I have).

    Most haven't.

    Why?

    Who really knows, but I do know this, a game / movie or other outside influence shouldn't be held against the rest of us because someone with a screw loose goes on a rampage and kills a bunch of people.

    People need to stop making excuses for bad behaviour and deal with the bad behaviour.

    End of story.

    Also, the integrity of all politicians are in question in my book.

    Imagine, spending your adult life trying to win a perpetual popularity contest...that shit was supposed to end in grade/high school from what I remember.

    No wonder nothing gets resolved, everyone in office is too interested in pleasing everyone that they never do anything of substance.

    As food for thought, go back the last 30 years and check out the US presidential election platforms.

    NOTHING has changed, so why does everyone blink when a politician talks himself into a stupid position?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 4:53am

    I miss the thudercats. cheetara was hot!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    *sigh*, 11 Jul 2006 @ 5:33am

    I think they just grab the nearest thing in a Kid's room and say "OH...THIS must be the cause of his hostilities!"

    I'm guessing if those kids didn't have some type of gaming system in their house, some type of even game, and had tons of "good wholesome" movies in their house...it would turn into...
    "well maybe he was just picked on and bullied around in school!"
    Yeah...sure...whatever...
    How about Politicians dealing with real things instead of just finding the newest thing and riding the political wave of popularity.
    ------------
    And I also don't see how someone could deny the fact of being recorded that they are biased from inner city kids who work hard to help their families and themselves to stay alive...as opposed to little kids that are spoiled brats that don't know what it means to appreciate what they have.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Small Town America Thinker, 11 Jul 2006 @ 5:35am

    It doesn't matter what political side you are on they all feel the same. Shoot the Gore's started this whole voilent music and games are the cause of this, Mrs. Gore going after 2 Live Crew??

    People neglect to look at how violent games and sexual games are in other parts of the world and they don't have the same problem? Why because their justice system isn't a joke and they don't have to come up with some lame excuse for bad behavior.

    It isn't about democrats/republicans it is about rich/poor. You have some rich congressmen you wants to feel like he is doing something for the poor so he can sleep well at night.

    If anything, all this started going down hill when they took religion out of schools, you have to teach kids morals.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Duke U, AAMC, 11 Jul 2006 @ 5:41am

    Problem is not videogames, but untreated childhood traumas. Columbine, etc. show the consequences of actions of children with disturbed childhoods characterized by physical or sexual abuse. Left untreated, these traumas manifest themselves in all sorts of unhealthy behaviors: addiction, sexual compulsion, and extreme violence toward others. Perhaps our politicians should look at the crux of the issue to solve many of society's problems: unhealthy family systems that mete out abuse to children, which left untreated leads to violence, more abuse against others, addiction, etc.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Haywood, 11 Jul 2006 @ 5:57am

    When video games are outlawed only outlaws....

    Here is a picture; violent video games are outlawed and abandoned by their owners, open source grabs them up, no longer constrained by fear of law suits or government regulation, all the stops are removed and some truly violent versions emerge.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Sidebuster, 11 Jul 2006 @ 5:58am

    Old republicans my ass

    "notice how virtually all members of the house of representatives were a)old and b)republican."

    Yeah because Hilary Clinton, Joe Liberman, and Jack thompson are all old republicans right?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      KSL, 11 Jul 2006 @ 10:11am

      Re: Old republicans my ass

      Uh, but the three you listed are Senators- not Representatives, no?

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      republican gamer, 13 Jul 2006 @ 9:15am

      Re: Old republicans my ass

      Thank you.

      Seriously guys, this isn't a party issue. there are retards on both sides of the aisle griping about the woes of video games.

      secondly, senators and congressmen are old. That's what makes them soooo angry at new things that they didn't grow up with. video games are a change from the old ways. change is different. different is scary (for old people). scary is bad. therefore, to old people, video games are bad.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jake, 11 Jul 2006 @ 6:07am

    People are idiots

    I think that these politicians need to realize that its not a video game that makes people act violent, its the mode of parenting, i could go on and on, but right now i have to go kill a few elites... SERIOUSLY!!! What kind of idiot can say that causes people to kill others, video games don't create murderers, thugs, or rapists, they get them addicted to video games so we as a society, never have to deal with them, if someone angers you to the point of murder, how are you going to blow off the steam, running riot in town, or shooting characters in a video game? This is ridiculous, and its the reason that i propose that the age limitations for being a representative be lowered so that younger voices can be heard in congress, and they also need a limit on terms

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    JoeyPoey, 11 Jul 2006 @ 6:14am

    Damn Hollywood

    Hollywood is slipping up!

    i remember when MOVIES were the biggest source of sex and violence.

    Now it's all "disney amusement park ride movies" and CGI.

    Damn. What ever happened to the good ol' days? American werewolf in London, the Thing, and Bloody Valentine?

    Nowadays, you need at least one Premium channel package and to stay up past 11 on a Saturday to see some lame soft porn on Showtime.

    --or a high speed internet connection.

    THAT'S IT! the INTERNET is to blame!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    rebel, 11 Jul 2006 @ 6:22am

    the Nanny State

    I believe that all members of "the system" (everyone from the Federal politicians down to your local educators) need an easy answer for difficult questions. "Why does little Bobby/Susie act like that? Why aren't they like the other kids?", they say. These people then try to pigeonhole the difficult children into some sort of niche. Little Susie is a tad to antsy in the classroom, well she must have ADHD. Little Bobbie is in first grade and has a hard time reading. He must be "learning impaired" and requires "special" classes for the rest of school career.

    These kids are then labled and slotted into a particular niche. The kids don't understand and do what they are told. The parents don't understand/care and do what they are told. Bobby/Susie is "special" and requires special needs. They are told this enough times that after a while this is all they know and can't or won't break the cycle.

    After that little rant, my point is this: politicians want/need to be able to place people in a niche. Once there, they (politicians) can either 1) legislate for/against the symptom or 2) throw money at it. Either way, to the electorate, it APPEARS that they are doing something, when they really aren't doing anything. They aren't looking for the root causes of the issue(s). That's too hard and takes too long to get results.

    Another tangent of this is that the gov't believes it knows what's best, for everyone. I am not naive enough to think that I or any one person has all the answers, but what scares me the most is that these people get into positions of power/influence and it's difficult to get them back out.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    NSMike, 11 Jul 2006 @ 6:34am

    Umm.....

    Weren't, uh... The uh, Columbine shooters... Relatively wealthy kids... From uh... The Suburbs?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jason, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:05am

    Re:

    Comment 12 says: "It never ceases to amaze me how highly educated, elected representatives and supposedly wise people come to such ridiculous conclusions"

    The problem is not that they are highly educated..., it is that we, as voters, don't look at who we are voting for. The recognize a name from a sign we saw on the street, and select them. Unfortunately, we don't take the time to see who these people are and what they stand for, we just go by name recognition. Why do you think Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn want "Kinky" and "Grandma" on the ballot. It's so people will remember they saw the word "Grandma" somewhere and vote for them.

    So basically, we are the idiots that elect the idiots that make these statements.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Tyson, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:13am

    When I get in trouble.....

    If I every get in trouble with the law; I am going to blame TV and violence in video games and then sue Google and mySpace. They had to have had something to do with me going so wrong.....

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    tootsy waltheringo, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:18am

    forgetting

    now i love first person shooters the same as the next person...they're as fun as an RPG in the head. But could the 29 posts so far be missing the same truth the politicians are missing? ---we dont reap OR sow....we reap AND sow. in all of the things we choose to do. Violent video games are not at one end of a linear continuum with voilent acts at the other with us sliding toward one at the exclusion of the other. But Voilence is in the 'permissive' memory of people...meaning that people think that if some idea gets in their head, and they can't just act it out, they can in a video game and its okay. The problem is that humans cannot 'unsee' a picture or 'unexperience' an act. the thoughts or acts we possess (whether virtual or real) WILL and DO leak their influence out in our minds. Some people say video games are like an outlet or pressure release for those kinds of feelings kids have. i say they're more like an interactive mirror. your mind does not 'expand' in a vacume. the content in there influences us - and we cannot be above that fact. we would be wise to enjoy the game...but teach the kids that there are consequences to the kinds of things we expose ourselves to.

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  • identicon
    Jswanny, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:18am

    Inner city kids?

    Columbine Is a wealthy SUB-urban school not a inner city school. In inner city schools the security is better and to tell you the truth kids don't really get those kinds of motivations nearly as much. They are usually trying to avoid the gangbangers who are shooting at eachother (not innocent civilians) after school in the back alleys.

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  • identicon
    Infested Templar, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:25am

    I'm Frustrated

    I'm Frustrated thatno-one seems to realise that GTA:SA is mocking American culture in general, specifically the easy availibility of guns. One of the most obvious of these is the "Amu-Nation" branch of gun stores, who are shown as activily encoraging anyone and everyone to buy a gun. More obvious than even that is a conversation that happens when character gives another a silenced pistol.

    CJ: Where'd you get that?!
    Cesar: Same place I buy my pants holms. This is America.

    Also a big part of the game is about a uinderground war on some of the harshest illegal drugs, with the main character on ocasions refusing an offered bong.

    I have heard statistics that in the US there is 1 gun for every man, woman and child which is helped along by almost anyone being able to get a licence for a gun. Here in Australia after one masacure about 10 years ago (I believe the man was about 22 - definately not a teenager) there was a huge cutdown on guns and a tightening of restrictions. Now you basically have to be a gun club member (clubs are struggling to maintain membership levels) or a farmer to own a gun. Even then a gun, by law, is required to be stored unloaded in a loched cabnit with any amunition stored in a seperate also locked cabnit. The only people that I know of that own a gun are farmers and I don't have a clue as to where it is kept.

    For some strange reason, since this incident we don't seem to had any masacures, I wonder why that is? I know we mustn't play as many computer games! The 24 hour computer gaming night that I go to every 2 months must be the odd one out, they must never have things like that in the cities, only the one in our small country town!

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  • identicon
    Daniel Carello, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:25am

    The World

    You know....freedom of speech, and freedom of the press should not goto the wayside because a government official left his speech writer at home. Our judicial system isnt what our forfathers wanted the constitution might has well have never been written...find me an honest police officer and i will buy u a doughnut. TO THE POINT...IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT JON STEWART HAS TO SAY DO AN INTERVIEW WHILE ON THE COLBERT REPORT.

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  • icon
    Gabriel Tane (profile), 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:32am

    Voting...

    "The problem is not that they are highly educated..., it is that we, as voters, don't look at who we are voting for."
    "So basically, we are the idiots that elect the idiots that make these statements."
    -Jason

    And if voting actually made a difference, I'd agree with you.

    Voting is useless for two reasons:
    1)How many politicians came around saying exactly what we wanted to hear, promising everything we wanted to have... only to see them not follow through?

    "But they won't get re-elected if they do that". And? They're still doing that for the term that they're in office. Anyone else think it wouldn't be unreasonable to see the Parties asking for "suicide players" to step up in support of the agenda and take a career dive if the party promised to support them after? Yeah, it's a little tinfoil-hat-ish, but meh... I can see it happening.

    2) The electoral college does not have to cast their vote in accordance to the majority of their state. So every single person in the state could vote for Joe Bob and the EC could cast that state's vote for the other guy. And guess what. There's no legislation that prohibits that from happening.

    I'm not saying don't vote. If we don't vote, they will by default. All I'm saying is let's go into this thing with our eyes open. Remember that playing by their rules gets nothing done. So, let's change the rules.

    Who else sees a major revolution within the next couple of decades?

    ... oh and as for the Cheetara comments... ::shudder:: furrys. ;)

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    • identicon
      Eileen, 11 Jul 2006 @ 8:04am

      Re: Voting...

      "Who else sees a major revolution within the next couple of decades? "

      Oh, sooner than that, perhaps? How long until we run out of oil? How long until this culture war we're sitting on really gets out of control?

      I hope to be lucky enough to live through a revolution in this country, if it really happens. But my only worry is what will be left afterwards - not all revolutions are progressive.

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  • identicon
    Opus Rex, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:41am

    Really old guy says "I remember when"...

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    • identicon
      Opus Rex, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:50am

      Re: Really old guy says "I remember when"...

      ...it was comic books that were the cause of teen violence.

      The real cause of teen violence is
      1) Lack of parenting.
      2) Hormones.

      Comics, D&D, Movies, TV, video games are not the cause of violence. I imagine that back in the day there were politicians that wanted to peg societies ills on Billy Shakespeare . I mean most of his plays are violent. Especially that immoral celebrating Hamlet.
      Regicide, incest, murder are the big ones with tons of little things like taking back to authority figures, drunkeness, ect.

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  • icon
    chris (profile), 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:43am

    voting doesn't matter

    "But they won't get re-elected if they do that"

    the incumbency rate in congress is 98%.

    that means that IF you get elected, you are virtually guaranteed re-election.

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  • identicon
    tootsy waltheringo, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:46am

    no one is listening

    seems most people on this blog just talk. there's no counterpoint or discussion.

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  • identicon
    Jeff, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:51am

    The problem is YOUR congressman IS the problem

    Congress has about 25% approval ratings. Yet, as Chris, said, 98% will get reelected. Why? Because everyone thinks Congress is made up of a bunch of idiots except the one who serves my district. Therein lies the problem. Everyone thinks their own Congressman is good while all the others suck.

    If you want to make change in Congress, don't expect others to vote out their Congressmen. Do your part. Don't vote for an incumbent.

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    • identicon
      Turbo, 11 Jul 2006 @ 8:29am

      Re: The problem is YOUR congressman IS the problem

      I think this is a good point. I have to admit I am a lazy ass video gamer, and do not take the effort to vote. But I think I gaining motivation to do so, because of dumb crap like this. Hell, it has even given me motiviation to submit my first techdirt.com post endorsing Jeff's post. Just my view.

      Cheers,
      Turbo

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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 8:33am

    goes to show

    this just goes to show you how out of touch and retarded most congressmen are..

    they think we actually WANT more laws against video games.. they could care less what we want most of the time, ill tell you what, it isnt more laws for DRM, it isnt more laws against stuff like online gambling/gaming..

    personally i think there should be laws against half the shit congress does

    peices of shit like tom delay, who is actually STILL RUNNING! ofcourse all the laws in the world are worthless if no one actually enforces any of them, there were already laws against Gerrymandering but it didnt stop tom delay.. arent there also laws about conflict of interest issues? i dont know but just about every politician in office right now is a corrupt peice of shit, and the half honest ones are terrriibly out#ed and thus completely impotent

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  • identicon
    David BFD, 11 Jul 2006 @ 8:45am

    Video game = simulation = training for reality

    The Congressman's words were - at best - poorly chosen if not poorly informed. But there is a core truth - kids from underpriviliged families tend to have fewer resources to help shape a healthy mental/emotional state.

    The truth is that violent video games impact our perception - kind of like military simulations teach them how to fight/respond with instinct. It is proven fact that part of the brain emotionally percieves the video game as "real" - on a smaller scale than real killings - but the same emotional cores are touched. Over and over and over and over....often by kids with other problems (social isolation, absent parents) that result in their willingness to sit in front of a game all day. And night.

    It is not the single most important factor in who loses touch and who doesn't - but it is one factor of many. And as games become more real - the impact on our children's minds becomes more real.

    There is a reason the military uses simulations. There is a reason they do it over and over. Eventually it overrides your past training until pulling the trigger becomes automatic (with a strong emphasis on target selection....).

    Well what is a video game if not a simulation?

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  • identicon
    undercoverbro, 11 Jul 2006 @ 8:53am

    Constitutional Right?

    Violent games don't cause all youth violence, but they do cause some. But either way, How is selling violent games to children some constitutional right? Yes parents should monitor their kids, but how are they expected to monitor every purchase their child makes? They can easily sneak a game into the home. We don't let kids purchase porn, or cigarettes in an effort to protect children. Why is this so different?

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  • identicon
    windpunk, 11 Jul 2006 @ 8:56am

    Video Game / Reality

    from my understanding, If i were to play a shooting game i am more liable to shoot someone? So if i play a racing game am i gonna be a nascar driver?

    Am i mistaken or does the congressman say that poor kids cant tell reality from video games and rich kids can?

    Id think the poor city kids would be more likely to have mental problems because of poverty and issues at home than rich kids that barely care.

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  • identicon
    Obvious Man, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:00am

    If y'all are so goddamned vocal now ...

    THEN WHY NOT PETITION FOR THE PROTECTION OF VIDEOGAMES instead of sitting here on your asses talking trash about an idiot congressman who probably won't ever see these comments?

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  • identicon
    Bobacaluda, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:03am

    Re:

    Let me play devil's advocate for a minute...I certainly don't think that these games should be illegal, I do however think that parents shouldn't (as a moral point) allow their children to play them. I'm sorry guys...but let's be honest. Society is more violent now. It just is. Kids are commiting hanious crimes in numbers never before imagined. I'm sure some of you are parents, what are you doing to ensure that your kid isn't the one shooting up the school, or taping himself /herself pumbling someone on myspace, or raping an 11 year old classmate? I'm sure that many of you are parents and if you allow your kids to play these kind of games b/c you like to play them (and you're okay...right), you're just lazy and selfish.

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    • icon
      Mike (profile), 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:38am

      Re: Re:

      I'm sorry guys...but let's be honest. Society is more violent now. It just is. Kids are commiting hanious crimes in numbers never before imagined.

      Except... that's not even remotely true. Youth violence has continued to drop at somewhat drastic rates over the last decade or so.

      It may get more play in the media, but in terms of numbers, you're wrong.

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    • identicon
      kweeket, 11 Jul 2006 @ 10:21am

      Re: Re:

      Society is more violent now. It just is. Actually, the reverse is true. We just have better media coverage now. Although you would never guess it from the news, crime rates have been steadily falling for the last 30 years.

      Want some proof?

      Chart showing violent crimes from 1970 to 2004, courtesy of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

      Property crimes over the same period, again from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

      The FBI website also has vast quantities of .pdf files documenting the same general decrease in crime from the 1970s onward.

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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:04am

    It is rediculous that people still make this arguement. If children are unable to seperate reality from what isn't the blame falls back on the parents. I love playing violent games and have never once thought it would be a good idea (hell never even crossed my mind) to go out and kill someone. What has to be wrong with someone mentally to think that pulling off some sort of violent action the way a video game character did is a good idea?

    Just another scapegoat for what is wrong with kids these days.

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  • identicon
    Morgan, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:04am

    hmm

    I wish that the politicians would stop trying to ban controversial media.And ban the sort of things that really need to be banned.Such as making up pointless laws.Voting on things without all of the facts.Stop butting into other countries affairs.And vote to make political offices much les comfortable.I mean look at the white house and congress.Nice comfortable chairs if I had my way it would be all folding chairs and tables.Then things would get done!

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  • identicon
    undercoverbro, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:04am

    I don't think that anyone has suggested that if kid plays violent games that this is the unavoidable consequence. The opinion they have is based on studies. Just as someone who smokes will not always get lung cancer, but they increase the risk.

    Heres a good paper
    http://culturalpolicy.uchicago.edu/conf2001/papers/funk1.html

    There are always other factors (besides a video game)that would cause a child to commit violent acts.

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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:13am

    I think that there needs to be a change in the way our Congress thinks. Our congress currently goes about things in two ways, public opinion or personal opinion. Not much research and thought going into these decisions. Our Congress needs to take one issue at a time, to bring in experts and witnesses and without consulting lobbying corporations, make an educated decision.
    (and BTW the columbine kids WERE rich kids from the suburbs)

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  • identicon
    undercoverbro, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:24am

    I don't understand the point of"(and BTW the columbine kids WERE rich kids from the suburbs)" Does that mean that since rich kids commited a violent act that the congressman's argument is invalid. We pretty much all agree that smoking causes cancer...so if one smoker doesn't get cancer, does that mean that the "smoking causes cancer" argument is no longer valid and is pointless? No.

    What harm would it cause to not sell violent video games to children, whether you believe it to be a cause or not? If a law is created that forces an adult(hopefully the parent) to purchase a video game for the child then what is the problem? If the parent is forced to make the purchase, then we at least accomplish the parent seeing the purchase before the child gets it. Otherwise you are arguing that we should allow kids to purchase violent games because theres no conclusive evidence that it leads to violent behavior. Of course theres no evidence that it hasn't

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  • identicon
    g, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:28am

    Columbine

    Did anyone bother to read the suicide note the Columbine kids left behind?

    They were pretty clear in it why they were sick of life and wanted revenge.

    Our society looks the other way when children are bullied and taunted into having pretty terrible lives in school, and they couldnt take it anymore.

    Obviously no one impressed upon them how worthless all the things you think are important in High School are later on. They obviously felt they had nothing worth living for.

    Failure of society or just some fucked up kids?

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  • identicon
    Chris, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:32am

    What really leads to viloence and crime

    Poverty and frustration. That and the psychotic, but they're beyond rational help and need to be dealt with seperatly. If you're dirt poor, and know that the only way you're going to be able to succeed in life is either through hard work and determination, or by stealing what you need, then the choice is usualy clear. However, if you live in an impoverished area chances are your schools are in an equaly dismal state. Even if you were to become an A student at these places of education your actual cognative ability to function in the grand scheme of our society is still going to be limited. Im not saying that people who are born into poverty can't ever make a better life for themeslves, im simply pointing out that it's very very hard to do so with the way our society is. Whether you choose to believe it or not there's still a great deal of racisim in the US, and because of it minorities tend to be at a disadvantage when it comes to securing social status.

    Take a kid who's been trying and trying to make things happen for him, but at every turn he gets told his skills are inadequate. His entire life has been nothing but one frustration ordeal after the other. Trying to prove to a society that's so disconnected from reality that his potential is worthwhile to consider. Then to get the cold sholder and his belifes confired by anything in the media. Take this congressmens statement that a poor kid can't make the rational disconnect between ficition and reality simply because he's impoverished, but if you have money then surely you're able to. If a person seriously thinks that mashing a button to enable a script to make the pixles on the screen shift from a guy holding a gun, to a guy killing someone with it is by any means real, then they have a deeper problem than being inspired by a video game to resort to crime or murder.

    To be brought up in an area where you have to fight for everything you can get, be it respect or to hold down a job, and constantly being the brunt of iggnorant misclassifcitaions, evnetualy it will lead a person to the point at which frustration trumps rationaity, and the road of conveinece is chosen.

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  • identicon
    Brad Eleven, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:36am

    MAOA gene influenced by "life"

    Just out today: research into the "violence gene" (MAOA) returns the finding that the gene is trumped by close maternal relationships.

    This doesn't mean that urban kids are better/worse than suburban kids. Even though it seems more likely that suburban children get more time with their mothers, most suburban mothers work b/c single-family income isn't possible hardly at all any more.

    But it does explain why some kids can play GTA:SA for 72 hours at a time with no obvious social skill damage.

    It also explains why some criminals reform, while most are recidivists.

    Then again, just because reported research results explain something well is no reason to blindly accept these results.

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  • identicon
    Uninformed Citizen, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:41am

    Um....

    "notice how virtually all members of the house of representatives were a)old and b)republican."

    Yeah because Hilary Clinton, Joe Liberman, and Jack thompson are all old republicans right?

    Um...aren't they all in the Senate???

    /not saying the first statement isn't mostly true about both parts of Congress...

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  • identicon
    Chris, 11 Jul 2006 @ 9:49am

    As far as video games go...

    I can't ever believe that a video game will lead a person to actualy replicating what they see on the screen in real life unless they have an actual psychological problem with the electrical wiring in their brain. Maybe if a kid's babysitter and primary guardian is his PS2 and GTA then we can see he wasn't rasied properly, and to him imposing his will as he sees fit is the way to go. If you teach someone the difference between right and wrong, fiction and reality, then they still go off and commit crime and kill someone odds are they're psychotic.

    Anytime someone brings up the argument video games lead to crime they always say look at the statistics. Well guess what, THERE ARE NOT ANY IN THIS REGARD. People revert to previous comments made by congressmen, and the same stupid illegitimate claims. Video games present the player with a problem that they must use their intellect to resolve. So if you need to get from one side of town to other in 10 minutes, but your only options are to run, or steal a car from a guy who's life span is only 15 seconds while he goes from being rendered on your screen, to being wiped form your memory to render the new scenery then where's the consequence of your action? There is none, because it is fictional, and isn't REAL. What congressmen and like minded people want to argue is that it is real, because people can't make the disconnect between the two (fiction and reality).

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  • identicon
    Chris, 11 Jul 2006 @ 10:04am

    To the person who posted comment #67

    You have something very wrong in your brain. Games are games, reality is reality.

    "playing video games habitually to relieve anger can be damaging to children. in effect they learn that the best way to relieve the pressures of life is through violence."

    First congratulations on making a claim, then providing no support for it. This makes it so much easier for me to prove how wrong you are. Habitualy playing video games doesnt lead to violence. Not knowing how to properly vent your frustration does. If you get pissed off at someone and the only way you can immediately dissepate your anger is go to kill something in a video game, but no other course of action (such as removing ones self from the situtaion that is causing said frustration?) will have the same result, then you're pschologicaly impaired. To say gaming leads to violence is to say that the only influence in a persons life is a video game, and they have no concept of reality. Their entire psychy is built around the dissillusions of pre-renderd environments that reflect the most basic isntinct of man to crush the weak and establish dominance.

    "i hold that violent video games can be linked to rash actions in cases when there is no way to vent your anger."

    Once again you're wrong, but you were almost right. What you should have said is "When there is no way to vent your anger, it can lead to rash actions." This is true, the whole inclusion of the link of video games is your biased, misinformed, deluded opinion of what is reality.

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  • identicon
    the way., 11 Jul 2006 @ 10:11am

    I'm not caring

    I'd rather vote on American Idol.

    If I pick the republican.... dang it.
    If I pick the democrat..... dang it.

    Yup, let's watch some american idol.

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  • identicon
    Rikyuso, 11 Jul 2006 @ 10:17am

    Hello! The gov't makes its OWN violent video games

    First, I'd like to say that G.I. Joe on his own creates a lot of hostile feelings in the minds of young boys trying to explode a sister's Barbie doll.

    But anyway about America's Army? According to Military.com, "Unable to get the necessary recruits for the military the old-fashioned way, the U.S. Army has sunk $16 million into a government-sponsored video game that blurs the line between fantasy and the reality of war." In the article, Major Chris Chambers says, "It's not real; it's simulated. But we're simulating reality."

    Hypocrisy much?

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  • identicon
    Gaming Republican, 11 Jul 2006 @ 10:54am

    Violence to the masses....

    I make video games by trade, love to play 'em too. Over the last decade we have seen wars, wars, wars, all started by the same people that are saying that video games create violence. Over the last decade the crime rate for whole groups of people have DROPPED, What!?! Wait, so where are all of these politicians getting there data for video games creating violence, and why are they complaining about the games when they are using them to bring up the next age of soldiers. Ok maybe that is taking it a bit far but many of the armed wings of our government are using VIOLENT games in training and in recruiting. Yes, recruiting. Americas Army is a video game that the army had developed for the purpose of advertising the US Army (recruiting in a round about way). I am a Republican, and though I think that Saddams government should have been overthrown I think that goverment should have been straight foward with us about that. There are alot of other examples that any of us can come up with about why the government does what it does but it won't do anything about it. The only two facts that remain are these: 1. youth and teen violence has decreased drastically over the past decade, and 2. The only thing lawsuits against the gaming industry have achieved is the rating classification of games. I cannot find any lawsuits against gaming companies that have actually succeeded. There is no way that laws and legislations are going to stop one of the largest growing industries in the world. 'Nough said.

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  • icon
    Gabriel Tane (profile), 11 Jul 2006 @ 11:32am

    Where to begin...

    "Violent games don't cause all youth violence, but they do cause some. But either way, How is selling violent games to children some constitutional right? Yes parents should monitor their kids, but how are they expected to monitor every purchase their child makes? They can easily sneak a game into the home. We don't let kids purchase porn, or cigarettes in an effort to protect children. Why is this so different?"
    -undercoverbro

    You're right... selling violent video games isn't a protected right. Creating them is.

    But you're missing the point. It's not a question of "where did the child get the game" or "how did he sneak it in"... it's "why didn't the child know already that the game wasn't to be played". That's called parenting. Teach the kids what games are acceptable for their age and level of development. Teach them why the violent games are different than reality, instead of just assuming that they do or do not already know this.

    "If a law is created that forces an adult(hopefully the parent) to purchase a video game for the child then what is the problem? If the parent is forced to make the purchase, then we at least accomplish the parent seeing the purchase before the child gets it."
    -undercoverbro

    There are regulations for this. It's what the game rating system is supposed to do. I know, I know... it doens't work too well. But should't that show us that placing regulations on the distrubtion of games isn't the solution? Shouldn't we look at other options? I don't think that even more useless laws are going to help when the first one didn't.

    " likewise, the constant play of violent video games deadens the impact of violence and evil in your own life. as a result, one must be constantly looking for, in the case of video games, a greater threshold of violence to satisfy your need to be entertained."
    -by the way, you got it all backwards

    This is assuming that the only thing one gets out of violent games is the violence. You know what I enjoyed most about GTA games? Vehicle stunts. The beating-up of random people got real old real fast. There's a lot less thrill in doing that than these politicians seem to think. They have this image of a kid somewhere euphorically pressing a button over and over again like it's the morphene dose button at a hospital. While yes, statistcally, there's got to be a kid somewhere that enjoys that, it's going to be in vast, vast minority.

    " also, violent video games are often played to relieve stress, tension, or anger. this is not always bad, but playing video games habitually to relieve anger can be damaging to children. in effect they learn that the best way to relieve the pressures of life is through violence. the question then becomes for the habitual gamer mentioned above, what to do when there is no video game to turn to? what happens when your boss angers you, or someone swerves in front of you with their car? so, although the results of these violent video games may not be apparent in rampages, i hold that violent video games can be linked to rash actions in cases when there is no way to vent your anger. violent video games, in a way, condition us to vent our anger on others."
    -by the way, you got it all backwards

    Playing video games to "releive stress" is not just what you think it is. I play them to relieve stress... but it's not through blind violence. It's as an escape. When I play my VG's it's to destract myself from those thing causing me stress. Gives me time to regroup and tackle them later.

    Over all, "got it backwards", you've been making a lot of assumptions and not backing them up. Sorry to say that your argument is weak, at best.

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  • identicon
    Raekwon, 11 Jul 2006 @ 12:16pm

    I'd Rant...

    But who'd Listen?

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  • identicon
    teh expert, 11 Jul 2006 @ 1:22pm

    parents

    its not videogames.

    (i do find it funny thought that hollywood used the politicians to try to snuff videogames in order to try to keep box ticket sales up)

    and no its not hollywood

    its simply poor parents and facked up kids.

    you can not censor media.

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  • identicon
    deyey, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:00pm

    Video games stuff

    That congressman doesn't know what the hell he's talking about... it might be that he doesn't know the new meaning of fun...

    Gaming is big business... it can also be an effective tool to share ideas and thoughts...

    ...where's Sam Fisher when you have problems with these kind of "leaders"?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    dennis parrott, 12 Jul 2006 @ 9:00am

    ...and before video games & movies it was...

    this "blame it on the latest thing" way of ignoring our problems is not a new sport. i might argue it is our national sport instead of baseball because we've engaged in it for so long...

    before we blamed video games & movies for all manner of ills afflicting teens, before we blamed Marilyn Manson for Columbine, etc. ... we blamed it on "violent" cartoons (like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck & The Roadrunner? can you see a good cartoon on TV these days? NO) and stuff like the 3 Stooges.

    before that we blamed Black Sabbath and various other metal bands (like Twisted Sister?? get real.).

    before that we blamed comic books and pulp novels.

    ...and the list goes on...

    i point this out to help those that would yawp things like "back in my time it was different" and "oh the good old days". BULL. there were no "good old days" -- they are a myth.

    the root cause of all of this CRAP is that people really do not want to accept the responsibility of having screwed things up. the parents of the Columbine kids didn't fail to do their job, it was Marilyn Manson and video games and a "culture that glorifies violence". that kid in NY who ballooned to 300+ pounds eating fast food 3 meals a day was the victim of the fast food industry, of course it couldn't be the weak-willed parent who fed him the crap instead of feeding him something more wholesome (and maybe less of it), oh no can't be that...

    frankly, part of the reason MySpace is popular (and for the record, I have a MySpace & I'm almost 50) is that society in general has become way more mobile, kids have friends at school on Tuesday and those friends are moved to another city on Thursday, kids no longer are able to just hang out after school as they run from soccer to Sylvan to dance to home... at least on sites like MySpace they can stay in touch, swap gossip, share silly photos of their toes, stuff that kids will do with friends.

    the fact that a few kids have had bad experiences where the bad thing was somehow related to an online social networking site (either being accosted by predators or in a Michigan case, running off to the Gaza Strip to be with some guy) is no different than being accosted by a flasher in the parking lot at the mall or the movies. there are kids who because of their behavior and reactions to what goes on around them will become prey or predators. that is just the way it is. it has happened that way since well before video games, computers and mobile phones were even dreamt of. it will happen long after the Internet fades into the dustbin of history.

    MySpace is like a gun. if you point a gun at your foot and pull the trigger, you may blow your foot clean off. same with social networking tools and the Internet, you can do good things like keep up on your favorite band, share your goofy pictures, send silly bulletins to your friend list or you can put up alluring cheesecake photos and make plans to see that guy who "really understands me" in meatspace. when you point the tool at your foot and pull the trigger, there are consequences and all the sanctimonious pontification and bad laws written by all of the legislatures in this land can't change it.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    undercoverbro, 12 Jul 2006 @ 10:44am

    Since when did parents become so powerful that they can shape all the the thoughts and behavior and actions of their children? Are we all products of our paren't parenting? Did we all just do as they say? So while parents need to step up and bare the majority of the responsibility of their childs actions...lets not be stupid and try to believe that things like music,tv, video games have zero impact on a child's development.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Obvious Man, 12 Jul 2006 @ 4:20pm

    I repeat: Comment#55 on this board.

    If you don't want it illegal, petition. Otherwise you can sit on your butts, watching and wondering whether or not this fool gets enough momentum in congress. Remember, it's a representative republic, not a democracy, so there may often be times that a fool (or a foolish corporation) gets what s/he/they wany over what the majority wants.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    G, 13 Jul 2006 @ 2:18am

    A better video game...

    One in which you only get points for shooting politicians.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Obvious Man, 15 Jul 2006 @ 11:04pm

    I'd pay good money for the game described in comment #88. Good money.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    m. rusher, 21 Jul 2006 @ 6:48pm

    spin? nooooooo

    the daily show? spin off of the truth? say it aint so! i think it runs deeper than a meer "comedy." its obvious that the writers use johnny the tool to take dirty cheap shots at people. i see hate on that show not comedy. i dont care how crazy a guest is, what they do is wrong, especially on the political side, which they have no business getting serious about. just my view, hit me back.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    lokey, 13 Dec 2006 @ 7:17am

    video games do not caous violance

    i think that kides are getting so violant because the parents are not appart of there lives like they should be

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Brandon Lee, 4 Jun 2010 @ 1:00pm

    Video Games - An excuse for the "lack of" parenting skills?

    All it comes down to is that they are games! They are a form of entertainment and that is all. One should never bring politics into the gaming world because there are several people that will take it to extremes as with anything. They are just video games, made to enjoy and entertain... anyone that reads it beyond that are just plain idiots! Pure and simple!

    The problem isn't with the video games... it's the parents and lack of discipline.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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