Stephen King Slams Attempt To Ban Violent Videogames
from the where-are-the-parents? dept
After yet another court recently tossed out yet another law that would ban the sale of certain video games to children, it appears that the state of Massachusetts is next up in the lengthy list of states wasting taxpayer money in order to appease some grandstanding politicians who want to "protect the children." However, the video game industry has an interesting ally this time around. Writer Stephen King spoke out harshly against the proposed ban while stating plenty of common sense:"What makes me crazy is when politicians take it upon themselves to play surrogate parents. The results of that are usually disastrous.... What really makes me insane is how eager politicians are to use the pop culture as a whipping boy. It's easy for them, even sort of fun, because the pop-cult always hollers nice and loud. Also, it allows legislators to ignore the elephants in the living room."While perhaps not quite as eloquent as some others, it's nice to see the press picking up on King's feelings, rather than simply parroting the politicians' dubious claims concerning the need for such laws.
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Filed Under: massachusetts, stephen king, video games
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How about..
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Re: How about..
The law is trying to ban violent games from being sold to kids. Most stores already check ID for those purchasing games based on a rating system that is already in place. Some stores don't...now regardless of the fact that some stores don't this law would effectively do nothing positive to the industry, and it wouldn't be any more enforceable then the preexisting industry imposed system.
The law doesn't tell parents to parent their kids, it takes options away from parents on how they can raise their kids. Parent's actually parenting their kids should be common sense but it isn't, that is it's own topic though.
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Re: Re: How about..
You want laws that say a business must check ID/block the sale of xyz for this game, or that movie, or whatever... I would simply argue that a parent should be involved in their kids upbringing so that they KNOW if their child is watching an R-rated movie, watching pornography on their computer or buying a video game of which they do not approve. No you can't be with them 100% of the time but you can instill in them principes in which to subscribe.
Take your hypocrisy back to the stone age.
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Re: Re: How about..
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Re: PARENTS WHO THINK ITS OK TO CENSOR THINGS
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Self preservation
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Re: Self preservation
It's common sense.
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Re: Self preservation
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Re: Self preservation
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Look Behind the Curtain
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Re: Look Behind the Curtain
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Re: Look Behind the Curtain
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Video Games
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Re: Video Games
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Re: Re: Video Games
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Re: Re: Video Games
Correlation means the numbers just happen to rise or fall at the same time.
Causation means one rises and falls because of another.
There may be a correlation between violence and video games (I've seen the opposite of what Kevin is seeing(video games going up, violence going down)) but there is no causation between the two.
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Re: Re: Re: Video Games
Correlation means the numbers just happen to rise or fall at the same time.
Causation means one rises and falls because of another.
There may be a correlation between violence and video games (I've seen the opposite of what Kevin is seeing(video games going up, violence going down)) but there is no causation between the two.
You are absolutely correct. And I don't know who the Kevin was that posted that crap, but I assure you that it isn't me. I'm the Kevin that usually posts interesting and insightful comments.
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Re: Video Games
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Re: Video Games
Freedom of speech should cover artistic expression, which video games are under, the same as movies, or artwork.
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Video Games
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Re: Video Games
Violence is far more *reported* upon that at any time in history. That doesn't mean there's any more of it - in fact reliable stats show a decrease in violent crime over the last couple of decades.
As for the violence itself? School shootings have been recorded since at least the 1960s. Gang violence, especially where drugs are involved, is the biggest problem in many areas and that's not going to go away by restricting a few games.
"a kid that's on the edge psychologically"
That's the problem. If a kid's got a psychological problem, banning games won't help. The Virginia Tech killer didn't play games at all, he wrote stories and fantasised. Does that mean we should ban pen and paper just in case? there are reliable studies that show that copycat school shootings are much more likely to happen at times when media coverage of a previous such crime is at its highest. Does that mean we should ban news?
No. There's absolutely no reliable evidence of a causal relationship between games and real-life violence. The solutions are to understand kids, parent them and take care of the real problems.
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Re: Re: Video Games
> problem, banning games won't help.
No kidding. Back in the 80's a girl murdered her mother by stabbing her and pinning her to the wall with kitchen knives, just like in the movie "Carrie". When the news asked Stephen King whether he felt some measure of responsible for "inspiring such a horrible crime", he responded that he felt no responsibility at all because the girl was obviously mentally disturbed and it was just chance that her psychosis fixated on his book.** He said if his book hadn't existed, she would have just picked some other book or movie or play.
And he was exactly right about that.
**King also pointed out that in the actual book, Carrie killed her mother not with knives but by psychically stopping her mother's heart from beating and that if the news media really wanted to play "gotcha" and lay the blame for this incident at the door of the popular culture, they should do a little research first, then go harass Brian DePalma instead of him with their silly questions.
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Re: Video Games
We already have a group to take care of that situation. They're called child services. If parents refuse to parent their children or they insist on having the government do it for them than those are the people to call.
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Re: Video Games
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Re: Video Games
> commit a crime? NO...but a kid that's on the
> edge psychologically? I don't see how you
> could argue it has no effect.
So once again we're using the lowest common denominator in society to define the rights and freedoms for everyone.
I'm so sick of the government telling me I can't do something because even though I might not be affected by it, someone with a weak mind might not be able to resist.
It's the same argument the government uses to ban gambling--because a very small percentage of the overall gambling population have a problem knowing when to stop and end up betting the family home, they want to ban gambling for everyone.
It's a ridiculous, small-minded, stupid and lazy approach to governance. It also seems to be turning into the status quo.
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Re: Video Games
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Re: Video Games
"But when is someone going to begin to reign in these out of control kids."
Good question. When I was growing up in the 80s (while - shock, horror - playing violent videogames, watching violent movies, etc.), those people were called parents. Where are they now?
Stop scapegoating and actually concentrate on the things that *really* cause problems - poverty, unemployment, lack of education, unstable family lives, violent and sexual abuse - and leave the rest of us to enjoy harmless entertainment. OK?
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Re: Video Games
Thats pretty scary to witness. I'm pretty relaxed, I was watched Beverly Hills cop often with my father starting when I was 4 years old. I saw ghostbusters at 4 years old, both movies are violent in their own right and do have adult content but based on how relaxed my dad was viewing those movies I think i picked some of that up as I view media today.
On the other hand my cousins previously discussed where acting like they were on an endorphin high, a lot of that probably has to do with how their mother acts about them being exposed to that type of content.
That isn't to say that i have any scientific facts here but it's not the media to blame, it's the parenting and the kids who perform violence. Video games are a scapegoat for bad people.
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Re: Re: Video Games
Like with me granted this probably a poor example but watching movies such as 300, 30 days of night, etc... where you see alot of stuff going on like limbs getting cut off, heads being lopped from the body, etc... I am usually going that was friggin sweet you can hear the squishy sound of the ax hitting the neck, or you can see the meat and bones inside that leg as it flies across the screen...
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Re: Re: Re: Video Games
I wasn't shielded from violent books or (most) movies when I was young, and I enjoy playing violent video games even now, but I still squirm a little when something horrifying comes on the news, or even sometimes in a movie if it's graphic enough. There's a difference between reality and fantasy, and it's a shame that some kids just aren't taught that. I think it has much more to do with the raising of the child than purely with the exposure - the solution is not to prevent them from seeing but to discuss what they've seen.
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Re: Video Games
Also I think we should try pushing a law that will ban kids from going to church until they are legal age of 18. If we really want to keep violence out of their lives!!!!
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Re: Re: Video Games #23
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Re: Video Games
How about some support for this correlation you speak of?
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Re: Video Games
You sir are a retard. DO SOME RESEARCH!
According to the Department of Justice for the United States Federal Government, crime rates of youths have been DROPPING and in 2007 were at A 40 YEAR LOW.
The only crimes increasing were adult crimes.
You've been HEARING more about youth crimes because the media is interested in nothing more than their ratings now, and people instantly have to know what the hell is wrong with some messed up kids because most are paranoid it could happen with their kids.
Welcome to the United States of Fear, where the News is Free but more interested in lining their own pockets than telling you shit you need to know.
Oh and don't believe me? The information is LITERALLY less than 5 clicks to find on the DOJ's website!
One of the many reasons I'm not voting Hilary. She, like most other politicians, ignores the facts when its convenient for her motives.
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Re: Re: Video Games
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Re: Video Games
if violent shows are causing violence, then why arent comedies prescribed to mental patients, prisoners, and kids in therapy? last i looked, humor was all over the entertainment industry, but i dont think 'The Office' is preventing murders.
TV and games are a mirror. they dont cause anything, they reflect whats there.
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Re: Video Games
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Re: Video Games
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The words spoken by these "for the children" idiots have probably not changed. Replace the words "video games" with "horror comics" and they're the same speeches being given in the 1950s. I hope more people of King's generation realise this.
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How about.. by James on Apr 9th, 2008 @ 7:16am
..a law telling parents to PARENT THEIR OWN F***ING CHILDREN?!? Gee.. what a concept.
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A -F'kng- MEN
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The argument might be made that more people who commit violent crimes have read Stephen King's violent novels. That is absurd as the logic that tells us violent criminals play violent video games. While it may be true that violent types both read the novels and play the games, is there any research to whether or not the violent tendencies came first or the "little faultless victims" were "innocent and innocuous" until the "evil, dirty thoughts" planted in their heads by games and books? By that logic, if you ban GTA, you must ban the bible (plagues, beheadings, crucifixions, stonings, etc., ad nauseum)
Clearly "save the children from their surroundings" is an issue of grotesque grandstanding in defiance of common sense.
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Re: Banned
> from censorship because his novels might be
> next on the chopping block.
They already are. "Carrie" is on the list of Top 10 Most Banned Books in American high schools-- ironically not for the violence but because of the few sex scenes and the opening tableau where Carrie is harassed and ridiculed by the other girls when she gets her first period in the school shower and doesn't know what's happening to her.
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Re: Video Games
why give more power to the government than needed?
ha! if anything, the government should be FOR violent video games. its like preparing for combat training since they keep shipping more kids over to iraq.
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Correlation != Causation
There is a movement afoot that allows people to believe that correlation equals causation. I could just as easily argue that High-Definition televisions cause increased violence, as their onset parallels an increase in some crime statistic. There is no more a relationship between video games and some idiots in Florida that want to beat a girl and put it on YouTube than there is between broken down vehicles and people living in trailers. Having a broken down vehicle in your front yard didn't put the trailer there, it's a correlated event, not a causal event. Junk science, whether traditional or in human behavior, is bad science.
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or, maybe not. interestingly TEEN violence is down at the same time that teen exposure to violent video games increased. if you are so desperately looking for cause and effect, please increase the access to violent videogames.
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Except, Not
I sure hope you realize that crime is actually on the decline. The majority of people however believe the very opposite thanks to the media. They blow up horrific events and downplay the reality.
The only crime that has been (significantly) going up in the last 20 years has been drugs. But these statistics could be going up because of the large crackdown on drugs in the last decade which leads to more arrests which makes the statistics go up.
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A parent who does stop this sort of nonsense
I think the choices a kid makes with respect to what games they pick is due to their inherent nature (not the other way around) [just an observation of mine]. There are ways to modify that inherent nature, in my son's case I sat down and talked to him why shooting at innocent people in a video game was bad. He understood and no longer seeks out those games at home. I also know that he can go to his friends house and play the shooters that we don't have, but I suspect they just aren't as fun for him.
Note, this isn't a one or two time thing, it's a constant process of reinforcing what is acceptable and what is not and most importantly WHY. Being a kid, he won't always get it right as new situations arise, but he is learning so that when the time comes he can make important decisions on his own in a manner that is not harmful to himself or others.
Being told "No", is one thing, explaining why "NO is the answer" is what might be lacking for some 'parents' out there.
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Re: A parent who does stop this sort of nonsense
You say you don't buy your kid FPS games. that's fine, but how do you get to that decision? Do you go by the rating or just the genre of game? I ask because there's such a thing as an adult, violent, non-FPS just as there are FPS style games that are suitable for kids (though few of them, admittedly).
You also say you've talked with him about the wrong nature of shooting "innocent people" in FPS games. Yet most of them involve fighting opposing armies, zombies and the like - i.e. not innocents. Did you discuss the differences or just assume that all targets in FPS games are "innocents".
I would also ask why you seem to be happy with him playing those games outside of your home (with the assumption that he doesn't like them as much). Are you sure that teaching him that doing something forbidden in your home is OK at a friend's house is a good thing to do? What about later in life when alcohol, drugs, etc. come into the picture - is that a good grounding?
I don't mean to criticise or be snarky with this post. I'm very curious as to how you'd answer these points.
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Re: A parent who does stop this sort of nonsense
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PARENTS, DO YOUR JOB!
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Desensitized to violence
I've been playing violent video games for as long as I can remember. I've also watched horror movies for as long as I can remember. If anything, they actually help negate my aggressive tendencies. Video games and media are just a convenient scapegoat for crappy parents. You always hear about "kids" that say they committed a crime because they were "influenced" by GTA or some other equally violent game, but you never hear about the positive aspects of video games.
You never hear about how video games drastically improve hand-eye coordination and IQ. You never hear how violent video games are a great method of stress relief and that they can actually curb aggressive tendencies. Online first person shooters and other multiplayer games (violent or otherwise) even improve otherwise poor social skills. The parents of the kids that commit crimes and blame video games don't WANT to hear about those things because then where would the blame fall? Right where it belongs, on them. I've also found it funny how those parents talk about how bad GTA is since you can beat up old ladies and hookers and kill cops etc..., but they never mention that when you do so you get a wanted level that can get so high the military comes after you and they shoot to kill.
When I play GTA, Call of Duty, Manhunt, Soul Calibur, or any other bloody/violent video game I don't go out and feel the need to recreate those acts because of one simple fact. THEY TOOK PLACE IN A VIDEO GAME. If you were to do such things in real life you face real life consequences. You die in a game you can start over. You can always hit reset, or load a saved game, or a checkpoint. You screw up in real life and that's it. You don't get 1-ups in the real world.
I've always liked Steven King's works and now I have yet another reason to respect him as a person.
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Re: Desensitized to violence
I just wanted to agree with your comments. Also, thank you for your service in the Army. Vets can never get thanked enough.
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the real problem
When I was growing up in the 80s if I did something bad my dad smacked the crap out of me. Usually, I wouldn't do whatever that was again, because I didn't like getting smacked.
Can we smack our kids today? NO, because spanking your child in a grocery store will have CPS knocking on your door, taking your kids away, and putting you in jail. I still spank my kids in public however, because I'm not going to raise assholes and all the liberal pussies in the world can go straight to hell.
I play Grand Theft Auto, and my 4 year old son loves to play "the car game" as he calls it. When I'm playing it with him he just likes to drive the cars, and sometimes he runs people over. He thinks it's funny, but every time he does it he says "it's ok on the puter cause it's not real right Daddy? In real life we don't hurt people." And that's fine with me because he knows the difference between real and make believe.
I grew up reading my mother's complete collection of Stephen King books and I turned out just fine.
I say, let the kids have the games, but teach them the difference between real and make believe, right and wrong, and when they do something wrong punish them.
Swat their butt and make them sit in a corner. Take away their TV or skate board or something they love so they suffer a little, etc, etc. It's not abuse, it's parenting, you bunch of liberal hippies!!!!
And while we're on the subject of parenting, how about all you hippies out there start teaching your kids some manners, hold doors for strangers, say excuse me, and help little old ladies across the street.
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Umm... Kids beat each pther up before YouTube.
What kills me is that the same people who want to save the children by taking away adult entertainment are the same people who are horrified by corporal punishment, lectures, or any kind of negative consequence to a child's actions. Um, I'd say that's a large part of why kids have gone down the toilet. And I have three very well-behaved children so I must be doing something right.
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Re: Umm... Kids beat each pther up before YouTube.
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Some stats...
I think the videogames are working!!! Give the kids more of them.
This is per http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
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Hmm
If Stephen King grew up reading the "bad" horror comics and become a famous horror writer, what will happen to our kids who play violent videos games?
That's right, they'll become famous software developers making their own video games... and some of whom will make six-figure incomes.
Please, stop these games! For the sake of our children! We don't want these impressionable kids to learn they can make $125,000 a year making video games! That's more money than their parents make! That might be more money than the politicians make (well, not counting any lobbyist "favors").
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Re: Self preservation & Borders
@ R.H. - I worked at a Borders stores for years. If it's supposed to be 'adult' we're supposed to card. Like the Kama Sutra books and the skin mags and (believe it or not) the yearly Swimsuit Calendar because that thing is just full of nipple. (Rofl.) A joke book seems to go far, but the bookseller probably just saw 'adult' and the ID reflex kicked in.
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ummm, don't buy that BS - look deep into it... when the numbers start to 'go down' - it's because the government changed the way they were counting - and that's 100% true.
But... I still don't think video games have a dang thing to do with it.
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RE:Murder rate in the US peaked in 1980. Rape peaked in 1992. Assault peaked in 1993. It's been going down ever since.
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its not fair
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wow do you think that
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A Rational Look at Stephen's Words
I think it is logical for somebody to express concern of the content of video games. I think it is only natural for those in positions of authority to assume that the younger citizens which fall in beneath their republic would be so vulnerable to the violence in interactive entertainment. Video games, such as Call of Duty, Gears of War, and other games as such, obviously do not support laws and other principles in society. However, we have all seen the results of neglecting to face the truth. For years, the economy has been on the downfall, stocks going up and down with little concern until today, our new President Obama has to institute a revival plan to essentially save and restore the working class. I can assure you that if the problem had been faced and adressed by everyone earlier on, we would not be in this predicament.
As to how this applies to what King said, exposure to violent games is almost a necessity for those who wish to do so. Bearing in mind that those exist who do not care to play them and that teen and adult violence is not fully atributed to violence in those games, those who do play often use it as justification to substitute for the real thing. You might be re-enacting D-day in World at War, but the likelihood of one of those players getting drafted into the military simply to do it in person is unlikely, almost irrational.
So yes, say what you will about violent video games, but without the censoring of doing it in simulation, those who do play would be more inclined to do it in person. Therefore, why not keep them around?
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It's a Law...?
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About those Dollars...
Otherwise, I don't see a link in the violences, so hell, let's play.
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