Yet Another Attempt To Place Warning Labels On Video Games Based On Zero Evidence
from the third-time,-still-charmless dept
Last year, we reported on the bill presented by Representatives Joe Baca and Frank Wolf that would require video games in the U.S. to carry a vague (and untrue) warning about their link to violence. At the time, the proposed message was:
WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior
That bill (which had actually failed once before, in 2009) died in committee. Well, it looks like Baca and Wolf are at it again—and not only are they continuing the crusade, they're upping the ante. Whereas the previous bill would have applied to games rated T (Teen) or higher, the newly proposed Violence In Video Games Labeling Act (pdf and embedded below) would apply to games rated E (Everyone) and up, meaning all video games except those rated EC for early childhood. Even more galling, they've modified the mandatory warning, which now reads:
WARNING: Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior.
Note the removal of both the "excessive" qualifier and the mention of "other violent media", making this new warning even more ridiculous than the previous one. As multiple studies have pointed out, the link between video games and violence is flimsy at best. The Supreme Court also rejected the key study claiming a link exists when they ruled California's anti-violent video game law to be unconstitutional. With all that, you'd think Baca and Wolf would know better than to fight for these warning labels yet again—let alone to ask for a warning that's even broader and less accurate, and which would be placed on countless video games that don't even contain any violence. Hopefully congress will recognize this, and prevent Baca and Wolf's petty, baseless moralizing from placing a needless restriction on free speech.
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Filed Under: bad studies, frank wolf, joe baca, video games, violence, warnings
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monsanto makes the drug that some dairies refuse to use and in addition, these dairies want to inform their customers of this fact.
Regardless of rBST debates, putting such labels upon your product is part of a marketing strategy. monsanto does not like it. This is another example of a large corp exploiting regulatory capture in an effort to gain advantage in the marketplace.
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Re: For Keeps
Thanks!
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They might as well tag schools as follows:
"Going to school is linked to bullying"
So yes there may be an odd ball or two who is already violent and plays violent games and then do something violent, but that doesn't mean anything
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Re:
"Violent video games are like peanut butter," said Texas A&M University's Christopher J. Ferguson told Reuters when that study was published. "They are harmless for the vast majority of kids but are harmful to a small minority with pre-existing personality or mental health problems."
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New Warning Label on all Congressional Actions
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It appears they dont want to hear from you unless you can vote for them (typical):
https://bacaforms.house.gov/contact-form
https://wolfforms.house.gov/index.cfm?sectioni d=383
Regrettably, I am unable to reply to any email from individuals residing outside of my congressional district.
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Please start including party labels. (R) (D)
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Re: Please start including party labels. (R) (D)
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Re: Re: Please start including party labels. (R) (D)
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Re: Please start including party labels. (R) (D)
As we've said numerous times there is no reason to do this and we will NOT do this unless party affiliation is central to the story.
If you reflexively include party affiliation everything automatically becomes a partisan discussion with partisans from both sides saying "well of course... blah blah blah... because s/he's a (R/D)." That's stupid and counterproductive.
Don't worry about parties or labels. Worry about the ideas. Ignore the parties.
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Re: Re: Please start including party labels. (R) (D)
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Ratings
> bill would have applied to games rated T (Teen)
> or higher, the newly proposed Violence In Video
> Games Labeling Act would apply to games rated E
> (Everyone) and up
What if the game is unrated? Since the video game rating system-- like the movie rating system-- is voluntary, even if this law were to pass, couldn't manufacturers avoid all this by just not rating their games?
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Re: Ratings
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Re: Re: Ratings
Well then.
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Logical Solution...
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wtf are you talking about?
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I'm fine with this.
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Re: I'm fine with this.
Now, what else should be on the list?
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Re: Re: I'm fine with this.
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Re: I'm fine with this.
Typical hate-spewing atheist.
Thanks for killing over 150 million people in the 20th century alone.
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Re: Re: I'm fine with this.
There have been many "book burnings" and lobbying for book removals from schools. There is a recent TD post about Enders Game being porno .... need I continue?
As far as being a hater, one only has to look in a mirror.
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Re: Re: Re: I'm fine with this.
One doesn't need to look very far to find violence. It's found everywhere in the media, television, film, video games, on the streets, et al. Heck, the government promotes war as if it was something good.
If broadcasting, depicting or simulating violence can lead to violent behavior in real life, what about sex, drugs, foul language, vanity, promiscuity, greed, theft, rape, stalking, and so forth?
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Re: Re: I'm fine with this.
Everything goes, but never touch my precious religious dogma! They are above all reproach!
If you say anything (ANYTHING AT ALL) bad about religion you're a HATE-SPEWING ATHEIST!
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Video games cause violence?
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This is crying "Wolf!" once more.
If the Government had something important to say it would be buried beneath crap like this.
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This has nothing to do with 'protecting children'
These are people who are trying to justify their existence, period.
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Re: This has nothing to do with 'protecting children'
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Well, it's an accurate label.
Indeed, we've seen a lot of studies that show a link between video games and violence, but we've also seen that there's an significant lack of studies that show that violent video games can cause violent behavior.
So while their attempt to get this labeling legislated is rather misguided, their proposed labeling is quite correct.
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If there is a relationship - then it's shared by music and movies - they should get the same warnings as any video game would.
The most violent video games I can think of - pale in comparison to many movies out there.
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What is their agenda?
WARNING: Being elected to congressional office may lead to stupidity.
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Re: What is their agenda?
WARNING: Stupidity may lead to being elected to congressional office
After all, the opposite would indicate that:
A) That all people in congress are stupid
B) That some of the people in congress used to be intelligent.
No matter which side you take, one of these must be incorrect :/
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How about...
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WARNING: Exposure to stupid ass bills has been linked to aggressive behavior
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You are doing a fantastic job at driving traffic to my music pages, TAM. If I ever decide to take music seriously I'll consider hiring you as a promo guy.
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http://soundcloud.com/marcus-carab
It's not your average rap (I'm no gangster) so who knows, maybe it'll change your mind on the genre :)
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WARNING: EXPOSURE TO POETRY ...
All in the valley of Death rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd?
Not, tho' the soldier knew someone had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.
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How's this...
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Re: How's this...
Not fixed but modified for context.
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I would point out in passing...
And we already know what a wolf is.
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This may actually be a good thing
The alternative, passivity, sounds like a horrible way to live.
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Ehem...
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