Congressman Wants Health Warning Labels For Games

[Andy Chalk]

Congressman Wants Health Warning Labels For Games

California Congressman Joe Baca [http://www.house.gov/baca/] has introduced a new bill which would require videogames to carry a "health warning label" advising consumers that playing them can be dangerous.

The Video Game Health Labeling Act of 2009 would require that all games with an Michigan State University [http://www.esrb.org] "point to a neurological link between playing violent videogames and aggressive behavior in children and teenagers."

"The video game industry has a responsibility to parents, families, and to consumers - to inform them of the potentially damaging content that is often found in their products," Baca said in a press release [http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca43_baca/videogame_health_010709.html]. "They have repeatedly failed to live up to this responsibility.  Meanwhile research continues to show a proven link between playing violent games and increased aggression in young people. American families deserve to know the truth about these potentially dangerous products."

Baca's website describes him as a leading advocate in Congress against sex and violence in the media, with a particular focus on videogames. Government Accountability Office [http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/01/12/new-bill-congress-would-add-cigarette-warning-labels-video-games], but none of them have passed.

"We must hold the video game industry accountable and do everything in our power to ensure parents are aware of the detrimental effects that violent games can have before making decisions on which games are appropriate for their children to play," Baca continued, adding that he was "hopeful [his] legislation can work to stop the growing influence of violent media on America's children and youth."



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[L.B. Jeffries]

Do people even have to read the Constitution before they take public office anymore? I know Sarah Palin thought the Vice President was in charge of the Senate but that's a basic misunderstanding compared to this stuff.

It's real easy. It's the very First Amendment on the list.

 

[Skrapt]

Can I please change this one bit for more comic effect:

"Meanwhile research continues to show a proven link between being human and increased aggression"

 

[scarbunny]

Do people even have to read the Constitution before they take public office anymore? I know Sarah Palin thought the Vice President was in charge of the Senate but that's a basic misunderstanding compared to this stuff.

It's real easy. It's the very First Amendment on the list.

Im not too sure how this impeads freedom of speech, it just means if you make a game that is violent you need to put a sticker on the box. Sure it could be better phrased "this game is so violent itll fuck you up for life" then not only is it a warning but also a huge selling point.

 

[neoman10]

Well its California of course he's a hippie

well i do know a lot of cool Californians but half i met are hippies

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

Do people even have to read the Constitution before they take public office anymore? I know Sarah Palin thought the Vice President was in charge of the Senate but that's a basic misunderstanding compared to this stuff.

It's real easy. It's the very First Amendment on the list.

Im not too sure how this impeads freedom of speech, it just means if you make a game that is violent you need to put a sticker on the box. Sure it could be better phrased "this game is so violent itll fuck you up for life" then not only is it a warning but also a huge selling point.

You don't think slapping a giant label on a game that says it has been proven to make you more violent is going to impede a person's freedom of speech?

 

[Brokkr]

I always hate it when people use the argument that playing video games is related to increased aggression in young people. Maybe aggressive young people like to play violent video games and not the other way around.

 

[Cousin_IT]

first amemdment conflicts...& tabling bills to make crowdpleasing headlines for donators & constituents yadda yadda yadda. If he was serious about/though there was a chance of getting such a bill passed he'd have tagged it onto a bigger bill like normal.

 

[WNxSajuukCor]

Do people even have to read the Constitution before they take public office anymore? I know Sarah Palin thought the Vice President was in charge of the Senate but that's a basic misunderstanding compared to this stuff.

It's real easy. It's the very First Amendment on the list.

Im not too sure how this impeads freedom of speech, it just means if you make a game that is violent you need to put a sticker on the box. Sure it could be better phrased "this game is so violent itll fuck you up for life" then not only is it a warning but also a huge selling point.

There is a sticker on the box. Games are rated by the ESRB, but even then I doubt people buy games solely on the rating on the box. But regardless parents need to see that rating before letting little Billy play Grand-Theft-Anything. It's not a government job.

 

[scarbunny]

Do people even have to read the Constitution before they take public office anymore? I know Sarah Palin thought the Vice President was in charge of the Senate but that's a basic misunderstanding compared to this stuff.

It's real easy. It's the very First Amendment on the list.

Im not too sure how this impeads freedom of speech, it just means if you make a game that is violent you need to put a sticker on the box. Sure it could be better phrased "this game is so violent itll fuck you up for life" then not only is it a warning but also a huge selling point.

You don't think slapping a giant label on a game that says it has been proven to make you more violent is going to impede a person's freedom of speech?

No, your still aloud to make and release the game and therefore practice your "freedom of speech" however it will have a warning label on it. Its a terrible idea but not uncontitutional.

 

[Zankabo]

Well, this is just more of the same stuff that always goes around. But, really, should you start placing labels like this then there is another major piece of media that needs warning labels and all that.

The evening news.

Personally I learned more about buying drugs, killing people, getting a gun, making a bomb, stealing cars, and getting away with crimes from watching the news than I ever did from a video game.

But hey, more labels about violence will really only help the sales I suspect. Bring it on!

 

[Singing Gremlin]

You don't think slapping a giant label on a game that says it has been proven to make you more violent is going to impede a person's freedom of speech?

No, your still aloud to make and release the game and therefore practice your "freedom of speech" however it will have a warning label on it. Its a terrible idea but not uncontitutional.

He's got a point, though. Presenting what is currently an unproven hypothesis that has plenty of evidence against it as an irrefutable fact kinda takes away your ability to disagree with the concept. PLUS, it's going to be a blanket warning, regardless if the game is violent or not, if it's Teen plus, it's going to be condemned as violence inducing and there's not a damn thing anyone can say to help.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

No, your still aloud to make and release the game and therefore practice your "freedom of speech" however it will have a warning label on it. Its a terrible idea but not uncontitutional.

Wait, so if I wanted to sell a movie and the government didn't like it, you think it's okay for them to slap a "THIS MOVIE IS EVIL! DON'T BUY IT!" sticker on it? Or "This movie will give you cancer and may make you go insane?"

And fortunately for us, the Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to do this because you're impeding my ability to talk by prefacing everything I say with "This is bad, don't listen".

The rating systems you see in games are self-governed and run by the video game industry. Same for movies. They are not run by the government and never should be unless you want the government telling you what you should read, think, and do all the time.

 

[ArcadianTrance]

I'm so sick of politicions trying to lead crusades against games.Honestly even if this did pass it won't have any effect on me as I already buy all my games, but what about yunger kids who can't do that, that little warning lable will be very off putting to their parents and keep them from getting there favorite games.

 

[Wyatt]

it should be obvious to the most ignorant person by now that some video games arent for kids. i think instead of more stickers on the box warning people that a given game contains violence, we shoud instead be putting warning stickers on the moronic parents that buy GTA for their 6 year old, saying 'warning bad parent'.

the problem isnt the game after all, its the parents that just ignore all the rating's and warning's allready ON the games and buy anything for their kid without a second thought then act 'shocked' when they see some blood or bewbs and blaim the gmae MAKER for THEIR stupidity.

 

[McMo0^]

As i recall those test revealed that people who just watched a violent act in a video game reacted more prepared for a similar violent act on tv.

Regardless i really don't have that much of a problem with it. I don't particularly agree with parents letting their 10 year olds have a crack on gta or manhunt, and most of the time that happens is because tbe parents are unaware of what they're buying.

I mean if i saw one of those labels i'd be expecting a certain level of gore from the game. Fallout 3 had some lovely body part servering and exploding in it. So i'd expect something like that to carry such a label.

My main concern is that if Geoff went out and bought a labeled health hazard game, and then went out and killed some people, would they look straight at the game and immediatly believe they have the cause. The idea seems harmless but could still damage the game industry more.

 

[ffxfriek]

I always hate it when people use the argument that playing video games is related to increased aggression in young people. Maybe aggressive young people like to play violent video games and not the other way around.

you kind sir. are a genious..ive never thought about it that way before....i dont think about this stuff anyways but you are a genious

 

[loudestmute]

This is why the rest of the world hates America. Whereas your average, balanced, observant person would be able to guess that playing a video game called "Head A'Sploder VIII" would cause some violent thoughts, our country wants to put a warning label on there. Then again, we need warning labels saying things like "hot coffee is hot," and "locking your baby in this safe might not be a bad idea." This might be just the thing to reduce our violent crime rate by...oh, half a percent.