California Congressman Demands Videogame Warning Labels [Again]

[Yopaz]

OK, so I honestly don't see the issue here. If they get labeled with "May cause violent behaviour" will that really affect sales at all? There are plenty who think they will as it is, but games are still being sold.

However you would think that having a label saying you need to be a certain age to play would be enough. Well, good luck wasting your last money on a frivolous attempt at doing something that is in no way useful.

 

[godfist88]

this guy just can't take a hint. even after that huge court decision about free speech concerning video games. you can't single out games like this.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Video games HAVE warning labels. You know that little white box in the corner that says "ESRB" on it and features a letter of some sort? THAT'S A WARNING LABEL!

On a related note, idiotic politicians should come with warning labels.

 

[bojac6]

Now, I will grant you that Democrats are more liberal than Republicans, but on the political spectrum, almost everyone at the Federal Level of the USA is more conservative than, say Reagan or Eisenhower.

Saying that most people in the U.S. federal government are more conservative than Reagan is pretty wrong, unless you have an odd way of measuring conservatism. Or unless you have an extreme lack of knowledge about the U.S. government and rely on news stories to fill you in on it.

The thing is, a lot of the policies Reagan enacted that were conservative at the time have become common place today and many conservatives think we should take them even further. There has been a massive conservative shift in the US over the last 30 years. Reagan's tax cuts were cuts down to about the level we have them today. The current conservative position is that we need to cut them even further, but Reagan likely wouldn't have agreed, given that he raised taxes every remaining year of his presidency. He increased the national debt and federal government spending by more than 200% during his term.

He was strongly in favor of and raised funding to entitlement programs such as medicare, medicaid and social security. Today the generally held "liberal" position is to maintain these programs and the "conservative" position is to cut them.

He was strongly opposed to nuclear weapons and appointed two Supreme Court Justices that refused to disagree with the decision of Roe v. Wade.

All of those positions are more liberal than most Democrats today.

That's not to say on some issues he wasn't very conservative (started the "War on Drugs", opposed to civil rights legislation, appointed Scalia to the Supreme Court). It all depends on how you look at it. If you look at his policies of "we should cut taxes" then yes, he was conservative. But if you look at it as "we should set taxes at X level," then Reagan actually wanted higher taxes than the Democrats are proposing.

 

[jimbob123432]

Hey, I've got a magical, groundbreaking idea: Make it possible to fine PARENTS who buy the "inappropriate" games for their kids who are too young. Or make a law that forces parents to sign a waiver which states that they understand that the game they buy might not be appropriate for their children. Or a law that allows you to smack the people who come up with the idea that "since video games are violent, the publishers are to blame because parents aren't responsible" with a stick until they smarten up.

 

[viranimus]

Man yet another one who does not understand that if youve been voted down you do not get to keep bringing it up and crying foul until you get your way.

Honestly what would even be the point of this warning label that the ESRB rating does not already explicitly tell you.

Let it go already. Youve been told no twice before. Stop acting like a spoiled and petulant child and accept what others have told you. Your failing to represent the interests of your constituency with this as well because your wasting time by bringing up an issue thats already been resolved instead of focusing on any of the MANY other problems on your plate in your service to the citizens of the state of California.

 

[ecoho]

Quick question how sex and violence is on Homeland? filmed in california...............
Are all christians in america retarded and hypocritical in a similar fashion?
Why did this inbred cretin move from the bible belt?

Honestly I am surprised He can even dress himself.

ok i was going to report you but i like to give people a chance to fix their mistakes. you arnt seriously bashing christians for the work of a CALIFORNIA congressman are you?

 

[jimbob123432]

I believe this email I just sent sums it up nicely (I apologize for the couple spelling mistakes, but the window to type this in was TINY)
Dear Mr. Baca,

Regarding your recent legislation towards video game labels, I would like to propose the following suggestion. Rather than attacking the developers of the products in question, why not make it the parents' responsibility to watch over their children and their purchases/acquisitions? If the topic were pornography, surely the parents would be ostracized for they let their children acquire such materials, but it seems when it comes to video games, you are trying to place the blame on the manufacturers of the product.

New video games cost around the $50-$70 range, an amount on child can ethically come across on their own, so more than likely, the parents are procuring the games for them. Is it not then their responsibility to read the clear warning label on the back of the box to determine whether or not it is suitable for their child? Is it not the parents' responsibility to determine which movies they take their children to, regardless of the violence therein? Why it is so different for video games? It is the JOB of a parent to watch over and protect their child and ultimately is it not their responsibility if they procure harmful products for their children.

If a child is caught smoking/drinking, do you attack the tobacco/alcohol companies? No, you attack the parents for allowing their child to procure such harmful substances. Video game companies are a vital subsection of the computer-related economic section that is on the grow. Certainly you do not want to put people out of work simply because some parents cannot be bothered to take a minute and consider the ramifications of purchasing certain products for their children.

We in America are taught to take charge of our own lives. If someone is not caring enough to investigate what their child enjoys in their life, I think that that reflects poorly on the parents, not on anyone else. Education is what's needed here, not punishment.

Thank you, C. Muttengrimer

 

[James Ennever]

Quick question how sex and violence is on Homeland? filmed in california...............
Are all christians in america retarded and hypocritical in a similar fashion?
Why did this inbred cretin move from the bible belt?

Honestly I am surprised He can even dress himself.

ok i was going to report you but i like to give people a chance to fix their mistakes. you arnt seriously bashing christians for the work of a CALIFORNIA congressman are you?

I am bashing the bible bashing homophobic church that allows people who spread slander others form's of leisuire just to earn A few points with A bunch of people who poke there nose into other peoples buisness yet Are only doing it because they have to sleep in seperate beds even though they are married.

Christian and theists who Don't fuck up the world with there attempts to force their own petty versions of moralaty are excluded, all others can go and stagnate.

I Slanderise in the name of those who have been slanderd if you have to ask
*californian

 

[Terramax]

Politicians have been linked to aggressive behavior too. Maybe he should walk around with a warning sticker?

 

[Terramax]

I believe this email I just sent sums it up nicely...

*snip*

I think that was a fantastic message. I hope he reads and thinks about it.

 

[Strazdas]

The label should read: warning: you may actually have fun.

maybe we should ban politicians. they are shown to link people to aggressive behaviours.

 

[Travis Higuet]

Ultra-conservative is ultra conservative. We get it man. You're old. You fear change.

Deal wit it. >=(

Umm... He's a Democrat....

 

[jedizero]

...Seriously? *Seriously?*

Dip Shits like this asshole are the reason the US's economy is in the toilet.

The supreme court already pretty much said "Leave games alone you guys, quit being dicks." And they're still going at it.

The EFF is just gonna sue because they are being unconstitutional, they're going to curb stomp them, and then they'll have their legal fees paid along with the settlement, and another couple million dollars will be out of the US economy because of ****ERS LIKE THESE.

 

[Travis Higuet]

Quick question how sex and violence is on Homeland? filmed in california...............
Are all christians in america retarded and hypocritical in a similar fashion?
Why did this inbred cretin move from the bible belt?

Honestly I am surprised He can even dress himself.

It's funny that you are trying so hard to make this fit the narrative you have in your head. You saw this story and immediately thought "GOD DAMNED REPUBLICANS", and after seeing that this idiot is in fact a Democrat you just don't know what to do with yourself. Obviously he must be a southern bible belt retard who snuck into the Democratic party and got voted into office in the most liberal state in America while we weren't looking.... lol.

Maybe before you give yourself an aneurism, why not try rethinking what you think you know about the two parties.

 

[James Ennever]

Maybe before you give yourself an aneurism, why not try rethinking what you think you know about the two parties.

Sorry, I am ignorant of the realaties of the american political clime, I am australian and the only infomation we get is through our unbiased news service...............


What faith defines obama and every other political hack with A agenda? I beleive that the democrats have A heavy god bothering element as well......

 

[Terrara]

Well, I mean this is not completely unreasonable... The label should say "WARNING: Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior in case of a pre-existing mental conditions."

The poor guy is so confused though... It's not that games create violent behaviour, it's that children that show violent behaviour are much more inclined to play "violent" videogames to vent instead of, say, going out and mugging someone which takes more effort.

 

[FamoFunk]

Why is is it the rich idiots that always manage to get into politics?

There's already ratings and why it has that rating on games, if parents or the gamers themselves are too stupid to read it and decide from there if the child/they want to play it then tough titties.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

I want to be rational and reasonable about this but he's giving me no reason to - so I'm saying we hang him - the world would be better off for it. Inb4 'but ur prving gaems mak u violnt'

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

You know what? At some point, all of these obstinate cro-magnon anti-gaming octogenarian enthusiasts will be dead, and we can finally get on with our lives. Just think about that.

On a more scientific note, I would support this legislation myself if he can prove demonstrably that the act of playing video games causes serious behavioural problems. Ok, maybe I wouldn't, but still, any studies done so far have either been inconclusive or inadequate, and any that propose a clear link between aggressive behaviour and gaming are easily discredited by those that show the opposite. I'm not saying there isn't a link, I don't have the authority to do that, I'm just saying that you don't put warning labels on things that HAVEN'T BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. Some consistency, please, why don't we put cancer warnings on melons next? Or perhaps a label expounding the dangers of contracting tetanus from exposure to aluminium. Have there been scientific tests on these things? No, because that would be f***ing ludicrous, but mainly because old f***s like this man do not have a problem with aluminium or melons. They have a problem with video games. And that is why we have to endure this s*** day after day.