Rep. Joe Baca Rails Against Supreme Court Decision

[WanderingFool]

Does anyone else feel that the polotician is useless in this day and age? Isnt there better things to do than waste time and money (specifically, Tax-payers money) on this shit?

 

[Bebus]

I am confused as to what a cigarette style warning label for games would actually say. Don't those things have to be completely factual? How do they cite risks for overexposure to violent media when it hasn't been proved that there even are any?

WARNING

Video games may lower the risk of your child committing violent crime

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13799616

Anyway, good to see the epitome of 'Land of the free' shoved in the faces of the hypocritical republicans who so often use the message when personal profit is involved, but happily ignore it when it comes to abortions, gay rights, censorship and any other issue they think will win them votes.

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

But hey, why let things like "facts" get in the way of hysterical pandering, right?

There is no possible way to phrase this argument better.

Here's the thing Congressman: It's still illegal to sell M rated games to minors! If store employees are any sort of competent and parents actually DO SOME GODDAMN PARENTING (which might be wishful thinking on both counts), then this whole fracas becomes a complete non-issue.

Just because of your position you do NOT speak for every adult in the country. I'm a gamer, and I'm a parent, and my little girl will play games when I decide that she's ready for it.

 

[Preston_r]

Whoa
Whoa whoa whoa

heinous depictions of violence and sex

All I've been getting is violence.

Where's all the heinous sex at?

 

[AstylahAthrys]

Oh cry me a river, Baca. I'm an American and I support this decision not because I'm a gamer, but I believe in the First Amendment. Games are an expression, just like comic books and novels and movies. We've been through the process of trying to ban all of those before, and like games, they were protected. It's the new target of this generation. Eventually, when our generation is the older one, banning games will be a thing of the past.

 

[Azex]

Why are american politics so DAMN stupid. seriously how much RL cash has been utterly wasted on this almost 10 year old non-issue. half the time these people dont actually care or know what they are argueing for or against. they are just towing the party line to make sure all looks good.

All that money could've gone into education and better health systems. Better education means less of this retarded politicking down the line

 

[rembrandtqeinstein]

Like most politicians he thinks he knows what is best for everyone. And he is so sure of himself that he is willing to advocate the use of force against anyone who disagrees with him.

 

[Keava]

We could just start putting ratings on those politicians.

Like Rated I for Ignorant and Rated B for Butthurt. Maybe we could also slap a health warning on their rear saying "Listening to this person words may lead to significant drop in IQ, uncontrollable laughter or pain over the face due to constant face-palming".

Yeah. Let's label and rate politicians. Only fair thing to do.

 

[Fappy]

... the Supreme Court gave the First Ammendment protection?
Why am I only just hearing of this?

About bloody time.

This makes you avatar choice even more appropriate. Either that or you did that on purpose.
Either way good job, you get a thumbs up!

I really hope either of those is the case.

 

[mcnally86]

I believe 'Baca' means 'stupid' in Japanese.

Also what exactly could you possibly put down on a warning label on a videogame that would ACTUALLY discourage ppl. from buying it, short of citing a direct link with cancer. Wait.. I think I just made up Fox News' latest headline..

TV causes cancer. That would make a label and the news would still unironically cover it.

 

[Andy Chalk]

I love how whenever there's a low-key political event like this(lets face it, outside the Games Industry this affects no one), a group of nobody congressmen and political activists latch on to it in an effort to boost their own profile.

I don't think you really grasp the implications of this case. If violent content is declared an exception to First Amendment protections, it sets a precedent that opens the door to similar efforts against other media. Maybe it's a worst-case scenario but a decision against the game industry could very well have a chilling effect upon the entire entertainment industry. The potential implications of a decision against the videogame industry are actually very wide-ranging.

 

[Covarr]

Anyway, good to see the epitome of 'Land of the free' shoved in the faces of the hypocritical republicans who so often use the message when personal profit is involved, but happily ignore it when it comes to abortions, gay rights, censorship and any other issue they think will win them votes.

The title of this article is misleading. I also thought "Rep" was short for Republican at first, when Joe Baca is, in fact, a Democrat. Turns out it means "Representative".

Censorship has never been an issue that's been divided along party lines; there are idiots for it on BOTH sides.

P.S. Thanks

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

"I am disappointed the multi-billion dollar video game industry will continue to go unchecked in its ability to profit from selling heinous depictions of violence and sex to minors," Baca said in the wake of the ruling. "Unfortunately, the industry is still not doing enough to provide parents with accurate information regarding the content of many games."

I'm disappointed that the multi-million dollar political lobby that raged against game is going unchecked in it's ability to dredge up arguments that have been deemed unconstitutional. Unfortunately, those politicians are still not doing anything to provide parents with accurate information regarding the content of any games.

 

[Bebus]

I love how whenever there's a low-key political event like this(lets face it, outside the Games Industry this affects no one), a group of nobody congressmen and political activists latch on to it in an effort to boost their own profile.

I don't think you really grasp the implications of this case. If violent content is declared an exception to First Amendment protections, it sets a precedent that opens the door to similar efforts against other media. Maybe it's a worst-case scenario but a decision against the game industry could very well have a chilling effect upon the entire entertainment industry. The potential implications of a decision against the videogame industry are actually very wide-ranging.

Indeed.

But imagine what would have happened had the decision gone the other way. It would have opened the floodgate to further actions, and driven the industry, and any other cutting edge ones, at least partially underground.

I do not think I am exaggerating when I say it would have been like a modern rehash of prohibition.

What would have come of it? Would game quality get better or worse? What about consoles - would they change to reflect their taboo nature?

I am very glad the decision went the way it did, but considering the alternative makes for some very interesting ideas!

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

At this point it is almost comical. They have no conclusive evidence, bigger things to worry about, and have probably never even touched a video game. And yet they press on. It has become a bit pathetic.
file:///C:/Users/Justin%20Keown/Downloads/haters4.gif

 

[AdumbroDeus]

... the Supreme Court gave the First Ammendment protection?
Why am I only just hearing of this?

About bloody time.

Released yesterday, all over the site.

 

[Bebus]

The title of this article is misleading. I also thought "Rep" was short for Republican at first, when Joe Baca is, in fact, a Democrat. Turns out it means "Representative".

Censorship has never been an issue that's been divided along party lines; there are idiots for it on BOTH sides.

P.S. Thanks

Wow, this really sounds like the fear mongering of a Republican!

I guess we can blame it on the state interfering tendencies of Democrats instead. Each as bad as the other!

 

[shadowmagus]

Anyone out there in this man's district want to shoot this man an e-mail providing some facts? Seems like he needs a swift kick of truth to the ass.

 

[UNHchabo]

I wrote this to Rep. Baca on his website:

Congressman Baca,

In your statement regarding the recent Supreme Court ruling, you made the following assertion: "Unfortunately, the industry is still not doing enough to provide parents with accurate information regarding the content of many games."

This is patently false; the ESRB ratings system provides parents with ample information on game packaging to determine whether a game is age-appropriate for a child, including the use of descriptors such as "strong language", "intense violence", or "use of alcohol". Additionally, the ESRB publishes more detailed information on its website, such as "Realistic gunfire, explosions, and cries of pain are heard during the frequent and fast-paced combat."

To my knowledge, this level of detail is only provided for movies by parents' groups, not by the industry itself, as is the case for video games.

Regardless of your feelings towards gaming and gamers, please make sure to get your facts straight.

Even if he's purposely misstating the facts, maybe this will help keep him on his toes.

The title of this article is misleading. I also thought "Rep" was short for Republican at first, when Joe Baca is, in fact, a Democrat. Turns out it means "Representative".

To my knowledge, "Rep." is never used as a shorthand for "Republican". The common convention (which frankly I'm surprised Andy didn't use in his article) is this: "Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA)".

 

[ninja51]

I love how whenever there's a low-key political event like this(lets face it, outside the Games Industry this affects no one), a group of nobody congressmen and political activists latch on to it in an effort to boost their own profile.

We should all take up smoking just to piss him off.

This

Really why are people even caring enough to be mad at this guy? Nothings changed for us, the intelligent majority vast outways this minority, and no one in the world knew this guys name before he tried to publicly condem this.

In reality there have been two politicians and one religious parent group who have come forward to object, otherwise they will fade back into the complete obscurity from whence they came. We can speed them back down that hole by simply ignoring this no name joke of a leader.