Genvid & Dies Gaudii Forums

Congressmen Joe Baca (D-Calif.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) have introduced a lovely bill this week that would treat videogames like cigarettes, forcing them to carry warning labels. Should the bill become law, all games would have to carry the following warning:

WARNING: Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior.

Aside from the fact that it's just not true (there is still no conclusive link, and the tests performed to date have been sketchy at best), the Violence in Video Games Labeling Act seems like yet another wasteful endeavor to implement something that'll get shot down for being unconstitutional.

I'd love to see Baca and Wolf's evidence, though. They say it exists, but fail to provide any proof.

"Just as we warn smokers of the health consequences of tobacco, we should warn parents -- and children --about the growing scientific evidence demonstrating a relationship between violent video games and violent behavior," claimed Wolf. "As a parent and grandparent, I think it is important people know everything they can about the extremely violent nature of some of these games."

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the kind of nonsense we pay old men to think about. Isn't it lovely?

Here's the entire bill (labeled H.R. 4204), in any case. What a crock of shit:

To require certain warning labels to be placed on video games that are given certain ratings due to violent content.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION REGULATION.

a) REGULATION.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall promulgate regulations to require the warning label described in subsection (b) to be placed on the packaging of any video game that is rated ‘‘E’’ (Everyone), ‘‘Everyone 10+’’ (Everyone 10 and older), ‘‘T’’ (Teen), ‘‘M’’ (Mature), or ‘‘A’’ (Adult) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

(b) WARNING LABEL CONTENT.—The warning label required under a regulation issued under subsection (a) shall be placed in a clear and conspicuous location on the packaging of the applicable video game and shall state: ‘‘WARNING: Exposure to violent video games has been linked to aggressive behavior.’’.

(c) VIDEO GAME DEFINED.—As used in this Act, the term ‘‘video game’’ means any product, whether distributed electronically or through a tangible device, consisting of data, programs, routines, instructions, applications, symbolic languages, or similar electronic information (collectively referred to as ‘‘software’’) that controls the operation of a computer or telecommunication device and that enables a user to interact with a computer controlled virtual environment for entertainment purposes.

That's...

You know the ESRB labels do exactly the damn same thing, labeling games for their audience and telling what's in the game as well.

The problem is that parents don't bloody look at it and thinks it's OK for Little Jimmy to play Call of Duty cause all his friends have it.

So yeah, it's pretty stupid that we have to get law makers to make decisions that parents are supposed to make for raising their kids.

Why are these people in the Government again?

That's...

You know the ESRB labels do exactly the damn same thing, labeling games for their audience and telling what's in the game as well.

The problem is that parents don't bloody look at it and thinks it's OK for Little Jimmy to play Call of Duty cause all his friends have it.

So yeah, it's pretty stupid that we have to get law makers to make decisions that parents are supposed to make for raising their kids.

Why are these people in the Government again?

Maybe those politicians should also stick a warning label on their foreheads (like an ofuda).

Seriously. We had violence for centuries even before TV games were invented. Sometimes even worse kinds of violence. They act like games will bring the end of the world.

Nah, it's going to be the history teachers, due to teaching the Revolutinary War, the Crusades, etc.

Nah, it's going to be the history teachers, due to teaching the Revolutinary War, the Crusades, etc.

LOL I'm laughing so hard at this.

I can already see Rei jumping before one politician, screaming "AKURYO TAISAN".

I don't think this will go through. But if it does I think I really will throw ofuda at the people involved.

Her dad is also a politician, BTW. l o l

Tobacco and games are a different thing. Games don't have that effect to everyone, while smoking destroys your lungs no matter how your mind is structured or what your lungs are like.

And unsafe sex could also be bad for health - maybe everyone should also have a warning sign tattooed near that part of the body.

Rika, you would make an excellent politician.

Tobacco and games are a different thing. Games don't have that effect to everyone, while smoking destroys your lungs no matter how your mind is structured or what your lungs are like.

At least I could go even further than those Congressmen.

I don't believe there's any correlation between violent video games and increased susceptibility to violent behavior actually.

Even with smoking some people are more resilient than others.

How about booze, then?

[EDIT]
And unsafe sex could also be bad for health - maybe everyone should also have a warning sign tattooed near that part of the body.

Even with smoking some people are more resilient than others.

I don't believe there's any correlation between violent video games and increased susceptibility to violent behavior actually.

Good one. We've gotta do that.

Tho, people do take a look at each other before that, unless they're blinded by their arousal.

That'd be included in my election manifesto.

VOTE RIKA

HE THINKS OF THE CHILDREN

The more warning signs & labels the better.

if it really takes politics to tell parents whats good and bad they might as well go to tv shows and say Sex and the City is not safe for children but CSI is great for them to watch.....unbelievable.

*face palm* Good Lord, it's the year 2012 and people are still trying use video games as a scapegoat for why this generation of kids are so screwed up.

The problem is that parents don't bloody look at it and thinks it's OK for Little Jimmy to play Call of Duty cause all his friends have it.