The Government stepping in for parents

The BBQ Pit
1

Okay, I’ve read this, heard this and I just want to VENT! So stand back I’m really gonna spew! I’ve held my tongue on this but I can’t hold it any longer! We already have Parental Advisories on music which to me is like putting a big banner on a CD saying, “Kids, buy this, your parents will hate it” but now they are attacking computer games.

As one major spokeshead (or holesniffer, crapeater, buttmuncher) called them, “Murder simulators.” Okay fine, call them what you will (as I do you). That power of words and all. But I don’t think it’s the governments job to parent for you!

I thoroughly enjoy computer games! I have over 100 of them. Everything from learning to the full on shoot-em-ups. I like them all. It just pisses me off that some parents are so lazy that instead of taking an active interest in WHAT their kids are doing with the home computer they expect the government to be big brother and take care of it for them. It’s like the V-chip. You CAN’T turn off the TV? Or you are just never around to see what your kids are doing? Then don’t have kids for crying out loud! If you can’t be bothered with their lives than don’t have them! Period!

I love interactive games like Phantasmagoria (both of them) the Gabriel Knight Beast Within, the Tex Murphy set, but I also play all of the Quake games, Duke Nukem, Rise of the Triad, Wolfenstien… I’m a big girl (just how big read my other posts) and I think I have the right to decide if a game is too violent for me. As an adult I know my limits. I also know what games I have that I would share with a child. I know better than to let a seven year old play the first Phantasmagoria (the rape scene alone would rule that out) but they would be fine messing around with Grim Fandango.

Is it just me or do a lot of people in America need to get a grip? The Government isn’t here to parent for you because you can’t/won’t/don’t care/are too lazy.

If your kid brings home/asks for/wants a movie/game/book I think as an ADULT you should check it out. Is it appropriate for your child? Age can indicate many things but there are kids at seven who could handle something I wouldn’t give to someone 35. It depends. My point here is shouldn’t the adult, the parent, make the call, not the government?

Thanks for reading my spew. As always this is IMHO and I don’t expect ANYONE to agree with me. Just tell me what YOU think!

The moon looks on many flowers, the flowers on but one moon.

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I generally agree, but let me play devil’s advocate here. A parental advisory sticker may just tell a parent whether or not to worry about what the child is playing. I recently played a Playstation game called Silent Hill. I found it completely enjoyable and completely inappropriate for kids. So why not a sticker telling the parent that the game might be offensive? Some parents are not familiar with Nintendo, Playstation, or computer games at all. Why not give them a hint so they won’t buy the game only to find out later that it’s unacceptable? I think the government is not trying to do a parent’s job for him or her. Maybe they’re just trying to make a parent’s job a bit easier.

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Misha77 – I think, in a way, you have made my point for me. YOU, as an adult, bought a game, played it and realized, as an adult, that it was appropriate for your kids. Warning labels are okay, as far as they go but it’s (IMHO) like calling a movie PG-13. There are some kids I know at 8 that would be okay with the scope of the movie but then again there are some at 35 I would question. I’m not being flippant or discounting you. You make a valid point: You know what would be appropriate for your children. I, others, the government, cannot. So if this game you purchased said NC-17 would you have bought it? If it did and you played it and realized that for the most part your kids would be okay with it, would you withhold it?

To clarify my point: PG-13, NC-17 doesn’t mean a whole lot. What matters is what you’ve (as a parent) taught your child. You make the call about what they can play or see. Seems to me like you are doing that. You sound like a parent that is actively involved in your children’s lives and that’s the thrust of my point. You don’t just hand them a game without seeing it yourself. I applaud! You, as a mother, a parent, know best what your kids can handle and what you need to guide them on.

The moon looks on many flowers, the flowers on but one moon.

4

appropriate for your kids. I’m so sorry, that should read, inappropriate!

Okay, just hit me with a big hammer! I can’t help my fumblefingers!

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I agree with the observation about too many parents in this country not spending enough time with or around their kids to know what there are reading/watching/playing, etc…

There really is no substitute for parental involvment and guidance.

Once they reach puberty, they have already been exposed (or will soon be exposed) in various ways to most adult themes. I doubt that the rating systems and warning labels really thwart their perusal of the material.

I don’t lock down internet access in my household. I don’t block anything. I’ve talked to my kids about the fact that every weird and perverted thing and kind of person you can imagine exists on the internet. We talk about using good judgement concerning what we get into online.

Contestant #3

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I guess we BOTH know what you can run into out here. Kids need guidance, not the government.

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I didn’t mean to be misleading. I am not a parent, just someone who is trying to see both sides of this issue. (When I said kids, I meant in general.) I agree that an advisory just makes the movie or game more tantilizing, but I have no other suggestions.

8

Well, I am a parent, who had parents.My point?
Well, my mom might go out & buy a cd or software, or a nintendo game for one of the grandkids, and she has NO CLUE what any of these bands/games/etc are about…she cant exactly play the game before she buys it, and once its open (cd’s) it cant be returned, so an advisory is good,
this being said, I DONT believe in censorship (with the exception of child porn, which should be an offense punishable by death) and I DO believe parental involvement is essential to the childs developing a responsible role in society.

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To me the labels are just like the ones on Picante sauce. “Extra hot and spicy” I am not gonna pour a bowl of that for my kids without tasting it first. I am relying on some one elses judgement though so I will probably taste the Extra Mild(g),and other ‘ratings’ to get an idea of what their criteria are.They may be ‘inticed’ by that label but that don’t mean they gonna git it.I have taught and trust my kids not to put a jabenero in their mouth. I am not gonna let any one tell me what I can give my kids based on their judgement. If other people are willing to let some one tell them what to do,well it just means more mindless masses for us to control and have do our dirty work. Actually this was a bad analogy,my horde of wild Texicans were weaned on jalapenos.Where’s a tilde’ when you need one? accent mark too.

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Just in case the grammar patrol saw that, my kids only have one mouth between them. They share it. It cuts down on the crowd at the table.

“Pardon me while I have a strange interlude”-Marx

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The only kid of mine who is even remotely interested in games is my 8 year old, even so, he would rather be outside playing baseball or basketball or rollarblading.

I am not familiar with the games because the Playstation is rarely turned on in my house. However, every once in a while my son will ask me to rent or buy him a game. I keep close tabs on the things my kids watch and listen to, (hell, I go to concerts with my teenagers) but without a warning label, I wouldn’t know if a game was appropriate for my 8 year old. I could take it home and test it first but once opened, they are non-returnable. Those games aren’t cheap so I would rather have a “hint” what it is I am buying before I fork over the cash.

>^,^<
KITTEN

Coarse and violent nudity. Occasional language.

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On an added note, although the government sticks on their labels, ultimately, I make the decision what my kids see and hear.

Many times I have purchased CDs for my 15 and 17 year olds that have the warning label. I will also rent certain (not all) R-rated videos for them to watch such as Private Ryan (isn’t that rated R?) and will take them to movies that require a parent, such as that piece of garbage Blair With Project (yes, as a matter of fact I do look for opportunities to rag on that film). I know their level of maturity better than the government.

Although I monitor the things my kids see, I never shelter them. I would rather buy the CDs that have a few four-letter words and explain how I feel about it as well as listen to their thoughts. I feel that my kids are mature enough to put things into perspective. I have let both of my teenagers watch my Pulp Fiction video.

My own personal observation is that the kids who are totally sheltered are the kids who come to my house to try and talk me into letting them watch my NBK video or who giggle whenever they hear a word more vulgar than “poo poo” or see a bare ass on the TV. They are obsessed with the things they think they are missing.

Back to the thing with the warning labels - I like the fact that, as a parent, I am made aware that I need to look as something closer to determine if it is something I will let my kids have.

>^,^<
KITTEN

Coarse and violent nudity. Occasional language.

13

As soon as government-mandated parental advisories start appearing on a particular medium, you just know someone at Child Protective Services who’s behind on this month’s quota is going to use any not-advised-for-children copies of said medium in your kids’ hands as evidence of child neglect.

I’m not flying fast, just orbiting low.

14

I gotta disagree with you. The stickers are a parental advisory, which means just that. They are advising parents that the medium may not be suitable for kids. Ultimately, it is up to the parent whether or not to let their children see or listen to the product. This is different than say going out and buying your 15 year old a bottle of Jim Beam.

Even if it were illegal for children to possess cds, games, or videos, I have a hard time believing that Child Protective Services would be bothered. Hell, it’s a rarity that they remove children from physically abusive situations until it is too late or until it has gone on for long periods of time.

>^,^<
KITTEN

Coarse and violent nudity. Occasional language.

15

Byz,
you must not have heard about that new law that was going to let the man take care of all out problems :slight_smile:

16

1420 well THANK GOD! Please think for me I can’t bear to!

To address some points: I think a look at the packaging on most games will give you a heads up. But the show clip I saw was talking about putting these games behind the counter like porno or something. Most games already have some type of indication as to age or the level of violence or gore.

I see your point about buying it and then realizing it’s no good and you can’t return it. The only thing there I could suggest is going into one of the game sites (Gamezilla or Happy Puppy) and reading a review. If it comes as a gift? Dunno on that one. Re-gift it? Send it to me?!?