Tory Leader On Video Games And Responsible Parenting
David Cameron uses videogames to court 'Outraged, from Tunbridge Wells'
Cameron: Down with videogames and 'things like that'
It looks suspiciously to SPOnG like Tory leader, David Cameron is planning on ‘doing a Hilary Clinton’ in the forthcoming general election in the UK, employing tabloid/moral panics over the effects of violent videogames as a platform to secure those all-important votes from The Daily Mail readers of so-called Middle England ('Outraged, from Tunbridge Wells').
Cameron is gearing up to issue the Conservative’s "mini-manifesto" on law and order, following on from Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s recent plans for a gun amnesty; which came in the fallout from the tragic death of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool last week.
Cameron wasted no time in chasing party political points, describing Labour's approach as "one-dimensional", instead of focusing on "broader" issues, and telling the BBC’s Breakfast News programme today:
"We are never going to deal with crime unless we look at the broader context and say 'Yes, tough laws, strong action on the police, but also action to strengthen our society'.
"And that includes, I think, video games and things like that where we do need to think of the context in which people are growing up….This is long-term generational change."
Cameron added: "Instead of the knee-jerk reactions we are seeing from the government, what we are producing today is a comprehensive substantial report about the things we need to change, whether it's frankly in the home, in the police station, on our streets or in the schools."
On responsible parenting he told the interviewer, "Your responsibilities are to make sure you know what your children are doing when they're out at night, who they're with, what they're doing and when they're going to be home."
Now let’s be crystal clear here. SPOnG is a staunch advocate of responsible parenting, particularly when it comes to controlling under-18s access to adult-themed videogames. Parents need to take responsibility for the games that their children play, just as they take responsibility for the movies that they view, the books and magazines that they read and the people they hang out with.
Controlling teenage offspring is of course a massively difficult and complicated business as any parent (or teenager, for that matter) that's been through it can attest.
As adults we should have the right to play, see, read and generally do what we choose, providing it doesn’t hurt or negatively impact on other people. To limit our ability to do any of the above is a fundamental attack on our civil rights, as the recent Manhunt 2 furore has displayed all too clearly. And it is exactly this Manhunt 2-inflamed, lowest common denominator-led quick-fix nonsense that all political parties (while complaining about each other) are entering into.
You can read more recent spin, half-truths and uninformed point-missing relating to games from Labour and the Conservatives from last week, right here.
Cameron is gearing up to issue the Conservative’s "mini-manifesto" on law and order, following on from Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s recent plans for a gun amnesty; which came in the fallout from the tragic death of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool last week.
Cameron wasted no time in chasing party political points, describing Labour's approach as "one-dimensional", instead of focusing on "broader" issues, and telling the BBC’s Breakfast News programme today:
"We are never going to deal with crime unless we look at the broader context and say 'Yes, tough laws, strong action on the police, but also action to strengthen our society'.
"And that includes, I think, video games and things like that where we do need to think of the context in which people are growing up….This is long-term generational change."
Cameron added: "Instead of the knee-jerk reactions we are seeing from the government, what we are producing today is a comprehensive substantial report about the things we need to change, whether it's frankly in the home, in the police station, on our streets or in the schools."
On responsible parenting he told the interviewer, "Your responsibilities are to make sure you know what your children are doing when they're out at night, who they're with, what they're doing and when they're going to be home."
Now let’s be crystal clear here. SPOnG is a staunch advocate of responsible parenting, particularly when it comes to controlling under-18s access to adult-themed videogames. Parents need to take responsibility for the games that their children play, just as they take responsibility for the movies that they view, the books and magazines that they read and the people they hang out with.
Controlling teenage offspring is of course a massively difficult and complicated business as any parent (or teenager, for that matter) that's been through it can attest.
As adults we should have the right to play, see, read and generally do what we choose, providing it doesn’t hurt or negatively impact on other people. To limit our ability to do any of the above is a fundamental attack on our civil rights, as the recent Manhunt 2 furore has displayed all too clearly. And it is exactly this Manhunt 2-inflamed, lowest common denominator-led quick-fix nonsense that all political parties (while complaining about each other) are entering into.
You can read more recent spin, half-truths and uninformed point-missing relating to games from Labour and the Conservatives from last week, right here.
Read More Like This
Comments
Joji 28 Aug 2007 13:23
1/1
I hate this kind of crap when politics get involved in games. These people don't get what games are about half the time. I still believe that many of them deny the fact that games cover all ages, not just kids anymore.
I agree, parenting teenagers is difficult. Its a rebelious age where we all discover who we are. Are parents now supposed to imprison their children inhouse, like a scene from The People Under The Stairs film? Then the government will complain they're eating badly and not getting exercise. It seems parents can't win either way.
The true cause of so much pointless death and youth unrest, is simply routed in our government forgetting to accomodate young people well enough and positively, outside of school. We have no strong after school clubs or camps that youth can get involved in, that can keep them engaged and build them up. They are simply bored and frustrated, anything dangerous or exciting is a buzz (even unjustified violence and death). Sure, cub scouts are an option, but to some kids, that's about as cool as wearing you dad's clothes. And sure, not every kid has the love attention of a dad, but a positive adult influence can replicate that to a degree.
Education is being taught well in school (and always in the news and being poked at by the U.K government), but until there's a positive engaging balance outside of school (a point you don't hear much about) that doesn't cost kids money they don't have, I'm afraid the lawless underage gangs and pointless violence will continue, with deaths in their wake.
I was a lucky teen. I have had art as a center of my being from an early age, which kept me out of trouble, taught me discipline etc. Others have games etc, but some aren't so lucky, to keep them off the path of evil.
I agree, parenting teenagers is difficult. Its a rebelious age where we all discover who we are. Are parents now supposed to imprison their children inhouse, like a scene from The People Under The Stairs film? Then the government will complain they're eating badly and not getting exercise. It seems parents can't win either way.
The true cause of so much pointless death and youth unrest, is simply routed in our government forgetting to accomodate young people well enough and positively, outside of school. We have no strong after school clubs or camps that youth can get involved in, that can keep them engaged and build them up. They are simply bored and frustrated, anything dangerous or exciting is a buzz (even unjustified violence and death). Sure, cub scouts are an option, but to some kids, that's about as cool as wearing you dad's clothes. And sure, not every kid has the love attention of a dad, but a positive adult influence can replicate that to a degree.
Education is being taught well in school (and always in the news and being poked at by the U.K government), but until there's a positive engaging balance outside of school (a point you don't hear much about) that doesn't cost kids money they don't have, I'm afraid the lawless underage gangs and pointless violence will continue, with deaths in their wake.
I was a lucky teen. I have had art as a center of my being from an early age, which kept me out of trouble, taught me discipline etc. Others have games etc, but some aren't so lucky, to keep them off the path of evil.