USA: 'Ultra-Violent' and Sexual Game Ban Gets Majority Support
Survey findings to be presented to Supreme Court.
A recent US poll has revealed that 72 per cent of adults are in favour of a ban on the sale of "ultraviolent or sexually violent" computer games to minors without parental consent.
The findings, taken from a sample of 2,100 adults over a period spanning 13-16 August, will be presented to the US Supreme Court to hear the arguments for such a law to pass. The hearing will take place on the 2nd November.
James Steyer, CEO of the non-profit organisation Common Sense Media, said that the poll's results "clearly show that not only do the effects of ultraviolent or sexually violent games weigh heavily on the minds of parents, but also that parents feel the video game industry is not doing enough to protect kids from accessing these games."
Sales of such games to underage consumers is already restricted in California, but the aim is to expand that into a nationwide law.
"The Supreme Court’s decision is going to have a huge impact on families and kids across the country. What we’ve learned from this poll is that parents want to be the ones who decide which games their kids play, not the video game industry," Steyer added.
With parents happily buying the latest Grand Theft Auto for their kids without so much as looking at the age ratings on the box, we're not entirely convinced that 'letting parents decide' is any less anarchic than the current system in place. What do you think, readers?
The findings, taken from a sample of 2,100 adults over a period spanning 13-16 August, will be presented to the US Supreme Court to hear the arguments for such a law to pass. The hearing will take place on the 2nd November.
James Steyer, CEO of the non-profit organisation Common Sense Media, said that the poll's results "clearly show that not only do the effects of ultraviolent or sexually violent games weigh heavily on the minds of parents, but also that parents feel the video game industry is not doing enough to protect kids from accessing these games."
Sales of such games to underage consumers is already restricted in California, but the aim is to expand that into a nationwide law.
"The Supreme Court’s decision is going to have a huge impact on families and kids across the country. What we’ve learned from this poll is that parents want to be the ones who decide which games their kids play, not the video game industry," Steyer added.
With parents happily buying the latest Grand Theft Auto for their kids without so much as looking at the age ratings on the box, we're not entirely convinced that 'letting parents decide' is any less anarchic than the current system in place. What do you think, readers?
Games:
Grand Theft Auto
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Comments
deleted 14 Sep 2010 11:53
1/5
Why isnt he support 100%?? its bloody common sense!!
Rephrase (edit) The fact it isnt 100% shows where the problem is, with the parents who feel into that 28% the parents that cant be arsed and the parents that would rather give the kid £50.00 and send them on to GAME, its frustrating as a parent who is responsible, as much as my little boy (5 year) would like to play GTA simply to drive the cars around a fully realised city I don't let him, even though he loves Mario Kart etc, its the appeal of driving real cars with people and traffic, or jumping on to a train track and chasing a train, and yes i have caught him sneaking it on in the past and maybe once or twice i turn a supervised blind eye, but when he asks its a no, but i explain why and offer him an option to play something a little more tame, like just cause 2 etc..
Rephrase (edit) The fact it isnt 100% shows where the problem is, with the parents who feel into that 28% the parents that cant be arsed and the parents that would rather give the kid £50.00 and send them on to GAME, its frustrating as a parent who is responsible, as much as my little boy (5 year) would like to play GTA simply to drive the cars around a fully realised city I don't let him, even though he loves Mario Kart etc, its the appeal of driving real cars with people and traffic, or jumping on to a train track and chasing a train, and yes i have caught him sneaking it on in the past and maybe once or twice i turn a supervised blind eye, but when he asks its a no, but i explain why and offer him an option to play something a little more tame, like just cause 2 etc..
config 14 Sep 2010 12:45
2/5
Remember that it's "adults" that were surveyed, not "parents".
Those 28% were likely fretting that a ban might violate the First Amendment rather than applying a pinch of common sense.
Those 28% were likely fretting that a ban might violate the First Amendment rather than applying a pinch of common sense.
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Daz 14 Sep 2010 17:55
3/5
Just teach the kid right for wrong and that it's only a game, and let 'em play whatever they want, worked with me and I'm fine
deleted 14 Sep 2010 18:56
4/5
Daz wrote:
Just teach the kid right for wrong and that it's only a game, and let 'em play whatever they want, worked with me and I'm fine
Yeah I agree, just I didn't want my 5 year old exposed to "F**k You Mother F**ker" as he ran over some granny on GTA4 lol, but I do let him play some older age games and they are pretty down to earth they understand the differences but in all in all the kids are more happy playing littlebigplanet and so am I :-), its all common sense really,
Daz 14 Sep 2010 19:44
5/5
haritori wrote:
Yeah I agree, just I didn't want my 5 year old exposed to "F**k You Mother F**ker" as he ran over some granny on GTA4 lol
he's gonna be saying it to you in a few years (ah teen years, how I miss them), best to get it out of the way, just say "don't be saying it at school they don't like it and I don't want a slap of ya mum, and trust me neither do you, it hurts"
haritori wrote:
but I do let him play some older age games and they are pretty down to earth they understand the differences but in all in all the kids are more happy playing littlebigplanet and so am I :-), its all common sense really,
exactly