NationStates Jolt Archive

http://gamepolitics.com/2008/04/04/phyllis-schlafly/

Snipped out the boring bits in the article, so you can skip straight to the fascist goodness.

Extremely violent video games have become the dangerous obsession of a significant portion of our youth, and several towns and states have passed ordinances intended to prevent minors from buying or viewing them. But judicial supremacists are striking down these laws by claiming this extremely graphic violence deserves the same First Amendment protection as Shakespeare..

Judge Roger L. Wollman [Minnesota Case] … observed that “great literature includes many themes and descriptions of violence… See, e.g., Judges 4:21 (NIV) (’But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to [Sisera] while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground and he died.’).” What Wollman failed to add is that a literary description of violence in the Bible does not engage a teenager in role-playing or desensitize him to the harm…
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Legitimate free speech expresses violence in a rational context, rather than displaying it graphically to evoke an immediate emotional reaction. It is not a First Amendment right to cause panic on an airplane by shouting that someone has a bomb; nor is it legitimate free speech to evoke violent reactions in children through graphic video games…

A teenager who learns how to murder and mutilate human beings in video games is desensitized to commit heinous crimes against his neighbors. Nothing in the First Amendment should prevent regulations to stop this, supremacist judges to the contrary notwithstanding.

'Supremacist' judges? Nice touch. Link people who dont agree with you to a word which is most commonly associated with racism these days.
I wont even go into the rest of this, because its all been addressed before.

But really, NSG, what're your opinions on this issue? Should we start shooting politicians who run their mouths on non-issues they clearly dont understand? I think that'd significnatly improve the American political climate.

Good forthe judges. Its not too hard as a parent to ask your kid "Hey, whatcha playing?"

Treating violent video games like contraband is absurd.


I will also add that yes, reading a depiction of violence in the Bible is different from playing a violent video game (ie, one is fun, the other isnt), but most violent video games dont tell you that an inherant truth of the world is God hates queers and they should be stoned.

Should we start shooting politicians who run their mouths on non-issues they clearly dont understand?
Oh the ironing.

"WHY DON'T YOU SHUT UP, THEY DON'T CAUSE ANY LEVEL OF LATENT VIOLENCE!"
*pops a proverbial cap in a Judge's ass*

Still, aye, this is a Good Thing, really. Good work, judges.

This bitch really annoys the fuck out of me, I've been playing video games for years and I don't suffer from any kind of fucking anger problems!!! I think I'm gonna have to go postal again to cool my nerves.

Ms. Schlafly and those of her ilk, need to mind their own business. As a parent I will dictate what my kids can and can't buy, play or watch. And frankly since I am a gamer myself I don't have a problem with it.

Perhaps it would be better to force Ms. Schlafly to learn to play herself.

Like we didn't have violent kids before video games....helllooooo.:rolleyes:

Clearly young kids should not be playing games like Grand Theft Auto or Metal Gear Solid.

HOWEVER.

Any link between violence in video games and resultant violence in "RL" has been circumstantial at best.

Beyond that, this is not the domain of the government. The industry is policing itself just fine: the ratings are there for a reason, parents should pay attention to them, and if retailers are violating ESRB standards then they should be sanctioned.

One more thing:

I'm really getting tired of these double-standardizing, pseudo-psychological armchair Constitutional interpreters...in general. Their practices amount to little more than:

"This thing I have no experience with is new and unusual and it scares me, so I must ruin it for the next generation."

One more thing:

My home state of Massachusetts is trying to pass a law that will place violent video games in the same category as pornography. It goes without saying this is a bad thing. Glad however that it will likely not pass, considering that it was drafted by a lawyer who is soon to be very disbarred, and that the last couple of states that passed the very same law later found it unconstitutional.

Ms. Schlafly and those of her ilk, need to mind their own business. As a parent I will dictate what my kids can and can't buy, play or watch. And frankly since I am a gamer myself I don't have a problem with it.

Perhaps it would be better to force Ms. Schlafly to learn to play herself.

Like we didn't have violent kids before video games....helllooooo.:rolleyes:

You mean Jack the Ripper didnt play Grand Theft Horse Drawn Carriage?

Clearly young kids should not be playing games like Grand Theft Auto or Metal Gear Solid.

If the following holds true, then why is the above clear?

HOWEVER.

Any link between violence in video games and resultant violence in "RL" has been circumstantial at best.

I have this to say to Ms. Schlafly

:sniper:

"pwnt lolz omg l2p n00b!!!"

If the following holds true, then why is the above clear?
Aye, computer games don't really cause violence as such, but giving GTA to small children is as inappropriate as letting them watch Pulp Fiction, no?

You mean Jack the Ripper didnt play Grand Theft Horse Drawn Carriage?

You know, I'd actually wouldn't mind playing that :p

Aye, computer games don't really cause violence as such, but giving GTA to small children is as inappropriate as letting them watch Pulp Fiction, no?

That explains nothing at all as it provides no reason why it would be inappropriate to let them watch Pulp Fiction.

If the following holds true, then why is the above clear?

You have indeed caught me in a pickle. I was referring more to the idea that video games cause violence in general, not necessarily only in children.

I think younger kids should not be playing games like such I stated not because they can cause violence, but because the kids themselves may not be mature enough. It's the same sort of logic that you don't let a kid into an "R" rated movie.

I remember seeing Terminator 2 when I was far too young, and having nightmares for several nights after seeing the nuke scene.

Perhaps I was making a bit of a double-standard myself, and for that I apologize.

Go judges!

In my opinion, violent video games are just as likely to DECREASE violence by providing an outlet for anger. Unreal Tournament remains the greatest stress reliever I know.

You have indeed caught me in a pickle. I was referring more to the idea that video games cause violence in general, not necessarily only in children.

I think younger kids should not be playing games like such I stated not because they can cause violence, but because the kids themselves may not be mature enough. It's the same sort of logic that you don't let a kid into an "R" rated movie.

May not be mature enough to do what?

May not be mature enough to do what?

Differentiate between reality and fiction, understand that the consequences in movies and video games are different from real life consequences, stuff like that.


Thats why there are ratings. So the parents who know their kids best can gauge what their kid is mature enough to handle.

I can beat this woman at video-games, at arguing, at writing and even at existing. Yet she has a media that listens to her and I don't.

May not be mature enough to do what?

Blast you sir, and your inquisitive nature! :p

It's hard to explain. It's not that they're not mature enough to do something, per se, more that they're not mature enough to understand. They might get confused or frightened.

If a parent feels they are mature enough, then that is there perogative.

I will be in lab for the next few hours. So take care all.

Blast you sir, and your inquisitive nature! :p

It's hard to explain. It's not that they're not mature enough to do something, per se, more that they're not mature enough to understand. They might get confused or frightened.

If a parent feels they are mature enough, then that is there perogative.

Ah well perhaps all children should be taken to the woods hunting first, let them see how a bullet will mangle and bloody a bunny rabbit. Let them understand that real guns are hurtful.

Then hand them a first person shooter game and let them have at it. ;)

Ah well perhaps all children should be taken to the woods hunting first, let them see how a bullet will mangle and bloody a bunny rabbit. Let them understand that real guns are hurtful.

Then hand them a first person shooter game and let them have at it. ;)

I, for one, prefer fighting games and RPGs.

In fighting games, I play the weak and resourceful/fast characters. ;)

I, for one, prefer fighting games and RPGs.

In fighting games, I play the weak and resourceful/fast characters. ;)

There ya go, see how much gaming can actually teach. :p

Wonder why they never focus on the pros of gaming.:confused:

There ya go, see how much gaming can actually teach. :p

Wonder why they never focus on the pros of gaming.:confused:

Well, I didn't give any info on what they TAUGHT me, but here goes but one example:

A good part of my beginnings in English were due to video-games, and I catch some expressions in them as well. ;)

(The "this is but one thing" construction I just used is an example. Raja, a Cleric in Phantasy Star IV, used it, and I learned the construction was possible.)

It's not hard to "learn" how to kill another human being:

"A gun, is simple and perfect. The trigger,frees the hammer, and the hammer strikes the powder. The explosion blast a metal slug off the open end of the shell and the barrel of the gun focuses the exploding powder and the rocketing slug, like a man out of a cannon, like a missile out of a silo, like your jism, in one direction."

I usually don't like to quote Fight Club, but this one is appropriate. It's not hard to "learn" how to kill another human being. Just point and click.

Well, I didn't give any info on what they TAUGHT me, but here goes but one example:

A good part of my beginnings in English were due to video-games, and I catch some expressions in them as well. ;)

(The "this is but one thing" construction I just used is an example. Raja, a Cleric in Phantasy Star IV, used it, and I learned the construction was possible.)

Interesting. I wish they woud do studies on the positive aspects. My youngest son has been playing video games since about age 3. His hand eye coordination is amazing. He is a very advanced violist too, and I genuinely feel that gaming all his life has contributed to his ability in playing a string instrument. It is just my opinion of course, I don't have any proof that there is a coorelation, but I would wager there is.

It's not hard to "learn" how to kill another human being:

"A gun, is simple and perfect. The trigger,frees the hammer, and the hammer strikes the powder. The explosion blast a metal slug off the open end of the shell and the barrel of the gun focuses the exploding powder and the rocketing slug, like a man out of a cannon, like a missile out of a silo, like your jism, in one direction."

I usually don't like to quote Fight Club, but this one is appropriate. It's not hard to "learn" how to kill another human being. Just point and click.

Sonic the Hedgehog taught me to kill.

Remember how the pokemon craze taught children how to stuff animals into balls and battle them for sport? Or how about when you felt an insatiable urge to use hallucinogenic mushrooms and smash turtles after playing mario? Remember all the children who learned actual history by playing oregon trail? Wait, none of those things ever happened.

What Wollman failed to add is that a literary description of violence in the Bible does not engage a teenager in role-playing or desensitize him to the harm…Ancient literature doesn't teach role playing? People have been role playing The Bible for thousands of years. Every sunday children learn about cannibalism when they eat Jesus's body which somehow tastes like bread. As for shakesphere, that was totally meant to be role played.

I'll admit there's one way video games have corrupted my mind. Every time I see a light bulb I want to shoot it, because of playing Spinter Cell. I don't want to shoot commies though, and that was really the point of the game.

Sonic the Hedgehog taught me to kill.

Interesting. Sonic the Hedgehog taught me to spin my body on robots and getting fuzzy animals to pop out. :D

http://www.boomspeed.com/looonatic/violentgames.jpg

http://www.boomspeed.com/looonatic/violentgames.jpg

LOL

amazingly, phyllis schlafly's children are actually even stupider than she is. i wonder what conservapedia has to say on the subject...

amazingly, phyllis schlafly's children are actually even stupider than she is. i wonder what conservapedia has to say on the subject...

She has a vagina?

You mean Jack the Ripper didnt play Grand Theft Horse Drawn Carriage?

Of course he did! How do you think he pioneered the art of killing prostitutes?

That explains nothing at all as it provides no reason why it would be inappropriate to let them watch Pulp Fiction.
1) They would enjoy it even less than most viewers

2) It's full of violence and such, and you don't want to desensitise them too young, now, do you?

Anyone who gets the idea that its acceptable to go around shooting people because of a computer game has problems that have nothing to do with playing Doom.






HALO3 MADE ME WANT TO KILLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone who gets the idea that its acceptable to go around shooting people because of a computer game has problems that have nothing to do with playing Doom.

Ah, monster infighting... Good times. :D

It is a parent's responsibility to pay attention to what their child is doing or watching, not the government's.

Something is to blame for violence though...and since it can't be parents, it must be books like Harry Potter.

This comes from the person who has played bomberman, and has yet try to blow up othr people and little squares.

Same shit, different day. All exposure to violent media can really do is exacerbate tendencies that were already there. A wanker becomes a more violent wanker, which was likely going to happen anyway. Good on the judges. By not caving to fundie goons, they ARE supreme, and therefore supremacist.

But really, NSG, what're your opinions on this issue? Should we start shooting politicianswho run their mouths on non-issues they clearly dont understand? I think that'd significnatly improve the American political climate.

Violent video games don't make me violent!

But if we shot all politicians who speak their mind on non-issues there wouldn't be any politicians left

Violent video games don't make me violent!

But if we shot all politicians who speak their mind on non-issues there wouldn't be any politicians left

Is that a bad thing?

I remember crushing turtles whilst tripping on 'shrooms - I was an impressionable youth.

Is that a bad thing?

Good point

Good point

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Sarothai/Smileys/Dziekuje.gif

Good forthe judges. Its not too hard as a parent to ask your kid "Hey, whatcha playing?"

Treating violent video games like contraband is absurd.


I will also add that yes, reading a depiction of violence in the Bible is different from playing a violent video game (ie, one is fun, the other isnt), but most violent video games dont tell you that an inherant truth of the world is God hates queers and they should be stoned.

ORLY? Anyone who thinks that the Bible can't be a fun read obviously missed the part that had the fucking OT-equivalent of Assassin's Creed.

http://www.cracked.com/article_15699_9-most-badass-bible-verses.html

Beyond that, this is not the domain of the government. The industry is policing itself just fine: the ratings are there for a reason, parents should pay attention to them, and if retailers are violating ESRB standards then they should be sanctioned.

Conservative Family Values: Video games are making people more violent, and if anyone says different I'll shoot them with my constitutionally-sanctioned shotgun!

Violent video games don't make me violent!

But if we shot all politicians who speak their mind on non-issues there wouldn't be any politicians left

The question is, is there a DOWN side to this plan?

Ms. Schlafly and those of her ilk, need to mind their own business. As a parent I will dictate what my kids can and can't buy, play or watch. And frankly since I am a gamer myself I don't have a problem with it.

Perhaps it would be better to force Ms. Schlafly to learn to play herself.

Like we didn't have violent kids before video games....helllooooo.:rolleyes:

You mean Jack the Ripper didnt play Grand Theft Horse Drawn Carriage?

No, before video games, comic books were the subverters of choice.

No, before video games, comic books were the subverters of choice.

Ja. They've left them alone for quite some time.

Eventually, once the next big thing comes around they'll let video games be and concentrate on their new enemy. First it will be VR simulators. Then it will be Holodecks.

Then the conservatives will attempt to sanction real life. Because hey, real life can be pretty damaging for impressionable youths. Please think of the children.

Ja. They've left them alone for quite some time.

Eventually, once the next big thing comes around they'll let video games be and concentrate on their new enemy. First it will be VR simulators. Then it will be Holodecks.

Then the conservatives will attempt to sanction real life. Because hey, real life can be pretty damaging for impressionable youths. Please think of the children.

What's the next step after reality?

Should we start shooting politicians who run their mouths on non-issues they clearly dont understand? I think that'd significnatly improve the American political climate.

Well, yeah, we could, but Jack Thompson would weasel his way out of death, and then we'd have heck to pay!

No, before video games, comic books were the subverters of choice.

What's interesting to me is that all these conservative warriors have to do is wait. Given the relatively poor social and hygiene skills of the truly "hardcore" comic fanboys and video game obsessors, they'll not-breed themselves out of the gene pool.

You know what they say, holding a controller is like holding a gun.

What's interesting to me is that all these conservative warriors have to do is wait. Given the relatively poor social and hygiene skills of the truly "hardcore" comic fanboys and video game obsessors, they'll not-breed themselves out of the gene pool.

Wouldn't that require a belief in evolution?

No, before video games, comic books were the subverters of choice.And TV shows like "Bewitched" or D&D.

Wouldn't that require a belief in evolution?Would getting run over by a truck not happen if you didn't believe in trucks?

Maybe we can ban violent movies, all cursing, all sexuality and nudity from everyone and anyone's life in any media form. Maybe the news can stop reporting bloody brawls and war deaths. Maybe we can all become one complacent, smiling, mass of mindless sheep, eh.

Would getting run over by a truck not happen if you didn't believe in trucks?

I meant the belief would be required to wait for someone to be bred out of the gene pool. You could get hit by a truck even if you didn't believe in them, but you likely wouldn't depend on a truck to hit someone else if you denied their existence.

I meant the belief would be required to wait for someone to be bred out of the gene pool. You could get hit by a truck even if you didn't believe in them, but you likely wouldn't depend on a truck to hit someone else if you denied their existence.Ah, I see.

Would getting run over by a truck not happen if you didn't believe in trucks?

I don't believe in trucks...

Once, I was in a date with one. It had sex with me. It said it'd call me... and it didn't.

I don't believe in trucks anymore! :(

...A teenager who learns how to murder and mutilate human beings in video games...

I have to say that I found out the hard way that violent video games are a terrible way to learn how to murder people. I was startled to find a burglar in my home last year and I tried the Konami code on him a bunch of times -- nothing!

Click Stand;13584578']What's the next step after reality?

Your dreams.

I have to say that I found out the hard way that violent video games are a terrible way to learn how to murder people. I was startled to find a burglar in my home last year and I tried the Konami code on him a bunch of times -- nothing!

You were trying to give him thirty lives?

There's your problem.

Don't politicians have better subjects to talk about? Like, the looming recession, or Iraq, maybe?