New at Reason

Julian Sanchez | March 22, 2006

The junior senator from New York is worried about the inappropriate things children might see on their video screens--and this time, as Jacob Sullum explains, she's not talking about news reports on her husband.

Comments

|3.22.06 @ 9:33AM|#

...electronic entertainment kids enjoy is "a kind of contagion," a "silent epidemic"...

Which is why its not parents' responsibility but the state's to make sure the kiddies don't see anything that will damage them for life.

They're stopping the spread of an horriffic disease ya' see...it's all good.

|3.22.06 @ 9:49AM|#

To me, HRC is a prime example of the hypocricy of the Baby Boom Generation. 30-40 years ago, Hillary and her ilk were demanding "free love," scoffed at traditional social mores, and were more than willing to dance around naked at Woodstock. Today, they've become as prigish and frigid as they're provincial parents on the sex, drugs, and Rock N' Roll they claimed was going to revolutionize the world in their salad days.

I'm 31 now. If in my dotage I ever start calling for government to censor or regulate the media for content, I give the H&R permission to put a bullet to me.

|3.22.06 @ 9:50AM|#

EDIT: ...I give the H&R regulars...

Stephen Macklin|3.22.06 @ 9:52AM|#

"It takes a village" to totally dominate and control every aspect of everyone's life.

It takes and individual to accept responsibility for their own life.

Madame Defarge will have none of that.

|3.22.06 @ 10:03AM|#

"As Adam Thierer notes in a new report from the Progress & Freedom Foundation, "the industry's ratings system is the most sophisticated, descriptive, and effective ratings system ever devised by any major media sector in America." It includes seven symbols, ranging from "EC" (early childhood) to "AO" (adults only), and more than 30 descriptions of potentially inappropriate content."

Fuckin' A! The game that got The Rod Ham worked into such a tussle was GTA: San Andreas. The descriptions, ratings and warnings on that game are clear as day. There is violence, suggestions of sex, depictions of gang activity, etc. And all of this is disclosed on the outside of the game case. So, pray tell, how is it that The Rod Ham can seriously make claims that parents are "struggling to keep up with being informed about [video game] content."? That's patently absurd.

Equally absurd are her claims regarding correlations between games and the real world. As games have gotten more violent, juvenile crime rates have plummetted. I expect her CDC studies will produce similar findings. And then what? She'll find some other way to act as a parent for kids that aren't hers (at the expense of responsible citizens, of course). God, what a twat she is.

|3.22.06 @ 10:14AM|#

The descriptions, ratings and warnings on that game are clear as day.

What about the illiterate children? Surely something must be done to save them! They're people too.

As games have gotten more violent, juvenile crime rates have plummetted. I expect her CDC studies will produce similar findings.

They'll find whatever she wants them to find.

|3.22.06 @ 10:16AM|#

Hillary and her ilk were demanding "free love," scoffed at traditional social mores, and were more than willing to dance around naked at Woodstock.

Congratulations, Akira. You win today's prize for "Most Sweeping Generalization" on H&R.

|3.22.06 @ 10:34AM|#

Um, Akira...hate to break this to you, but those "salad days" happened when Bill was in the White house...

|3.22.06 @ 11:26AM|#

Again, I think the major issue here (the real one, anyway) is that parents have a very hard time keeping up with video game culture. By and large, it's a medium that they don't understand and can't share in. There are at least some parallels between generations with television and music, but for most parents current gaming is a complete mystery. What I find interesting is that parental knowledge and oversight is a problem that will obviously diminish significantly with time as more gamers become parents. Considering the current gaming demographics, I think this will happen very soon. Of course, we have to make sure the government gets involved before the parents catch up, or else we may never get another chance to regulate the industry.

And HRC is not a hypocrite, she's a politician. Which is like being a hypocrite only with better benefits.

|3.22.06 @ 11:32AM|#

Stretch, I think you're right, but that's a problem that will correct itself shortly:

"About 35 percent of American parents play video and computer games, and 80 percent of those play with their children, according to another ESA survey. Some 66 percent of the parent players say the games have brought their families closer together."

Frederic Wertham|3.22.06 @ 11:45AM|#

At least they're not reading comic books.

|3.22.06 @ 11:45AM|#

Wiseass,

If you actually ever read any of the articles by the Reason writers, you'd realize that Baby-boomer bashing is common, (and deserved) theme around here.

This is the generation which: in the 60s said "never trust anyone over 30", that turned around to pen "The Greatest Generation"; that wax nostalgic exactly .05 seconds after the death of any pop figure; that promised the world to their parents (Medicare, Medicaid); don't give a shit about the financial well being of future generations (the death of Social Security). They are ringing up the check and leaving their sons/daughters with the bill.

Baby boomers - Billy Clinton, HRC, Dubya - are the biggest hypcocrites this country has ever seen. As Gen X turns 30, it shows no signs of losing it's cynicism, and Gen Y has a pretty positive (if spoiled) outlook, and a strong appreciation for "diversity", which (hopefully) will morph into a strong respect for individualism.

Stop your knee-jerk defense of anything Clinton.

|3.22.06 @ 11:58AM|#

linguist, I have a problem with most of the stats released on gaming. I've seen several high numbers which include things like playing simple flash games on the computer and cell phones. There's a huge leap from playing relatively simple games on the PC (or even a console) with young children and being able to understand, let alone actively participate, the positives and negatives of the highly complex and oft-violent gameworlds that have everyone's panties in a bunch.

Still, there's no doubt that the number of parents who play games themselves and with their children is rising. If the parents are truly active gamers, I would suggest that playing a round of Madden (or whatever) with their children may be one of the best ways to spend time with them. Of course, those who are active gamers undoubtably already have the upper hand (and the best toys) when it comes to monitoring their child's use.

|3.22.06 @ 12:06PM|#

Stretch, that's true. But certainly as more of the Nintendo generation spawns, this problem will lessen (at least as much as it has with tv...) When almost all parents (esp. the mothers) have played video games, at least it won't be scary foreign territory that has them running screaming to the legislature every time Johnny comes home talking about shooting a gelly monster. :-)

|3.22.06 @ 12:13PM|#

Like I said, linguist, I agree that it's a problem that will obviously diminish in time and fairly soon. I just don't want to put the cart before the horse.

And where can I get a hold of the gelly monster shooting sim? Man, there's nothing I like more than putting a couple slugs into a gelly belly.

|3.22.06 @ 12:31PM|#

Can we regulate Hillary? She's a way bigger threat to "the children" than GTA (the most overrated series of games in a while)

|3.22.06 @ 1:58PM|#

To me, HRC is a prime example of the hypocricy of the Baby Boom Generation. 30-40 years ago, Hillary and her ilk were demanding "free love," scoffed at traditional social mores, and were more than willing to dance around naked at Woodstock.

Um Akira, Hillary Clinton volunteered for the Goldwater campaign in '64. Not exactly the choice of the counterculture.

|3.22.06 @ 3:08PM|#

Fittingly, since Clinton likens these diversions to a plague, the research would be overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

WTF?? I would like her to explain just how one goes about catching teh gaming "disease". God, she's a freaking embarassment to my home state - vying with Spitzer and Schumer to see who can trash personal responsibility the fastest. Argh.

|3.22.06 @ 5:20PM|#

I would like her to explain just how one goes about catching teh gaming "disease".

Through a computer virus. Duh.

|3.22.06 @ 8:54PM|#

Deus:

Um Akira, Hillary Clinton volunteered for the Goldwater campaign in '64. Not exactly the choice of the counterculture.

And I used to be a Catholic Republican. Your point?

|3.22.06 @ 8:56PM|#

Congratulations, Akira. You win today's prize for "Most Sweeping Generalization" on H&R.

Perhaps, but am I wrong? Can you provide evidence that HRC has been an anti-sex prig during the 60s?

|3.23.06 @ 1:21AM|#

HRC has NO redeeming political values. She's a war hawk:

http://www.amconmag.com/2006/2006_03_27/cover.html

She's for big government. Remember Hillary care? (I'm sre glad that I have to ask) And she's civil liberties unfriendly.

Concerning the sexual revolution, always remember:

Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow!

|3.23.06 @ 1:25AM|#

...Make that: "Remember Hillary care? (I'm *sure* glad that I have to ask)"