Teh interesting (non-PHL-related) news stub thread

[Twin-Skies]

I have nothing against people who want to prevent minors from buying violent video games.

I have nothing against this point. This was the reason I never ended up buying either God of War or the later GTA games - because I need to keep an eye on what my siblings play.

Video game violence has become more realistic if you ask me.
We didn't grow up with that kind of realism when we were kids.

Agreed again, although quite frankly, a child's exposure to violence isn't just in games. Look around you - even watching the local butcher slaughter pigs and cows would count as violence. I'll bet you plenty us have seen at least one relative slit a chicken's throat or gut a fish to prepare a meal, all before we ever hit age 13.

Then there's the TV - local news report plenty of violent crimes at around 6:30, which is around the same time that most grade-schoolers are already home, either studying or getting ready for the family meal.

We are exposed to violence even outside games and quite frankly, I think most of us can handle it.

Let me ask you this: With millions of people around the world playing Counter-Strike and GTA, why is that the number of supposedly gaming-related acts of violence for 2007 to 2008 is just enough to be countable on your fingers? I've seen more violence happen over sports-statistics, basketball matches, or road rage. Have you ever seen that the UK is like when they lose the World Cup?

IMO retailers and video game shops should take responsibility. It's those pirated copies that is making those violent games accessible to young kiddies in the first place. You can't just rely on parents because they can't keep an eye on their kids 24/7.

I agree that retailers should take responsibility - ID requests are probably a good start. On the other hand, Santiago's law will have to face some serious problems.

1. What if it's the parent who knowingly buys the M-rated game for their kids? You can't fault the retailer for that since they are technically selling the game to somebody of legal age. Will the cops arrest you just because the parent's snotty-nosed little bugger wouldn't stop throwing a tantrum until they get Resident Evil? In some cases, there are also parents who buy the game despite knowing its rating, because they think their kid can handle it.

2. Why are we even focusing on games? Look at the malls and the legit video stores. When they hold a sale, they sell all their discount discs to just about anybody who's willing to foot the bill. Including porn - why don't we see Santiago doing anything about that? That is after all a far more prevalent problem.

3. Santiago's bill is patterned after a similar bill filed by attorney Jack Thompson for the state of Louisiana back in 2006.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/25/the-po...louisiana/

For the record, the Florida Court's Judge Tunis is currently filing a permanent disbarment case against JT, due to a total of 27 charges including making false statements to tribunals, disparaging and humiliating litigants and other lawyers, and improperly practicing law outside of Florida.

In other words: So much for the bill's credibility.