Because some people are too stupid to raise kids
Posted on 22/08/2011 by Igor
So some time ago, I was linked a newspaper story about how the U.S. supreme court had overturned a Californian law which sought to impose $1,000 fines on stores which sold violent video games to people under 18. Leland Yee, a Californian Senator who wrote the law is quoted as saying "It is simply wrong that the video game industry can be allowed to put their profit margins over the rights of parents and the well-being of children".
I'm sorry, did I hear this man correctly? Is he really saying that it is the right of parents to completely ignore the age rating on the game, any advice given to them by the store clerks and buy a game that is blatantly not suitable for minors, just in order to get them to shut up? This Californian law is yet another example of bad parenting being covered up by the law. It is much easier to blame the store, or the game developers for exposing their precious babies to violence, sex, drugs etc than it is to admit that it's their own damn fault for buying this game for their kids in the first place. It neglects to mention most of these games get purchased by the parent on behalf of the child. The store does not come equipped with mind readers, the clerks have no way of knowing that the copy of Ninja Death Warrior you're purchasing isn't for you, it's in fact intended for your 12 year old child.
This brings me to a related point, that of video games being the media/politician's whipping boy. Video games as an entertainment medium are still very young, history tells us that most entertainment mediums in their early days are met with stern opposition. This fear/condemnation most likely stems from the fact it is still new and as such many of those unfamiliar with it can only see its negative aspects. We regularly see in the media that if a story, however remotely, involves gaming, it's demonised as another example of the evils of video games. Now just to be clear, I am absolutely against minors playing games that are unsuitable for them. I'd no sooner allow my child to play one of the GTA games than I would let them view pornography. It is however not the place of government on any level to regulate this. The government cannot make up laws to govern areas any half decent parent should cover. When the State begins to regulate what we can and can't do, it's only a short leap into a dictatorship.
My parting message to all the parents out there; the government cannot make up for bad parenting. Step up, take some responsibility for your child and don't blame others for your own short-comings. It is a great tragedy for the current generation of children that video games are so misunderstood by those in authority. Rather than trying to ostracize gaming, those in power should wake up to the fact it is one of, if not the fastest growing entertainment mediums in the world. Think how it could benefit society by teaching so wide a variety of skills in a fun and enjoyable way. Imagine using the Total War games technology, or similar technology, in history classes; instead of reading a dusty textbook or listening to some middle aged commentator talk about WW2 on video, a teacher could set the scenario and allow the children to do what they think should of been done, then end the class with showing them what actually happened (much like the BBC TV show Time Commanders). This is just one example of the limitless ways gaming and the technology it uses could be implemented into our classrooms for the benefit of all. Sadly though, if we are ever to embrace the benefits of gaming we must learn to stop treating it as something to be abhorred, something which the current generation of politicians seem largely incapable of doing.
6 comments
Posted by Adam Riddick | Permalink
Posted by Igor | Permalink
You do have a point when you say it needs to be regulated from both sides of the fence.
In my experince most retailers if you don’t look 18 or older, they’ll ask you to prove your age, but like most things they’re not universally perfect. Whether its because of greed or sheer indifference some retailers do sell games to those who are to young for them.
My main objection though lies in the idea of imposing a universal law that will flat out punish the store every time. Some kids look alot older than they are so a better idea would be to make it a requirement that consumers provide proof of age when purchasing a game rated 18 or over. Or perhaps instances when an adult game has been sold to a minor should be examined on a case by case basis and the real culprit punished. Eitherway its an issue that needs greater examination and debate to solve.
Posted by Adam Riddick | Permalink
This could then boil over to Alcohol, Knives, Fireworks, Gasoline, In the UK, the person who sells them is fined, and the establishment is fined, if their are repeat offences then the place loses license to sell those goods.
You can’t say that an establishment shouldn’t be blamed for serving under age people on products, especially gasoline, fireworks and knives, this is why we have ID and its the law to ask for it, because these products are dangerous.
And I’m not saying video games not dangerous, but it is a requirement, and has been for many a year, to ID someone when selling an age required product.
The ‘Real Culprit’ is not the case, if a 13 year old dolls themselves up and is served for alcohol because the barman/woman did not ask for ID, the bar person is to blame for failing to fulfil a requirement of their job, and the law. If they had asked for ID, the 13 year old would be turned away and would not get alcohol, adults have to show more responsibility than children.
Posted by Igor | Permalink
That is so, then the real issue is what kind of punishment/enforcement there should be. Currently selling an 18 rated game to a minor carrys a £10.000 fine and/or 6 months in jail in the UK. I’m not sure if this is just the mainstream media or all media in general but when was the last time you can recall reading a story about a store and/or its employee being punished for selling games to a minor? It is clearly happening that 18 rated games are finding their way into the hands of minors.
Whether this is the stores fault for selling them to minors, or the parents fault for buying/giving them to minors is impossible to tell.
What seems clear is that the penalty either isn’t sufficent or they (less scrupulous retailers and/or parents) simply don’t think they will be/are not caught.
It’s a fine line to tred before the states attempts to protect our children sart infrging on our civil liberties, but politicians such as Leyland Yee are over simplifying the problem by squarely placing blame at the foot of the video game industry.
Posted by Adam Riddick | Permalink
You’re right their, but to be fair a lot of cases parent’s buy these games for the kids, and that’s wrong, maybe their should be a fine for them as well?
It would seem they’re chasing down a scapegoat, which is a very politic thing to do. Instead of addressing the issue, we’ll blame somebody else.
Theirs a lot of issues with parenthood as things stand anyway, children will always have their ways of getting hold of this stuff, but its up to us parents to at least ensure they can look at things, or use things responsibly.
The law takes the wrong approach anyway, which is a completely separate debate (and possibly a article topic). Their was a time when the police were feared, but now everything is so lapse. Even to the point the ‘Don’t assault NHS Staff’ posters now come saying ‘We may decide to punish you if you beat up our staff’ Instead of ‘You will go to prison’. The game industry itself cannot be blamed for anything mentioned, and I for one hope it is never affected.
I feel so much happier now I udnretsand all this. Thanks!
Hey,
You’re right in saying the parents are for blame to what their children come across, some forms of media cannot be totally censored by parents, and as a parent that could be a worry, but I’m educated enough to know how to stop my children seeing things they shouldn’t see.
However, Californian law imposing a fine for the sale of violent games to under 18’s, well I agree with them. How am I supposed to stop by son playing an over 18 video game, whilst I’m at work, when he buys it from his pocket money during the holidays, and the store allow him to do so?
The control needs to happen on both sides of the fence.
The government, as you said, cannot make up for bad parenting, however they can help parents raise better children. Their was a time when if a child talked back to his parents he got a slap, If I did that today, I would go to prison, and probably serve a longer sentence than a rapist or a murderer. The law should not stop parents punishing their own children, I was smacked as a child, and it taught me respect. There is a fine line between punishment and abuse, but abuse will happen whether parent’s are allowed to punish their children or not.
In fact, punishing children could lead to a downfall in abuse, for future generations. Not every parent is perfect, and I often judge parents who talk to their children like animals, or tell them to ‘stop f*****g swearing’, but everyone’s parenting skills come from their own parents, and is a reflection on them as well.
I would never blame others for my own shortcomings or failings as a parent, I know I could do better, but in certain areas, such as punishment, my first choice would be a smack on the bum, because I know it works, but that’s been taken from me.
Parents are the first port of call when a child is raised badly, and I agree this should be the case, but people shouldn’t always judge without first considering the circumstances, or the fact the law does hinder our jobs.