Joe Baca, a Democratic member of U.S. Congress from California, is pushing a new version of the Video Game Health Labeling Act that would force publishers to add an additional warning label to games rated Teen and above by the ESRB.
Here’s the wording that he’d like to see used:
“WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.”
…and here we go again with the same old debate. There comes a point where you’ve beaten a dead horse for so long that there isn’t anything left to swing at. I think we’re at that point.
This is indeed getting ridiculous. In fact, if there’s one thing that makes me aggressive, it’s not violent media, but the hugely ungrounded governmental hate against those videogames.
I strongly suggest tattooing a warning label on Joe Baca’s forehead, telling:
“WARNING: Excessive exposure to this man’s opinions has been linked to aggressive behavior”
Also, I bet the Japanese are just laughing at this guy, as his last name translates to ‘idiot’.
WARNING: Society is a bitch. Caution when interacting.
WARNING: Argument about this subject has been linked to aggressive behavior and flaming.
The warning stickers would need a warning sticker of their own (These seem like a good idea in multiple contexts btw, not just this atrocious idea:
“WARNING: The opinions expressed on this sticker are not generally accepted by the scientific community, excessive exposure to them has been linked to ignorance and closed-mindedness. Please do your own research into this (or any other) subject matter.”
Though I suppose that message will only be funny to those willing to read it.
I’m all for violence in video games. The more the better. Also, I despise censorship. However, to deny that violence has an effect on a child’s development is to ignore scientific fact. Video games are not going to make someone go out and commit violence but there is a clear physiological effect on the brain when playing violent video games. This could contribute to a child developing an aggressive and/or violent tendency. Studies cited below.
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2010/06/violent-video-games.aspx
http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/faculty/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/01ab.pdf
http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/kooijmans.html
Related news stories
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16099971/ns/technology_and_science-games/
http://articles.cnn.com/2008-11-03/health/healthmag.violent.video.kids_1_violent-video-video-games-game-genres?_s=PM:HEALTH
Violence has an effect, yes. But simulated violence that they are in control of…. there’s no actual good evidence on that. There’s a hundred thousand studies that involve both death and having a pulse, but to conclude instantly that having a pulse means you’re going to die… is perfectly valid. And absurd.
I’ve played shooters, beat-m-ups, horror games, thrillers, you name it….. and I have never screamed more at a screen or wanted to throw shit around in a rage, than when I’m playing non-violent games. Frustration is more a cause of violence than “kill or be killed” gaming action.
Most studies find that playing video games with violence in them raises aggression to levels similar to playing any physical contact sport and the aggression only lasts for 15 minutes at most. Why don’t we put warning labels before professional sports to discourage kids from playing sports because they might get a little aggressive for a few minutes?
What makes representative Baca a total idiot though, is he wants all games rated T or higher to carry a warning label, regardless of the reasons they received that rating. I own plenty of games that only got a T because of foul language.
Gaming is addictive. Naggingly interrupting people in the middle of playing an addictive game they are engrossed in tends to piss them off and make them act aggressively. End of story. Blowing the head off of a zombie in L4D2 doesn’t make me want to join the Tea Party… er, I mean become violent.
Damn, this fucker is from my area too. I might have to head over there and kick him in the balls for everyone.
Kick him twice.
Can we have them on guns, tanks and airplanes too?
Wait, I forget tagging cars for being POSSIBLY deadly to citizens…
WARNING: Driving this car in heavy traffic may lead to agressive tendancies.
Could we stick a warning label on parents who are too stupid to research the game before they let their 4 year old play it all night and every night.