Doesn’t She Have Anything Else To Do?
I know she’s probably grandstanding a bit in preparation for her potential run for President, but doesn’t Senator Clinton have anything better to do with her time than to worry about video games? Why is she making an issue out of a non-issue? I know that this is what politicians enjoy doing, but it’s just ridiculous.
Yes, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a violent game with adult language and sexual overtones. Yes, Rockstar Games has been making games like this for years. Yes, this game is not for kids. That’s why it’s rated “M” for mature (17 and older). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ranted about this stuff before, but yet the government keeps trying to stick their nose in to save us from ourselves.
So what’s happening now? It turns out that there is a mini-sex game available for GTA: San Andreas. The argument is whether it was available in the original code of the game and locked up before release (probably self-censorship to earn the M rating as opposed to an AO [adults only] rating) or whether the mini-game is a separate entity created by outside parties.
Clinton says:
“We should all be deeply disturbed that a game which now permits the simulation of lewd sexual acts in an interactive format with highly realistic graphics has fallen into the hands of young people across the country,” Clinton wrote in a letter to the head of the Federal Trade Commission.
Oh dear lord. The game doesn’t “now permit” lewd acts, you have to hack it to accomplish this. An intentional act by a willing individual. Fallen into the hands of young people? How did this happen? Isn’t this game rated “M” for mature? Shouldn’t only folks 17 years and older be purchasing this game? Surely parents know what they’re buying for their kids, right? Parent’s are responsible for the actions of their kids, so they’re sure to be paying attention to what they’re doing and playing, right? Here’s some fun info from a fellow gamer annoyed by these constant attacks on the video game industry:
In testimony before the U.S. Senate in March 2000, David Walsh, president and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family, provided the following statistics:
- Ninety percent of teens say their parents never check the ratings of the video games they buy or rent.
- Only one percent of teen video gamers say their parents have ever prevented them from getting a game because of its rating.
The fact is the ESRB, a voluntary organization set up by the video game industry, already labels video games based on content. Every video game you see at a Best Buy or a Comp USA or a Circuit City or a Wal-Mart has a label clearly displayed on the game’s cover indication this rating. What’s happening is that parents are completely ignoring this rating and then feigning ignorance and acting indignant when they discover the game they bought for their child is filled with sex and violence.
So what is the typical answer from irresponsible assclowns, “family organizations” and government officials? Make it illegal, fine someone a big amount of cash, or attempt to legislate it out of existence. These people never talk about personal responsibility. These people are enemies of freedom. That may sound like an overstatement. You may say that this is just a video game, and I shouldn’t be so worked up, but the fact is that all these little attacks erode our basic freedoms. Added up over time, a lot of little attacks can take huge chunks out of our rights.
Whatever happened to the concept of a free society? What about capitalism? What about parent’s taking some responsibility and initiative when it comes to watching out for their kids? I’m not saying that the GTA series of games is a good game for kids to play, but I’m saying that as a free, adult member of society I should be allowed to choose and make my own decisions about what I consume. Just because parents are too irresponsible to take care of their kids doesn’t mean freedom of choice and supply and demand should be circumvented.
Here’s a real simple solution: if you don’t like the game, don’t buy the game. This can be applied to just about everything in a free society. Take some personal responsibilty. If you’re a parent and you don’t want your kids exposed to Mature or Adult rated games, DON’T BUY THEM! It’s so simple and these morons want to make it so complex.
