Proof that parenting your children is so 1980. SUING AND BITCHING IS NOW, PEOPLE.

Just another rant by insanely stupid people over videogames. I've had enough of it.

It's @#$%ing hilarious how they treat it as some kind of epidemic. You also got to love their diverse selection of video games. And that whole 'flight simulators trained people to commit 9/11...'

Are these people on drugs? Are they full of themselves? What is it that makes them act so... so... illogical? They seem to only ever present one side of the argument and shut their ears to any, and all, good points from their opposition. It's like elementary school children bickering.

The fact that if they're out of the spotlight for even five seconds, they'll spontaneously combust.


It's the parents who're letting their children play these games. Blame their weak wills and such instead of going "ZOMG T3H GAEMS R KILLER TRAINERZ"

In all honesty, they're like ... 3-4 times older than me, and I have a speech in the back of my head that could blow them all away (assuming they listened).

This is just sad.

The brief shot of The Punisher made me feel all warm and happy on the inside.

But I'm not gonna go off-topic here.
While I love video games and the sight of extreme violence, I see nothing wrong in looking into this issue and being concerned, but I agree with LSL that they need to listen to and respect the other side's opinions. Also, these people are either trying too hard, or not trying hard enough.

I mean, videogames COULD be a little more effective, but is far from the only media with violence that could be "dangerous" to the people.
And I think I've seen researches or small articles mentioning that this issue isn't as big as people make it seem.

Personally, I'm very neutral on this issue myself.
I admit that I myself have ignored many age ratings, but just like these guys I don't really want to see another 8-11 year old playing GTA (and believe me, there are a lot of 'em). I see no reason in going too far, though. I want actual proof, and I want to know if video games actually have an effect on the whole majority rather than the small amount of guys I've heard stories about sometimes.

The reason why I actually bother considering that video games could have some effect on people (but I don't really believe in this yet) is because while I have never really hurt anyone, I often feel tempted to do it. But maybe that's just been in me forever, long before I played games. But still, it scares me. But maybe this is proof video games doesn't make you crazy.
Also, I've met this crazy kid who's the brother of an old friend of mine. I don't like to jump to conclusions... but he was really freaky, and he's been playing games he really shouldn't play way too much, wich is the only reason I have. But maybe some people just are nutjobs.

I admit I try to protect others from violent games... like my little sister, who was really eager to play Conker: Live and Reloaded (because she didn't know what kind of content it had), and I always tried to make sure she wouldn't play it, but I didn't have much of a chance and I'm now biting my fingernails hoping she won't end up like the other kid I mentioned. But I tend to be overprotective, since I never feel comfortable when I play a game that has a lot of swearing in front of her, like The Punisher (oh, what a fun game).

But no reason to go too far. Jack Thompson is a good example. Being concenred that media could make people violent is OK, but he's just not doing it right and does appear to believe that games are some kind of epidemic. His way of "protecting" us makes me wonder if he's gone insane trying to stop this or not.

Well, I'm neutral on this. I love video games, I love violence, and I've seen good attempts at proving everyone that videogames doesn't harm anyone.
But I'm not suprised if videogames can make people violent, either, and I'm not going to go directly against this statement. But like I've said before, videogames isn't the only media that could be "dangerous".
And I'm really not into games like Postal or GTA (Punisher would be an exception because I got a weird sense of "justice") or things like that. I never really thought of them as dangerous, though. I just think it's sick. But I could just be a hypocrite, watching Violence Jack and all that. Well, I guess I'm watching it because I think of it as a horror anime, where the sickness is a bit of a point and is meant to be shocking.

EDIT:
I also understand why they actually try to do this. The age ratings are a good idea, but they're not really a law of nature or a force field that completely stops you. They're just words (kinda like web sites where no one under 18 is allowed to enter), and well... kids these days just won't listen to words.
But whatever. I'm more or less on both sides here.

And yes, flight simulators training people to commit 9/11 is completely laughable... unless they were playing Top Gun for the NES (man, I've edited this post a billion times now to correct typos and doing other less important stuff).

You know what's amazingly satisfying about being me?

I've been playing video games nonstop since I was 1 and a half years old. I love them. My life has been forever changed by them. I have no plans of ever stopping.

But I'm also reasonable, sane, logical, smart, and a total pacifist. I could never bring harm to anyone.

I am the proof that everything they said in that trailer is bullshit.

And it makes me happy.

Even if it's for the other side, that trailer looks cool.

As for subject, look at me. All I do is play fighting games. I grew up with violence in my media. And I only fight if only necessary...

And my Nephew, I let him play some of them, but I make sure he understands that this isn't real and shouldn't be done in real life. And he didn't turn out so bad.