Star Jones Talks Violence in Video Games
Today, on the former View star’s new show, Court TV, they had a big discussion about video game violence. I am just going to cover some of the key points made, and also ask some of my own questions, and I am wanting to know what you think.
-They mentioned about the guys from Columbine being into violent Video games.
– What’s the difference between violent video games and movies?
-It was brought up about how the video game industry uses a similar rating system that the movie industry uses.
-Star talked about finding a “Middle Ground” with the video game industry. Her question to the video game industry was, “Don’t you think the middle ground should be you putting more pressure on the retailers to enforce the ratings?”
-My question is “Why should it be up to the Gaming Industry to hold the retailers responsible? Shouldn’t the retailers be responsible for their own actions? Should not pressure be put on retailers like Gamestop, Target, and so own, to hold up the standards of the ratings?
-Another question is “Whatever happened to good ‘ole parenting?” The gaming industry has done their job by putting the ratings on games. It’s the parents job to make sure their kids are old enough to play certain games and understand the difference between video games and reality.
Please let me know what you think. I will have more on this some time tomorrow or this weekend. This is a great weekend topic.
August 23, 2007
If the ratings are in place and the retailers are doing their job then there really isnt a problem. i dont think video games can cause violent behavior. you cannot blame video games for every male who goes out and commits a random act of senseless violence. here is a newsflash probably 95% of men between the ages of 10 and 30 play video games on a regualr basis. the environment somebody grows up in and the morals they are taught is what influences violent behavior. Rated ‘r’ movies are equally as visceral and have just as much shoot em up violence as video games. Yes the player is more immersed in video games – but common sense dictates that just because you can use a shotgun in a video game to open a gaping hole in someones chest, doesnt mean that you should do it in reality. even the most violent games teach good lateral thinking and puzzle solving skills but nobody ever wants to talk about the good in video games. just one guyt talking here.