Judge overturns Michigan's "explicit" video game law.

[IamJen]

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/04/04/michigan_video_games_law_dead/

I'm unclear as to why the state was required to show that said video games encourage violence. Movies are restricted, in part due to violence. Access to sexual-explicit materials are controlled. Were these laws subject to the same scrutiny?

[Romac]

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/04/04/michigan_video_games_law_dead/

I'm unclear as to why the state was required to show that said video games encourage violence. Movies are restricted, in part due to violence. Access to sexual-explicit materials are controlled. Were these laws subject to the same scrutiny?

yeah inconsistencies really annoy me. If movies are restricted due to language and violence then it's consistent to restrict video games as well.

i've also never understood why you can turn on the TV on saturday afternoon and see some crappy sci-fi flick showing some guy melting someone's face off with acid, but they'd never allow a boob to be shown or someone dropping an Fbomb. melting faces = ok...boobs and swear words = not ok...weird.

[IamJen]

*chuckle* Don't even get me started about the sex/violence double standard. :brood:

I would argue that there *is* a proven link (starting way back in the 60's with the Bobo the clown studies) between entertainment violence and real violence. But...I can't figure out why the video game law is being held to a different standard. I've been trying to find a copy of the law online, but I've only been able to find summaries so far.

[Scythe]

I should get a t-shirt saying I encourage violence.

[Romac]

I would argue that there *is* a proven link (starting way back in the 60's with the Bobo the clown studies) between entertainment violence and real violence.

indeed there is...just observing my daughter i'm convinced. Being 3 she's started to graduate to 'big girl' movies. Peter Pan is one of here favorites. She was inspired to pick up sticks and hit our dog with them saying "fight" "fight" "fight" just like peter pan fighting captain hook.

of course i'm not saying to ban peter pan, but it simply illustrates the obvious mechanism by which we emulate entertainment violence.

[Qwerks]

I'm on the fence about this (not really a surprise). I grew up playing violent video games, but they involved things like trying to knock a little man off of his flying ostrich or blasting through evil aliens. With titles like "Grand Theft Auto" and "Cop Killer" selling well I am somewhat concerned. I see a sort of chicken-or-egg/nature vs. nurture conundrum going on with that.

[Romac]

I'm on the fence about this (not really a surprise). I grew up playing violent video games, but they involved things like trying to knock a little man off of his flying ostrich or blasting through evil aliens. With titles like "Grand Theft Auto" and "Cop Killer" selling well I am somewhat concerned. I see a sort of chicken-or-egg/nature vs. nurture conundrum going on with that.

me too

i grew up reading all kinds of horror books, and watching all kinds of sick movies, and evolved into a vegan.

but what i worry about are all the suggestible people. many people are mindless sheep, and many people have psychological problems, many people are dim witted, many people grow up in crummy circumstances.

you, i, and gandhi might be able to enjoy some DOOM in full gore mode and not turn into serial murderers, but what about all those other not-so-together people?

[Qwerks]

but what i worry about are all the suggestible people. many people are mindless sheep, and many people have psychological problems, many people are dim witted, many people grow up in crummy circumstances.

Well society surely would not work with an abundance of dominant personalities, so I would not consider many people needing guidance to be a bad thing. Those in need of guidance are not inclined to act unless instructed to do so; what I am wondering is whether something like a game or movie would suffice as an alternate form of leadership.

My gut says no, for instance: showing Jimmy how a man may be killed would be far less likely to produce action than saying "Jimmy, go kill that guy". If I am right, then the increasing violence we're witnessing is being caused by something else, and increasing interest in violent games is a symptom. Kind of.

Semi OT: The "something else" I'm pointing a finger at is rising poverty and shrinking opportunites, which you (Romac) seem to be thinking of as well.

[Romac]

My gut says no, for instance: showing Jimmy how a man may be killed would be far less likely to produce action than saying "Jimmy, go kill that guy". If I am right, then the increasing violence we're witnessing is being caused by something else, and increasing interest in violent games is a symptom. Kind of.

Semi OT: The "something else" I'm pointing a finger at is rising poverty and shrinking opportunites, which you (Romac) seem to be thinking of as well.

i have no idea what creates people like jeffrey dahlmer, the btk dude, and other sicko's. maybe they saw something sick when they were young and it turned them on? i dunno. but i wonder if they would have done what they did if they lived in a vaccum with happy images. i dunno.

[Scythe]

but i wonder if they would have done what they did if they lived in a vaccum with happy images.

Probably asphyxiated.

[IamJen]

It bothers me too, that this seems to give *less* control to parents, instead of more, which is not what anyone (conservative/liberal/libertarian/whatever) wants.

[Romac]

Probably asphyxiated.

lololol:yes: