Earlier today, there was a somewhat lively debate within the Supreme Court about banning the sale of violent video games to minors. They considered the effects of violent video games on young people and the definition of violence. Violence includes killing, maiming, and sexually assaulting images that appear offensive or deviant. Even though the law is not in effect yet, they would impose a $1000 fine on stores that sell video games to people under 18. If the government were to go about this issue by social regulation, they would have to heavily monitor. There is no promises it would work because, like alcohol, there would be problems like distributing to minors. Also, what would the government do about the violent games that minors already own? Just a few things to think about.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/us/03scotus.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Michelle Watkins
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Criminalizing the sale of violent video games to minors would substantially curb the negative effects these games have on our society. Although the issue of distributing to minors was brought up, it is unlikely that an individual would have to buy a game for a minor since the parents are typically the one purchasing the game. Should punishing the parent be an option or is a solution even feasible?
ReplyDeleteBen Clemence
They already have laws in place that prevent people under the age of 18 purchasing videos game. They could change rules that qualify ranking games which would make more games unavailable to children. Regardless parents will go buy the games for their children anyways or they will get somebody of age to buy it for them. This is a good idea though because any obstacle is a good thing because it will prevent at least a few.
ReplyDeleteThe entertainment software rating board already places ratings on video games that are sold at stores. And according to the website they "suggest age appropriateness for the game, and appear on the front of virtually every game box available for retail sale or rental in the United States and Canada." In my opinion the government needs to begin to have programs for teaching parents and stores about how they handle the withholding of selling these games to youth.
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