Congressman Baca wants health warnings on video games.

[sabra]

Source: Examiner

Earlier today, Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) announced that he has introduced legislation that would require all video games that are rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) to be labeled with health warnings.

Here's the quote from a press release:

“The video game industry has a responsibility to parents, families, and to consumers – to inform them of the potentially damaging content that is often found in their products,” said Rep. Baca. “They have repeatedly failed to live up to this responsibility. Meanwhile research continues to show a proven link between playing violent games and increased aggression in young people. American families deserve to know the truth about these potentially dangerous products.”

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/x-856-LA-Video-Game-Examiner~y2009m1d12-Congressman-Baca-wants-health-warinings-on-video-games

[sakabatou]

1. Don't they already have that on the label with the ESRB rating?

[Deja Q]

2. And by constantly sitting there, getting carpal tunnel, fat, and sarcastic.

Keep in mind, telling people all this won't always stop them.

Abstinence fails. So do condoms. Undesired pregnancies and STDs haven't exactly dropped. :(

((granted, while there are various addictions needing treatment, at age 16 it's all raging hormones and, assuming they know the repercussions, also lack of giving a damn. And the same can be said for video games too, not to stray too much from one controversial topic to another then back... :D ))

[redqueen]

3. Hah... nice piece:

First off, no they haven't. There hasn't been a proven case or study that playing a game will lead to more aggression. Even though a certain case involving Halo 3 might have given politicians more ammo for these acts, video games are a health risk?

...

Nice to know that California can be counted on to be ass-backwards in thinking. Aren't people losing jobs and homes in California? Doesn't our state have a huge budget crisis? California has 99 problems and labels on video games aren't one of them.

[YOY]

4. Hey Baca! You're a Democrat. ACT LIKE ONE! DLC typical BS.

Video games as a scapegoat crap is BS.

"Meanwhile research continues to show a proven link between playing violent games and increased aggression in young people."

There is no link. All accredited research has shown that there is no link. The only thing they have is that shitty APA study from years ago...it has been disproven so many goddamn times.

Is this guy DLC? With a little research I found out YES HE IS. Did Mr. Benchley decide to run for office since he got booted from DU?

[OhioChick]

5. Ummm...

Is there nothing more important going on than to be introducing legislation regarding health/video games??

[ixion]

6. but apparently, illegal invasions, torture, police state tactics warrant no investigation at all

that's just f'n great.

Video games, Congressman, are not the problem. Complicit fat cats such as yourself are the real problem.

[YOY]

8. Baca is DLC shit. Patriot act supporting Blue Dog shit.

So much more important work to do and he has to act like this is even an issue for all the soccer moms out there.

[onehandle]

7. Warning: World of Warcraft = Crack.

Judging by some folks I know, that's a game that needs a warning.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. I'd respond harshly, but I've got a raid coming up in an hour and I need to prepare.

:D

[onehandle]

18. Are you one of the Horde bastards who come out of nowhere and kill my wife and I?

75th levels that cruise sub-30 level regions are dicks.

And that's where the crack aspect comes in. You can't die!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. Well, I'm an altoholic, but mostly Alliance.

Tarren Mill is my stomping ground when I look for trouble, which isn't that often. It sucks ass when you can't fly out of an area because the flightmaster is dead. :-)

[onehandle]

22. Ain't it the truth.

This first time I came across a dead flightmaster, I was very surprised.

I was new to the game and didn't even know that was possible.

[keroro gunsou]

23. final fantasy 11 does

on the final screen before you enter the game proper.

WoW's got some warnings in the books and online...

bottom line is, if you are parent, it's your job to limit what the munchkins do. if you are an adult, that's on you.

[Soylent Brice]

9. STOOPID

why can't parents just, gee... i dunno... be parental or something. maybe make your kids go for a fucking walk in the park or something.

WTF.

[keroro gunsou]

10. they are already labelled

you unctious moron.

parents need to get off their asses and read the damn ratings before buying their percious booboos a game.

games don't make me violent, sanctimonious morons with no goddamned clue what the fuck they are talking about, quoting "studies" that are skewed to prove their point, make me violent.

the video game industry has NO obligation to parents to do their fucking job of policing content, the parents do.

and if the game is sucking up too much of the brat's time, then it's the parent's job to shut the goddamned thing off.

yes, shit like this pisses me off.

[endarkenment]

11. Warning: improves eye hand coordination?

:wtf:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. As someone that's played violent video games his whole life and never committed a violent act...

I find this tripe to be utter garbage.

[YOY]

14. DLC Bullshit.

They shit on the youth vote this way. It's simple pandering to the social conservatives: soccer moms and NASCAR dads who don't know any better.

[Doremus]

15. DLC = repuke

We soooo need to start kicking them to the curb. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Prospero1]

16. another thing....

this is a first amendment issue. Software is a work of creative expression. Does the congressman advocate "health warnings" for books, magazines, TV and movies he decides are harmful? (If so, let's start with Fox "News"). I guess the bill of rights has gone "off the table".

[Mithreal]

17. Video games are eating away at network tv ad revenues?

CONGRESS HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED TO LIVE UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITY!

WHAT ABOUT THE LINK BETWEEN America's imperialistic wars of aggression and bullying and aggression in children. Our nation settles resource conflicts with military force, uses soldiers in place of diplomats, and makes war profiteering and selfishness a virtue. Maybe Republican and enabling Democratic government needs to have a warning label?

I for once would like to watch a tv show like Survivor or The Amazing Race without seeing images of dismembered bodies and victims of horrible crimes for the violence pornography ads of shows like CSI. Why attack the violence of a video game when you can see realistic images of horror during prime time commercials. Don't get me started about horror movie commercials during prime time. And what about CSI offering toys to young children because of course it is a children's show. I am disgusted by television violence but I do enjoy most video games. Why pick on video game manufacturers, it is very strange. The US military is making mall gaming centers to recruit young folks into the killing professions using VIDEO GAMES.

One thing of many I liked about Obama was he said parents should be more responsible. I thought the Democratic Party had grown up just a little. That remains to be seen because if Obama crushes the teacher's union he will be no friend of mine. I realize my fear may be 99.9% unfounded. Only a few more days to wait now.

[Politicalboi]

20. This is a bunch of shit

Video games are just that. Games. And if some kid can't determine what is real and what is not then their parents need to get involved in their lives. I thought they were talking about WII Knee which I agree there should be warnings for over exertion. I play first person shoot games and never once have I ever thought about shooting anyone. I am sick of the blame game. It's bad enough being 48 that I have to watch edited TV because some child might be watching. Most children learn their bad words from their parents and they bring it to school. It's like a cold and they all catch it. Besides they already have ratings on games. Why don't they show us the studies of ex-military men who saw battle and the dangers of going into the service. Oh because that's real.

[davepc]

21. Someone in the Congressman's staff might want to forward him this...

http://www.esrb.org/

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a non-profit, self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). ESRB assigns computer and video game content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines and helps ensure responsible online privacy practices for the interactive entertainment software industry.

Mission
To empower consumers, especially parents, with the ability to make informed decisions about the computer and video games they choose for their families through the assignment of age and content ratings, and to hold the computer and video game industry accountable for responsible marketing practices.

Philosophy
After consulting a wide range of child development and academic experts, analyzing other rating systems and, most importantly, listening to parents, ESRB found that what consumers really wanted in a video game rating system was both age-based rating categories as well as concise, impartial information about what type of content is in the game. Parents felt strongly that a rating system should inform and suggest, not prohibit.

With this philosophy in mind, the ESRB created and implemented the first two-part rating system, which includes both a rating category to suggest age-appropriateness, as well as content descriptors to indicate what content may have triggered the rating and/or may be of interest or concern to the consumer. The result is a rating system that is universally adopted by the industry, supported by retailers and is consistently described by parents and opinion leaders as the best entertainment rating system in the US.

[LeftyMom]

24. This would explain my violent impulses toward mushrooms and flying turtles.

:shrug:

[Zhade]

25. Total bullshit. Correlation is not causation.

NT!