Watch out, gamers: The left wants to regulate you too
And then—as it becomes clear that little will happen in the realm of firearms because the NRA is a powerful bloc with a huge number of voters that Democrats in red states really, really don’t want to cross—the attention will turn. There’s so much violence in the media, we’ll hear. Television shows glorify mass murderers and Movies are just so violent these days! we will be told. Fortunately, the Supreme Court has basically shut down efforts to regulate TV, movies, and other forms of mass media. But what about other avenues? All of these video games, do they really need to be so violent? is the question that will come next. Studies show that video games lead to murder! ideologues will shout. Why are we teaching our kids to kill? Don’t believe me?
Blowback
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they can have my controller when they pry it …
theblackcommenter on December 17, 2012 at 3:33 PM
Give me a break. The Dems won’t dare go after the entertainment industry. Hell, the Obama campaign even advertised in video games.
Doughboy on December 17, 2012 at 3:34 PM
The Left is Autocratic and power hungry. They care nothing for Liberty and self-government to them all individuals must join the collective. This Gamer has seen this comming for years.
ChunkyLover on December 17, 2012 at 3:36 PM
The love bondage, the tyrants that they are.
Schadenfreude on December 17, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Thats my take
rob verdi on December 17, 2012 at 3:37 PM
I would agree, though most people do not regard video games as a legitimate form of “entertainment”.
They went after them in the 90′s, I would expect them to do the same here.
Gatsu on December 17, 2012 at 3:38 PM
Jamie Foxx, who said it was totally cool to kill all the white people in his new movie, said something about movies playing a role.
El_Terrible on December 17, 2012 at 3:38 PM
I hope they ban Forza because kids only drive like idiots because of that game.
Bishop on December 17, 2012 at 3:38 PM
The Left went after the entertainment industry over smoking in movies.
ChunkyLover on December 17, 2012 at 3:38 PM
Ultimately the left wants to regulate everyone (ecept themselves of course) because that’s what they are all about
clippermiami on December 17, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Leftists are sharia lovers.
Schadenfreude on December 17, 2012 at 3:40 PM
He personifies the hypocrisy of the Hollywood crowd. Don’t make those movies if you truly have concerns about their violence (and certainly don’t make light of the killing that goes on IN them).
changer1701 on December 17, 2012 at 3:43 PM
Until the experience it …
darwin on December 17, 2012 at 3:45 PM
I suspect they might, but either way it can’t hurt to put the idea out there. Obama just won an election by convincing people that his enemies intended to do things they had never even considered – like restricting access to birth control.
forest on December 17, 2012 at 3:45 PM
Who took care of people before the modern democrat?
tom daschle concerned on December 17, 2012 at 3:46 PM
Until
thethey experience it …darwin on December 17, 2012 at 3:45 PM
darwin on December 17, 2012 at 3:46 PM
It’ll be a nice point to shakedown more money from their Hollywood boosters, nothing more.
blue13326 on December 17, 2012 at 3:49 PM
What a concept
Schadenfreude on December 17, 2012 at 3:52 PM
.
Where do you think the ‘explicit lyrics’ label came from?
.
Tipper Gore went after rap music.
So, yep they’ll go there.
It’s not like anyone would say A Dem senator’s wife hates blacks and freedom of expression.
LincolntheHun on December 17, 2012 at 3:52 PM
Well hate to say it but regulating games and movies is not a bad thing…we are using methods that the Army of 20 years ago would have envied to train a whole new class of murderers.
But all the laws in the world will not cure a morality starved populace. We have lost our way as a people.
We worship sports stars, movie stars, rich people, rich things, we devalue friendship, morality, chastity, marriage, men, and we are reaping what we have sown.
PierreLegrand on December 17, 2012 at 3:53 PM
How small of all that human hearts endure
That part which laws or kings can cause or cure!
Still to ourselves in every place ensigned
Our own felicity we make or find.
Samuel Johnson
Ourselves, parents, family, religion. The Obama admin will surely never say what they ought to — it’s up to individuals to create the life they want for themselves and their families.
Paul-Cincy on December 17, 2012 at 3:55 PM
That’s being devalued too. You didn’t grow that, somebody else made that happen.
forest on December 17, 2012 at 3:56 PM
This.
Shy Guy on December 17, 2012 at 3:56 PM
I remember those ridiculous hearings. That was my introduction to Senator Joe Lieberman who chaired that nonsense. I loathed that man for years til he showed a backbone on national security his fellow Dems lacked. All that came out of that whole ordeal BTW was the video game ratings system. Which ironically led to the games being even more violent. Before that, Nintendo forced censorship on major releases like Mortal Kombat(remember the toned down fatalities?).
Doughboy on December 17, 2012 at 3:57 PM
I’d never advocate banning games, movies, music, etc. But – I would posit that it is high time people take a long look at the “entertainment” they consume and think about what it says about themselves.
We’re not saints – but that doesn’t mean we should be so comfortable with sinning.
CycloneCDB on December 17, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Are there “Gun Free Zones” in video games?
Clink on December 17, 2012 at 3:59 PM
And what good did that do them? They had a demonstrable victory with the Assault Weapons Ban. Games? Not so much…
ernesto on December 17, 2012 at 4:01 PM
lol
+1!
nathor on December 17, 2012 at 4:02 PM
I’ve always thought playing video games is the most pathetically useless activity on earth. Right there with listening to any liberal discuss any topic.
BuckeyeSam on December 17, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Why do I feel there is going to be a violence tax on games?
Oil Can on December 17, 2012 at 4:11 PM
Bring it. Take that crap to court and see what happens. If ‘Piss Christ’ is art, then so is Halo.
John_Locke on December 17, 2012 at 4:14 PM
Jeff Greenfield feeding on carrion
Schadenfreude on December 17, 2012 at 4:14 PM
So is it a sin to go out and play paintball?
Not to disagree with the premise of garbage in garbage out, I just don’t really see the problem with playing a few rounds of Battlefield 3. It’s a game. Same with Halo; someone who can’t create boundaries is going to have issues regardless of their media consumption.
Let’s say Lanza hypothetically never played a video game, do you think he wouldn’t have shot up a school? And while we’re at it, what video game/movie/TV show has featured a main character slaughtering 7 year olds?
John_Locke on December 17, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Remember that video games are one of the last forms of media that still protray our military heroicly. I have yet to see the mainstream American military shooter that begins a mission with: “You have 5 minutes before the international media arrives. Kill as many Iraqi civilians as you can and get out before the brave, moral, pacifist European journalists arrive.”
Then again, I’m sure there’s a left-wing game studio that’s dying to publish that.
mabryb1 on December 17, 2012 at 4:20 PM
I hope they ban all consoles and games developed after 1995 since these games are too realistic graphically.
It would lead to a huge revival in retro gaming. My collection of Commodore 64 systems and accessories would be worth a fortune!
Norwegian on December 17, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Playing a round of ARAM as Sivir makes me want to forge my own cross-blade and hurl it majestically into Christmas-shoppin’ crowds at Best Buy.
THANKS A LOT, VIDEO GAMES!!!
Jeddite on December 17, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Video games prepare you for handling a firearm the way Assassin’s Creed prepares you for parkour.
Meric1837 on December 17, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Exactly. It would also surprise me if Democrats went after games, considering their best voting bloc (young people) also tends to be the greatest demographic for gaming.
Nephew Sam on December 17, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Joe Scarborough, in his impassioned monologue this morning, took off after “violent movies and video games” as angrily as he damned “military-style blah-blah weapons”.
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on December 17, 2012 at 4:50 PM
I used the word “sin” colloquially there. I think you catch my drift, though.
When simulated combat is now an “entertainment” option – it says a little something about where we are as a society.
I am not blaming video games for Lanza’s actions. As with anything in life – we’re all responsible for our own actions. However, the numbing effect this stuff has on our society as a whole is very real.
I am just advocating that people start to look at this stuff and say to themselves…”Man – the fact that I choose to simulate killing people as a form of entertainment is kinda messed up. Maybe I should take up baking.”
That is all. Just calling for a little introspection.
CycloneCDB on December 17, 2012 at 4:52 PM
LOL
jawkneemusic on December 17, 2012 at 5:05 PM
…from your Hot Pocket and Mountain Dew-stained hands?
James on December 17, 2012 at 5:08 PM
It’s not just the Left; I’ve seen right wingers on Twitter howling about banning video games over the weekend.
Kensington on December 17, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Ridiculous article. 20-somethings living in mom’s basement and playing video games all day every day are a key Democrat demographic and they know it. They won’t touch video games. I see way more criticism of video games from social conservatives than I do liberals.
AngusMc on December 17, 2012 at 5:23 PM
This idea that whites should be “ethnically cleansed” is gaining traction, and is very very disturbing.
Rebar on December 17, 2012 at 5:30 PM
I agree that there should be limits placed on video games. I mean, I went through a rough spell for awhile where all I did was play Halo, and after a few months, I got arrested for luring a few children to my house with candy so I could sneak to their house and capture their flag.
I was later indicted on charges of hitting people with the Oddball.
mintycrys on December 17, 2012 at 5:43 PM
Yeah, that’s the most horrifying part. Ten years ago my parents would have been screaming that all games be banned because they’re violent etc etc etc. Now that I’ve grown up and haven’t been some violent sociopath because I played Halo, they see the ‘video games bad’ argument as completely absurd.
John_Locke on December 17, 2012 at 5:43 PM