Under 18 gaming law for Ill?

[Dubh Aingeal]

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois has apparently decided to build on past "wins". He seeks to impose legislation that will prohibit the distribution, sale, rental and availability of mature video games to children younger than 18. Breaking of this law would be punishable by up to one year in prison or a $5,000 fine."

I dunno, but I don't see it being any more enforceable than CA's new law stating you can't file share with out a legit email address.

[Soulrev]

They get what they voted for. Can't say I've known many sane people in Illinois.. Geez.. Glad we moved out of that state when I was 7.

[Ginevra]

I can agree with the intent of this law, to some degree. If I had children, well, I wouldn't want my 7 year old playing San Andreas or some such. Kids that age do not need to be playing games that violent.

[Soulrev]

Right, I can understand that, however I feel it's the parents' responsibility/choice on that matter.. Not the government.

Also for the sake of the argument of "If my kid plays Doom he's going to shoot up his school"

If your kid shoots up his school because of a video game, guess what, there were pre-existing psychological problems. Video games do not turn children into sociopaths.

[Scary Guy]

I disagree. To an extent they can. You give them negative stimulation that makes them feel positive, it is quite probable that they will carry it up to the next level. If you balande it out however and give them all the fluffy cutsy BS that makes life on this miserable rock worth living, then they will grow up to be stable citizens.

First and foremost it's the parents responcibility to know and understand what their kids are doing. Then it's their responcibility to show them if it's wrong or not.

This brings us to the question of "just what makes a suitable parent anyway?" and no, just caring is not enough.

Finally if you think the government knows whats best for the children you should just put them in the state's custody because I don't think you deserve them. The government should baby no one. But then again I believe in Dawin's "survival of the fittest".

[Troy Spiral (13)]

In the end everyone is "responsible" for their own actions, and parents/guardians are responsible for the actions of their childen and shitty (or non existant) parenting / upbringing is probably the casue of a very VERY large percentage of social ills.

But even though i enjoy voilent films/movies/video games they generally do see to be a problem for (or perhaps a symptom of) society.

That "misguided , badly parented kid" who is "on the edge" of gunning down the bullies at school, wouldnt even think to get a gun and blow them away if he hadn't seen 4000 movies and 9 billion video game characthers doing the same.

Having said that, in practice, i dont think this nessisarliy is an issue for the government to be in control of. If enough consumers are concerned about this, the industry will regulate itself more drasticly (in partnership with their various outlets) due to social outrage. Society votes best with its pocketbook.

[Scary Guy]

Troy it's already self regulating with the ESRB ratings which hold as much water as the MPAA ratings for movies. If a kid wants to watch the movie he's still going to watch it eventually when his parent's aren't looking or annoy them until they give in.

Point is, the industry does try.