The old "Guns don't kill, people who use them do" adage is turning up in new ways these days. Like in the video game world. Increasingly violent video games are roughing the feathers of many who see them as the cause of increasing violence in today's youth. There is definitely proof of this.
But can you hold a company that created a game liable for an act of violence perpetrated by an individual that happens to own a violent game in their collection? The Arizona state legislature is seeking to do just that.
"A bill currently under consideration in the Arizona state legislature would impose liability on persons who produce or distribute "dangerous or obscene" content (including audio, video, interactive media, and even written content) that is found to be the material cause of a terrorist act or felony. The broadly-worded proposal, which is touted by its supporters as a tool for financially punishing makers of violent rape films, is viewed with serious concern by movie producers and video game developers who fear that it will be abused." --- arstechnica
I don't believe this will ever pass, nor should it. But on the other side of that fence, there is evidence that these games have some form of control over weak minded and or unsupervised kids. Not to mention unstable adults.
Every few weeks a new game enters the market with far more realistic violence than the weeks of games prior. When you hear stories of a brother killing his brother because it was his turn, you have to stop and wonder if this stuff is going to far and contributing influence toward the increasing disregard for human life.
While I do not approve of video game makers creating or selling excessively violent games (Bully and the GTA series come to mind), I have never believed regulation is the answer, and even more certainly holding them liable for the actions of individuals certainly doesn't work.
The only appropriate regulation is actually promoting competent parenting.
Posted by: GoodThings2Life | April 08, 2008 at 01:10 PM