Hardware Analysis - Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Bitmap — 2007-08-17T04:47:59-05:00

dark41 said:

Funny how society changes over time. When I was growing up in a small town in WI, it was almost a requirement for masculinity to have been able to handle your alcohol at 16. I'm not suggesting things were better in those days, only that things have changed considerably.

Some things change, others stay the same. I recall the pressure, three years ago, when I was in high school and the pressure to drink was pretty high. I live in Cheyenne, WY, "The Cowboy State," and drinking is a regular thing amongst all state residents, more so during our annual celebratory rodeo+carnival+concert festival, Frontier Days "Daddy Of 'Em All."

I was in Denver during that, this year. I don't drink, never have, and never plan on it.

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

dark41 — 2007-08-16T05:48:17-05:00

Gerritt said:

... I was trying to prove my own "high wit"....

Gerritt

I think you always succeed honorably Gerrit. I got a kick out your use of their, there, they're.

I agree that laws and lawmakers always seem to go to far. Probably moreso in the USA than in other countries, as I've never heard of such a law in AU about allowing your children to drink alcohol at home (but it could be that I'm just not aware of it). AU reminds me of the USA in the 70's-80's that way.

Funny how society changes over time. When I was growing up in a small town in WI, it was almost a requirement for masculinity to have been able to handle your alcohol at 16. I'm not suggesting things were better in those days, only that things have changed considerably.

I don't really appreciate someone's else's right to sue me over how I raise my children either, short of physically abusing them. I don't think there's a manual on how to raise kids. We each do our best, with what we know, and hopefully correct some of our own parents' mistakes in the process. Yet, we're all doomed to failure of some degree. Until we're perfect, we won't raise perfect children. (I may come across as thinking I'm perfect, but I know I've made a mistake... once.)

AU has the game rating system too, although I'm not aware that they enforce it or that it's legally binding. My 15 yo son just bought 2 MA rated games without being questioned about his age. I'm all for the AO rating for violence as well as sex, but then I was also a big fan of Leisure Suit Larry. I'd be curious to know how an adult could be successfully sued for allowing their kids to play an AO game, when the stipulation is only on who buys the game, not who can play it

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Gerritt — 2007-08-16T01:31:28-05:00

Bobby,

I didn't intend to confuse.
It was a "tongue in cheek" reference back to a dark41 posting stating that 15 yr. olds had better things to do, such as learning the proper usage of their, there and they're. As one of the "over the hill gang" here I was trying to prove my own "high wit"....

Gerritt

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Bitmap — 2007-08-16T01:09:42-05:00

Gerritt said:

FingerMeElmo87,

Based upon your handle and postings I am assuming you to be a 20 yr old who considers himself to be articulate and of high wit. You are proving, to a degree, some of dark41s points. The usage of proper syntax and structure in your postings may go a long way to proving him wrong and yourself right. Not a judgment, just an observation.

It is for this very reason that I, a 19 year old male, try my best to post with proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and structure. Of course, nobody's perfect; I make typos from time to time, but putting forth the effort makes one seem that much more intelligent.

I'm a little more apt to believe someone who says:

"... and this is why Intel has better business practices than AMD in most areas, hence, their current position as leader in the consumer CPU market."

... versus...

"... and thats y intel pwnz all of u amd guyz, cuz there teh pwn k thx bai."

Obviously, it's an extreme example, but, by gum, I've seen it. That comma I threw in? That was me being generous. I'll be damned if half of America even acknowledges punctuation when they're on the internet.

Gerritt, your "their, they're, there" usage in your first passage confused the crap out of me for a sec. I prefer their proper usage, partly because I'm in college, and really need to know which ones are used where, and partly because I write short stories in my free time, and can be a bit of a grammar snob, admittedly.

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Gerritt — 2007-08-16T00:52:54-05:00

dark41,

Their laws that prohibit adult supervised distribution of alcohol to minors, even if it is your own child. As a matter of fact they're has been a recent news story about a couple being busted for serving there son beer at his birthday party. (thats it for my there, their and they're)

There are efforts underway not only to enforce the ratings system at the point of sale, but also to add reckless endangerment of a minor charges to a parent that permits a teenager to play a "Mature" title. This is an unacceptable infringment upon my right as a parent to determine proper content for my children. I agree that there should be a rating system, but it is up to the parent to decide what content is suitable. What grinds my jaws is that you can splatter blood from one side of the screen to the other and this may get you a PG-13 (TEEN) rating, but show one breast and you're now a R (MATURE) title?!? Go figure.

BTW there is a X rating for games, its called AO (Adults Only), and is a virtual kiss of death as most retail outlets won't carry them, but some of the same places will carry firearms and alcohol....go figure.

FingerMeElmo87,

Based upon your handle and postings I am assuming you to be a 20 yr old who considers himself to be articulate and of high wit. You are proving, to a degree, some of dark41s points. The usage of proper syntax and structure in your postings may go a long way to proving him wrong and yourself right. Not a judgement, just an observation.

Gerritt

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

dark41 — 2007-08-09T21:08:32-05:00

Bobby Phillipps said:

dark41, you said that much better than I could have even attempted. Hats off.

And I'd watch out for your son, too. *note to self: don't become a security guard*

I kid, I kid.

It's all good for me.

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

dark41 — 2007-08-09T21:07:10-05:00

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

FingerMeElmo87 — 2007-08-09T15:47:17-05:00

Dave said:

As for the guns, I think people should have the right to own them but I have to go with Chris Rock on this one: If a bullet were to cost 5000$, then you must have good reason on using it.

problem solved.

if you personally have to live out a game in real life then you're just an idiot. thats how i feel. if you do not see the difference between fiction and really, you deserve to be in a strait jacket. i like how b*tches like jack thompson believes that one outburst from an idividual is ALWAYS directly related to video games and now dr.phil is on that bang wagon as well. losers. i dont think they relize how many people they're actually disrespecting and affending when they open there mouths and bash this industry. i personally take that sh*t as a slap in the face. they both can go to hell

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Bitmap — 2007-08-09T14:28:47-05:00

dark41, you said that much better than I could have even attempted. Hats off.

And I'd watch out for your son, too. *note to self: don't become a security guard*

I kid, I kid.

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

dark41 — 2007-08-09T12:38:45-05:00

I see it completely the opposite. Any kid is entitled to their opinions. But making some decisions is quite different and is still governed by law according to age for good reason. I don't feel that 15 yo's are smart enough to have some decision making rights, which is why 18-21 is the legal limit for making decisions in some situations. To me, there's much more important things in life for 15 yo's to be doing, such as learning the correct context for "they're, their, there" etc..

I have no problem with games being rated in the same way. If games that were deemed highly violent were rated (say) X, where only someone 18-21 or over could buy them, it would put the responsibiliity back to parents to determine which games they would buy for their kids, or not. I'm not for banning any content, but I'm all rating systems.

Of course kids could still get someone to "carry out" for them as they do with booze, or play them at a friends house as they can view movies that they aren't allowed to watch at home. There's always a way around laws if someone looks hard enough.

At any rate, the movie ratings systems were put in place for a good reason. There's also a good reason why people can't drink until they're 18-21. Parents who don't see the value of these systems can buy/rent any movie they want for their children or feed them alcohol at home, but at least it's an adult making the decision. If I thought my 15 yo was smart enough to make that decision for himself, I could purchase anything for him that I want and disregard the rating system. As it is, I'm quite happy that someone older and a bit more mature is making those decisions for him.

Having said that, I bought Half Life for my son when he was like 11 or 12, me not really knowing what it was about at the time. I think the game is totally stupid, but he loved it. The blood and gore, along with the ability to shoot security guards as well as the monsters just takes away from the game to me. On the other hand, my son used to shoot the same guard over and over (long after he was dead) and laugh like crazy. I don't think it has made him a threat to society, but I sure question his judgement since then, and watch more closely which games I buy for him.

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Bitmap — 2007-08-09T04:09:36-05:00

"I signed this important measure to ensure that parents are involved in determining which video games are appropriate for their children," he said in a statement.

Funny. If the law were to be passed, parents would have less say in what's appropriate, because of regulation.

Think about it. With a law, the responsibility is taken out of the parents hands, and put into the hands of the government. Every child is different. Some kids can safely play Doom 3 at the age of 15 (myself, for example) others should probably wait until their 17 or 18. The a government law, it rules out individuality. (Yes, I'm horribly liberal like that, deal with it.)

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Gerritt — 2007-08-09T02:25:19-05:00

The whole Violent game situation has been under the microscope for many, many years. There are several instances of it being approached, including during the original "Star Trek" series in the 1960s.
During a specific Star Trek episode, it was put forth that someone that failed in the "GAME" would be less likely to carry on an actual war....something worth concidering.

Gerrit

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

dark41 — 2007-08-08T07:36:34-05:00

Chalk 1 up for the violent game promoters/supporters.

http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,22208813-16123,00.html

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

iamtheculprit — 2007-08-05T19:40:06-05:00

Nirmal Kejriwal said:

As a non American onlooker I believe controling video games or any other media is like sticking your head in the sand and hoping the problem will go away.

Maybe what is needed here is RIGOUROUS gun control, or better still elimination of guns.

Controling video games is not the answer.

Quite eloquently spoken!

I'm opposed to eliminating guns from the hands of law abiding citizens, but I'm all for stricter gun laws, such as if you have ANY criminal record, no gun for you! I think all people should be required to have a liscence for ANY gun, concealed carry, assault weapon, hunting rifle, the works. i think if we want to reduce violence we need to provide the means for regular citizens to protect themselves, not get rid of voilent videogames. outing videogames isn't gonna do anything but make people angry.

Re: Re: A case against video games? or More Gun Control?

Gerritt — 2007-05-09T01:31:27-05:00

Gents, and Ladies,
I did use statistics, I did not intend to trivialize the deaths of 30 people, anymore than I was attempting to trivialize the deaths of untold civilians in war or class warfare, or by psycotics over the ages of civilization. I'm trying to equate the deaths in Darfur, Germany, Cambodia, USA, or even the US Military, where a much higher enemy or "other" deaths TRIVIALIZED or totally overlooked because they are not US citizens....we're not the only ones in the world, and even if we were, this is nothing NEW, just rare. As a matter of fact rarer than expected.

I would like to suggest that everyone here at HWA that has weapons, and those opposed to us, get the UN to sanction and underwrite a "meeting of the minds" between the two opposing camps, with the firearm owners bringing what they own, legally, to the conference, and put them in the middle of the table. My expectation is that during the debate, the likelyhood of a "non-gunner" picking up a weapon to shove it in the face of a "gun owner" is MORE likely than the owners doing the same. I have NO scientific rational for this viewpoint, but I view it as a very likely outcome.
The fellow at Virginia had no weapons or ownership background, yet I'd be willing to bet that some of the folks killed had families that were military, or have hunted.
It's only a short road to actually pulling the trigger, if you don't have a history of working with the power that is inherent to a firearm or any other weapon. A longterm understanding of a weapon usually leads to a reluctance to use it in an invalid situation....something I wish some Presidents could understand.

Another rant by me. BTW, I am unaware of any civilian that has a legally defined "arsenal", that has gone on to this type of behaviour.

Gerritt