Health Warnings Could Appear on Games

[Nitz]

Congressman Joe Baca (D-California) reintroduced a bill this week that would mandate all video games with an ESRB rating of "T" or higher to be sold with a health warning label.

The Video Game Health Labeling Act of 2011 will create a new rule within the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) which will add a warning saying: "WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior."

As we originally reported, a bill with the same legislative language was first introduced in 2009 but did not move forward in the Committee process. Rep. Baca looks to continue to garner support and sponsorship from other Members to see if a hearing on the bill will occur - and vote to move it out of Committee - where it then awaits a vote on passage by the full House of Representatives.

"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."

Rep. Baca cites reports from the Pediatrics Journal, University of Indiana, University of Missouri, and Michigan State University that point to a neurological link between "playing violent video games and aggressive behavior in children and teenagers."

While I think violence in games does in a very small portion contribute to aggressive behavior. The chances are VERY low and it seems kinda lame to do this... but what can we do. Idiot kids still think game is real life when they play too much!

 

[Sabrina]

While I think violence in games does in a very small portion contribute to aggressive behavior. The chances are VERY low and it seems kinda lame to do this... but what can we do. Idiot kids still think game is real life when they play too much!

Well I kind of have to disagree on that. I did a research article for psychology and most of the scientific studies that have been done seem to point towards the fact that media violence and violent video games causes agressive behavior..mind you, im not saying its only what causes it but it contributes to a lot of it..think of it this way. Every kids future is influence by their surroundings or what they do in major ways..so if you grow up playing violent video games, all that shapes you and feels some what like reality when you're at that age of getting molded into the person you become. Hence you do tend to get quite agressive. Its like when you grow up in an intimidating environment, you are a little shy as a person wen u grow up..im sure its reversible in many ways but its not so easy..i think its different when you're grown up and know its just a game but kids cant quite differentiate that...you could argue the age restriction on games, but howmany kids actually follow that?

wow this has to be my first long post its ok harry, u can bitch at me about it wen u see me in a couple hours k

 

[Nitz]

Well I kind of have to disagree on that. I did a research article for psychology and most of the scientific studies that have been done seem to point towards the fact that media violence and violent video games causes agressive behavior..mind you, im not saying its only what causes it but it contributes to a lot of it..think of it this way. Every kids future is influence by their surroundings or what they do in major ways..so if you grow up playing violent video games, all that shapes you and feels some what like reality when you're at that age of getting molded into the person you become. Hence you do tend to get quite agressive. Its like when you grow up in an intimidating environment, you are a little shy as a person wen u grow up..im sure its reversible in many ways but its not so easy..i think its different when you're grown up and know its just a game but kids cant quite differentiate that...you could argue the age restriction on games, but howmany kids actually follow that?

wow this has to be my first long post its ok harry, u can bitch at me about it wen u see me in a couple hours k

I like your point of view actually.. I never though of it that way.

I guess the bigger problem I noticed is that parents buy their kids M rated games a lot. I remember some kids mother got him Call of Duty, and the kid must be like 10-12.

So either parents don't care what's in games. Or they assume their kids are mature enough to know reality from gaming. Though like you said I suppose some games might create different moods for children.

If their used to seeing violence.. I guess it kinda sticks with them for their life.

 

[Sabrina]

I like your point of view actually.. I never though of it that way.

I guess the bigger problem I noticed is that parents buy their kids M rated games a lot. I remember some kids mother got him Call of Duty, and the kid must be like 10-12.

So either parents don't care what's in games. Or they assume their kids are mature enough to know reality from gaming. Though like you said I suppose some games might create different moods for children.

If their used to seeing violence.. I guess it kinda sticks with them for their life.

True..i guess the warning label would be more for those parents who buy them for kids younger than the age restriction on the game... but then again, i dunno how much the label would change their view point... :chinese: