My husband plays video games. No, this isn't a prelude to a hennish rant pleading for attention - love me, want me, need me. I don't want him to relinquish his PS3 controller for my womanly pursuits: dark chocolate, wine, trash rags and "Sex and the City."
I like that he plays video games. He works hard and deserves to relax - his way of unwinding is cleansing Raccoon City of Umbrella's abominations and saving the galaxy from the Reapers. Whatever floats his boat.
Yes, most of the video games he plays can be classified as violent. Violence has found its way into our homes and lives - on television, in movies, in the newspaper, in books and magazines. It's everywhere - we can't hide our children from violence but we can offer protection.
This violence in the media debate - the theory violent imagery in video games contributed to a culture of violence - reminds me of the attack on sexuality in America. The abstinence squad, the anti-birth control mafia, the anti-abortion crew - none of this works. Teens are going to have sex because biologically (as many conservatives love to use as their reasoning for anti-homosexuality remarks) humans explore their sexuality at the pre-teen age. We hit middle school and boys aren't so gross anymore, boobies are exciting, we have urges and feelings we don't quite understand. Instead of shaming pre-teens and teens into believing there is something wrong, we need conversation. Parents need to parent, teachers need to teach. I'm not saying we should mold our children into sexual beings but we need to help them understand their feelings and urges are OK.
The same goes for violence. You can shield your children as best you can from harmful images and suffering, but they don't live in a plastic bubble.
It's not the video game creators' fault - it's the parents who let their children spend hours filling their impressionable minds with first-person shooters and women portrayed as 36-24-36, spandex-clad sex pots or the latest Grand Theft Auto installment. These parents are also the ones who let their children watch the latest "Saw" film or booby and blood filled horror motion picture - "Mama" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D." What do you expect? Stop using the television and computer as your nanny so you can pretend you're childless for a few hours at a time. Obviously my husband isn't a pre-teen/teen (or I'd be writing this post from Cell Block D). He is a well-adjusted contributor to society who deserves to enjoy violent video games in the comfort of his living room.
Violence - what was risque 10 years ago? Twenty? Thirty? Fifty? One hundred? There was a time, not too long ago, where it was risque for a couple living together out of wedlock to be featured on a television show or for a woman to be employed as anything other than a nurse or teacher. Risque was Jim Morrison singing "Girl we couldn't get much higher" on live television or Elvis' gyrating hips or an interracial couple. Think about what's allowed on TV and in movies today and what's considered extreme in society. At what point have we gone too far? We can't turn back time but we can try to do the best with what we have.
You want to regulate video games? Go ahead. Regulate them like you should weapons, regulate them like you have alcohol and cigarettes. Make it difficult for the underage to purchase violent media.
If the goal of society is to protect children from things that are bad for them - what other purpose is there? - make it difficult. You could say, it's different from alcohol and cigarettes because they can get violent media on the Internet. Make it so they need to show an ID to buy a game, same thing at the movies (don't let parents allow their children into R rated films), same thing on the Internet - parents need to block inappropriate Internet sites and television networks. Exercise responsibility, it shouldn't be a big debate. It's simple. No, it's not perfect but nothing is perfect. It's the best answer to this problem - regulation. Yeah, underage kids can still buy alcohol and cigarettes but not as many if no one checked IDs. Yeah, you can buy a gun but it may take a while.
Movie theaters and establishments selling entertainment need policies and procedures in place that are enforced and subject to penalties and fines. If a liquor store doesn't card, they can get fined and/or lose their license. Why isn't this applied to places of business selling violent media?
The government is looking for quick answers so society feels safer in elementary and high schools, movie theaters and public places across the country (also some politicians are looking to make you temporarily forget about the gun debate by introducing the violent video game debate). We need another war like the failed war on drugs. It's video games, it's lax gun laws, it's the mental health stigma and lack of affordable care, it's heavy metal music, it's our Godless society, it's drugs, it's homosexuals, it's illegal immigrants, it's this, it's that - you're never going to rid the United States of guns, violent media or mentally sick individuals. You need to do the best with what you're given. Although, I don't trust Congress to make intelligent choices since they got a pay raise and I got a tax increase.
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