Parents Television Council Calls Game Industry "Thugs" and "Bullies"

[Iron Lightning]

I can only hope that no one will support people too stupid to use correct grammar in their own name. It's supposed to be Parents' Television Council, not Parents Television Council. As it stands now, they're using "Parents" as an adjective, which means that they're are a council that monitors television programs intended for (or starring) parents. I assume that they're actually a council comprised of parents who monitor television (as well as completely unrelated media, perplexingly,) in which case they should use "Parents" as a possessive noun, not a bloody adjective.

So, it appears that these people are not only foolish enough to gab on about a medium they evidently have no experience of, but they are also too dense to use an apostrophe. My friends, I am appalled by the possibility that anyone gives any values to the intentionally ignorant ramblings of these overprotective simpletons. I am hoping beyond hope that California's law will fail to pass.

 

[Virgilthepagan]

Admittedly, it's pretty funny that speaking about the first amendment makes us bullies. What a great choice of words...
It's also somewhat interesting that the Families network is trying to portray the campaign as the work of an industry instead of say, a bunch of irate gamers who would rather keep their ability to gaming unrestricted. Nice to see an "us and them" mentality pervading through modern culture everywhere.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I'm not sure who they're trying to blame, it seems their blame finger is shaking uncertainly at a group.

Pretty much anyone and everyone, but themselves; which incidentally is where the blame belongs.

 

[Starke]

My parents did. The PTC flipped out at Power Rangers back when it first aired, claiming it was promoting school violence or gang warfare or some shit. So the horribly dubbed martial arts show was instantly verboten.

You know I don't know whether to feel sorry for your parents or be thankful you were not exposed to that overcommercialized sentai junk.

Me either. My apathy triumphs all.

 

[esplode]

"...the billionaire game companies that profit from selling sex and violence to children."

Are they against video games or the entire entertainment industry?

 

[Lunar Templar]

*facepalms* ugh, 'the industry is bullies and thugs* for defending them selves against people that don't understand HOW to use the system the industry it self has given,

right ........

they need to pull their heads out and and have a closer look at WHO'S buying said games FOR said childeren, but thats expecting to much

 

[Enigmers]

I believe what they are saying is that gamers should not be allowed to voice their opinion in a law that affects gamers most.

That's a perfectly logical thing to say, of course!

And if we disagree with them or try to voice our own opinion, we should be ignored because we're just hostile! That makes perfect sense!

 

[SPARTANXIII]

I'm sorry but looking from afar, this looks like a load of [BLAM]. I mean let's think for a second:

Who has the authority to decide for themselves what their kid should play?

Who is in control of the houses main revenue, meaning that they must be asked by children if they want something?

Who is the one who BUYS the game in the first place because their children aren't old enough?

In one word: Parents

Parents, who are essentially suing the games industry for mistakes THEY made!

So next time you see a website of saying "Games are bad", just type in the inbox "HEY, IT'S YOUR FAULT TO BEGIN WITH"

And if they start, just tell them to message me. I'll give them a virtual fist-fight they'll never forget!!!

 

[Arella18]

the same people that allow jersey shore to spew drunken partying is fun rhetoric into their kids minds attack video games...or that allow their kids to watch katy perry shake her half naked ass on stage...its hypocritical.

 

[Unesh52]

I don't see what the big deal is. Stores ALREADY restrict the sales of games to minors, which is what the ESRB is for in the first place. The only way I could see this really being a problem is if it banned the sale of ALL video games to minors, not just the ones that they're already unable to buy.

I was asking this question a lot at first. I think that part of the proposal is to redefine what is "appropriate" for children, and to put that redefinition in the hands of government agencies far removed from the industry (as opposed to ESRB), which is a big problem. Another part is to step up the punishment for breaking the law (as in, having a punishment at all). Companies that restrict game sales to minors do so of their own free will, and it's not perfect anywhere; "M" games still get into kids' hands. If it were suddenly law -- and the fines involved are nothing to sneeze at -- stores might find it more economical to just stop carrying "mature" (as now defined by the government) titles. Finally, if this law goes through, it would be a horrible precedent. If games are different from movies and books, we could start seeing restrictions that we never even considered, like laws restricting playing games around children, or even just having them out where kids can get them. See the extra credits video about it: we don't want games being treated like "controlled substances or soft-core porn."

I'd be happy to have someone elaborate on this for me however. I'm not particularly versed on the negative effects it would have on the industry.

 

[Arella18]

um i might be wrong but arent they just arguing about giving you guys the same rules we have here in the uk. I.e the age rating system means something, i honestly don't see what the big hoo-hah is about.

sorry for double posting

but they want to ban all mature games in stores...not just regulate them...if the games aren't protected under the first amendment then mainstream stores like gamestop and walmart will no longer sell them because they can't sell them to the highest demographic of oblivious parents who can't read that a game is mature when buying for a seven year old

 

[LastMondaysHangover]

Right, because it's totally not the parents' responsibility to decide what their kids should watch! We wouldn't want parents to take any type of responsibility for their children now would we?

In all honesty, these "advisory groups" are not only extremely pointless, but it's free publicity for the game/media companies.

 

[SimuLord]

The PTC calls someone a thug and a bully?

I'm rubber, you're glue...

 

[Lillowh]

um i might be wrong but arent they just arguing about giving you guys the same rules we have here in the uk. I.e the age rating system means something, i honestly don't see what the big hoo-hah is about.

I'm not sure you're fully aware of the stupidity of most "outspoken" parents and government officials in this country who say they're protecting "moral values" who are extremely succeptable to the Human nature of "IT'S DIFFERENT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT! GET IT AWAY FROM ME AND MY FAMILY" type of thinking that led to most of the problems in the United States (mostly about Race and Women) to not be solved until after most of Europe had adopted the rules. Also, pretty much the only reason that we gave women the right to vote is because people threatened to release an Article to other countries in Europe about what's happening to women in this country that would make us look bad. If this passes it will give the power to regulate the sale of Video games to the states and Federal government and because of this nature and the pressure of the other industries who are jealous that the Video Games industry is doing better than them finacially (This is the big differnce between the U.S. and U.K. because most "special interest groups" are funded by the Television and Movie industries which used to be the biggest industries here and got jealous because they aren't on top anymore and want to see the games industry fail) and since games will have no first Ammendment rights they can ban the sale of them all together and many states will.

 

[Infernai]

And the award for the dumbest council goes to *drum roll* THE PTC!....You guys suck!

 

[Snotnarok]

I'm not sure who they're trying to blame, it seems their blame finger is shaking uncertainly at a group.

Pretty much anyone and everyone, but themselves; which incidentally is where the blame belongs.

Indeed, I was implying that they look like they're trying to target one group but they bounce around between a few. Like they don't want to point their finger at the wrong person...hm.

 

[subject_87]

lol what

seriously who run the PTC a load of 17th century Quakers

Quite possibly, or a group of beings from an alternate dimension where 'fun' and 'artistic merit' don't exist.

Also, let me say this: I'm a teen, have played through Half-Life 2 (Which is pe-reety violent) and have not gone on any shooting rampages. Quod erat demonstrandum. Here's my idea: give everyone on the anti-game side of the court case a copy of Minecraft. They will be so wrapped up in it that they will miss the court date.