Town Holds Violent Videogame Buyback Program

[Doclector]

I love the rapid backpedaling here: "We think violent video games cause violence, but we don't want to point to any specific incidents so we can't be proven wrong"

Yeah, I don't know what to say about it. I feel the need to default to my standard response for people blaming violent videogames for such incidents, which is to 1) Call them out for ignoring all the other factors that create such an unfortunate occurance, and 2) inform them that honestly, I probably would've seriously hurt if not killed someone by now if I did not have that outlet.

However, they do strictly say they're not blaming games...but if they truly don't, then why do this in the first place?

 

[jetriot]

How long until this thread turns into another fucking gun debate?

 

[Animyr]

However, they do strictly say they're not blaming games...but if they truly don't, then why do this in the first place?

My question exactly.

This whole thing seems to be saying "We don't think that violent videogames are the problem. Really, we don't. We're just going to act as if we did."

Gee....thanks?

 

[Tiamattt]

I can say I have no intention of insulting the group by calling them idiots, doesn't make it true though.

 

[Coles_Law]

I for one consider my copy of Madden 2002 to be extremely violent. How much are they paying now?

 

[The Youth Counselor]

Is there a gun buy back program?[footnote]I am not pro or anti-gun. Nor am I a supporter of put guns in every home or ban all guns.[/footnote] I'm just curious as it would be slightly silly to blame virtual guns instead of..you know...real ones.

Also, since it's all 'violent' media, are they have a tv seasons buy back? Movie buy back? Or, perhaps a book buy back? Or, that got damn rap music that all the kids are listening to these days??

No? Huh. How strange that they would choose to villainize a new media over well established ones.

Have you been keeping up with the news? After the recent shootings there have been massive turnouts in gun buyback programs all around the country.

Here's a recent one:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/27/2-rocket-launchers-turned_n_2373069.html

East of where I live in Oakland, they have gun buybacks at least annually. The guns turned in are usually junk saturday night specials, that are worth far less than the programs pay and gun stores sometimes throw in for free with purchases. But every now so often, a real collector's item of questionable origins and legal status is turned in. These programs often don't require ID, and it's believed that many of these guns are stolen or inventory from dealers and collectors being cleared. So they're criticized as welfare programs for criminals and cheats.

I wish this video game buyback program was happening where I live. I wonder if they'll take in any of the dozen or so crap M-Rated games I own and can't trade in or sell.

Indeed, I have. Well, semi. But I did recall hearing about the RPG thing, on the YouTubes, probably.

I meant within the same town, like in addition to the video game buy back.

Well, Connecticut is a small state in regards to landmass and population. I couldn't find any news reports of a gun buyback program event at Southington, but here are some articles about gun buybacks near it:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/world-war-ii-era-german-assault-rifle-_n_2270815.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/30/justice/connecticut-bridgeport-gun-buyback/?hpt=hp_t2

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_haven_cty/bushmaster-surrendered-in-gun-buyback#.UOSKza76b6Q

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Gun-buyback-program-gains-traction-4152958.php

 

[rcs619]

I love the rapid backpedaling here: "We think violent video games cause violence, but we don't want to point to any specific incidents so we can't be proven wrong"

Yeah, I don't know what to say about it. I feel the need to default to my standard response for people blaming violent videogames for such incidents, which is to 1) Call them out for ignoring all the other factors that create such an unfortunate occurrence, and 2) inform them that honestly, I probably would've seriously hurt if not killed someone by now if I did not have that outlet.

However, they do strictly say they're not blaming games...but if they truly don't, then why do this in the first place?

Because they feel like they have to do something, and the only other event of this type they could do would be an assault-weapons or general gun buyback. But, if they did that, they might actually have to admit that the excessive proliferation of firearms, the widespread access to high-capacity magazines/clips, and the ease with with disturbed/stupid/irresponsible individuals can legally gain access to them might be at least as, or *perhaps* even more, responsible for these tragedies as imaginary violence against nonexistent people in videogames, movies or television.

It's a way for them to feel like they are doing something and feel good about themselves, without actually addressing the core issues and/or real causes of the problem, because those real issues would force them to question their own strongly-held beliefs and assumptions.

 

[grigjd3]

Waiting to hear about the first armed robbery of a game store where the goal was to steal games for the buyback program.

 

[ASnogarD]

I bet they celebrate the book ... err game burning by dancing around the fire shooting their shootin' irons into the night sky while drinking whiskey and rye

...well at least games can burn unlike say, guns... would be pointless and dangerous having a gun burning party, you cant fire games into the night sky.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Can I go there to buy some of the ones that no one else needs anymore?

 

[Reaper195]

This seems like a rather not that great idea...but how much would people be getting for their games? Because if they give up game that cost them a hundred bucks, and get back twenty bucks....it just became a really dumb idea.

I can see where the thinking for this idea came from, and it does seem good...except the whole violent video games being a major factor in almost anything...

 

[DiamanteGeeza]

I love the rapid backpedaling here: "We think violent video games cause violence, but we don't want to point to any specific incidents so we can't be proven wrong"

LOL. It seems to be the way things are done in the US now. For example:

Speaker Boner: "We insist on spending cuts to balance the budget."
Everyone: "Okay, which ones?"
Boner: "Not telling."

Awesome.

 

[hotdogoctopus]

FINALLY! A place where I can sell all my old 'violent' cd-rom games, vhs movies, cd/cassette music, and books on WWII. For... gift certificates... nope.

 

[JudgeGame]

God forbid they actually bought back guns. Because guns are protected by the Constitution while videogames are clearly incredibly dangerous tools of murder that endanger everyone involved.

 

[Taronus]

Counries with school shootings: USA
Countries with violent video games: ALL
Countries with with lax gun laws: USA

Yes,it is obviously the video games' fault.

 

[LordNerevar]

*sigh* dumb-asses make wanna cry

 

[Mister K]

Counries with school shootings: USA
Countries with violent video games: ALL
Countries with with lax gun laws: USA

Yes,it is obviously the video games' fault.

Can't argue with that.
Also, about gun buyback:
They offer, what, 50 dollars for weapons, that clearly cost a lot more? Those guys will sell them and make profit, and if not, they are complete morons.

 

[joeman098]

if they gave good money i would tottaly bring all my old violent games i dont play anymore lol