This blog is designed for those students in 8th grade Social Studies from BC High's Arrupe Division who would like to be part of a more interactive dialogue about our daily lessons and content.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
US Supreme Court vs Video Games!
The video game industry has fought back against California's ban of violent video games to minors.
I found this to be a very interesting case. I never really thought about video games having to go through the court system, but just if its rated M you have to have an adult with you. I don't think this is really fair. Parents know if there children are violent and could be effected by playing these kinds of games, so they should leave the decision to the parents. On the other hand, there could be some parents who do not know what is in the game. To fix this they should make the rating info on the back of the game more detailed. I'm really interested in finding out more about his case, and what the result will be!
This is an interesting case because the outcome could really go either way. I always thought games rated M (mature) could only be sold to people ages 17 or older; therefore minors would not be allowed to buy these violent or innapropriate video games. I think minors should be allowed to buy the games that they want without having to have an adult with them in order to purchase the video game they want if it is rated M. Even though there are a lot of violent video games, playing them will most likely not result in children taking violent actions.
Although I have played my fair share of violent video games, and I also have seen my parents views on them, I do not have a prefrence to this case. Either way, the kids are going to play the video games. If the California Gov't wins the case, the kids are still able to play the video games, because the parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents of the kids can buy them for the kids. If the video game industry wins, then the kids are still playing the games.
This case is very interesting, but I do not have a viewpoint to banning M rated video games. I have played these type of games from times to times, but I do not think it is necessary for California to ban them from minors. The kids can just have a parent buy the game with them and then the government cannot do anything. Preventing minors from buying these games does not have a big effect, it just makes them have a parent to approve of their purchase. Also the kids will still play these types of games so I do not see sense in this ban by California.
This case is interesting because almost every kid has played a M rated game in their lives. Everyone knows the Call of Duties, the Medal of Honors and all of those action packed fighting games. What i believe they should do is at the front desk of the store tell the parent why it is rated M for mature. When I bought the latest Call of Duty game at my local Best Buy the man at the desk told my mom a list of reasons why it was rated M. this is a good system because then parents can decide whether or not their kid should buy this game or not. This is why the first amendment was created because noone is being harmed by this game people just don't want minors to become violent.
This will be my 200 word reflection I didn't know where to put this. The weekend before last I made a trip out to New York. yes, the Big Apple. When I was there I had a little detour and ended up on Ellis Island. This was very interesting because in order to get their you must take a ferry which made me feel like an immigrant. I walked off the boat and stared at what was infrom of me. A large brick structure where many of my ancestors came through. The yougest of my ancestors to come through was my Father's uncle mike who came through the year it closed. I am very glad I did not have to pass threw this place. From what I saw with the pictures, this place looked like it was not fun to be there. There was a computer and you could try to trace any of your ancestors coming through the island. I found my father's uncle. In computers we had talked about the island and I didn't think it was going to be that big. But, I was wrong and when I arrived I was amazed at the size of the place. A huge brick building in the middle of a harbor. This is where some of my family had passed through. During the time in which Ellis Island was open there were huge steps to walk up. I walked up these steps and believe me there should've been some chalk marks on my back. Half the people had to sit down by the time they had finished climbing these stairs. We were in the Main hall which now is empty but back then it was the busiest place. I went to the hospital beds and there were about 10 beds in a room that shouldn't have had more than 5 beds in it. These people didn't have very good space to stay. I read some stories about people who had stayed on the Island and in one of the rooms I saw the buttonhook. This was very strange because it was a large hook attached to a wooden handle and it was put under people's eyelids. I went back to the boat and I visited Lady Liberty next. I though that Ellis Island was a very interesting place.
I find this case to be very intresting. I completly belive that minors should not be allowed to buy M-rated video games unless they have the adults permision;therefore the parent is completely aware of the circumstances. As for the video game store, I believe that they do a very good job in describing why the game may be too inapropiate to minors. These days alot of kids are playing violent war videogames;however I belive this is Ok because it may influence some teens to serve in the army when they grow up. As for vother violent games like grand theft auto; I belive that these games are extremly violent and should not be sold to anybody let alone minors. I belive that the parents must begiven a full diescription(from the attendent) of they game befor they purchase it. This way the parents know the level of content,in which will be nportayed in the game. These days the sale of violent videogames is rising rapidy;therefroe there must be sricter percausions that may lessen the amoung of inapropiatness. For example some games allow the player to chosse weather he/she would like a more or less violnet game expirence. I believe that all games should have this option;therefroe the parents players can still enjoy the game,howver is a less violent manner. Thoe are mt beleiefs on violent video games.
I believe that California should not be able to put a ban on these rated M for mature games. I believe that this decision should be left up to the parents or legal guardians of the children who are buying the games. In addition to this, not all M games are M for the same reasons. Some are M becasue they are violent, but others are m for other reasons, like language and content. They post these reasons on the game next to the rating for the people who are buying the game to be able to know why it is M and if it is ok to give to their child. Jonathan Shea
I think that it is very true that video games can cause violent behavior and such, however I don't feel it is right for them to take away these video games. If they do this then they would also have to put bans on music, movies, books etc... and if that happened then thats taking away our freedom. I think that California had good intentions but as Jon shea wrote there arewarnings and if parents disagree and don't want their kids buying M games that's their problem. I think that even if this law had passed or will pass than kids will still play these games somehow and when that happens whats the point of making this law? I think that both sides have an argument, h9owever this would be unconstutional. Chris Hansen
I thought that it was interesting that a case about video games would ever find its way to the supreme court. Video games have always seemed harmless, and not something that could be a great issue. I feel that the state of California does not have the right to ban video games. Limiting the video games a kid can play is up to that kid's parents, the government shouldn't do it for them. Most parents will let their kids play M rated games anyway. I believe that Chris Hansen also brings up a good point, if they ban video games, then they will have to ban explicit songs, or inappropriate movies and books, and this would cause a lot of trouble. Personally, I think that they can not ban certain video games, and if they did, kids would just play "illegally."
I found this to be a very interesting case. I never really thought about video games having to go through the court system, but just if its rated M you have to have an adult with you. I don't think this is really fair. Parents know if there children are violent and could be effected by playing these kinds of games, so they should leave the decision to the parents. On the other hand, there could be some parents who do not know what is in the game. To fix this they should make the rating info on the back of the game more detailed. I'm really interested in finding out more about his case, and what the result will be!
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting case because the outcome could really go either way. I always thought games rated M (mature) could only be sold to people ages 17 or older; therefore minors would not be allowed to buy these violent or innapropriate video games. I think minors should be allowed to buy the games that they want without having to have an adult with them in order to purchase the video game they want if it is rated M. Even though there are a lot of violent video games, playing them will most likely not result in children taking violent actions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have played my fair share of violent video games, and I also have seen my parents views on them, I do not have a prefrence to this case. Either way, the kids are going to play the video games. If the California Gov't wins the case, the kids are still able to play the video games, because the parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents of the kids can buy them for the kids. If the video game industry wins, then the kids are still playing the games.
ReplyDeleteJEFF GAILIUS
This case is very interesting, but I do not have a viewpoint to banning M rated video games. I have played these type of games from times to times, but I do not think it is necessary for California to ban them from minors. The kids can just have a parent buy the game with them and then the government cannot do anything. Preventing minors from buying these games does not have a big effect, it just makes them have a parent to approve of their purchase. Also the kids will still play these types of games so I do not see sense in this ban by California.
ReplyDeleteThis case is interesting because almost every kid has played a M rated game in their lives. Everyone knows the Call of Duties, the Medal of Honors and all of those action packed fighting games. What i believe they should do is at the front desk of the store tell the parent why it is rated M for mature. When I bought the latest Call of Duty game at my local Best Buy the man at the desk told my mom a list of reasons why it was rated M. this is a good system because then parents can decide whether or not their kid should buy this game or not. This is why the first amendment was created because noone is being harmed by this game people just don't want minors to become violent.
ReplyDeleteThis will be my 200 word reflection
ReplyDeleteI didn't know where to put this.
The weekend before last I made a trip out to New York. yes, the Big Apple. When I was there I had a little detour and ended up on Ellis Island. This was very interesting because in order to get their you must take a ferry which made me feel like an immigrant. I walked off the boat and stared at what was infrom of me. A large brick structure where many of my ancestors came through. The yougest of my ancestors to come through was my Father's uncle mike who came through the year it closed. I am very glad I did not have to pass threw this place. From what I saw with the pictures, this place looked like it was not fun to be there. There was a computer and you could try to trace any of your ancestors coming through the island. I found my father's uncle. In computers we had talked about the island and I didn't think it was going to be that big. But, I was wrong and when I arrived I was amazed at the size of the place. A huge brick building in the middle of a harbor. This is where some of my family had passed through. During the time in which Ellis Island was open there were huge steps to walk up. I walked up these steps and believe me there should've been some chalk marks on my back. Half the people had to sit down by the time they had finished climbing these stairs. We were in the Main hall which now is empty but back then it was the busiest place. I went to the hospital beds and there were about 10 beds in a room that shouldn't have had more than 5 beds in it. These people didn't have very good space to stay. I read some stories about people who had stayed on the Island and in one of the rooms I saw the buttonhook. This was very strange because it was a large hook attached to a wooden handle and it was put under people's eyelids. I went back to the boat and I visited Lady Liberty next. I though that Ellis Island was a very interesting place.
I find this case to be very intresting. I completly belive that minors should not be allowed to buy M-rated video games unless they have the adults permision;therefore the parent is completely aware of the circumstances. As for the video game store, I believe that they do a very good job in describing why the game may be too inapropiate to minors. These days alot of kids are playing violent war videogames;however I belive this is Ok because it may influence some teens to serve in the army when they grow up. As for vother violent games like grand theft auto; I belive that these games are extremly violent and should not be sold to anybody let alone minors. I belive that the parents must begiven a full diescription(from the attendent) of they game befor they purchase it. This way the parents know the level of content,in which will be nportayed in the game. These days the sale of violent videogames is rising rapidy;therefroe there must be sricter percausions that may lessen the amoung of inapropiatness. For example some games allow the player to chosse weather he/she would like a more or less violnet game expirence. I believe that all games should have this option;therefroe the parents players can still enjoy the game,howver is a less violent manner. Thoe are mt beleiefs on violent video games.
ReplyDeleteI believe that California should not be able to put a ban on these rated M for mature games. I believe that this decision should be left up to the parents or legal guardians of the children who are buying the games. In addition to this, not all M games are M for the same reasons. Some are M becasue they are violent, but others are m for other reasons, like language and content. They post these reasons on the game next to the rating for the people who are buying the game to be able to know why it is M and if it is ok to give to their child.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Shea
I think that it is very true that video games can cause violent behavior and such, however I don't feel it is right for them to take away these video games. If they do this then they would also have to put bans on music, movies, books etc... and if that happened then thats taking away our freedom. I think that California had good intentions but as Jon shea wrote there arewarnings and if parents disagree and don't want their kids buying M games that's their problem. I think that even if this law had passed or will pass than kids will still play these games somehow and when that happens whats the point of making this law? I think that both sides have an argument, h9owever this would be unconstutional.
ReplyDeleteChris Hansen
I thought that it was interesting that a case about video games would ever find its way to the supreme court. Video games have always seemed harmless, and not something that could be a great issue. I feel that the state of California does not have the right to ban video games. Limiting the video games a kid can play is up to that kid's parents, the government shouldn't do it for them. Most parents will let their kids play M rated games anyway. I believe that Chris Hansen also brings up a good point, if they ban video games, then they will have to ban explicit songs, or inappropriate movies and books, and this would cause a lot of trouble. Personally, I think that they can not ban certain video games, and if they did, kids would just play "illegally."
ReplyDelete