Hello all,

I suppose I was not alone in my surprise this morning when reading the news about Andy Beal parting was with Websourced. I was just now getting the eyebrow back down from Jason Dowdell's similar defection a little while ago. Interesting development to say the least. Philosophical differences led to the split apparently. Hmmm, I had a lot of Philosophy in college and I can affirm first hand, brothers and sisters, that philosophical disputes are almost always ugly things. Nietzsche people are Nietzsche people and Kant people are Kant people. It's like crips n bloods friends and I'm just glad these guys split before somebody got ganked.

Speaking of philosophy, as we round the turn into the weekend after another fun filled week, there are a couple of things in the news that are kinda on my nerves. Typically I attempt to avoid (online) rants but today, I'll ask your indulgence.

First and foremost, anything to do with Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto, ratings systems or the corruption of our youth through video games is really becoming tiresome. Do we need to read about this every day?

The latest "news" being something about Senator Clinton complaining to the FTC about "disturbing material... stealing the innocence of our children". I suppose in a sense she's right, I mean we probably haven't had inappropriate sexual themes and overtures discussed this much since... (I'm gonna let that one slide because it's just too easy).

The bottom line is, mature videogames are not news. It isn't a social issue. It doesn't merit congressional intervention. Why you ask. But Mike... you exclaim. Riddle me this, true believers, where are these horrible video games being played? In Congress? At the FTC? No, actually I believe they're being played in little Johnny's room, in the basement, or maybe the living room. And where, pray tell, is young impressionable Johnny coming up with the coin to drop on this $50 mind warping foray into decadence and anarchy? From his part time gig after t-ball? More often than not, I suspect that green is coming straight from the pockets of the ol' parental units. Oh the humanity.

So at what point did this become an issue of anything other than the miserable failure of some parents to have some basic idea of what their kids were doing? At what point did it evolve into an issue where a Clinton is called for to save us from the violence and inappropriate sexual material?

Is there truly nothing else going on in the world that maybe should be getting a little more attention than the fact that little Johnny's parents are irresponsible dimwits looking for the government to raise their kids for them? And most importantly, friends and neighbors, when will this inane drivel quit clogging up the space of news?

I had other stuff to complain about but this one kinda ran on me. I do feel better now though.

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Hi Mike,

Great post / rant. I found the Andy Beal thread intresting ;)

However I wanted to reply to the Rockstar rant. Being a parent of 2 children I realize that there is 'evil' lurking... That being said, my children will not play this game or any games like it until they are much older!

But this is News... While I agree with your sentiment, This does not merit congressional intervention! With everything else we have to worry about in this day and age, truer words have never been posted ;)

The fact that we're discussing it here (and all over the net) makes it news. And from a marketing standpoint, I applaud them! It has been said "Any publicity is GOOD publicity!" Someone out there is going to push the politically correct envelope further and further all the time... why you ask? Because we reward them by making it news. Even though I think the whole thing is a waste of time, I bet you that Sales of Rockstar games went up atleast 10% this week! I remember when I was a kid and the Jose Canseco upper deck baseball card had a dirty word on the bat... That card is the MOST expensive Jose Canseco card ever!

So I say, Is it news? Yes... everyone's talking about it. Is it newsworthy? Probably not... it just points and laughs in the face of our social degradation. Should a Clinton really get involved in another sex scandal? NO! LOL The real message that should be taken from this circus is parents need to step up and take responsibility for their child rearing shortfalls and stop blaming rockstars, video games, athletes, and anyone other than themselves.
Just my $0.02


NeO1

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Oh, I never said Rockstar didn't love it. I'm sure they do actually.

This is one of those cases where negative press isn't just ineffective, it's counter productive. The more the game is protested and villified, the more it's going to appeal to it's target audience.

Simple rationale being; this (and other) games aren't for children. As such, the more press they get with various sundry talking heads railing against the game's existence, the more it will appeal to the folks looking for more mature themed games.

Marilyn Manson was made a superstar by overzealous religious groups rallying against him as much as anything else. Being cancelled or banned from city number 1 will merely result in increased ticket sales in city 2 (and album sales in city 1 & 2).

It would be laughable if all this wasn't costing me tax dollars in some form or another (which I'm sure it is). THAT is what I find offensive.

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Parents buy their 3 year olds Christmas Toys rated for older children. "My child is smart enough not to swallow that little bitty part." And sitting in the ER, they have forgotten the logic behind an erector set for a toddler.

Parents buy their children books 3 years above their reading level. And when the child thinks they hate reading, it's never because they didn't get the chance to grow into it.

Parents put trampolines in the back yard KNOWING that every medical and pediatric group wants them banned. "My kids know the rules, they won't get hurt".

Parents buy video games with sexual and violent content because "my child is bored with Math Blaster and besides, they don't really understand the innuendo."

Sloppy parenting is part of the issue with video games.

The other part is that parents need to support each other. If my kid goes to your house, he STILL isn't allowed to play GTA. He can't play with your guns and he isn't allowed to jump on your trampoline. If you can't back me up then tell me so I can make sure my kid isn't hanging out over there. In return I won't smoke, drink or play headbanging rock when your bible reading video game star is over here.

And if the issue is just the news coverage, email the editor at your favorite news source and tell them you are BORED with their coverage. It will change fast.

JM

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Bring on the Parenting Police!

Since this is the BR and we all like to take the easy way out of posting real comments - I agree!

Seriously, we complain about generation xyz, how materialistic they are, how disrespectful, unfocused and on and on and on ... but it begs to question: Where did they learn this?

Uh ... their parents and other influences allowed by their parents? Ding ding ding - we have a loser! I'm not passing the buck of some bad kids onto their parents, but - oh wait, that's exactly what I'm doing!

When a court in Colorado allows a lawsuit to go forward against a rock band for influencing suicidal thoughts, where are the parent police bringing allegations of neglect? Oh, Johnny needs his privacy, respect, space and breadth to discover the world. BS! Johnny needs to learn the golden rule just like I did or be witness to the golden hand.

I'm not advocating abuse, but I bet just about any amount of money the American kid caned in Korea for spray painting the cars didn't try that crap again.

My kids learned physics very early and in small increments - starting with action=reaction.

I agree - it's a social issue. If society doesn't stop deflecting blame and taking responsibility for one's own actions we'll all find ourselves asking Congress to define "is".

Mike - ever listened to the Eagles' song, "Get Over It"? I love the line ... "I like to find you as a little child and kick it's little ..."

However, I'd just as well like to apply this to the parents and politicians. Stop coddling at my cost. Stop pointing the finger and start taking responsibility. Stop the rhetoric and begin a reaction.

Oh great, now I'm all worked up! I hope your happy!

:)
Rob
w®m

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Just dont make a viedo game about "canning" and youll be fine.

Im sad to say I discovered my mother is going to work on Promoting Hillary's campaign in NY. Seems sad that she will likely run for presidency when the far more qualified Clinton still has one term allowed to him.

Perhaps he needs Jennifer Lozez's press agent.

To try to pin a tag on games as a culprit of any sort is ludicrous. perhaps nobody else has see that every product from hardware to credit cards is being peddled by half naked people. This is a very natural cycle being urged forward by marketing and profit motive.

To think parents have any chance against marketing companies that spam the minds of kids as "future spenders" 24 hours a day is pointless.

When I heard marketing companies were now on the street using "subliminal of sorts" word of mouth in the streets? thats just sad.

Children are just "consumers in training" and only children brought up to recognize that may be safe from this BS profit motive.

I wont mind if my daughter is playing NR17 games at age 10 if she is successful in realizing the violence is there as entertainment value and to "give the lighter thinkers what they want".

As GI Joe said.
"knowing is half the battle".

So if you recognize a marketing angle as BS and without substance, it wont affect you.

PS: Dear hillary, you only got your current job based on sympathy vote, you have a better chance at an olympic gold medal in decathalon than winning the office of president.

You said "math blaster"

thats too funny.

"GW and His Possie" want the "public" to take more personal responsibility for their lives, so The Possie makes it more demeaning to be less afluent at every turn - asked any single Mom who doesn't have an MBA or PHD.

Ask a few hard luck families here in Ohio who lost their steel mill jobs. Ask any local school system here who can't pass a new property tax levy to replace their 7 year-old text books or have enough so kids can take them home.

Yet - we need legislation to protect the children of those affluent enough to drop $49.00 for a game that they paid $199.00 for the player for, which is plugged into their $2495.00 big screen, parked in the "media room" of their $295,000 home in suburbia.

I guess having all that money to spend is responsibility enough. Even Billary thinks so, so it must be OK.

We could vote a pure Martian ticket, and I swear the same people would get elected.

I was glancing back at the top. I was wondering who would be better at determining inappropriate sex than Hillary Clinton?

"Interesting development to say the least. Philosophical differences led to the split apparently. Hmmm, I had a lot of Philosophy in college and I can affirm first hand, brothers and sisters, that philosophical disputes are almost always ugly things. Nietzsche people are Nietzsche people and Kant people are Kant people."

His "The Keiser's (King's) new clothing" and words "Let the laughter always stay on my side"
are excellent. Norwegian people love Denmark. Saying: "It is good to be Norwegian in Denmark" and they have the best breakfast in the world?? Experienced that a few days ago.

:-) :-) :-)
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