My only problem with this decision is that once you're on TV, everything you do is to further your own "franchise" as a form of entertainment. This may make her biased towards a more sensational stance. I'm not in the UK, so I wish them the best on this.

@Jack Thompson

No, you aren't, nor would she choose to associate with you.

In some ways it is good that this woman is involved, she has a deal of respect for children and their intelligence and doesn't just write them off as violent, brainwashed thugs. Most of her show centres around educating parents and listening to all points of view, including the childs', there could hardly be two more polar opposite views than hers' and Jacks 'Do their thinking for them' mentality. That's how I know that Mr Thompsons' claims are false as most of his previous ones.

Byron will talk to both parents and the interactive entertainment industry before reporting her findings to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Children Schools and Families.

I guess the question begs to be asked, why doesn't she plan to talk to other psychologists?
I like what she had to say, but I'm a little concerned she's only taking six months to do all this in. I guess we'll all have to wait for her report. Hopefully someone from the UK will pop in and let us know what kind of person she is.

After the "Manhunt Murder" the House of Commons commissioned a review of video game violence and found that there was no link between it and increased aggression.

I have to wounder why, in light of the previous findings, why such a review is needed.

"Byron will talk to both parents and the interactive entertainment industry before reporting her findings to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Children Schools and Families."

I think this is a good thing. The only people involved in video games and children's exposure to them should be parents, and the only people involved with explaining the existing guidelines, safeguards, parental controls and ratings should be the gaming industry. I like the fact that there is no mention of politicians, special interest groups or fear mongers.

"She will also tackle the issue of children’s access to pornographic and violent material on the internet."

This is always a concern, but access to things on the internet is very different to access to a video game. A website does not cost €50 to view. A pc will not be in the living room plugged into the tv.

"The internet is a powerful and positive tool for children in terms of their learning and ongoing development. However, we must all enable our children to use the possibility presented by the internet in a way that is both positive and safe."

Therefore it is essential that parents and anyone involved in the care and development of young people are familiar with the material they will access and view - and of the potential and actual risks therein."

This is what we have been saying all along. She is talking about it in reference to the internet, but the same is true of games. They can be powerful and positive in terms of learning, but there are elements of certain games that may not be suitable for young children. Parents have to be aware of this, need to make themselves familiar with the type of games out there, with the ratings system and use this knowledge to make sure that their children only play suitable games.

So far I've heard nothing Dr. Philish on this. But then again, I'm in the states and know nothing about her.

TV and shrink are never good combinations, no matter what country you live in.

"She’s talking to me. Jack Thompson"


Which instantly negates any credibility that she might of had.

@ Radio Guy:

There will be as many reviews as necessary for the House of Commons to find someone who reaches the conclusion they want to hear.

Has anyone heard of the videogame special for Dr. Phil? I check everyday but it's just the usual teenage daughters acting like sluts and etc.

It is a shame that so many people like this woman and Quack Phill find it necessary to talk to Thompson. It just shows me that they don't have a real interest in the topic and are just going for ratings. There are much more gentlemanly of opponents to the game industry out there. Why they talk to an immature codger who clings to facts dismissed by the very newspapers they were originally printed in is confounding.

This may or may not go well, we'll just have to wait and see.

@ Erik

"Which instantly negates any credibility that she might of had."

No need for that. We talk to jackyboy all the time don't we?

"No need for that. We talk to jackyboy all the time don’t we?"

Too true. But if I had my own television show I would only bring him on to humiliate him.

She’s talking to me. Jack Thompson

Like Jeb Bush "talked" to you? Jack, it doesn't count when YOU contact THEM...

Therefore it is essential that parents and anyone involved in the care and development of young people are familiar with the material they will access and view - and of the potential and actual risks therein.

Hopefully they actually see how well parents use the BBFC system, and also that they don't hype up the "risks" by using bad science.

@Erik

"Too true. But if I had my own television show I would only bring him on to humiliate him."

Hell, a retarded chimp could do that!

@SchemeMonkey:

Gonna be waiting a while on both counts... Seeing as how a) said 'proof' doesn't exist and b) Jack? Civil? How long have you been posting here?

[...] Appointing a television psychologist to review videogame violence is both absurd and entertaining! [...]

I am from the UK and even I only vaguely recognise this woman.

I think it is safe to say she knows nothing about video-games, so I am not too optimistic about the outcome. She is no Dr. Phil thankfully, although I would not be surprised to see a new TV series or book launch on the back of this. She seems to be a populist who passes off soft-psychology as fact.

No doubt the report will completely disregard external factors such as poverty or inequality, it amazes me how, when analysing the effects of certain media, that the context they are a part of is ignored. It is as if video-games exist in some abstract bubble, detached from the reality around them.

... also will people just ignore this 'Jack Thompson', every topic degenerates into some petty exchange that detracts from the subject at hand.

Its funny when i think back when there was a time when i wanted to live in the UK. Thankfuly i got over that. The governmnet over there has launched an all out war on youth culture.

[...] Post-Scripum : Bon, je vais quand même écrire quelques lignes sur le contexte : jeudi dernier, la psychologue britannique Tanya Byron a publié un rapport qui est censé faire le point sur les jeux vidéo et internet : effets positifs et négatifs, état de la recherche, de la législation et des pratiques de l’industrie, recommandations, etc. Ce rapport, commandité en octobre dernier par le Premier Ministre Gordon Brown, était attendu depuis longtemps par tous les acteurs concernés : hommes politiques, industriels, journalistes généralistes ou spécialisés, joueurs… Il y a d’abord eu un appel à contributions ouvert à tout le monde jusqu’en décembre (j’en ai été, soit dit en passant), suivi par des mois de rumeurs et de spéculations. Et maintenant, ça y est, il est publié, et il fait la une. [...]