December 21, 2007
Last week, GamePolitics reported on Common Sense Media's survey of the 2008 presidential candidates and where they stand on media issues, including those related to video games.While the initial response from candidates was somewhat sparse (only John Edwards, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney and Bill Richardson replied in time for CSM's release deadline), Sen. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, has now weighed in.
Here is CSM's question on the topic of video game legislation, posed to Clinton and other responding candidates:
To date, nearly 10 states have considered legislation to keep violent video games out of kids' hands. Would you support this type of legislation at the federal level? What other strategies would you support to keep the video game industry and other media companies from marketing and selling inappropriate content to children?
Here is Sen. Clinton's response:
When I introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act [FEPA] two years ago, I did so because I felt that video game content was getting increasingly violent and sexually explicit, yet young people were able to purchase these games with relative ease while their parents were struggling to keep up with being informed about the content.
Sen. Clinton describes what FEPA would have mandated, had it passed:
On-site store managers would be subject to a fine of $1,000 or 100 hours of community service for the first offense and $5,000 or 500 hours of community service for each subsequent offense.
The bill would also require an annual, independent analysis of game ratings and require the FTC to conduct an investigation to determine whether hidden sexual content like what was in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a pervasive problem and to take appropriate action...
Finally, the bill would authorize the FTC to conduct an annual, random audit of retailers to monitor enforcement and report the findings to Congress.
FEPA was prompted by the Hot Coffee scandal, said Clinton:
I was motivated to take action when I found out that there was embedded illicit sexual content in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The [ESRB] was unaware of the embedded content. I called on the FTC to investigate the source of the content and, as a result, the company issued a recall of the game.
When I am president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content.
Sen. Clinton described for CSM her biggest concern about media as a parent:
Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression.
Whenever I meet young parents... they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control...
Studies have found that exposure to TV violence can increase the risk of aggressive behavior in children and may be related to attention problems later in life. And some experts say that time spent watching too much TV or surfing the Internet or playing video games may detract from the time children spend interacting with their parents, participating in physical activity, or using their imaginations.
Comments
Hillary has just guaranteed her defeat in '08.
The government needs to back off trying to regulate things that Parents are more than capable of doing, it is not any industries fault that a parent remains to be ignorant of the world around them, and chooses not to do research on what they should let their children consume.
Thats my rant :P.
As for Hillary's comments:
"Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression."
It has? Aggressive behavior's been hinted at, but early sexual experimentation? Depression? And, well, anything that isn't exercise or eating right can lead to obesity.
"When I am president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content."
Remind me, how many children were injured and in need of protection from the Hot Coffee mod? It wasn't exactly child's play to figure out, so I doubt there's a large number of people who bought the game, were under 18, and who set the mod up.
"Studies have found that exposure to TV violence can increase the risk of aggressive behavior in children and may be related to attention problems later in life."
Then it's a good thing your bill takes efforts to protect the children from the harmful effects of violent TV. OH, WAIT, IT DOESN'T.
She will elt the junk food industry regulate itself, yet force government regulation on the video game industry. Can you say Hypocrite?
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
1) Unlike a certain attourney and senator we have all come to know and love/hate-with-an-undying-passion, she is actually taking an intelligent approach to this rather than suing everyone related to the issue.
2) She is not bragging about T.V. apperances, and is actually supporting her claims rather than saying "This is how it is, and will be, because i said so *sticks tongue out*"
3) She is INVESTIGATING rather than making broad, generalized statements like all the others.
As a POLITICIAN, i can find a little respect for her. Her policies though am VERY against. She is leaving many gaps with her FEPA Act (i can see a few jokes those in the younger crowd will be making) by leaving out T.V. and other forms of violent/explicit media. However, since she is not making a total ass out of herself, i can find a slight bit of respect for her.
Even the question is stupid, let alone the answers...
Games companies DO NOT MARKET ADULT GAMES TO CHILDREN
The videogame industry IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETAILERS
It really cannot be said enough times.
"Whenever I meet young parents… they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control…"
Well perhaps they should try actually acting like parents instead of buying their children inappropriate media instead? nah, sounds like too much hard work...
Hitlery Clinton; worst candidate ever.
-P
Hey, it worked for Hollywood.
The Republicans are worse. Vote Obama.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Let her know you cannot vote for someone who does not support the first ammendment, and that anyone who lies, creates statistics and uses the fear du jour to get votes doesn't deserve a place in the countries political system. Enough of those letters, and, who knows? Maybe she'll realise games and gamers aren't the easy target she thinks they are.
I'd do it myself but, even though I live in the US, I'm not a citizen, so my voice doesn't really, well, count in politics.
aflred e neuman for president!!!
Please not Clinton. Do you realise how terrible it looks on the US if your presidential roll call for 20 whole years is
Bush Clinton Clinton Bush Bush Clinton
I personally would like to see Barak Obama get the ticket, but unfortunately being black and having the middle name Hussein will not help him in any way.
What if we never get the chance to vote for Obama?
"When I am Head Dictator... er... president, I will work to protect children from inappropriate video game content by dictating what is and what is not appropriate for other people's children because, after all, MY family is morally superior to all of you and if you don't live your life MY way, then you need me to do it for you."
"Improperly performed Research has shown that violent and sexually explicit media contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression, but don't worry, we didn't bother to compare or contrast it to other things that might affect your children because to do so would show that no one factor is to blame for anything any individual does. In fact, we take out the recognition of the complexity of the individual and merely create misinformation and stereotypes so that we have something to blame when something bad happens. After all, no one is responsible for our... er... their actions."
"Whenever I meet young parents… they tell me that they are worried about losing control over the raising of their own children and about ceding the responsibility of implicating values and behaviors to a multi-dimensional media marketplace over which they have no control… But don't worry, my morals and those of my family are superior to yours so I'll just take over raising yours kids how -I- think they should be raised instead of giving you an education in the resources availalbe to you so that you can make YOUR OWN decisions, even if they don't jibe with mine, for YOUR OWN children."
"Studies have found that exposure to TV violence can increase the risk of aggressive behavior in children and may be related to attention problems later in life. And some experts say that time spent watching too much TV or surfing the Internet or playing video games may detract from the time children spend interacting with their parents, participating in physical activity, or using their imaginations. And don't worry, I'll keep pointing out the negatives and not telling you about ANY of the positives (such as the social benefits of communicating with others online in a variety of situations, the health benefits of the physical games such as DDR, the various Wii sports games, and other potential physical video games available, or the benefits of opening children's minds to the various fictional settings available in many games, the world building potential of games that allow one to create their own stories, games which challenge the mind, etc which all builds on the imagination process. Remember, everything I don't approve of is bad. And if you disagree, then you are a bad Parent."
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Edwards won't even get the nomination, and he shouldn't, because he, like hitlery, is an idiot.
". . .the supreme authority of the just state extends only to those matters which it is proper for a state to control."
What may be proper for a small group of inexperienced, confused people does not extend to those of us who would rather make the mistakes, so long as they are our mistakes to be made.
keep the others safe from war,drugs, and guns.
Also, she won't win, God willing.
Obama won't win the primary because he's too green. He has no experience and has done essentially nothing with his career so far.
Please keep your comments within GP's comments policy.
That doesn't usually stop people.
And he is closing the gap on Hitlery.
Well, here's the thing.
The one thing that the populace, for the most part, knows about Obama is that he went to a maddrassa, where many Islamic ZEALOTS go too.
Now, with the wealth of information that the internet places at our fingertips, you would think that the people would look into him more.
But they won't.
Besides, the young crowd that would vote for Obama doesn't actually turn out to vote ever anyway.
I concur my good man.
I'm also willing to wager that if the Dems nominate Hillary (who a lot of people despise) and the Republicans nominate someone equally unlikeable (Romney's pissed a lot of people off) then we'll see a very strong showing from a third party candidate. Even if it's not a strong enough showing to win, it might shatter the myth that a third party candidate can't be a serious contender.
I'd be suprised if anyone under the age of 50 votes. They all hate the Republicans, and the Democrats don't have anyone apart from Obama who, as you said, won't actually have anyone turn out to vote for him.
A lot of people don't. Less than 1/6th of the country voted in the last election, and less than 1/4th of the registered voters actually showed up to vote.
Which then leaves you with the problem of a President elected by a minority. Worst case scenario would have Romney elected.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Pandering all the way
Oh, what fun it is to pander
In a one horse open race
Pandering bells, pandering bells,
Pandering all the way
Oh, what fun it is to pander
In a one horse open race
I get inspired this time of the year.