She sounds relatively intelligent, but why do I care again? Matt Damon's mom? WTF? Just because your some famous dude's mom does not mean people give a rat's behind about what you have to say. To many people assume we give a crap.

She seems pretty reasonable, though. She's not narrowing out just games. She's willing to admit that different people (such as her son) draw the lines in different places. And she seems to stress creating and maintaining an open dialogue with your children about the subject.

The fact that she still blames the media for crime still makes me wonder if she's from the stone age.

Seriously man, Matt Damon's mom???

Despite who they are all these media-will-cause-violence-among-youth experts are nothing more than ill informed.

A google search on her shows that she runs in the same circles as Craig Anderson http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Carlsson-Paige%22+%22Craig+A.+Anderson
which automatically makes anything she says questionable. Anderson has never found anything that didn't cause "aggression" and yet has never defined "aggression."

"with whom they could demonstrate the power of brotherly love"

BWWWAAAA?!?

Yes, it must be that we like video games because we can't find enough people to getogether a decent chorus of Kumbaya...

I've said it before and I'll say it again (and I've said that part before, too) desensitising someone to violence isn't ALWAYS a bad thing. I've seen EMT's that couldn't get desensitised and they just broke down. When FACED with violense, do you want your only option to be either locking up or fainting?

My wife hasn't played violent games, but I've drilled into her that if someone comes through the door and she is too far from the shotgun, anything with mass can be a weapon. Butter knife, desk lamp, naginata... and she is pretty handy with her set of Gil Hibben Throwers. Go for the eyes, the crotch, and the neck, in that order.

Maybe a bunch of elderly ladies sitting around eating their biscuits and drinking their tea don't have to worry about it, but we have gangs where I live. To each their own, but she needs to leave her each out of my own.

More about Mrs. Carlsson-Paige found on CCFC's website : http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/articles/4thsummit/carlssonpaige....

It's a transcript of CCFC's 4th summit, held in 2005. Excerpt :

"Video games are fast becoming a favorite activity outside of school for even young children, often replacing more creative and socially interactive forms of play. Many of the most popular video games, even those played by young children, are violent. A mother told me recently that her 8-year-old son was "suffering socially" because he didn't have video games at home. She finally bought him Pokemon, which she described to me as "very violent." She said her son now plays every day at home with his 5-year-old brother. This is a story I commonly hear from the parents I interview. They buy video games because of the peer pressure their children experience. And once the games enter the house, younger children are playing too."

Here's a plan, stick a hidden microphone on your kid and record the conversations he has with his peers. See how "innocent" your kid is then.

coalition of twenty one advocacy groups is demanding that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s recent recommendation for explicit restrictions on the marketing of PG-13 films to young children. In a letter sent today to MPAA CEO Dan Glickman, the groups urged the MPAA to develop a policy that would restrict the advertising of PG-13 films on children’s television; prohibit restaurant toy giveaways or other food promotions aimed at young children for PG-13 movies; and insure that any toys released in conjunction with a film carry an age recommendation consistent with the film’s rating.



The letter was written and organized by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC). This past summer, CCFC filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission that Transformers – rated PG-13 for “intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humor, and language – was being marketed extensively to preschool children through television advertising, food promotions and licensed toys. Last week, the FTC acted on CCFC’s complaint by urging the MPAA to adopt guidelines for the marketing of PG-13 movies.



“Transformers is just one of a string of violent, PG-13 movies marketed to preschoolers,” said CCFC’s co-founder and director, Dr. Susan Linn. “For too long, the film industry has undermined its own rating system by bypassing parents to target young children directly with marketing for films that the industry itself has determined warrant parental caution.”



Between May 2006 and June 2007, the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) publicly cited seven instances of PG-13 movies being advertised during children’s television programming. In 2007, Spiderman 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, and The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer featured licensed toys for children as young as four. In 2005, the PG-13 blockbuster Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith featured toys for young children as well as a Burger King toy giveaway and several other food promotions that clearly appealed to preschool children, despite George Lucas’ public statements that the film’s violence and dark themes were inappropriate for children under six.



Tim Winter, President of the Parents Television Council said the PTC signed the letter to “send a message to the motion picture industry. If the MPAA wants their ratings to mean anything, they must stop the hypocrisy of marketing potentially harmful violent and sexual themes to children while claiming to protect children with mature ratings.”



“It is distressing that the industry response to parental concerns about media content is almost always to place the full burden on parents,” said Cheryl Leanza of Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc., a signatory to the letter. “These industry members essentially offer parents a Hobson’s choice: either expose your children to content that you find unacceptable, or withdraw your children from popular culture. This serves no one. We all benefit with more mutual communication and understanding, not less.”



Added Dr. Linn, “Given the film industry’s consistent failure to respect parents as gatekeepers, it is disappointing that the FTC chose to rely on self-regulation rather than taking action. We urge the MPAA to use this reprieve to institute a policy insuring that PG-13 movies are marketed in a manner consistent with their rating.”



The complete text of the letter to the MPAA can be found at http://commercialfreechildhood.org/mpaaletter.pdf.



The FTC's recommendation can be found at http://commercialfreechildhood.org/ftcrecommendation.pdf



CCFC's original letter to the FTC can be found at http://commercialfreechildhood.org/pressreleases/transformersftcletter.p...



That fucking does it.

I collected star war since I was 5. fuck them to hell.

The phrase "brotherly love" cracks me up every time, because I associate it with "The Philadelphia" by playwright David Ives. That said, the question was loaded -- note Carlsson-Paige's shifty "maybe-as-you-say" answer -- and her lumping of violent toys and other products with videogames indicates to me that she's got the "games are for kids" mindset that all the lawyers and legislators we love to hate seem to have.

The whole article is a barrel of laughable advice, especially this gem for a parent concerned about the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block: "maybe look at the show together." Yeah, that plan is gonna go swimmingly. She keeps admitting that she's not familiar with the media that people ask her about, and while her honesty is refreshing, I keep wondering how credible she can really be if she hasn't done the research.

"Also, to be clear, we don’t believe Matt Damon is involved in the game version."

No, he hasn't touched the game. Something to do with Legalities.

They'll just say it's because.. Is it inspired by the books or the film?

People need to watch Team America World Police.

Maaaaaatt Daaamooon.

"Many of the most popular video games, even those played by young children, are violent. A mother told me recently that her 8-year-old son was “suffering socially” because he didn’t have video games at home. She finally bought him Pokemon, which she described to me as “very violent.” She said her son now plays every day at home with his 5-year-old brother."

I'm going to pull this quote out everytime I need something to show how alarmist some of these 'experts' can be. If Pokemon is violent, I wonder whether any of these people have ever been outside their front door into the real world.

“It is distressing that the industry response to parental concerns about media content is almost always to place the full burden on parents,” said Cheryl Leanza of Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc., a signatory to the letter. “These industry members essentially offer parents a Hobson’s choice: either expose your children to content that you find unacceptable, or withdraw your children from popular culture. This serves no one. We all benefit with more mutual communication and understanding, not less.”

Wow... Is she actually complaining that parents should, oh I don't know, take responsibility? It is, after all, the parents responsibility to monitor what their kids take in and/or understand what they're seeing on television and other forms of media. It's sad and distressing to see someone openly complaining about parents being required to take responsibility for their children.

"Entertainment violence encourages people to be antisocial and promotes win/lose kinds of relationships."

....It's called 'friendly competition.' What's next, keeping kids from playing sports in school?

This kind of thinking is a couple stones-throw away from all the needless rules in schools to minimize contact between students. Anti-hugging rules come to mind. (Though certainly not limited to it, of course. Lack of recess is another for the younger grades)

"Maybe some people are drawn to violent entertainment because they are already somewhat isolated, but certainly watching it will make them more cut off from “brotherly love” as you say…"

If your children are so consumed by the entertainment that it's the ONLY thing on their mind, maybe. However, in the REAL world, they talk about more than just one thing all day long. They exchange many subjects. A-doy.

"I am very wary of violent video games. Research shows they desensitize kids to violence, even more because they engage kids in committing violence."

In other words, she's familiar with the JT/Yee/extremist spin on the subject. At least attempt to SITE the source. Geez.

I like how she dodged that last question and basically went "Adults are smart, kids are not. PROTECT TEH CHILDZ. MAGIC 18 BALL."

@Soldatlouis


Pokemon very violent? OMFG I LOLED SO HARD!!!! i won't say anything becasue the women can think what she wants. but honestly. if i thought my child had a mental problem leading to a merging of fantasy and reality i would rather have them playing the game at HOME instead of where i can't see or hear what is going on. honestly when i was young some of my friends parents would see that were were still alive every other day when they happened to see us in the hall or kitchen etc.

@axia77
Agree completely-I wouldn't even care about what Damon himself had to say about games, since as far as I know he's never been involved in one (though if I'm wrong on that one I guess he might have something to say). As for his mom, she's entitled to her opinion as much as I am, but I have no more desire to listen to her than she has to listen to me.

Games aren't for kids, etc. etc.

And as someone noted above, a limited "desensitization" to violence may be a good thing...if someone comes at you with a knife and you're too shocked to react, the fight is already over. You lost. Personally, my parents made sure I had some self-defense training (I took martial arts for over 10 years), and I am extremely grateful for that. I intend to make sure, when I have kids, that they know how to protect themselves too. Violence exists, and not being aware of it does not protect you. You cannot pretend it out of the world-it does not work. So stop trying.

In an age that we have telephones, cellphones and computers how hard is it to e-mail the parent of your child's friend and ask them to not allow your child to play with this particular game. I'm sure a phone call would most likely be appreciated. If the parent is unwilling to grant you that just determine that your child should invite his friend into your home so you are certain that they are not playing a game you don't approve of. I'm sure if you are kind about it they will gladly say "Alright, I will be sure your child doesn't play this game." or even "I'll be sure to check the rating for this game when your child comes into my home." Its not like you have to gather the horse and wagon and ride it down a bumpy dirt road or send smoke signals.

Ok lets regulate violent video games but not songs about how Sarah Silverman is fucking Matt Damon......

@eville1 & point09micron:

Dang, beat me to it! ("Maaaatttt Daaaamoooonnnnn!")

@ Eville1, Point09micron and 1agaisnttheworld

I forgot all about the "Maaatttt Dammmoooonnnn!" Part.

I was actaully think more along the lines of "FAG" (Film Actors Guild for those who haven't seen it)

"We'll read the news paper and then recite what we read like it was our opionions all along!"

Nancy, your son is guilty of promoting violence and making hand guns look cool in his movies.

So, umm, is all this "promoting" via the Bourne films causing lots of kiddies to volunteer for secret CIA assassin training programs then?

And handguns are already cool. One doesn't need Matt Damon to tell them that...

Does anybody else notice how they never point to the source of these "studies" they keep referring too. Oh, and "Dr Phil said" doesnt count.

I like Matt, but I'm not too keen on his mom, strutting around like she has all the answers. I cannot believe people are still flinging around statements like "it 'desensitizes' them". I'll come right out, B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T. OK? There's no such factor in media. Games and movies don't cause people to be violent, "violent" behavior is the result of an unbalance of hormones and chemicals in the body, simple as that. I know kids who've been playing gory games (starting with Diablo) since they were 5, and they're fine! Stop worrying about 'protecting the children', because that's complete bull, all these people want (Mrs. Carlsson-Paige included) is some time in the spotlight.

The woman uses her son´s name to get publicity (check the link):

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/chats/transcripts/040108_carlssonpaige/

a.k.a. Matt Damon´s Mom?

Come on! She wants to be considered like a serious professional using her son´s name? It´s that even ethical accepted?

Can we start a "Cooper Lawrence Attack" now?

As I've said before....and continue to say....there's a reason for the Mature and 18+ ratings for (extra) violent games such as the games based on the Bourne Identity movies. Or even games like Halo 3.

I would have liked Andrew Bub, the gamerdad from gamingwithchildren (former gamerdad.com) to have been there to set the record straight.
He and the gamerdad site thinks that it is OK for some kids to play Halo 3, since the violence is mostly cartoony and you only kill space aliens.

I also think we all agree that some children should not be playing say Bioshock, Gears of War, Crysis or CoD4. However, it is the parents that decide what they want their children to see, play or watch. If the guest on the show don't want her son playing Halo 3, it is her decision. If amother decides to buy Pokemon for her 9-10 year old son and then let her 5 year old son play it together with him, it is just a case of bad parenting, imo.
The story raises a valid question about peer pressure, though. Many peope have not got the money to buy the newest games and as a result their children can be left of the social groups which can be devastating to a
child of say 9, 11 or even 15 years of age.

I actually agree in part with matt damon's mom. There is way too much violence in the media these days - from the newscast about a certain war to games about this was, to movies about this war. It seems that it is no longer enough to just show the introduction (or prelude?) to a very violent scene in which there will be blood and gore. You have to show the blood & gore as well. And in my opinion, this gets boring and tiring really really fast. Give me an old fashioned Hitchcock movie any time. Sometime's restrictions can make directors, both in movies and in games, more creative.

"She’s also the mother of actor Matt Damon, star of the popular - and violent - Bourne film trilogy."

Don't forget awesome! The second chase scene in Ultimatum = BEST. CHASE. SCENE. EVER.

Idea for new TV Pilot: Gamer Clues, in which Matt Damon and his trusty dog Gamer (I'm thinking a huskie) go around the world talking to people about the real facts behind games and not the BS his mom apparently endorses. Oh wait, people don't want 'reality' shows to be real...

@Zero Beat

Huh? There was a story a week or two ago about Damon coming back to do a fourth one. Was it a joke, did something change?

Fictional violence removes stress, it dose not create killers or criminals, once you blame media for leading the people into villainy you lose the right to talk in public IMO.

It's time for the gamers to take action now. Hypocrits need to be challeged, lies need to be dispelled, and the voices of the gamers will finally be heard clearly. In order to achieve these means, a remixed (yet new in its own ways) strategy must be persued. I'll go in depth about this plan. I call this plan "Bournestorming".

You pretty much quessing that this plan is a variation of the bookstorming that happen after Fox News' heavily biased Mass Effect story, but this plan is only has about 20% of it in common with the Cooper Lawrence blacklash. Let me explain the basic guidlines.

Will we also write similar reviews about the "Bourne" series (and game), but we will use qoutes from Nancy Carlson-Paige to critise the violence of those films (and game).

1.)The quotes will be required have Carlson-Paige's name and the fact that she's Matt Damon's mother next to them.

2.)The review has to mention that it is written by a gamer upset with Damon's mom views on video games and gamers.

3.)The reviews will have one-star or the lowest equivilent (even if you like the Bourne films, like I do).

4.)There will be no profane insults to Matt Damon's mother in these reviews. Keep it clean guys.

5.)And we will say (in the review) that unless she apologises to the gamers, we (the gaming public) will boycott the future "Bourne" movie internationaly.

I know you are asking, "Would this work?". It will, because reaching out to take on Carlson-Paige through her son initially gather alot attention from the gaming community worldwide. Then the movie studio who has the "Bourne" franchise will take notice the hundreds of one-star reviews and the threat of a "Bourne" boycott. It's a bit harsh, but it should work. People tend to forget that the gamers can be a major economic force.

When will people on both sides of this issue understand that this issue is NOT ABOUT KIDS. It's about one group of people trying to force parents to obey certain rules.

The fact is, PARENTS are the ones who decide what games are in their houses. They can have strict controls over what games get into their houses and what games their kids play. They have this control because they own the house and they make the money. Their kids don't decide what gets played in the house and they don't see a cent unless the parent gives it to them. Oh sure, little Jimmy might have a paper route, but let's face it, it's not going to buy him a bunch of games.

The dirty little secret here is that kids get violent games because many parents either don't believe that games are unhealthy for their kids, or they don't care. And there's NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. Parents are the ONLY ones who have the right to decide what their kids are exposed to.

So what is this issue really all about? A small group of people doesn't like the fact that many parents have a laissez faire attitude towards game violence so they want to come into their living rooms and force them to be more strict. That's what this is about. It's not about the kids - it's about making progressive parents toe the conservative line. Kids have nothing to do with this issue.

@MR.B

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't condone this sort of thing. Wouldn't it only reflect our immaturity if we ended up bombing (figuratively speaking) the films out of spite of one critic's scathing comments?

That's just going to give Mrs. Carlsson-Paige more ammunition to hit us with.

If we're going to refute her claims, I suggest using more civilized means, such as links to more positive research regarding games, and proper arguments.

Keep it civil.

“Transformers is just one of a string of violent, PG-13 movies marketed to preschoolers,” said CCFC’s co-founder and director, Dr. Susan Linn.

So what 13 y/o would still be retarded enough to be in preschool? You know what, nevermind don't answer that.

I almost forgot one thing : instead of suggesting to attack everyone who disagrees with us, I really think we should :
- Learn to calm down
- Stop considering the people we disagree with are automatically evil or hypocritical people who try to push their own agenda. In other words, Jack Thompson and Lyndon LaRouche are the exception, not the rule.
- Express our disagreements by emailing them directly, even if we don't get a response.

oh fuck it..


MMMAAAAAATTTTTTTT DDDDDAAAAAMMMMMOOOONNNNN

I don't see why interviewers don't have the balls to point out holes in the integrity of their interviewees as much as they do on Hardball.

And doesn't seem fair that her son gets an easy pass while she criticizes the rest of the movie and game industry. Stupid family ties, overwhelming the logic...

@Mr. B
To be fair, I think I at least got a bit heated in replying to you, so my apologies. I can sympathize, and agree, with where you're coming from. I just don't want us to go too far in our fight...and make more enemies.

[...] Analyzing the NPD’s report, the percentage of individuals who play video games actually improved from 64 percent the year before. The fact that the percentage is even at that level is comforting for me, even as video games continue to be chastised as a valid entertainment medium. [...]