Thomas: We can believe in a combination.

Videogames, as they are specifically purchased and brought into the home can be controlled by parents/ourselves. Our obtaining them is an active decision on our part. We look at the box, look at the ESRB rating, and (should) make a conscious choice as to whether to bring this into our home.

Media, on the other hand, especially broadcast media, does not give us this choice. We can choose to turn it on or off, but the content that comes into the home is not at the discretion of the individual. If I'm watching NBC because I like watching "Friends" and they come up with a news-flash about some violent killer, that is not my decision. If I am watching the news for some specific content (usually the "lifestyle" article they wind up putting on last) yet in their headlines they plaster some sort of graphic depiction of something, that's not done fairly. The newscaster may briefly mention "The following footage is graphic" a mere half-millisecond before they go into it, but even then, they do not provide any opportunity to know when it's finished. How do I know when it's safe to come back for the lifestyle story?

Beyond that, would you say that anybody who might be offended by some content on television should avoid changing channels? Because when I move from one channel to another, there's no warning that the channel I'm entering might be something against my sensibilities. Yes, I can turn away again, but that's not the point.

The point of this is to demonstrate that videogames and broadcast media are different. The former I make the decision to bring into my home. The latter comes whether I want it or not, and my ability to choose to avoid any exposure to certain things is decidedly limited barring not having the television on at all. For this reason, I don't think it's hypocritical to argue that it is appropriate that some forms of media, particularly broadcast media, should adhere to a stricter standard than other forms.

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GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 08/28/08 at 09:03am
sortableturnip: JT filed suit against the District Court and Court Clerk because she wouldn't accept his court filing: http://jaablog.jaablaw.co
Posted 08/27/08 at 04:05pm
SimonBob: HB: I actually voted for the old Green party, back before the treehuggers took over from the small-c conservatives.
Posted 08/27/08 at 02:57pm
ZippyDSMlee: So bascily the 2 aprty setup is soemthign that has not evolved any....
Posted 08/27/08 at 02:04pm
Dark Sovereign: @Joel: Their entitled to their bull like the rest of us are.
Posted 08/27/08 at 02:02pm
HarmlessBunny: Awww Jack is calling the Florida Bar: "The Florida Gay Bar". How mature! :D
Posted 08/27/08 at 01:54pm
JoelWhy: Wow, I am so tired of these Hillary-worshippers who can't get over the fact that she lost. Dems keep finding new ways to lose.'
Posted 08/27/08 at 01:41pm
Dark Sovereign: @Harmlessbunny: We in America have something like forty of those parties. We have 5 parties that actually produce prez candies
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:53pm
sortableturnip: JT needs help from the ACLU here: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/27/the-name-game.aspx
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:51pm
GryphonOsiris: However this is limited to five years.
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:50pm
GryphonOsiris: @Chuma, actually, sarin kept in a binary form for things like self mixing shells can extend the life of the chemical.
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:45pm
DarkTetsuya: @questionmark1987 I'm guessing they're waiting till his licensectomy this September... should be fun to watch ^^;
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:35pm
questionmark1987: SO at what point can webmasters start filing suit against Thompson for harrassment?
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:23pm
HarmlessBunny: OH OH OH http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/26/whos-backing-who.aspx?pg=2&view=linear#Comment Jack gets priceless in here!
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:18pm
HarmlessBunny: For EZK: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/26/whos-backing-who.aspx#comment-1316308
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:10pm
E. Zachary Knight: link please
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:03pm
sortableturnip: JT is threatening the webmaster at JAABlog, saying he changed a word in his post so that it was mispelled HA HA HA!
Posted 08/27/08 at 11:35am
HarmlessBunny: Well we in Canada to have the joke parties, like Bloc Quebecois and NDP (New Democrat Party) OH and the new "Green Party" :)
Posted 08/27/08 at 11:07am
Talouin: @Azhrarn: It's the same in Canada. Only two parties to form a federal gov't are Liberals and Conservatives.
Posted 08/27/08 at 10:42am
Zevorick: Yeah, but you can find a lot of things in Texas that don't count. I should know, i've lived here all my life.
Posted 08/27/08 at 09:04am
sqlrob: wehrgeist - there have been more WMDs found in Tyler , Texas than Iraq
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