Violence in Entertainment By Eric Qualls

This editorial appeared in the October edition of the Weiser High School newpaper "The Wolverine Scoop".   It was not altered in any way, and was printed exactly as you see it.

In recent months, the violent content in video games has come under fire from the government.  The government claims that these violent and/or harmful images are being marketed towards children.  I strongly disagree with these statements.

First of all, I have played video games for over ten years.   Many of them contained violent images.  I am not a different person because of it because I, along with nearly every other video gamer out there, know that what I am seeing is merely a video game, and am smart enough to know not to transfer what I am seeing and doing in a game into the real world.  Ask any gamer if video game affect their thoughts and actions by translating into real life violence, and  they will give you a resounding "NO".  Ask any adult, politicians especially, and they will give you an equally emphatic "YES".  Keep in mind that most of these politicians have never even seen these violent games, much less played them.   They are basing their actions on what they think is best for the children of America without paying attention to the opinions of the same children they are trying to protect.

Suppose that these gamers are too violent and are deemed inappropriate for children.  Well, seven years ago, by order of the government, a rating system was applied to the gaming industry.  "E" rated games contain no harmful content.  "T" rated games are suitable for gamers 13 and up.   "M" games are suitable for gamers 17 and up.  "A" rated games are suitable for gamers over 18 (no video game has ever received an "A" rating).  These ratings are clearly printed on the front of every single game.   In plain sight of retailers, parents, and anyone else who should care about what children are playing.  Some retailers and rental stores have begun to strictly monitor who buys their games and have started to check the age of people buying "M" rated games.  This is the first step in the right direction, and is in my opinion the best and only solution.

More recently, it has been the opinion of the government that these violent video games and even "R" rated movies have been advertised intentionally to children.  I definitely do not agree with these accusations.  Video games are advertised, for the most part, in video game magazines.  so, of course, children will see these advertisements because it is usually children reading video game magazines.   Movies are typically advertised on television during prime time when they can get the largest number of potential viewers.  Of course, children are seeing these commercial because they are watching television along with their parents.  My point here is:  Who cares who they are marketing these products to!?!  Video games are played by children (Though not exclusively children, 30%of video gamers are 21 or ever), there isn't anyone else they CAN market them towards!  Movies are advertised on television.  The only way you can guarantee that children aren't seeing them is to take them off the air entirely, and that is bad news for not only the movie industry, but the television stations who sell commercial time.  These recent government investigations into the marketing of violence are a complete waste of time, and really won't mean anything to video gamers, moviegoers, or the American people in the long run other than wasted tax dollars.

To conclude, the government has taken steps to protect children from violent content even though it isn't really necessary.  Video games are seen as harmful only by people who truly know nothing about them, but seen as harmless by the gamers who actually DO play them.  The government ahs also found that violent games and movies are marketed towards children.  Wile this is true, it is irrelevant and there really isn't anything the government can do to stop it.