Forums aflame over 'Grand Theft Auto IV' freeze

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The Downward Spiral of Logic: First of all, as a gamer, I would like to say that I have read all the comments and I do NOT see them as a threat nor do I feel one shread of guilt. What gets me going are people who use faulty logic to try to push their opinions and views "to protect the children."
I am sick to death of people using the excuse of protecting children to justify censorship and the taking away of rights, just as it seems to be desired here.
In this argument, the claim is that GTA IV "pushes the limits of what should be acceptible." But this is merely an opinion. My defintion of what is acceptable is going to completely different than someone else's. However, if I find something unacceptable to my standards, you won't find me lobbying to have EVERYONE'S rights to buy that game taken away. And I SURELY will not use my children as an excuse. Take Viva Pinata for example. I cannot believe this is allowed to be considered a children's game. If ANY game is a sadist's game, it has to be Viva Pinata. At least in the GTA series, when you shoot someone, they die. In Viva Pinata, you have to continously whack a living pinata SEVERAL times, all the while it is sqeaking and crying for its life, and then when you finally do manage to put it out of its misery, it explodes. Yeah, that is a GREAT lesson to teach children. Whack innocent crying creatures until they die by blunt trama. But even though I oppose the ideas in this game, I have never protested its sale, manufacture, or distribution. If you want to play this game or don't care if your kids play this game, more power to you.
I really want to make this clear: Where is it written or defined that video games are the sole or even the majority domain of children? Consoles cost $300. Games are $60. Most of the games are in HD and HDTVs are $500-1000 and up. So the argument that games are being marketed to children is ridiculus, espeically this one. It was even suggested that this game be put in a paper wrapper. Why? What is profane or inappropriate about the game's cover? There is no nudity or violent act being displayed to warrant such a restriction. I have seen more graphic covers on Guns and Ammo or Cosmopolitan and those magazines not only do not have paper covers, but they are displayed right next to the candy in supermarket checkout lanes.
But getting back to the argument at hand, apparently, our children's well being and protection is first and foremost of paramount importance, even more so than some of our basic freedoms. Since some children will inevitably get their hands on this game, we should not make games like this and also not sell games like this. Using that same logic, since children can pretty much get their hands on anything they want, we should also ban the liquor and spirit companies as well as the tobacco companies, the firearm and cutlery manufacturers, the entire adult entertainment industry, pharmacutical manufacturers (kids can get their hands on legal pain killers), the entertainment industry except for disney, pixar, church music, bibles, and nickelodeon, and last, but not least, sissor makers. (can't risk kids running with sissors) I know this sounds ridiculus, but not anymore ridiculus for wanting to censor video games for being too violent or lude. Isn't it good enough that we already have a rating system and we are doing our best to enforce it? I mean, I know it isn't a perfect system, but do you have to bring the whole thing down if a small minority gets through? Can't we just work on refining the system? And as parents, when did it become the job of others to protect our kids from what we as parents do not see as suitable? I think that the industries have done a pretty good job at helping parents to regulate to what kids are exposed. But ultimately, the job relies with the parents. And I most wholeheartedly disagree with the statement that Rockstar or any other M rated game developer has marketed their products to intentionally entice children.
I am not an insensitive careless person who doesn't care about to what children are exposed. But this is a suggestion of censorship, pure and simple. This is an ADULT game, made for ADULTS. I, for one, am glad that someone has made a really adult oriented game. The sooner that society gets it out of its head that video games are mainly for kids, the better. Yes, there are very mature themes and some illegal ones, too. But this isn't the only game that has that. In fact, MANY games promote illegal activities. Take any street racing game, for instance.
The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, don't buy it. If you don't want your kids to play it, make sure they don't. If you don't want to take the extra time to monitor your kids, you should have thought about that before becoming a parent. It comes with the territory. But don't try and punish the rest of the world because you are too lazy to take a more active role in your kids' lives.
We live in America where we cherish freedom. Please stop trying to take others' freedoms away.; Posted by: gilamonster Posted on: 05/07/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use