Kaiser Foundation Shows Little Video Game Violence Concern 39
Thanks to EvilAvatar for the heads up about a new Kaiser Foundation study showing that parents are simply not worried about video game violence. "Overall parents are more concerned about inappropriate content on TV than in other media: 34% say TV concerns them most, compared to 16% who say the Internet, 10% movies, 7% music, and 5% video games."
Re:More than that (Score:5, Interesting)
I may actually start respecting Christians if they can manage to keep their noses out of other people's business and out of public government. I don't know if they can do that, though -- history (modern and "ancient") indicates that they can not.
Concerned about what's on tv? (Score:5, Insightful)
i.e. watch your own kids and the tv won't have to baby sit for you.
Re:Concerned about what's on tv? (Score:3, Insightful)
Two things responsible parents can do:
- Monitor and limit the amount of time your child is watching tv.
- Decide what their child is allowed to watch.
Lazy parents stop pushing your responsiblility to the government. Do your parenting.
Re:Concerned about what's on tv? (Score:2)
Thanks Janet (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Thanks Janet (Score:1)
Re:Thanks Janet (Score:2)
This happens every couple years... (Score:4, Insightful)
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 93 11:21:59 PST
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., supported by
television's gentle ``Captain Kangaroo,'' said Wednesday the video game
industry is contributing to violence in America with its graphic
depictions of force and sex and warned it to regulate itself before the
federal government does.
``We're talking about video games that glorify violence and teach
children to enjoy inflicting the most gruesome forms of cruelty
imaginable,'' Lieberman said.
Lieberman, 51, the father of four children, said he will introduce
legislation calling on the video game industry to set up a uniform,
credible system to warn parents about the content of such games as
``Mortal Kombat'' and ``Night Trap.''
Shown at a news conference, ``Mortal Kombat'' involves a martial
contest with blood gushing from a fighter's head, and the winner
decapitating his opponent, then displaying the head attached to a spinal
cord. ``Night Trap'' involves hooded men seizing a sorority woman in her
nightgown and draining her blood.
Every couple years a game comes out and people try to put blame on it. More kids have killed each other imitating 'pro wrestling' than video games.
You don't see anyone trying to shut down the WWE, do you?
Re:This happens every couple years... (Score:5, Informative)
The WWE has toned their act down considerably in the last year, under FCC pressure. They get plenty of complaints, from both the right and left.
I used to watch semi-regularly but it got so repulsive a few years ago that I just couldn't stomach it anymore. As a parent, I'd be far less likely to let young kids watch pro wrestling than play almost all video games.
Re:This happens every couple years... (Score:2, Interesting)
Article Completely Misinterprets the Data (Score:5, Insightful)
It states that 89% of parents are very, or somewhat concerned about inappropriate content in entertainment media, and 34% of parents rate TV as the medium they are most concerned about. It says nothing about their other concerns, and how strongly they rate them.
Reading the survey, it is possible to reach the conclusion that somewhere between 5% and 89% of parents are very or seriously concerned about video game violence. Hardly a level of confidence that should be used for a headline!
Re:Article Completely Misinterprets the Data (Score:2, Insightful)
What does that tell you?
Re:Article Completely Misinterprets the Data (Score:2)
Yet they are not worried enough to turn the damn things off.
Some do "turn the damn things off" (or just refuse to have tham in the house), but that doesn't erase the concern, because home isn't the only place kids spend time.
So, how do you handle this issue with your kids?
Re:Article Completely Misinterprets the Data (Score:1)
It's that simple and just because people are bad parents doesn't mean the rest of the responsible adults should be punished just so they don't have to do their most import job.
Re:Article Completely Misinterprets the Data (Score:2)
If they watch a program that I have told them not to, they are punished.
And you know that how?
It's that simple and just because people are bad parents doesn't mean the rest of the responsible adults should be punished just so they don't have to do their most import job.
Certainly not. Being concerned about a problem is not the same as advocating draconian solutions.
Re:Article Completely Misinterprets the Data (Score:1)
Re:Article Completely Misinterprets the Data (Score:2)
Listen to what they talk about and they will drop hints.
Good point. Kids really are not very good at hiding things for very long. Doesn't change the fact that there is cause for concern, though, because most likely you won't hear about the issue until after it's been going on for a while. If they know they'll be punished, they'll keep it quiet for as long as they're able -- and as they get older they get better at it. The real trick is to build trust and convince them that if Dad says they shouldn't
Re:More than that (Score:2, Offtopic)
It's not. Please go dredge for new converts somewhere else.
And for a revelatory look (pun intended) at the bible, please see skepticsannotatedbible.com [skepticsan...dbible.com]. You should probably take a lok at that site and actually investigate some of the crazy crap in the bible, instead of just feeling good with your glossed-over Daily Inspirational Calendar.
Re:More than that (Score:1)
the squeaky wheel gets bashed! :) (Score:2)
If Christians don't want to be bashed, they shouldn't go around trying to shove their beliefs down people's throats, whether or not those people are interested.
New generation of parents? (Score:3, Insightful)
The fact that they grew up around games and are more comfortable with them than previous generations would surely have some effect on their view of how violent games are as well as their concern for that violence. An interesting parallel would be that of the music industry and parents concern about the type of music their kids listen to.
If you were to ask an older generation of parents if they were concerned about the disco their kids listen to, they would probably say they were very concerned. However, ask a generation of parents who grew up around disco and they would more than likely say they are more concerned about the rock music their kids listen to than the disco. Ask the next generation about rock music and they would be more concerned about rap than rock..etc.
Re:New generation of parents? (Score:1)
You don't subtract bad exposure, you add good. (Score:3, Interesting)
The kids I knew who were not banned from watching TV, but had hardly watched it because they had constructive hobbies and parents that supported that, were relatively more intelligent then their peers but also had friends.
Re:You don't subtract bad exposure, you add good. (Score:4, Insightful)
You're shittin' us, right? Or are you equating popular culture with socialization? Or perhaps that the kinds of folks in your neck of the woods that would forbid their kids to watch TV are more on the extreme side of things (such as hardcore Christian fundies or something). Don't assume causation with the correlation of your observations.
My household hasn't watched broadcast TV of any kind for 2 years. My family, when it watches the tube, watches movies or TV shows we own or rent from Netflix.
My kids are pretty well adjusted, having friends and all.
I have noted a slight disconnect from pop culture and its memes and references, so I assume my kids do, too. I can't think of specific examples right now, but it would be akin to me not knowing what "master of my domain", "sponge worthy", or "going commando" meant had I not watched TV during the heydays of Sienfeld and Friends.
While I do think cultural references of this kind are slightly enriching for the human experience, I can't reasonably argue that their absense is something to be concerned about.
Re:You don't subtract bad exposure, you add good. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:You don't subtract bad exposure, you add good. (Score:2)
One group of parents is illustrated to be excessively strict, yet distant and unsupporting. They ban their children from watching TV, yet do nothing to fill their child's time.
The other group of parents is illustrated to be more balanced in their approach, not banning TV, but discouraging it, all the while giving their children something better to do.
The fir
Re:You don't subtract bad exposure, you add good. (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Great! (Score:2)
Now back to Bloodrayne 2... I've figured out the combo where you whip them into the fireplace, but I don't have the angle right to throw them into the elk antlers where they get impaled...
Weak minds will believe anything (Score:1)