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Activists cry about 'predatory' game industry photo

Because the world needs another overly conservative activist group moaning about videogames and using harmful vernacular because they don't know what they're talking about! The latest gang of pussies to bitch about videogames is the Eagle Forum, which is whining to the Supreme Court about a "predatory" game industry that is poisoining America's children. Fun stuff!

Seemingly angered by the ruling that California's violent videogame law was struck down as unconsistutional, the Eagle Forum has demanded that something be done to bring games to justice. 

"The First Amendment does not render our nation’s youth defenseless against the predatory, billion-dollar videogame industry that churns out increasingly graphic blood and gore for impressionable minds to imbibe," says the group in a statement. "The corruption of our nation’s youth with increasingly deviant video games is a matter of national importance. Our nation’s youth is in crisis, by any measure. A calamitous 30% of our nation’s youth fail to graduate from public high school, and only 32% of those who attend public high school are ever qualified to attend a four-year college ...

"Violent video games hurt children in two ways. Their increasingly realistic and disturbing images burn into children’s impressionable minds much as pornography does, and the role-playing inherent in a video game causes the child to buy into the rampages of murder and other heinous crimes that he is acting out."

Sounds like a bunch of people who seriously need to get laid to me, but what do I know? I've imbibed a load of graphic blood and gore and videogames made me drop out of school, so I clearly have no clue about anything. Hit the jump for the full, hilarious statement, where they even try and blame videogames for causing heart attacks!

The First Amendment does not render our nation’s youth defenseless against the predatory, billion-dollar video game industry that churns out increasingly graphic blood and gore for impressionable minds to imbibe...

The corruption of our nation’s youth with increasingly deviant video games is a matter of national importance. Our nation’s youth is in crisis, by any measure. A calamitous 30% of our nation’s youth fail to graduate from public high school, and only 32% of those who attend public high school are ever qualified to attend a four-year college...

A substantial percentage of teenagers are hooked on these disturbing video games, and spend many hours each week playing them. Moreover, mass killings perpetrated by youngsters are frequently linked to addiction to violent video games...

The First Amendment does not forbid state legislatures from keeping this harmful material from children. The California legislature, not known to be conservative, protected its youth against the predatory video game industry. It was an error with national implications for the Ninth Circuit to invalidate the California statute...

 Violent video games hurt children in two ways. Their increasingly realistic and disturbing images burn into children’s impressionable minds much as pornography does, and the role-playing inherent in a video game causes the child to buy into the rampages of murder and other heinous crimes that he is acting out...

The early market leader in video games was Nintendo, which adopted a policy against “excessive blood and violence,” but it was trounced in sales by a 3 to 1 margin by more gory material produced by Sega, and Nintendo learned the message that “violence sells video games to children...”

Numerous studies confirm the obvious: violent video games do cause addiction and harm... There has never been a full First Amendment right to flash highly objectionable and disturbing images specifically at children, or to entice them to participate in destructive role-playing behavior...

Displaying a shocking image to a child is conceptually identical to the utterance of “fighting words” to an adult, which this Court famously held to be out-side of First Amendment protection...

The stress attributed to violent video games can even be physically harmful. Eighteen-year-old Peter Burkowski, an avid video gamer, collapsed and died of a heart attack while playing games in an arcade...

Children who play violent video games have difficulty obeying authorities, treating peers properly, and succeeding in school...








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55 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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10 Minute Warning's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:46
10 Minute Warning
IF violence sells video games, than why does the wii sell so well? And also, isn't this the parents duty to decide what their kids play, and not some virgin eaters? Oh wait, I forgot, it's their opinions that count, AND NO ONE ELSES.
10 Minute Warning's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:47
10 Minute Warning
IF violence sells video games, than why does the wii sell so well? And also, isn't this the parents duty to decide what their kids play, and not some virgin eaters? Oh wait, I forgot, it's their opinions that count, AND NO ONE ELSES.
10 Minute Warning's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:47
10 Minute Warning
IF violence sells video games, than why does the wii sell so well? And also, isn't this the parents duty to decide what their kids play, and not some virgin eaters? Oh wait, I forgot, it's their opinions that count, AND NO ONE ELSES.
10 Minute Warning's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:47
10 Minute Warning
IF violence sells video games, than why does the wii sell so well? And also, isn't this the parents duty to decide what their kids play, and not some virgin eaters? Oh wait, I forgot, it's their opinions that count, AND NO ONE ELSES.
10 Minute Warning's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:47
10 Minute Warning
IF violence sells video games, than why does the wii sell so well? And also, isn't this the parents duty to decide what their kids play, and not some virgin eaters? Oh wait, I forgot, it's their opinions that count, AND NO ONE ELSES.
garison's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:48
garison
Someone who plays videogames and died while playing a videogame is like saying someone who drives cars died while driving a car.
10 Minute Warning's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:48
10 Minute Warning
sorry, my computer didn't load, I didn't mean to post thrice
phantomile's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:50
phantomile
This is why we can't have nice things.

I can't stand that there are people this ignorant.
NateT's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:52
NateT
What ever happened to parents? My parents sure kept me away from media they did not think was good for me.
Daxelman's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:52
Daxelman
QUAD POST

It's the new Double Post, with double the power!

It's like adding double on double!


Jokes aside, I await the day we get someone truly insane in the White House as president.

Then people will know what to fear and what not to fear.
10 Minute Warning's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:53
10 Minute Warning
But video games are EVIL
JLFrelder's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:53
JLFrelder
"Children who play violent video games have difficulty obeying authorities, treating peers properly, and succeeding in school..."

Funny, I've always done great in school.
Havoc Fang's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 15:56
Havoc Fang
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS MAKES CHILLUNS WORSHIP DAT DERE DEVIL FELLAH.

VIDJEOGAMES MAKE CHILLUNS KILL FER KICKS CAWS IT ATES DURR BRAINS
Black Nexus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:01
Black Nexus
when are these idiots gonna learn.
Paviel's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:06
Paviel
Some parents are such cowards nowadays. They treat their children like princes and princesses, with no expectation that their children should treat them like kings and queens...

And they don't do their kids any favors by letting their kids do whatever they want, or play whatever games they want, either.
Vanilla Gorilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:07
Vanilla Gorilla
Jim, thanks for being so damn cool. I always enjoy your posts on these ignoramuses.
ChristRogue's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:10
ChristRogue
Those be some forums begging for a hacking.
thunderleg's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:15
thunderleg
An announcement to parents:

Do some fucking parenting.
Sentry's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:19
Sentry
Is there a band called "The Nation's Youth"? If not, then there should be.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:21
GoldenGamerXero
They should realise it's quite suitable for children to see things at a younger age than others. I never enjoyed the sight of blood when I was smaller and I don't enjoy it much now but I've always been able to comprend the difference between a game and real life. People say that it nows looks realistic but people forget that although it looks realistic all your doing is pressing buttons. It's like saying using TV remote controls gives you telepathy. The point were doing something in a game becomes so realistic that you can feel it and use as much effort as you would in real life is the point when they should worry. It won't even matter by then because no one will buy video games anymore if they can do it for real for free.
Kris S's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:22
Kris S
"The early market leader in video games was Nintendo, which adopted a policy against “excessive blood and violence,” but it was trounced in sales by a 3 to 1 margin by more gory material produced by Sega, and Nintendo learned the message that “violence sells video games to children...”

Nintendo learned that lesson? Did they really?
"Hey Bowser you pussy ass retard, I'm gonna bust a cap in yo motherucking bitch stealing ass"
"If you don't reach your ideal wii-fit age you fat fuck, I'll send a bolt of electricity up yo ass through your balance board"
Or something like that

I wish these people would lay off the crack.

And anyway is it the companies that force parents to buy violent games for their kids? If it is I wish I was a kid now instead of the 80's/90's

And lastly, in other news, someone collapsed while at the gym of a suspected heart attack...we will be calling for the banning of all treadmills immediately.
Schmo0zle's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:26
Schmo0zle
Along with gaming culture also sometimes comes great knowledge of computers...Like how to DDoS websites that contain stupid fucking views like these.

I'm sure it'll happen sooner or later just to prove a point that all of us high school drop-out video gamers (lulz) aren't exactly retarded.

As for video gamers not listening to authority...That's bullshit. "PICK UP THAT CAN!", anyone? Clearly teaching us to obey anyone with a stun stick and a white gas mask.

Furthermore, this post made me realize how fucking retarded a lot of us Americans are getting. We're against EVERYTHING that makes us successful. Lets penalize EVERY big, successful industry that in-turn, makes our country successful. Yes, that is a good plan, you RETARDS.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:27
Darren Nakamura
Michael Jackson must have played video games.
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:28
Neonie
My reaction to this article is exactly that of "I'm ok"'s reaction.
FunkzillaBOT's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:32
FunkzillaBOT
Oh, for Christ sake...... Whatever.
Schmo0zle's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:32
Schmo0zle
"I'm OK", you forget that those retards are breeding more retard minions to replace them. The uber-Christian zealots in my town have ten children.

Ten.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:33
GoldenGamerXero
@Kris S

They were probably talking about MADWOLD which is a completely dumbass point considering they admitted that Nintendo wasn't actually the developper.

@Dexter345

Not cool man. The dude just died a couple of hours ago )=
Kris S's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:38
Kris S
@GoldenGamerXero

If they were, that makes it even fucking worse...It's like saying it's a CD players fault that there is explicit lyrics being played on it. And again it goes back to the parenting thing, when will it end :(
JohnnyJustice's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:40
JohnnyJustice
Absolutely fucking ridiculous. Of course violence sells videogames. It sells films and novels as well. That's because we're a society that's reached a point where people are more interested in blood an gore than sex or love or any of the other crap The Beatles went on about.

That doesn't change the fact that I find it 100% disgusting that any human being thinks they have the right to tell the video game industry that they are INTENDED for children- and that because children might obtain the objectionable material in video games that the artist is not allowed to include that material.

It's a load of horse shit. While the videogame industry is going towards a very stupid place due to games like Halo and Gears of War- it doesn't change the fact that violence can be used in an important and artistic way. Half-Life? Deus Ex? Shadow of the Colossus?

Angry, irresponsible mothers are the most useless human beings on the face of the planet.
HiddenAHB's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:41
HiddenAHB
That is why is good to live in a 3rd world hellhole like Brazil, we don't have those friggin activist. The government banned Everquest and Counter Strike but that didn't last, even though nobody really cared about the governemnt so everybody kept playing those games.

PS:Videogames turned Michael Jackson in a white creepy pedofile and later gave him a heart attack. Damn games!
PPS:Michael Jackson is dead, Baby Jesus is in danger.
10 Minute Warning's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:47
10 Minute Warning
Also- they argue that children playing video games isn't written in the constitution, so it can't be unconstitutional. HOWEVER, neither is owning a gun. The constitution says that the armed militia can have guns, but not civilians, and we know that they would flip if we took their guns. So what do we do? Start the Toucan forum and say anti-video game activists (and god knows we have much greater problems than video games) can't have guns, because it's not allowed in the constitution?
Kris S's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:49
Kris S
See how I didn't say anything about that MJ comment Jim, are you proud?
Sorry again Lord Vader! =>
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:49
Maurice Tan
For "frequently linked to" read "has no emperical causal evidence in literature whatsoever" :)
Br0th3rGr1mm's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:52
Br0th3rGr1mm
Wow...they actually sited a guy having a heart attack while playing a video kiosk at an arcade as a direct link? How utterly scientific.

Now if they were arguing that video games are gerating lots of whinney internet geeks with horrific manners....*shrug*
Eficent's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:56
Eficent
Yeah, because it's not the parents responsibility at all if their kids are playing games. I can only think that they have all been labeled according to their content for shits and giggles and parents shouldn't be bothered to raise their kids if they can make the government do it for them. How about instead of giving in to their every whimpering command maybe you should be a little proactive and actually teach the kid right from wrong and stop turning to the government to do your job for you.

A little ranty but I can't stand people who have kids and then can't take the time out of their oh so busy lives to raise them.
Schmo0zle's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 16:58
Schmo0zle
GoldenGamerXero:

That dude who died also liked to diddle kiddies. Fuck him in the ear.
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 17:00
Elsa
Hmmm... nobody ever killed anybody with a video game. Many are likely NRA members who need a reason to yell "guns don't kill people... video games do".
Schmo0zle's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 17:17
Schmo0zle
Their movements will slowly die, but not before they get some more regulations shoved in, surely.

All blood must be either 1) Not red or 2) Made of flowers.

MAKE IT SO, CHRISTIAN FUNDIES!
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 17:39
Corak
I'll post what eficent said because its exactly how I feel "I can't stand people who have kids and then can't take the time out of their oh so busy lives to raise them."

I saw this shit first hand this week. My nephew who will be 1 next month was having a hard time breathing Tuesday night. His mom, my sister, was going to take him to urgent care to get looked at. So why did I get a phone call? Because her husband couldn't be bothered to go...reason....he had to work the next day at 11 fucking 30. She didn't want to go alone, who would, so she came over and I drove them. Good thing she did take him because he has a virus, got treated, and was released later that night. So I'm there, which I don't mind at all helping my sis and nephew, and I'm thinking to myself, as I hold a screaming kids arms during a vapor treatment, why did that asshole not go? I'm totally going to get an answer one way or another sometime soon and then it hit me, he is like one of these assholes here, who would rather have someone else raise their kids because they are to fucking lazy to do it themselves.
rsquad's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 19:19
rsquad
If parents would actually filter what their kids are playing and, you know, get involved in their hobbies, rather than stick them in front of the TV with whatever game they ask for, we wouldn't have this problem. I have three very young sons and a PS3. It's extremely easy to keep the more violent games away from them if you actuallly try. Shocker!
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 19:56
Excel-2011
Survival of the fittest.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 19:59
Sharpless
"[R]ender our nation’s youth defenseless"? No, no. They're not defenseless. Their defense is called "their parents." Now, if they're specifically marketing, say, a Mortal Kombat or GTA game to elementary school kids, that's one thing. But if it's just, "Video games are fun and attractive, oh no, the kids will want to play them!" then shut the fuck up and pressure parents to do their jobs.
InfraredChimera's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 20:23
InfraredChimera
There reasoning sounds just like Jack Thompsons pissing and moaning. Not only that these so-called "violent videogames" are not even targeted at kids but to 18 and over gamers. So if parents buy these games for there kids and limit there time with the games in general, of course the kids grades are going down.
The problem is parents nowadays wanna be friends with there kids and not a parent (yes I am a parent as well). Today it seems parents are more concerned if there kids think there cool or not and not be a guiding hand in there development as they get older, so with that you get these kids who don't know how to hold there tongue and think its cool to be ignorant and arrogant.
So with this groups complaints are the same as Jack Thompsons (or very close too), most courts will probably just throw out anything they bring.
Infininja's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 20:34
Infininja
@Dexter345

Lol.
Tectonic042's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 20:50
Tectonic042
"A calamitous 30% of our nation’s youth fail to graduate from public high school.."

Well, that sucks! Y'know what would be great? If people tried to help educate kids instead of whining about harmless entertainment products. Y'know what would be even BETTER? If we could use videogames to do it for us and turn all these whiners into giant hypocrites!

...

http://www.flvs.net/areas/flvscourses/ConspiracyCode/Pages/CourseOverview.aspx

...baaaaaahahahahahaaa!
motti's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 22:57
motti
When will people just STFU? It almost makes me want to murder these peopl, which is ironic because I've been playing Assassin's Creed for the past four hours and it hasn't done that.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 23:16
Chronic Logic
If that's true, then how come I haven't committed genocide and destroyed the whole universe yet?
Nicojay2's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 23:44
Nicojay2
This reminds me that there needs to be a proper truly 'predatory' Predator game.
The misuse of power and influence that groups such as these engage in cause more anger and ill will than a billion video game (boom) headshots will ever do.
Holiday's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2009 23:57
Holiday
Problem is in the debate of video game violence people take either one of two extreme sides. Both sides in this debate have at least some valid points but as long as people are all reactionary about the issue no headway will ever be gained.
Rosseh's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/27/2009 05:30
Rosseh
Nah right coz my bruvah's girlfriend said that her cousin was playing computer games and it caused her period to come early and she died.
Plus, my dad works for Microsoft and said they were training kids to fight in wars.
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