Trading Standards authorities in Plymouth have conducted a retail sting in which 16-year old boys were able to purchase copies of 18-rated games, along with knives from a selection of retailers. Adult-rated movies are not indicated as having been included in this operation. For some reason.
According to the results, five out of nine retailers sold "violent" games to underage buyers, while a mere two out of twenty five retailers sold them knives. This of course proves that videogames will destroy humanity one day. A Trading Standards official said she was "disappointed" in the game retailers for failing to take their training on board or "understand that these games are given a high age rating for a reason."
Meanwhile, Councilor Michael Leaves took the opportunity to link videogames with knife crime, claiming that games "must have a detrimental effect" on kids:
As for violent video games, I believe they must have a detrimental influence on any children who play them and I would not be at all surprised if there was not a connection with the knife crime issue. Everyone who sells these games must take extra care to ensure they only sell them to those who can legally buy them.
So there we have it. Plymouth has undeniably proven that kids who are able to buy GTA will definitely then get a knife and stab sixty three people before turning into Rosemary's Baby and exploding in a shower of nails and AIDS. It's been proven.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
9:17 AM on 09.15.2008
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The attacking games thing again though is totally unnecessary.
Then she bought my Mortal Kombat 2 and she swears it all went to hell.
Note that I was expelled from middle school in the 8th grade for an extremely violent fight I started.
I don't care what anyone says; if you played violent games as a small child, like age 6 and up, then you're a different person than you would've been if you hadn't played them. Not necessarily violent or crazy, but certainly different. Perhaps less sensitive to violence or something of that sort, or maybe just more aggressive.
Now, I'm certainly not defending these people; it's not the game's fault if you kill somebody after playing it, it's most likely because there was already some sort of mental issue, which I do believe makes you more susceptible to being negatively effected by video games.
And Jim: Saying there is no evidence isn't exactly the best argument in favor of games, considering there isn't much evidence proving games DON'T have a bad effect on kids. There simply isn't enough proof on either side.
I'm not out to prove that videogames do or do not have a bad effect on kids. First of all, I don't really care about children. It's a parent's job to give a shit about kids -- not mine, and certainly not the games industry's.
Secondly, I'm not saying that because is no conclusive proof on the matter, that the opposite must be true. My job is simply to point out the ridiculousness and flawed logic that's all-too prevalent in the anti-games crowd.
Also, again -- why just videogames and knives? What about movies? Hypocrisy and ignorance, this sting stinks of it.
Retailers should be more vigilant in ID'ing folks, though.
Technically that means he expects there to be no conection between games and knife crime. Double negative for the lose.
Thats called Puberty. Because your on a hardcore gamign site i doubt you are still as violent. Also i watched Aliens at 4 and played GTA at 6, although its a poor arguement according to a front page blog i read her it still amkes sense that if a game or film fucked you up either your geneticallt mroe susptable (not games fault anythign could have set u off) or your folks did somethign wrong (doesn't sound like they did).
Mabye that guy you fought was juts a dick? Who knows, who cares. Either way despite beign bollacks those 4/9 stores are suseptable for fines and it does show no one fuckign cares as much bout games but there are a few cunts out there who will sell a knife to a dodgy looking kid.