The Parents Television Council is one of many groups that would like to see the videogames industry fall under tighter legislation, restrictions that currently envelop no other form of entertainment, to satisfy their ambitions of being childhood saviors. Despite the fact that it’s considered more likely for a child to buy R-rated movies than mature games, this hasn’t stopped the PTC assuming videogames are the more troublesome issue.
“We frequently hear from our members and parents that keeping violent videogames out of their children’s hands is a top priority,” declared PTC national grassroots director Gavin McKiernan. “And the evidence is conclusive: countless independent studies confirm that repeated exposure to graphic sexual, violent and profanity-laced video games has a harmful and long term effect on children.” Of course, there IS no conclusive proof of the sort, that is something people make up to justify their vendetta against games. Despite the fact that there still remains no proven link between games and violence, the PTC is still all for picking on this non-issue.
“We limit the sale of firearms, cigarettes and alcohol to minors because of their obvious detrimental effects. We have reasonable age restrictions for operating motor vehicles. We should employ similar logic and reason with other products that repeatedly have been proven to be harmful to children,” McKiernan added, once again lying about his “conclusive” proof and skimming over the fact that they’re ignoring the more established movie industry. Equating plastic discs to guns is a pretty snappy move, too.
The PTC intends to champion the same kind of videogame laws that have been endlessly ruled unconstitutional in states across America. The push for unfair videogame laws seems a futile one, and yet these kinds of groups insist on wasting time and public money to see them happen. All this is done under the guise of protecting children, but I must ask the question: Who is spending time with the kids when their parents are off fighting these “noble” causes?
