Mr. Thompson and Video Games.

[Kylehnat]

"Cop killing training simulator?" Last I checked, to kill a cop in GTA, you push and hold one button, then pull the trigger (all from a third-person view). Somehow I don't think that works too well in real life.

People like Mr. Thompson don't realize that normal people have a disconnect between video games and real life. People who kill other people are sick in the head, and that is usually a result of a less than ideal upbringing, not video games. I played GTA III, and GTA VC, and gleefully killed countless hookers, pedestrians, and police officers, but it never for a second made me think that it was acceptable behavior in real life. Granted, I got these games when I was 18, but even if I were 5 years younger, I still would have known that lawnmowing pedestrians on a sidewalk is not okay. Why? Because my parents instilled morals and values in me as a child, which can never be overturned by any number of years playing games like Halo, GTA, and the like.

Swift, you mentioned something about not letting your kids hole themselves up in their room with a TV and play video games. That's just it! When parents take a laissez-faire attitude towards their children's activities, that's where a lot of problems come from. After Columbine, every one was appalled that this behavior could happen in an affluent community. My mom came up with something that was interesting: if the children have their own wing in the mini-mansion, the parents may go all day without ever seeing their children, so they have no idea what's going on in their children's lives. Is your child depressed and suicidal (or homicidal)? Tough to know when you never talk to them for more than 5 minutes.

So, to the Mr. Thompson's in the world, I say **** OFF!!! You know nothing.

 

[Swift]

Swift, you mentioned something about not letting your kids hole themselves up in their room with a TV and play video games. That's just it! When parents take a laissez-faire attitude towards their children's activities, that's where a lot of problems come from. After Columbine, every one was appalled that this behavior could happen in an affluent community. My mom came up with something that was interesting: if the children have their own wing in the mini-mansion, the parents may go all day without ever seeing their children, so they have no idea what's going on in their children's lives. Is your child depressed and suicidal (or homicidal)? Tough to know when you never talk to them for more than 5 minutes.

I would love to get his email address and send him this statement. His reply would be hysterical.

 

[the_undrtaker89]

Yeah, parent's have a lot to do with it. Video games have very little to do with it, I was just saying giving a game to a kid who is too young to be playing it and a kid that doesn't know right from wrong, is influencial on the kid's thinking.


I'm a GTA enthusiast actually, I just don't like it when 11 year old kids are playing it. They should be playing gt4 or something.

Plus I don't care how much I sound like an old hag to you when I say this, but a small portion of violent kids is to blame on rappers and hollywood.

 

[Swift]

Plus I don't care how much I sound like an old hag to you when I say this, but a small portion of violent kids is to blame on rappers and hollywood.

I'd have to disagree. I again say it's the parents.

 

[the_undrtaker89]

I'd have to disagree. I again say it's the parents.

Think about it this way, is there any other group of singers or artists that try to make being a "gangsta" cool besides rappers? Rap music is easier to access than GTA or violent movies. Movies like Ocean's 11 try to make crime look cool, but with those it's easy to tell it doesn't depict situations in real life.

But then there are rappers who have this image that is all about their violent pasts. And how cool it is to get shot up.

 

[sicbeing]

I'd have to agree with swift (what?!.. jk ) that it's mainly parental or role models that make kids do what they do, in my opinion. Or, even growing up where violence surrounds you, or where gangs surround your 5 yr old, or etc. If a game is ever the trigger to make someone kill someone else.... I want to play that game! 👍

 

[sicbeing]

Think about it this way, is there any other group of singers or artists that try to make being a "gangsta" cool besides rappers? Rap music is easier to access than GTA or violent movies. Movies like Ocean's 11 try to make crime look cool, but with those it's easy to tell it doesn't depict situations in real life.

But then there are rappers who have this image that is all about their violent pasts. And how cool it is to get shot up.

I think you're being a bit bias against rappers. I'd think bands like Slipknot, Suicide Machine, etc, are a lot more violent. I hear goth-metal bands scream all day long about how good blood feels trickling down your wrist. Sure, rappers sometimes talk in their songs about fighting, guns, or etc, but they are never saying "go out and kill yourself/others" or like Mushroomhead "If it were up to me, I'd free charles manson" (which I don't understand that song myself..)

 

[the_undrtaker89]

I think you're being a bit bias against rappers. I'd think bands like Slipknot, Suicide Machine, etc, are a lot more violent. I hear goth-metal bands scream all day long about how good blood feels trickling down your wrist. Sure, rappers sometimes talk in their songs about fighting, guns, or etc, but they are never saying "go out and kill yourself/others" or like Mushroomhead "If it were up to me, I'd free charles manson" (which I don't understand that song myself..)

Haha, I guess. But there's a difference, most of the time people don't understand the lyrics that they spew out. I'm a rock fan, and I rarely understand all the lyrics in the whole song. And slipknot fans, they're just headbangers. Anyways there aren't many kids that listen to hardcore metal anyway.

Rappers still have a much bigger image based on violence.

 

[Kylehnat]

I think you're being a bit bias against rappers. I'd think bands like Slipknot, Suicide Machine, etc, are a lot more violent. I hear goth-metal bands scream all day long about how good blood feels trickling down your wrist. Sure, rappers sometimes talk in their songs about fighting, guns, or etc, but they are never saying "go out and kill yourself/others" or like Mushroomhead "If it were up to me, I'd free charles manson" (which I don't understand that song myself..)

It's interesting. My opinion is that rap seems to glorify gang wars, violence, abuse towards women, being in prison, dealing/doing drugs, etc... whereas the certain genres of rock that you mentioned seem to describe the pitfalls of all of those things. Much like video games, there is a lot of hubbub about how music supposedly turns kids rotten. Again, it's baseless. I listened to Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Korn, and others back in the day, and yeah, there's some pretty disturbing lyrics that come out, but it never made me say "hey, Corey Taylor wants to strangle and mutilate his enemies; I should do the same!"

Attitude is all about your surroundings, not what you play or listen to for entertainment.

 

[sicbeing]

It's interesting. My opinion is that rap seems to glorify gang wars, violence, abuse towards women, being in prison, dealing/doing drugs, etc... whereas the certain genres of rock that you mentioned seem to describe the pitfalls of all of those things. Much like video games, there is a lot of hubbub about how music supposedly turns kids rotten. Again, it's baseless. I listened to Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Korn, and others back in the day, and yeah, there's some pretty disturbing lyrics that come out, but it never made me say "hey, Corey Taylor wants to strangle and mutilate his enemies; I should do the same!"

Attitude is all about your surroundings, not what you play or listen to for entertainment.

Rap and Gang wars, west coast vs east coast, all that jazz jus gets more TV time , media attention, and is more popular.

 

[FoolKiller]

Think about it this way, is there any other group of singers or artists that try to make being a "gangsta" cool besides rappers? Rap music is easier to access than GTA or violent movies. Movies like Ocean's 11 try to make crime look cool, but with those it's easy to tell it doesn't depict situations in real life.

But then there are rappers who have this image that is all about their violent pasts. And how cool it is to get shot up.

Parents, parents, parents.

Why can't they prevent their kids from listening to this music or watching whatever movies they disapprove of? They should check out their kids' CD collections and, as I have said countless times, not let the computer full of MP3s sit in the bedroom. They don't need their own computer in the bedroom.

Then, if your kid is getting the influences from school don't let them dress like a gangsta. Don't buy them the clothes that fit that style. Same goes for slutty girl's clothes. If it has a word across the ass of the pants a 10-year-old shouldn't be wearing it. If they can't fit in to the group they won't get accepted. I'd rather my kid feel like a loser than a cool gangsta.

Essentially, a parent that is involved in their child's life should be able to monitor nearly every aspect of it. Everyone has their own set of moral standards and you cannot teach them to your children unless you are involved. This goes for music, movies, TV, video games, whatever. If your child becomes something you don't like before they graduate high school there is only one person you can blame.

Then when a child goes off to college parents think that their effect on their child is over. If you affected them properly at home then what you taught will help them to make proper decisions. Sure, they will make mistakes or get drawn in to teh wrong crowd, but that is when you step back in and say what you feel. As bad as it sounds instilling a balanced guilt complex into a child will keep them out of major trouble. Ever notice that your conscience sounds a lot like your parents?

 

[Swift]

Foolkiller....well, yeah. 👍

 

[Small_Fryz]

figures show, this is the least violent generation ever.

Why have a car chase in real life? when you can do it in Driv3r or GTA SA?

These games are so fun, because you can do things you cant do in real life. They relieave stress.

People who kill are foobar'ed up, video games had nothing to do with it.

 

[Swift]

figures show, this is the least violent generation ever.

Why have a car chase in real life? when you can do it in Driv3r or GTA SA?

These games are so fun, because you can do things you cant do in real life. They relieave stress.

People who kill are foobar'ed up, video games had nothing to do with it.

Yeah, it seems that people are too busy PLAYING the games to take the time/energy/effort/MONEY to act them out in real life.

 

[Ten]

Bully is a Columbine simulator? You have got to be kidding me. From what GameInformer has shown me, it seems like the most lethal of arms you recieve is a slingshot. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't those students and faculty members gunned down with bullets? I don't remember anyone being noogied, spit-balled, or swirlied to death...

This man seriously has no idea what he's speaking of. You can do all the cranial scans and rectal brain-trometry or whatever you want. The bottom line is, any stable teenager with a grip on reality will enjoy a violent game as a pass-time and nothing else. You honestly expect a random kid to walk outside, shoot someone in the face, and do it all out of the desire to re-create their favorite scene from GTA? The kids performing these acts are doing so because some kids at school ****ed with them since they were in the third grade, and they found the keys to daddy's gun cabinet. Any kid can tell you what a gun is, what it does, and in many cases, how it works. As stated earlier, movies go into much richer detail as to the workings of a firearm.

Gee whiz, I can't wait to go outside with my dad's new .45 and start my criminal record with a bang! Just like in GTA! I can't wait to go to jail and stand on trial while my mother kills herself from grief and my father joins me for being neglegent in the manner that he stores his hunting paraphanaela.

The video game industry is trying to hurt us. They're trying to instill fear and control, so they can push our youth to do dangerous and sacriligious things. Believe everything this man says. Also, persecute that which you don't understand. 👍

Oh, and good luck convincing Bush to give up his "blood money". We've been trying that for years. But do keep me informed on all the progress you make!

 

[K_Speed]

My lil bro has jsut turned 9. He played GTA I think for the first time when he was 6 or 7.

What he loves to do is crash cars. He loves to jump around and all that fun stuff. He somtimes drives over people and he also takes out guns and shoots people. But that rarely happens. I dont think hes having any fun by doing it.
If he ever kills someone, I ask him why he did that and say its not nice. I know it sounds ****ing stupid "not nice", but you have to say something.

But what the hell, hes not going to play and want to kill people, hes just going even more car crazy, he just loves the way that you can drive around and act like a grown up. He would give anyhting for a drivers licence .


I guess there are kids who do get "inspired" by the game, imo that depends on the parents and how the child grows up.

 

[Ten]

Anyone read this article yet?

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051019-5458.html

LOL.

 

[Mr Deap]

let's talk about number...

How many people have played Gran Theif Auto?

What is the % of Crime vs People who play video games?

The fact is less than 0,0000000000000001% have committed an act of violence.

Violence is..

Physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing: crimes of violence.
The act or an instance of violent action or behavior.
Abusive or unjust exercise of power.
Abuse or injury to meaning, content, or intent: do violence to a text.
Vehemence of feeling or expression; fervor
(http://www.answers.com/topic/violence)

That guy is violating the liberty divertissement without violating. If never people listen to Mr Thomson it will be bad...

Isn't the freak in Matrix called Mr Thomson?

 

[FoolKiller]

Anyone read this article yet?

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051019-5458.html

LOL.

And I am currently doing a little happy dance.

"Doing the happy dance, doing the happy dance, doing the happy dance"
"Happy, happy, joy joy. Happy, happy, joy joy. Happy, happy, joy joy."

 

[FoolKiller]

OK, who let Mr. Thompson on teh writing staff of CSI Miami?

The summary for tonight's (11/21) episode is:

Originally aired: Monday November 21, 2005 on CBS

Show Stars: Khandi Alexander (Chief Medical Examiner Alexx Woods), Jonathan Togo (Ryan Wolfe (Episodes 54+, Recurring Previously)), Emily Procter (Calleigh Duquesne), David Caruso (Lieutenant Horatio Caine), Adam Rodriguez (Eric "Delko" Delektorsky)
All Guest Stars: Rex Linn (Detective Frank Tripp)
Production Code: 409


Eric Delko is at the bank, requesting a loan, when three robbers wearing ski masks rush in. Delko knows he can’t win against the three robbers but when one of them tries to rape a girl it ends in a shootout. The security tape leads them to Miami University and to the robbers next target and Horatio manages to arrest one of them. The trail leads to a videogame named “Urban Hellraisers” and when Ryan Wolfe starts playing it, it turns the similarities between the game and the actual crimes are very big. It’s up to the team to catch the robbers before they commit a crime much more serious than the last one.

Maybe I am reading too much into this but does this seem to kind of just play into the hands of Jack Thompson and other uninformed parent groups that want to blame their kids problems on the video games? What I have seen so far the game "Urban Hellraisers" looks a lot like GTA: San Andreas.

From the ads I have seen this isn't children but college-aged guys getting involved in this "real-life gaming" scenario.

This would be the second time in a month a CBS entertainment show has appeared to have a propaganda type edge to it in the promo alone. I will give this a watch and if it is as bad as it it looks then they will definitely be receiving an email, since they have no forums. Wonder why?

 

[s0nny80y]

CSI: Miami? It's really hypocrisy due to the fact that they potray drugs and violence in every episode all the while criticizing violent games in this specific one.

 

[FoolKiller]

CSI: Miami? It's really hypocrisy due to the fact that they potray drugs and violence in every episode all the while criticizing violent games in this specific one.

Well, their excuse is that the people guilty of the drugs and violence are punished in the end, showing that crime doesn't pay.

However, after watching the show they even said that the gamers had become so involved in the game that they became bored with virtual killing and chose to play out the game, level by level, in real life. None of them had sociopathic issue that needed dealing iwth, they just became killers.

Also, the gamers were college students that apparently never did anything else but sit around and play the games. They were displayed as unclean and unshaven losers who had to prove something and the game gave them a goal. Even one of the gamers was a girl (at least they broke one stereotype), but she had a self-esteem issue and wanted to prove that she could beat the boys.

One of the gamers that was coordinating it all and keeping score had apparently been playing for 70 hours straight until he died of renal failure. So, they took an extreme case of real life that other gamers have dicussed and made fun of (at least on here) and turned it into a situation that is apparently a regular everyday occurence.

Two things topped it off for me. The first was the cocky game creator that apparently showed no concern about the situation and refused to tell them what the next level of the game was in order to allow the police to stop the killers ahead of time. They had to arrest him for obstruction of justice. Game creators may not stop making the games, but I have yet to hear about one obstructing justice in order to sell more video games.

The second was when one of the cops had to play the game to find out what the next level was and kept getting killed by a cop. When one of the other cops came in and asked how it was going he said, "I can't get past level 2. You keep killing me!" Somehow the cop who had been playing less than a day had already become obsessed to the point of connecting a game to real life and momentarily saw the cop in the game as his partner.

So, WTF is up with this stuff? It was pure stereotyping of video gamers to an extreme and even managed to make them appear more addictive than drugs. Apparently we are all just a bunch of unclean losers who play games nonstop and lose sight of the difference between reality and the games we play.

They must have let Jack Thompson and the MAVAV harpies into the creative offices. I only find solace in the fact that it is a fictional show, unfortunately some people will think it is a reflection of reality. It's the same problem they accuse videogames of causing.

 

[Zrow]

Well, the MAVAV hoax actually had some good points, mainly that parents should be the ones who monitor their childs game-playing habits. I can get behind that, because it is the parents that are supposed to be watching what their children do in the first place.

 

[FoolKiller]

Well, the MAVAV hoax actually had some good points, mainly that parents should be the ones who monitor their childs game-playing habits. I can get behind that, because it is the parents that are supposed to be watching what their children do in the first place.

Yet somehow they believe it is the videogame's fault that the kid is in their room for hours at a time. While I agree that parents need to monitor they refuse to blame parents when the kids play a violent videogame or sit around doing nothing else. They make the videogames out to be as bad as drugs.

Maybe you didn't read their resources page with their "facts." Let me give you a quote:

Fact: Hardcore gaming not only leads to video game addiction and abrupt lifestyle changes, but to crime and felony as well. Hardcore gamers never buy computer video games. Instead, downloading illegally copied video games or “warez” is the only method acceptable by the underground. Buying a legit copy is grounds for abandonment by community groups. You may not be buying your child videogames, but they can illegally obtain them off the internet.

I have yet to met these hardcore gamers. This kind of disinformation is not aimed at warning parents about how to monitor their kids behavior and activity but at getting games restricted or censopred in some way and even getting some kinds outlawed.

They have a good point that parents can help prevent their kids from wasting time gaming, but at the same time if the kid lacks the responsibility to do school work instead of playing games then it is the videogame's fault because it is an addiction like drugs.

They are also trying to say that videogames make kids violent. It was Doom's fault that Colombine happened. It is this mentality that went into the CSI: Miami episode. The game made them become murderers because they were losers with no self-esteem, like all gamers. According to MAVAV even casual gamers suffer from low self-esteem. I guess that means that all of them could become the characters on CSI: Miami?

 

[FoolKiller]

Judge: Game over for Illinois ban

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (AP) -- A federal judge ruled Friday that Illinois' restrictions on the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors are unconstitutional and barred the state from enforcing the law.

Apparently there is justice after all. Let the parents deal with it and when they complain about their children's behavior because they did play a violent game I want someone to ask them where they were while their kids were playing those games.

 

[FoolKiller]

I hate reviving a dead thread but this fits in perfectly.

Democratic Senator Tommy Kilby wants to outlaw violent games in Tennesse.

Last week, Democratic Senator Tommy Kilby filed SB3981, which would make it illegal to sell or rent an "extremely violent video game" in the state of Tennessee.

The bill defines the phrase "extremely violent video game" as "a video game in which the range of options available to a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being," with a number of clauses specifying that a game would have to be patently offensive to prevailing community standards, among other things, to be considered extremely violent.

Full article

[RANT]
Why, why, why? What is it with upstart politicians trying to make a name for themselves that makes them think that attacking the video game industry is the way to go with this? This isn't even being mentioned in regular media outlets, just gaming news. This kind of thing could pass without anyone even noticing until games started being yanked out of the stores.

I have said it before and I will say it again. It is about the parents. If you can't watch what games your kids ae playing then don't get them the game system. My wife's friend has a son with a PS2 and the most violent game he has is some NASCAR game (I tried getting him into GT4, but he is ADHD) and an old Tony Hawk game. Everything else is a bunch of kids games that I hadn't even seen before. It's stuff that makes Backyard Baseball look mature. They also have a computer that their daughter uses, but it sits in the family room.

Do we really need laws regulating what we can and can't buy? And in Tennessee of all places? That's where I went to go get good fireworks when I was in college in Bowling Green, KY. So, I can buy fireworks that can remove my face but I can't play a game, as an adult, that allows me to virtually remove my face?

Here is the website of Senator Tom Kilby of Tennessee. It has an email link to contact him. I ask that anyone who chooses to do so please be mature about it. It might also help if you are of voting age. If there are any members that are from Tennessee you would be extra helpful.

I am fighting wasteful and unconstitutional legislation like this wherever it shows up. I am getting tired of people who have become ignorant of this genre or those who are attacking it in order to help boost their political career.
[/RANT]

 

[Mr Deap]

I hate reviving a dead thread but this fits in perfectly.


Full article

[RANT]
Why, why, why? What is it with upstart politicians trying to make a name for themselves that makes them think that attacking the video game industry is the way to go with this? This isn't even being mentioned in regular media outlets, just gaming news. This kind of thing could pass without anyone even noticing until games started being yanked out of the stores.

I have said it before and I will say it again. It is about the parents. If you can't watch what games your kids ae playing then don't get them the game system. My wife's friend has a son with a PS2 and the most violent game he has is some NASCAR game (I tried getting him into GT4, but he is ADHD) and an old Tony Hawk game. Everything else is a bunch of kids games that I hadn't even seen before. It's stuff that makes Backyard Baseball look mature. They also have a computer that their daughter uses, but it sits in the family room.

Do we really need laws regulating what we can and can't buy? And in Tennessee of all places? That's where I went to go get good fireworks when I was in college in Bowling Green, KY. So, I can buy fireworks that can remove my face but I can't play a game, as an adult, that allows me to virtually remove my face?

Here is the website of Senator Tom Kilby of Tennessee. It has an email link to contact him. I ask that anyone who chooses to do so please be mature about it. It might also help if you are of voting age. If there are any members that are from Tennessee you would be extra helpful.

I am fighting wasteful and unconstitutional legislation like this wherever it shows up. I am getting tired of people who have become ignorant of this genre or those who are attacking it in order to help boost their political career.
[/RANT]

I've seen some games a bit overboard. They should make games a bit less violent "Condemned & Dead Rising on the xbox 360" darn those game really go far...

I don't have much about violent games, but those game aren't made to be played by kids... Though people start to be aware that some games are too violent, but those who actually play video games, know that kids shouldn't play those. Parent & seller should watch out what game kids are playing. The problem is that parent don't want their child to use their TV to play games so they tend to leave the console in their bedroom with their TV. So the parent aren't watching what they're playing. Banning a child of playing games isn't a good way to threat child. Child must be treaten as a child. This will hurt their growing. It's like not letting people watch or play basketball. Though I have to agree that playing contact basketball & kick all the other player is wrong. Though games are the same. A game is a game. Show what wrong & right before letting it use it & watch if they're in good use.

 

[FoolKiller]

I've seen some games a bit overboard. They should make games a bit less violent "Condemned & Dead Rising on the xbox 360" darn those game really go far...

I don't have much about violent games, but those game aren't made to be played by kids... Though people start to be aware that some games are too violent, but those who actually play video games, know that kids shouldn't play those. Parent & seller should watch out what game kids are playing. The problem is that parent don't want their child to use their TV to play games so they tend to leave the console in their bedroom with their TV. So the parent aren't watching what they're playing. Banning a child of playing games isn't a good way to threat child. Child must be treaten as a child. This will hurt their growing. It's like not letting people watch or play basketball. Though I have to agree that playing contact basketball & kick all the other player is wrong. Though games are the same. A game is a game. Show what wrong & right before letting it use it & watch if they're in good use.

I fully agree that kids should not play these games. If teh game makers and/or retailers choose to set a ban on allowing children to buy those games or even have a parent buy it for them (assuming they know) I can agree to that. A parent who does that and then complains should be smacked good.

That said, I am 26 years old and I should be able to buy, rent, play those games. It is up to me as a full-grown adult of sound mind (might be argued) to make that decision for myself. This bill isn't even banning the sale of certain games to children, which is still wrong in my book because it isn't the government's decision. This bill is banning the sale of these games in general. No one, not even 50-somethings, will be allowed to buy these games.

It is complete and utter nonsense, not to mention censorship.

 

[Swift]

This idiot was on a local morning talk show today. Saying the same stupid crap. He said that he did a "sting" with his 13 year old son in a best buy to get a mature rated game. When the kid went to the register he was asked for ID, he didn't have any, and hte cashier let him buy it anyway. Now, how does that prove that Best Buy as a company supports minors getting those games? The cashier asked for ID, the kid didn't have it, the cashier then broke the rules and gave it to him anyway. That'd be like going to a minor going to a 7/11 getting cigarettes, not having ID and still being able to buy them because the cashier let it pass. It has nothing to do with the company, but the moron that sold the item.

It was funny though because the host agrees with his stance that there are some games that are jsut jacked up, but he didn't agree with having legislation against them. The host believes the parents should be responible and good ol jack wasn't hearing it. To the point where our friend Mr Thompson actually hung up on him.

 

[FoolKiller]

This idiot was on a local morning talk show today. Saying the same stupid crap. He said that he did a "sting" with his 13 year old son in a best buy to get a mature rated game. When the kid went to the register he was asked for ID, he didn't have any, and hte cashier let him buy it anyway. Now, how does that prove that Best Buy as a company supports minors getting those games? The cashier asked for ID, the kid didn't have it, the cashier then broke the rules and gave it to him anyway. That'd be like going to a minor going to a 7/11 getting cigarettes, not having ID and still being able to buy them because the cashier let it pass. It has nothing to do with the company, but the moron that sold the item.

It was funny though because the host agrees with his stance that there are some games that are jsut jacked up, but he didn't agree with having legislation against them. The host believes the parents should be responible and good ol jack wasn't hearing it. To the point where our friend Mr Thompson actually hung up on him.

I'm going to play devil's advocate here for a moment.

As a representative of Best Buy the cashier represents the store. Best Buy needs to enforce their own policies better. Other violations of policies would probably not be as easily ignored. Just as your cigarette example means the store, not the employee, gets fined.

That said, Best Buy cannot deal with the employee if the situation is not brought to the attention of the manager. If Mr. Thompson wants to do these little sting operations then he should also report the cashiers and see how the situation is dealt with. If the store ignores the policy violation then he has a case to attack Best Buy for a false policy. If they reprimand the cashier in some way then he has no case, which might be why he didn't take that action. How can he trash the chain if they act appropriately?

The probolem with a sting operation like this, and Mr. Thompson is smart enough to know this, is that it is setting them up to fail. Police cannot do this kind of thing because it is entrapment. You can't encourage someone to violate a policy or a law and then hold them accountable. On the other hand, police do act as cashiers to stop minors from buying alcohol and tobacco. Mr. Thompson doesn't want anyone to do this because it will show the host's argument to be solid; the parents are not monitoring their kids.

I shop at Best Buy on a regular basis and the number of kids that are allowed to roam free in their is amazing. I've quit going on the weekend. Mainly because I hate getting my butt kicked by a ten year old on the demo games (except for GT) but it shows a lack of responsibility by parents. With that many kids running around I bet a few are going to slip through any kind of DVD or video game policy.

One could argue that Best Buy needs to change their policy but the kids aren't breaking anything (amazingly), most of them understand the electronics better than their parents. Why should Best Buy make a policy to help dictate how a parent control stheir children? If the parents were responsible to begin with then it wouldn't be an issue at all.

Imagine that, a parent walking through the store with their child and being able to say no when he picks up a questionable game or movie. I have seen parents hold their children back from going down the horror movie aisle. I wanted to go and congratulate them on proper parenting.

All I can ask Mr. Thompson is why he doesn't oppose DVDs, CDs, and books of certain types. Get those outlawed too. Put Stephen King out of a job. Let's protect the children from all aspects. I mean, I was reading Stephen King books at 12. Perhaps it is the fact that not only is the game violent but people believe that it allows you to shut downyour brain and become a mindless zombie that is suddenly very impressionable. Well, as any video gamer knows, the best way to deal with a zombie is a shotgun.

Since the zombie is a metaphor for a child then I bet the shotgun is the parent, considering that is the best way to deal with a child.