Is the banning of video games violating the First Amendment? Or is it the responsibility of parents to control what games their children are allowed to play? In 2005 the sate of California filed a lawsuit in which they wanted to fine retailers who sold violent games to minors. The New York Times claimed this to be a violation of the first amendment stating that “video games are a form of free expression”. Although the judge overruled California and stated that it did not violate the First Amendment and that minors also have First Amendment rights. Should we then allow minors to buy a video game in which the objective of the game is to rape women? And should it only be banned for minors and not adults?
There was a game that was created in Japan, “Rapelay”, in which the primary goal is to go out, find women or girls for that matter, and rape them. This game was banned from the shelves in stores; however it is still available for children to play on the internet, for free in some places. CNN claimed that this game “allows you to even impregnate a girl and urge her to have an abortion”. Is this even human? How can someone create such a thing as to encourage young children to rape someone? Then there are games such as “Grand Theft Auto”, which allows the gamer to go steal cars, buy prostitutes, kill people, do drugs etc… These sorts of games should be banned and should not even be allowed to be created. They create wrong images in the minds of children and they do violate the First Amendment. Many of these games are very graphic, and can even be categorized as pornographic. Some of these games should not even be allowed for adults. However, many of these extremely violent and sexual harassment games should be banned for good and not just for minors but for adults too.
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Although I do believe that some games should be prohibited from being sold on big retail store shelves such as Wal-Mart Best Buy, or GameStop I don’t believe they should be completely banned. I don’t think video games such as “Rapelay” are right, yet I still don’t believe that it should be completely banned as I much rather someone play the game and feel accomplished than go out and actually do it. This is one of the many similar types of games available in Japan and sold to the United States though the internet. I find it funny that they want the Japanese government to intervene with this type of games when they have been around in Japan for years. They are very popular and will not stop any time soon. They are only sold in Japan and can be bought by people in the United States through the internet. People in the United States should have the right to buy any type of video game they like and it’s the reason we have the ESRB rating system on video games which tells you the appropriate age to play and content of the game. I also believe game developers should have the right to develop any game they want.
ReplyDeleteI believe the responsibility lies with the parents to educate their children on violence and sex. I believe minors should be able to purchase any game with the permission of their parents, in other words if they accompanied by their parents or legal guardian when they should be allowed to purchase the game. I grew up playing video games such as Grand Theft Auto and many other video games that were full of violence and gore yet I was educated by my parents and have always been fully aware that the things on the video games are wrong and should not be done. I do not believe someone would do what is in a video game if they are educated by their parents on the dangers and consequences involved. I also believe it can be a double edged sword as they say. For some people to release some stress or anger they play violent video games and feel better afterward instead of taking it out their stress or anger on a person. If a child is not educated on the dangers and consequences of doing what happens in video games they can feel that it is alright or normal to do such things.
I agree with your agruement. But first of all, whoever enjoys playing a game about raping women, and forcing them to get an abortion is just sick and disgusting, and degrates women to the max. These actions are NEVER okay, under any circumstances, real life or video game. It is the parent's responsibility to watch what game their child is playing, and games like "Rapelay" should be at the top of every parents NO list. I understant that there are age requiremnets on the boxes of video games, but it doesn't mean that it makes it okay for a 18 year old to buy games that are considered pornographic. Video games like these could lead to sexual disorders, and could corrupt the minds of many minors. I cannot believe that someone would put there time and effort in not only playing the game but creating it. Discusted.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your argument. First of all I can’t believe someone would create such a game like this. This is absolutely NOT okay! Parents who allow their kids to play such games like this are unbelievable. Now when it comes to over the age of 18, that’s a different story. Such games has this one can lead to many, many problems has Sarah also stated. Imagine if a kid was to get in trouble with a certain situation like the game has, I bet the kid and his/her parents would blame it on the game. I can’t even imagine what the creators had in mind when they were making this game. Regardless if the first amendment says "video games are a form of free expression", this video game itself is NOT!
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ReplyDeleteI do agree that such violent games as Grand Theft Auto should not be sold to minors and games like "Rapelay” should be banned from stores. The law does prohibit the sale of an interactive video game to anyone under 18 if the game was so violent it was "patently offensive," according to prevailing community standards and lacked serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. Every game comes with a age content rating with states the age group allowed to play those games. I believe it is the responsibility of the retailers to not sell "mature" rated to games to minors and the responsibility of the parents/guardians to make sure their children are not playing these games. I do believe the banning of "mature" rated games is a violation of the First Amendment, but certain extreme materials should not be put in games such as the ability to rape or torture.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading cleverly pseudonymed ST515's "Gaming Rights" blog, I had a strong opinion about gaming rights. Sid was not only able to follow a clear though process, but stuck to the point. Instead of making broad and ill-concieved generalizations like "gaming rots your brain, so it shouldn't be allowed", Sid pointed out very specific instanced in which gaming has reached unhealthy new highs of violence and anti-social objectives. A game called "Rapelay" is described in which the goal of the game is rape of women and girls- the more abusive, the better. A game like this should be outlawed, and its creator should undergo extensive psychological screening, as he or she might be clinically insane. The behaviors exhibited in games have alwasy been known to be unrealistic, but I had never really considered gaming a bad thing. I also never knew just how bad some games truly are.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the First Amendment shouldn't be stretched to cover the vilent and lonley needs of these gamers who obviously need to go get a gym membership and burn off some steam. To think that thousands of people have purchesed and played a game about raping women withou vomiting all over their hand-helds is heartwrenching. This world is already full of such real violence and hate. How can people waste hours of their lives reenacting the same thing? They should get jobs or find new hobbies. Good job, ST.