Wednesday, January 14, 2009

News Flash: Congressman doesn't know what he's talking about

In other breaking news, the sun is coming up here in Massachusetts. Unexpectedly, it's rising in the east.

Congressman Joe Baca wants video games rated "Teen" to carry a warning:
WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.
As The Register points out - in detail - the studies that the congressman relies on don't say this. RTWT for details on a number of studies that - surprise! - don't back this up.

El Reg cuts to the chase:
Whether video games are actually the cause of real-life violence or simply the subject of overblown controversy and fears like Rock and Roll or D&D was to previous generations — few would argue that young children should be readily exposed to violent material. But health warning label solving the problem of kids getting ahold of violent games is certainly rather questionable. Frankly, the bill smacks of easy political grandstanding. And most of this type of legislation tends to get struck down.
Ignore the "Cowboys and Indians" and "Machine Guns and Dead Nazis" (non-video) games that my friends and I used to play as children. Let's just cue Mark Twain:
Friend, assume for a moment that I am a Congressman. And assume for a moment that I am an idiot. But I repeat myself.
And no comment from our knuckle-dragging friend on how videogames are being used to treat ADHD.

For the benefit of humanity, let me just say that Congressman Joe Baca is a moron.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What do you call a life form with 18 legs and no brain?
A Congressional Committee.