Seattle Press on Line - Parents Can Hit the Quit Button on Ultra-Violent Video Games

By Mary Lou Dickerson

Parents Can Hit the Quit Button on Ultra-Violent Video Games

State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson holds up a violence-oriented video game magazine.

Nov 15, 2000 -- As the holiday shopping season gets under way, parents hunting for the video and computer games have a new tool at their disposal to help sort through what might be most appropriate for their children. It's a 20-page guide from Mothers Against Violence in America (MAVIA) called What Games Do Your Children Play? Become a Video Smart Parent. It's just what parents need if they want to hit the "quit" button on ultra-violent video games.

A disturbing report issued recently by the Federal Trade Commission describing the marketing of mature video games to children makes it abundantly clear that parents can use help in guiding their children's selection of video games. Thanks to the efforts of the Washington State Department of Health, that help is here.

I salute the Department of Health for producing such a cutting edge guide. It will give parents the information and tools they need to protect their children against some very toxic material. Unfortunately, most parents are still unaware of the ultra-violent content of some of the most popular video games, nor do they understand the rating system produced by the industry. According to the Center for Media and the Family, less than 50 percent of all parents of school age children are even aware that video games are rated. My hope is that this guide will help in these areas.

When I speak about ultra-violent material, I'm speaking about games that are advertised with slogans such as, "Psychiatrists say it is important to feel something when you kill. Feel the sensation. Feel the vibration. Feel the mutilation." Another game is promoted with, "Join a biker gang and carry out malicious mischief." Or how about this one: "Love thyself and plunder thy neighbor."

We know from the research that these violent video games, at the very least, deaden our children to killing and violence. For some children who are already on the edge, they can also be just what it takes to addict them to the excitement of violence. The games are a growing source of concern, having been linked with several school shootings in the last few years.

As parents, as members of communities that care about the well-being of our children, we must say "Enough!" It's time for parents to take control over the video and computer games our children are playing.

Distribution of this guide coincides with efforts by the Washington Retail Association to kick off a voluntary informational campaign to educate consumers and parents on the content rating system in video and computer games. Retail store staff will also be trained in the rating system. At the national level, KMart and Wal-Mart stores recently announced that they will not sell mature-rated games to children.

I hope this will convince all of the stores in Washington to restrict the sale and rental of mature games to children. Stores that do restrict sales and rentals will post a "Pledge to Parents." If parents don't see the pledge, I urge them to ask the store manager about the store's policy of selling or renting mature games to underage children.

In addition to being a legislator, I'm the mother of a teenager, and someone who has worked with youth in the juvenile justice system. I believe we've got to do a better job of helping our children navigate through the culture of media violence. The guide What Games Do Your Children Play? can be a great beginning.

To download or order free copies online go to www.mavia.org. Parents can also order free copies by phone: (360) 753-6820, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Rep. Dickerson (D-36th District) and Seattle-based Mothers Against Violence in America (MAVIA) were honored last year by President Clinton for their efforts on the issue of video game violence in Washington.

Reader Comments

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Jason	Oct 30, 2002	Ft Collins, CO
I do not agree with the theory that ultra violent video games promote violence in society for the simple argument that acts of unspeakable violence have taken place through out all of human history. Now, these types of games, or videos and such will appeal to your basic "wacko" personality more than a simple "care bears family fun time" type of game would, but then this is not the only type of person who would find the games entertaining. If anything, these "wacko" types will always find something to set them off, weather it's a video game, or a TV show, or a voice on the radio, or their dog. (I have never heard of anyone going on a killing spree because their cat told them to do it, perhaps in our quest for mass extinctions of various species on our planet, we should focus on puppies and dogs? By the logic presented, I wish to present a modest proposal that there would be a number of women who would still be alive if David Berkowitzsí neighbor never owned a dog.) A person, who is going to go on a mass killing spree, is going to do it, because all the decisions of their life, all the decisions that others made that effected them, all these tiny little meaningless pieces (violent video game, traffic, barking dog, the rude cashier at the grocery store, who is in a bad mood because their girlfriend or boyfriend just left them, or their parents grounded them, the 10 dollar bill they lost), by themselves have no weight, but when it all comes together, in just the right combination to the wrong type of person, the "wacko", then you will end up with someone going on a killing spree. Eliminating any one factor, just isnít going to solve the problem, all it will do, is give people, who donít understand, or accept that things will happen that they can not understand, or stop, a false sense of control, which will be shattered the next time a wacko is set off, and hence leave them feeling even less in control than before. Want to make this a better world, ratings on games, and the like isnít the answer, just be kind to others. That is all; itís just that simple. Local activities (meaning just trying to effect people with whom you have direct and personal contact with) will have global repercussions. People will still be nailed to crosses, burned at the stake, drawn and quartered, be at the wrong place at the wrong time when a shooting spree takes place, but generally, the frequency of these events will be minimal.


shairah abdul rahim	Dec 17, 2002	penang, malaysia	student
no comment!!!!


requesting idiot's silence	Dec 01, 2003	Kansas City, Mo
It seems to me the only people who have a problem wth MA video games ae those who don't play them. Have you ever once played Super Smash Brothers? I have thousands of times, and never once have I felt like I wanted to knock someone off a cliff when the game was over. The children may be becoming aggressive after playing these gmes just because it is expected for them to do so. EXAMPLE: If you tell a kid they took E when they ingested a vitamin,m how do you think they will act?


Anonymous	Dec 01, 2003	jupiter
Seems 2 me the only people who take you people seriously are tree-huggin' hippies. Only they're too high to make a difference in your campaign!!!LOL


Lance	Jan 15, 2004	Ohio
I dont believe it promotes violence. All it does is give the child a social subject ot talk about. Also most non violent related games leave the child bored and makes him or her go back in society leaving him nothing to resort to but violence, because of peer presure


Billy bob joe	Jan 16, 2004	Uranus	Marchian doctor
I know that video games mad e me want to become a doctor


No control but EDUCATE	Feb 21, 2004	OR, USA	Student
Parents have the ultimate responsibility for deciding which games are appropriate for their children, YET it doesn't mean they they have the right to ignore the job of acknowledge their children. EDUCATE the children for the game they play INSTEAD OF CONTROL THEM. Contol is neither the power nor the right thing!! EDUCATE the kids for the game they play IS THE KEY!! Retailers have a responsibility to educate the buyers about the ratings system which help the parents and kids to have a "EDUCATIONAL" enviroment while playing video game!


your worst nightmare	Feb 23, 2004	california
If you want my opinion I believe that you are another one of those ìannoying bastardsî that want to take the fun out of everything. Just because there was a shooting at Columbine all you think that Video Games are the problem., and fail to recognize that everyone is different and that everyone acts different. Some may have that inclination to violent thoughts while others donít feel anything. As far as the control of your kids You donít know anything about it you ASS HOLIAN BITCH


Lucky	Mar 13, 2004	kansas	student
I really think that parents need to step up and take responsibility kids are influenced by people and living conditions not what they play or what they watch! A 6 year old child watches bugs bunny and the road runner do you think that after watching that, that child is going to stand in the middle of a street and get hit by a bus? NO exactly so what? 6 to 14 year old is going to hit a person with a car or go snyper on someone? ummm lets see common since here if a kid from that age did that they wouldnt do it by thenselves so how bouts we do this. all the parents step up and actually blame yourselves for the violence out of young people today im not saying that you should stick then in a the rapist im saying spend time talk to then dont over do it and make sure that they can call you a corney parent cause thats the best kind even though we act like we are hard ass's! STEP UP!


Ian	May 09, 2005	California	Student
Violent Games do not promote Violence. That's abusurd. The only time it promotes violent behavior is when its psychological with the person. I've been playing violent video games all my freaking life, ever since i was a little kid and i have never gotten the urge to go out and kill someone. Stupid tree huggin hippies and PETA people. Hang your heads in shame!!!!!


Satan	Jun 25, 2006	Oregon	Developer
When I set out to make violent video games I did so with the intention of ruining the youth of america, and I am not joking. I want all your kids to become more violent, I want them to kill each other and go on school shootings. I want my games to totally destroy your children and ruin there lives and minds. I want them desensitized to violence so that I can feed off of there misery. I am coming and your children will be my slaves.

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