3 ms·

And a fairly simple read of the link will indicate that what's being discussed is the enforcement of the ESRB ratings so kids get age-appropriate material. Not

And a fairly simple read of the link will indicate that what's being discussed is the enforcement of the ESRB ratings so kids get age-appropriate material. Not the banning of video games.

rtrdea 6y ago
Why should the government decide what's age appropriate?
- outworlder 6y ago
  A fair question generally. But also one that's not very relevant to this thread. There are already age restrictions on many activities anyway and proponents on both sides. The point was that the parent poster was talking about a full ban on games and posted an example which did not support the assertion.
  - Alex3917 6y ago
    > The point was that the parent poster was talking about a full ban on games and posted an example which did not support the assertion. It was basically a full ban on video games for anyone under 18. IIRC even games like Super Mario Bros. and PAC-MAN could have been banned for violence under the proposed standard.
    - zepto 6y ago
      How would PAC-MAN be considered violent? Ghosts are by definition, already dead. I could see it being banned for encouraging bulimia, or the use of psychedelic pills, but violence is not so obvious.
      - LocalH 6y ago
        The game cabinet (at least in the US) called them "monsters"
        zepto 6y ago
        It seems like there is some ambiguous language use, based on the translation of Japanese terms but generally the canon seems to see them as Ghosts. Presumably this would need to be decided in court, perhaps even the Supreme Court. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_(Pac-Man) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_(Pac-Man) I’m surprised frogger isn’t banned because it encourages suicide.
genericone 6y ago
The ESRB isn't a governmental body, its more like an ISO/ASME. What's being discussed is to write laws that would be enforced by a governmental-body, not by an industry-body, with fines/penalties/criminal-indictments collected/issued/enforced by that government. Once legislators are involved, the ban on games sales would happen at a country-legal level, albeit only for children. Did I get that wrong? Does anyone here know more about the ESRB that I'm missing? Edit: As luck would have it, the US Supreme Court settled this particular argument a decade ago: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/08-1448.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/08-1448.pdf

And a fairly simple read of the link will indicate that what's being discussed is the enforcement of the ESRB ratings so kids get age-appropriate material. Not the banning of video games.

rtrdea 6y ago

Why should the government decide what's age appropriate?

outworlder 6y ago
A fair question generally. But also one that's not very relevant to this thread. There are already age restrictions on many activities anyway and proponents on both sides. The point was that the parent poster was talking about a full ban on games and posted an example which did not support the assertion.
- Alex3917 6y ago
  > The point was that the parent poster was talking about a full ban on games and posted an example which did not support the assertion. It was basically a full ban on video games for anyone under 18. IIRC even games like Super Mario Bros. and PAC-MAN could have been banned for violence under the proposed standard.
  - zepto 6y ago
    How would PAC-MAN be considered violent? Ghosts are by definition, already dead. I could see it being banned for encouraging bulimia, or the use of psychedelic pills, but violence is not so obvious.
    - LocalH 6y ago
      The game cabinet (at least in the US) called them "monsters"
      - zepto 6y ago
        It seems like there is some ambiguous language use, based on the translation of Japanese terms but generally the canon seems to see them as Ghosts. Presumably this would need to be decided in court, perhaps even the Supreme Court. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_(Pac-Man) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_(Pac-Man) I’m surprised frogger isn’t banned because it encourages suicide.

genericone 6y ago

The ESRB isn't a governmental body, its more like an ISO/ASME. What's being discussed is to write laws that would be enforced by a governmental-body, not by an industry-body, with fines/penalties/criminal-indictments collected/issued/enforced by that government. Once legislators are involved, the ban on games sales would happen at a country-legal level, albeit only for children. Did I get that wrong? Does anyone here know more about the ESRB that I'm missing? Edit: As luck would have it, the US Supreme Court settled this particular argument a decade ago: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/08-1448.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/08-1448.pdf