[Mindspank]

I am long winded about this issue, so bear with me. I am a father of 6 children and have ALOT to say about this issue.

Question One:
There is no link between digital violence indulgence and real violent behavior. I believe that in the past, people have tried to use video games as a scapegoat to lessen their consequences for whatever idiotic thing they got caught doing. Also on the other side of the coin, people by nature need someone or something to blame. So when there is nothing else TO blame, they start to look for mediums to blame. Much the same way Marilyn Manson was blamed for the events that triggered the columbine high school shooting. Every parent of the shooters thought their child could do no wrong, so they tried to blame something else.

Video game violence is a horrible stigma that will take YEARS to purge from the community, because there is gonna always be that stupid soccer mom who knows nothing about video games that thinks her angelic little timmy could never have the capability mentally to push his friend off the jungle gym, and is going to link his new Barny video game to his outbursts of violence. I mean sure as all hell, Barbie and Me Pony Adventure isnt gonna want to make me go out and buy a pony.

This is the same as saying "The Devil Made Him Do It!" We are all responsible for our choices. That's the reality we face. If it was possible to blame video games for everything that went wrong with society, We would be a world full of head shot junkies and carjacking drug dealing superstars. The average life expectancy of an American would be about 5 years.

Violent behavior is genetically predetermined.

Question Two:
If there WAS any kind of link between violence in games and violence in reality, then no. Violence is just that, no matter what form it is. Battling aliens is just the same as ripping some guys spine out. All forms of violence, no matter what they are, trigger the same areas in the brain.

Question Three:
The current game rating system is NOT sufficient (The ESRB received mostly D and D- reviews from their yearly feedback system)

I would venture to remove the rating system completely. Its worthless. It is just another way that the government is trying to tell you how to raise your family. Once the game gets home, the ESRB doesn't care who plays it. They are just trying to keep minors from purchasing it, which is ridiculous. I don't need a council of three old, barren women to tell me that my 6 year old son cant play mercenaries 2. I would quickly tell them to stuff a sock in it. My children know the difference between reality and video games because I am an ACTIVE parent. I sit with my children and explain to them whats real and whats not. And what would happen if my son decided to jack a military vehicle and call in air strikes on a city. And while more realistic, they also know they all cant be Niko Bellic in reality. Everything they do and see in video games, I watch it and make sure they understand they cant do those things in reality.

Question Four:
I don't believe stricter controls should be placed because I am for removing the controls completely. They treat video games like guns at retailers. Next thing you know your gonna need a background check before you can pick up that new copy of Cooking Mama for your daughter. And all because some tart seen a knife in the game. It all comes down to the parents. Bottom line. Bad parents will raise bad children more often than not. There are those few that are good coming from bad families, and worse coming from good families. But I also believe the outcome of a child's personality all depends on how STRONG of a parent you are as well. If your a naive dolt who believes your son has never had homework the entire time he has been in school, he is gonna believe he can do whatever he wants because YOU are a weak parent and believe his word is as good as gold.

I'm not saying to suspect your child for everything that goes wrong, but be strong enough as a parent to have a backbone. Establish standards and enforce them. Structured children lead structured lives. You let them run around like hooligans, and you just MIGHT be raising the next Niko Bellic.