14 replies to this topic

[Julio93]

http://www.ign.com/a...ent-video-games

 

At a gun legislation strategy meeting held at the White House recently, United States Vice President Joe Biden suggested there would be "no legal reason" why taxing violent media, including video games, would be an issue. This taxing of any kind of "violent images" could, of course, extend to film and television, as well.

The Vice President's declaration came in response to a suggestion made by Reverend Franklin Graham, who attended the meeting alongside 19 other religious leaders. According to Politico.com, attendees at the meeting said that Biden responded favourably to the Reverend's idea, going so far as to say there would be “no restriction on the ability to do that, there’s no legal reason why they couldn't."

It was suggested by Graham that proceeds of the tax would go towards victims of gun violence and their families, according to the website's sources.

 

As Geek.com correctly notes, this sort of concern is nothing new. The Obama Administration has funded research into the effects of violent video games on young people following the Sandy Hook tragedy, and is a common theme in the wake of any major national tragedy. At this point there's no indication that Graham's suggestion will come to fruition, with Vice President Biden eventually concluding that a study should be made on the effects violent video games have on developing brains.

 

 

 

Taxing violent videogames? This is becoming ridiculous at this point, I blame bad parenting for this.

[PyroKinesis]

Another old man out of touch with reality.

[White Trite Chronicles]

The suppression of ideas?

 

Is this going to become a real-life Fahrenheit 451?

[Big Boss]

Joe Biden is one of the dumbest people I've ever seen in such a high-ranking position. 

 

 

Just a few examples of how fantastic he is.

Edited by Big Boss, 15 May 2013 - 04:14 PM.

[Blake]

Oh, so with that, a tax on rated R movies is fair too, right?

[Zinix]

Of course they wouldn't see a problem, it's more money for them. 

[stardust]

Obama and Biden should both be removed from office.

[Death Stare Obama]

Biden? Damn.... He's the most logical person in the US. He's got the brainz of an ass! so smart!

Edited by Death Stare Obama, 15 May 2013 - 05:29 PM.

[Xiombarg]

It won't happen, the meaning of violence will be debated and etc.  I'm not surprised this would come up, though.  It always seems both sides of the political spectrum have something against games.

[SoldMyWiiUAndLeftTheForums]

You see what these stupid old polititcians never seem to realise is THERE'S A F$#KING RATING ON THE BOX!!!!!!!! Once the parent buys the game it's thier responsibility, but nooooooooo that's way too much to ask that is.

[ZombiCarolyn]

Of course they wouldn't see a problem, it's more money for them. 

them = you. all those nice roads you drive on, the bus system, the public library, the 911 line, the cheap gasoline and food you consume, etc.

the argument is:

 

-if thing that makes money for the private sector causes harm to the public sector (ie, people) in ANY DEMONSTRATABLE WAY, then taxing it then a) gives more money to the public sector for its democratically decided purposes and makes harming society more expensive and therefore less appealing to those who profit from it.

 

there is evidence that violent video games cause harm to society.  there is also counter evidence, so you can go back and forth.  this is a video game forum so what do you think our opinions are going to be? we're not going to think critically, we're going to think out of video game addiction and entitlement to leisure/entertainment privileges logic.

 

taxation of smoking has significantly reduced smoking.

 

this is not as unreasonable as this thread makes it seem.  not even close.

 

and this is coming from someone who enjoys violent video games, and who also enjoys self criticism because it fosters stronger personal growth.

list of pro and con arguments for correlative/causal relationships between video game violence and real violence:

 

http://videogames.procon.org/#pro_con

"Increasing reports of bullying can be partially attributed to the popularity of violent video games. The 2008 study Grand Theft Childhood reported that 60% of middle school boys who played at least one Mature-rated game hit or beat up someone, compared to 39% of boys that did not play Mature-rated games. [2]

"

 

"Video games often reward players for simulating violence, and thus enhance the learning of violent behaviors. Studies suggest that when violence is rewarded in video games, players exhibit increased aggressive behavior (112 KB) compared to players of video games where violence is punished."

 

"Violent video games desensitize players to real-life violence. It is common for victims in video games to disappear off screen when they are killed or for players to have multiple lives. In a 2005 study, violent video game exposure has been linked to reduced P300 amplitudes in the brain (275 KB) , which is associated with desensitization to violence and increases in aggressive behavior."

 

"A 2000 FBI report (187 KB) includes playing violent video games in a list of behaviors associated with school shootings."

 

etc

[Mitch]

You see what these stupid old polititcians never seem to realise is THERE'S A F$#KING RATING ON THE BOX!!!!!!!! Once the parent buys the game it's thier responsibility, but nooooooooo that's way too much to ask that is

Arent you British?

[SoldMyWiiUAndLeftTheForums]

Arent you British?

 

Yeah but it still worries me, if the US Government go through with this it will have a knock on effect, our stupid Parlament will come up with some stupid excuse to follow suite. We already pay through the nose for games and everything else, last thing we need is tax on top.

[ZombiCarolyn]

Yeah but it still worries me, if the US Government go through with this it will have a knock on effect, our stupid Parlament will come up with some stupid excuse to follow suite. We already pay through the nose for games and everything else, last thing we need is tax on top.

so what do you propose to reduce violence in the UK?

[Byakuya Togami]

The amount of the anger and hostility in this thread is honestly rather petty. This is nothing new, and nothing is going to changed.

 

Keep in mind that obama can only do as much as congress lets him, before you go off on your spiels about how he needs to be taken out of office.