Violent Video Games: Should Kids Be Able to Buy Them?

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Who came up with the wording for this question? I had to read it a few times to make sure I answered properly. Your results might be skewed.

Dan of MD 10:28AM May 11, 2010

While I do think it is important that parents should take an active role in determining which games are appropriate or not for their child to play, I in no way think it's any business of the government's to decide that. There are numerous M-rated games I would have no problem with kids as young as 12 or 13 playing, like Halo, for example. There is some profanity, but nothing worse than I've been using since I was a young kid, and while there is violence, it's not any worse than you'd see on prime-time TV. Some splattered blood, but no gore.
On the other hand, some M-rated games like Dead Space, which features significant gore and dismemberment, I would absolutely not let any child under the age of at least 16 or 17 get their hands on.
These distinctions are not ones the law is well designed to make. The current ratings system categorizes all the games, and includes in plain English, why it was done so. My copy of Halo: ODST says right on the back "M for Blood, Language, and Violence." Compare that to Dead Space, which says "M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, and Strong Language." You can easily see which is worse, and if that's not enough, looking any game up online will reveal a plethora of information, from screenshots, to reviews, to entire videos of gameplay. The tools to determine whether a game is suitable for your child are easily and readily available, and it's simply lazy parenting to not take responsibility and be aware of what games your child is playing. Many parents are buying their kids games unsuitable, simply because the kid asks for it. If so, it's that parent's own fault, and I don't see how gaming as a whole should be regulated so severely because of it.

Mike of CA 10:28AM May 11, 2010

To whom it may concern,
It is generally a poor idea to phrase a question in the negative. It may confuse some people and is to be avoided.
You may find it has skewed your results, as some may not have fully read the question before answering.

Sebastian Wittenstein of CA 10:28AM May 11, 2010

there was a time when i would've blasted people who wanted to ban the selling of violent games to minors but now as a full time parent i have to say that its more of the parents responsibility to police what they're children do. the current system of ratings works well in my opinion and if the store chains sell these games to minors then they should be fined hard core. i hear all the time how my step kids come home and beg me to get them the latest call of duty or some other fps (first person shooter) and i tell them let me play it first and if it is ok by your mother's standards then yes you can play. Now after playing the game i find it to be to violent then i tell them no and while they whine and complain my word is law. however i can't stop them from going over to a friends house and play the game. so in my opinion to ban violent games is wrong and violates the freedom of speech law. ITS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS TO MONITOR WHAT GAMES THEY'RE CHILDREN WANT AND PLAY AS WELL AS THE STORES LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO SELL THESE GAMES TO MINORS.
that's all i have to say on this matter

a concerned parent of UT 10:27AM May 11, 2010

The question that is not defined is "what is violent?" To allow government to do the restriction both involves the restriction itself and the creation of the definition that invokes the restriction. Perhaps some of us disagree with the threshold?
Also, to USNews... time for an English lesson... or did you put the double negative in the poll question on purpose just to confuse people?

Wise Parent of NE 10:27AM May 11, 2010

Parents need to watch what their kids are buying. I have often seen kids by M rated video games with their parents standing right next to them. The checkout person would mention, you know this is an M rated video game and the parents would have no idea what that even means. I think the issue here is more educating parents on the ratings.
However I do think that kids should not be sold M rated games without their parents present. It is the same with R rated movies. You can't see them in a theater without your parent there. If a parent says that it is fine for a child to play them, then who are we to stop them.

Jessica of MD 10:26AM May 11, 2010

It's pretty amusing that we want to make laws like this when we grew up watching characters be blown up, tossed off cliffs, set on fire, hit by anvils, beaten by sticks - all part of our daily and weekly lives.
Maybe we should collectively start taking responsibility for the raising of our children, their character and their morals instead of pinning it on the 'cause de jour'.
It's not rock and roll, it's not cartoons and it's not video games that create violent children - it's upbringing.
Besides that, there is no faster way to get people to want more of something than to say they can no longer have it.

Edward Hunter of FL 10:26AM May 11, 2010

Way to word the question as ambiguously as possible, thereby destroying any possible vaqlidity in the outcome...

Josh F of WI 10:25AM May 11, 2010

I think the poll is misleading or confusing to many in the way it is phrased.
The question it asks is "Should Kids Not Be Sold Violent Video Games?"
One could answer "yes, I agree they should not be sold violent games" or also "no, kids should not be sold violent video games" and effectively vote either way based on their reading of the question.
A more appropriate question would be "Should Kids Be Sold Violent Video Games?" That way a yes/no answer is much more clear. Adding the "no" in the question leads to double negatives and is generally confusing.
Not to mention the results can be manipulated and read in whatever way the pollster wants based on the ambiguity. If yes gets a majority, they can say "everyone agrees kids should not be sold these games". If no gets a majority, they can say "everyone agrees kids should not be sold these games".
We all know Americans have terrible grammar skills, so make the poll easy to understand and answer.

Andy D. of TN 10:25AM May 11, 2010

Playing a violent video game is like watching a violent movie.
To me, its just an excuse to take away something that matters to kids of this era. In the world today, beleive it or not, kids that are inside playing video games, weather it be violent or not, ARE NOT OUT ON THE STREETS GETTING INTO TROUBLE. I am 21 years old. I have been playing nothing but violent, shoot em up video games all my life. Never have I been in trouble due to the violence of the video games I have played. Its a sad pethetic excuse to take them away. I for one will not allow it.

Isaac of GA 10:25AM May 11, 2010