Agreed. I have recently spoken to the BBFC (i was at a "masterclass"), and they do not take banning lightly. The recent game "Manhunter" was banned due to extreme sadistic violence. I think this is fair enough, there will always be things that go too far , some things may eventually reach the level of legal obscenity. Ultimately though, as mature adults we can decide on our own entertainment within such laws. Children are obviously subject to what we deem appropriate with film, tv or video games. A mature application of ratings, as supplied by the bbfc, allows for parents to easily judge. My issue is that BBFC ratings for games are not taken seriously enough by adults. Too often I hear "but its just a game" or "other kids have it" from parents/grandparents as if that is an excuse. They generally wouldnt say that for "The Evil Dead", "Saw", "Hostel" or some other horror film on DVD - but their ignorance of technology is often the cause of a lot of this uproar. Sometimes, like in America with Grand Theft Auto 3, they even complain when they themselves have ignored the game rating. Its not "my fault" therefore I will sue .
The same "oh it must be ok because..." attitude, is true for cartoons. Older people (50+) are often astounded* that cartoons can be innapropriate e.g. South Park and Family Guy. The time these programmes are on is a clue, which admitedly is clouded somewhat by the sale of toys clearly aimed at children i.e. south park.
*nothing like a good generalisation is there**
** that was nothing like a good generalisation
Its a natural reaction to look to lay blame for the evil things humans do and try to get that "thing", whatever it is, banned. We can take this sort of thing too far - on the one hand, encouraging people to wear seatbelts in cars is a good idea, it provably can be the difference between life and death, but banning all films with violent content is a step too far. It may feel like a positive step to ban a violent game that a serial killer regularly played, but its a knee jerk reaction, no one really believes that the existence of serial killers is subject to the existence of games. Serial Killers will be too busy killing people to wonder that they no longer have violent games to play or dvds to watchIf people where never violent before computer games then this cop would have a point.. Crime and violence are part of what we are as people. Computer games are not part of that. As if X number of millions of people play a game then the crazy people will be part of that millions of people . It's the same as the argument about rock and roll, then heavy metal.... Pointless and just a cause of not wanting to take a look at the fact that humans are volient with most of us being smart enough to not kill etc..
Indeed, this generation has a better idea about the gaming medium and will likely pay attention to ratings when it comes to their own children.Roll on 10 years from now when games will not be the escape goat....
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