British MP wants discussion on violent games

MP requests House of Commons discussion on violent games.

Keith Vaz, Member of Parliament for Leicester East, has called on the House of Commons to debate over the effects of violent video games. Vaz cited a recently published study that demonstrated effects on the brain from playing video games.

"Could we have a debate next week about the harmful effects of violent video games?" he requested. "Last week, the university of Indiana published research that showed that regularly playing those games resulted in physical changes in the brain."

Unfortunately, the study that Vaz is referring to is already being heavily criticised. The funding for the study came from The Center for Successful Parenting, which has a stated goal to change, "our culture to protect children from unhealthy media in all formats."

Critics say that the study is broadly anti-video games, but that didn't stop Keith Vaz from citing it anyway, as others surely will.

"At a time when parents are thinking of purchasing video games for Christmas, does the right honest Gentleman not think that it is important to hold a debate on this matter?" asked Vaz. "This is not about censorship - it is about protecting our children."

Written by: James Delahunty @ 9 Dec 2011 21:09

llongtheD

"This is not about censorship - it is about protecting our children."
LOL, meanwhile governments around the world are stripping away freedoms and declaring "war" on anything they can. Show me one thing that any government has done even in the last decade that was pro citizen. Let's make that the last century.
This wouldn't get much air time in America because of all the corporate money streaming into our politicians.

9.12.2011 22:34 #1

xboxdvl2

think sitting in a bedroom or lounge playing mw3 is less harmful for teenagers than running around the streets getting in trouble.

R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

9.12.2011 22:50 #2

Mysttic

This is not about censorship; this is about protecting our children using censorship, so therefor this is different. Bah, more like educating parents on how to be lazy... Watch this show because it allows us free time to not monitor you while you become a mindless drone; instead of this show where we have to educate you properly on what is okay to do and not do. Same with playing games.

9.12.2011 23:54 #3

KillerBug

What this is really about is making more violent/destructive children, so that these groups will get more funding. Violent video games to change the brain; they make people more peaceful and reduce drug use. If you ban them you have more gangs, more drug use, and more school shootings...and these are the things that get funding for the kinds of groups that want to ban video games.

10.12.2011 01:44 #4

BobH29

MW3, like many games of it's type, has an 18 rating (is it M in the states?) so the issue should not be to ban the games, but educate parents to stop their children playing these games, as they are not for them. Why should I, as an adult gamer, have my types of games baned because parents can't say no to little Johnny?

10.12.2011 06:26 #5

BobH29

Furthermore, imagine the vilification parents would receive if they allowed, and facilitated, their 10 to 12 year olds to smoke? Same issue if you ask me.

10.12.2011 06:31 #6

brockie

the guys a plonker how about fixing the mess they have made so children have a future Euro crap.

the games have a rating system on them for a start this is the same guy who tried to say the bombing scene in MW3 was the same as the terrorist attack in London.

10.12.2011 07:41 #7

KillerBug

Originally posted by BobH29: MW3, like many games of it's type, has an 18 rating (is it M in the states?) so the issue should not be to ban the games, but educate parents to stop their children playing these games, as they are not for them. Why should I, as an adult gamer, have my types of games baned because parents can't say no to little Johnny? It really is a matter for the parents. After all, why shouldn't a 16-year old be allowed to play a war game? They can start army ROTC training at 14, and can sign up for military service when they are 16, given parental consent and a GED.

Plus, no one seems to care that violent video games actually seem to deter violent acts in the real world. If a kid gets beaten up at school and goes home to play a game where he kills a bunch of people, he burns off that aggression and comes back to school with a backpack full of books instead of a backpack full of guns.

The only danger I see in games comes from games with lower ratings due to less graphic content. If a kid plays a game where every kill results in the enemy quickly falling over with no blood or suffering, shooting someone seems like a minor thing. If that same game features people who gush blood and cry out in agony, killing becomes something far less appealing.

10.12.2011 11:11 #8

Bozobub

Simple pandering at its finest. Considering that psychological therapy has been PROVEN to cause structural changes in the brain, shall we ban psychologists as well..?

10.12.2011 12:58 #9

ddeeguy34

this government are doing their bit to stop kids getting violent games , actually any games really , no one will be able to afford the �40 to buy a bloody game the way these chinless , inbreds are running the country , viva le revolution , maybe we can include the houses of parliament in the next mondern warfare and get the chance to do what most people in the country want to and shoot some tories and lib dems :)

10.12.2011 19:19 #10

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