Senate Passes Bill to Study Effects of Gaming on Kids

[CptStern]

However, it seems that the Senate has finally decided, once and for all, to try figure out just what effect (if any) media has on children. The Children Media Research and Advancement (CAMRA) Act authorizes new research into the effects of viewing and using electronic media, including TV, computers, the 'net, and video games on kids' cognitive, social, physical, and psychological development.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will work with the National Institutes of Health on the study, which will take place over the next six years, and will examine the impact of media on both young children and adolescents.

"For many years I have worked to help educate parents on how to keep their children safe as they grow up immersed in interactive, digital, and wireless media that is constantly changing. The passage of the CAMRA Act is one more step in the right direction."

nothing good will come of this ..if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can find a link between violence and video games in youth it could be the ammo these legislators need in order to pass prohibitive laws ..one that may have urther implications for all gamers not just those underage

 

[mortiz]

On "The Tonight Show with Trevor McDonald" last night they had a piece on the addictive qualities of games. I guess the parents would rather their kids were outside comitting crimes because they've got sod all else to do.

 

[VictimOfScience]

I don't think the results will surprise many of us. 'Media' (everything, not just gaming) has a pretty big effect on people, especially the younger they are. There's no way around it. Its all getting loaded into the brain somewhere and to think that all of this information bombardment (and its just getting worse) plays no part in the behavior of people is just plain dumb. I just hope it doesn't make for more censorship, crackdowns, and witch hunts.

 

[CptStern]

it's not the fact of whether media plays a role in influencing children/adults that's discomforting ..it's the organisations out there waiting to use this study as a tool in their fight for censorship that should raise some warning flags as to whether another study on the effects of media is neccessary or not

call me pessemistic but I believe this study was pushed forward by those that would curtail violence in media as a means of validating their claims

 

[PvtRyan]

This wouldn't be an issue IF YOU SIMPLY WOULDNT ALLOW YOUR SMALL CHILDREN TO PLAY GAMES THAT ARE RATED FOR (young) ADULTS. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST.

Whether or not 16+ games affect children in a negative way shouldn't be the subject of a study. BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T BE PLAYING THEM.

How hard is that?

 

[CptStern]

yes but how many of our members are under age? Our membership would be half of what it is if they followed the M rating ..it's not just little kids

 

[kirovman]

This wouldn't be an issue IF YOU SIMPLY WOULDNT ALLOW YOUR SMALL CHILDREN TO PLAY GAMES THAT ARE RATED FOR (young) ADULTS. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST.

Whether or not 16+ games affect children in a negative way shouldn't be the subject of a study. BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T BE PLAYING THEM.

How hard is that?

Too hard, apparently.

 

[PvtRyan]

yes but how many of our members are under age? Our membership would be half of what it is if they followed the M rating ..it's not just little kids

Anyone who's 13-14 or older can make perfectly good judgements on what is real and what isn't. Anyone who can't, obviously has some sort of disorder and then games are only a trigger to bad behavious (which could have been anything really).

 

[CptStern]

yes but it's not up to the individual to decide what age is appropriate (frankly 13 is too young for some media ..I cant believe for a second a 13 year old would understand The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover, or Man Bites Dog, or whatever (I know of a quite a few adults how wouldnt understand it either)

I dont think it's just a case of seperating reality from fantasy

 

[Tyguy]

it wont be a problem unless someone t-baggs someone else online

 

[Cole]

Any limitations of gaming equals limitations on free speech. Let the checks and balances begin.

 

[DeusExMachina]

Kids today are influenced by so many things. Sure, I may have been watching rated R movies since I was like 7, and anytime I watched Blade I'd think I was a vampire hunter, but I certainly wasn't attacking goth kids, staking them through the heart yelling "VAMPIRE VAMPIRE."