I just checked the stupid news today and the phonies were talking about videogames and the violence. And do you want to know what I found out? Retarded politicians who have NOTHING better to do decided to try to ban the ESRB videogame rating system. Yes, that's right, the idiots (i.e. Jack Thompson) are suing in an attempt to remove the ONLY freaking thing that rates videogames in order to protect kids from being "violent." Well news flash, you are a complete IDIOT! How else besides the ESRB will protect the punk-faced teenagers from evil games, their parents?

Seriously, even though some ESRB ratings are unjust (like the forced Adults Only rating for San Andreas), there's nothing else that will stop your parents from buying you a violent game other than the ESRB. Sure, San Andreas has a sex minigame in the girlfriend sequence, but the ESRB is there to RATE games, NOT HACK THEM!

Unless you understand that, the future will be a lot worse, violent games do a lot in influencing a child's life, and even more without the ESRB...

This seems wierd. I mean... what's the point of removing the ESRB rating? What good will that do? Maybe Jack Thompson intends to start his own rating service . Yea that will be fun... 'Super Mario bros. rated 'Adult' because of violence'

LOL )

That is so stupid! Do you know if that will apply worldwide or in the US?

Obviously just the US. But still, you can't really blame them. These politicians are just going off of reports that don't even do the subject justice. Biased reports they didn't care to verify. Reports that came from SCIENTISTS!!! Therefore, science is again to blame for our precious video game rating system.

Still, what are they gonna replace the ESRB with? Could it be a *shiver* Government controlled and regulated entity? Hell, they can't enforce their own TV rating system, and R-rated movies are allowing minors in all the time (often with parental consent!) so this whole thing is just ill-informed old men trying to get other old men to vote for them.

I agree that they shouldn't try to ban the ESRB. But the reason they try to is because they don't agree with some of the ratings. I mean, sure some ratings are unjust but you'll find more of those in movies; why don't you ban that. Of course it would be too hard, yes, so they target the easiest thing, gaming.

It would be of more help if they just kill off movies instead. Better yet, why don't they just shut the truck up because they aren't helping ANYONE. "OMFG, please don't hate me, I'm only trying to help." Well then go freaking kill yourself!

But it is.. I mean, he hits mushrooms! lol. It is pretty dumb, not quite on the same scale as banning the G, PG, M, MA, R, X etc from the movie world, but probably has the same implications. Those politicians must be really bored or crazy or something, to think they can take on something like this..

First... I must say
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/?t=archives&date=2005-08-08

secondly, I must add that jack thompson is a little *****

aaaaand finally... I think his argument is that the ESRB doesn't answer to
anyone, and as such they have no reason to be required to be accurate. He says they allow games to sneak in at the M rating so they dont have the "kiss of death" that is an AO rating since they wont have to answer to anyone if they are wrong.
Frankly his base arguments all are in the same ballpark as a logical thought... but past that he just goes on rants about incorrect pieces of information and makes claims that are rediculous at best. He needs to start looking for the real problems with society and stop trying to pump up his/H Clinton's campaigns by adding the controversy that is the "War on videogames".

The problem isn't with the ratings, its with the parents who ignore them. Even the much reviled GTA:SA was given an M rating, meaning for at least 17 years old. Guess how many parents actually paid attention? Far too few.

I agree wholeheartedly, MajesticTreeFrog. Seriously, I'm fourteen and my mom actually bought me Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. My friend was fifteen and I bought Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas from him. My mom even let me play it until she saw the news talking smack about it.

But banning the ESRB will do absolutely NOTHING. In fact, it will actually worsen the problem. Politicians like Jack Thompson are suing with an excuse to help children. To me, that is a justification of the weak - not willing to admit that they are destroying the world for the betterment of their own career.

Wow, it was probably a republican scheme....Jack Thompson a republica?