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Utah Governor Smacks Down Thompson Bill
Minnesota Pays For Unconstitutional Game Law
Germany Pushing for European Game Regulation
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stranger
03/26/09

In reply to Utah Governor Smacks Down Thompson Bill
Wow.

Did I just read a quote from a politician discussing video game legislation that was measured, thoughtful, and >gasp!< intelligent?!?

Sad that bit alone is cause for celebration.
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ThursdayNext
03/26/09

In reply to Utah Governor Smacks Down Thompson Bill
Don't see the problem with fining vendors who break the rules. What's the point of having a rating system if no one is bound to abide by it?
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(Zombie) D Mitsuki, Gotta have guts kid!
03/26/09

@ThursdayNext: To give parents a general idea of the content contained within the games.

M for mature in no way means a kid shouldn't ever see this game, it just means that there is mature content on it, and some parents are anal about the stuff their kids see.
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Mister Jack started the Save The Lombax Foundation
03/26/09

@ThursdayNext: Conversely, what's the point for having a rating system if you could get fined for making mistakes with it? Keep in mind it's a completely voluntary system.
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ThursdayNext
03/26/09

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!, Shabs: Both valid points, but they both assume that the parents are the ones buying the games. I honestly believe that if a game is deemed unsuitable for minors then there should be sanctions for supplying it to them. Same as alcohol. If you're parents want to help you get sauced all good. If you're parents aren't with you, no sale.

That said. I am not saying that legislation is the answer, I know that legislastion riles most freedom fighters. Perhaps the ESRB should look into having vendors sign up to their code too and issuing fines where stores are selling Mature rated games to underage kids.

Also bear in mind that it is not the retailers that choose whether or not to display ratings. It is the publishers.
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TheHeartless
03/26/09

@ThursdayNext: The issue is not that they are breaking the rules and should be punished, it is a matter of the government playing nanny in your life, by punishing people with absurd fees, for the actions of an apathetic employee. Wal-Mart will not sell an R movie to a child, not because they are forced by the government-the same people that go to war, and put people in prison, and fund all major changes to your world with your own tax dollars-but because they know it is wrong to sell to children. Companies know better, and they do not need the government getting involved. This is absolutely an issue of what the government should and should not be able to do, and in this case, it is meddle in "what is potentially offensive or obscene against children." Parents decide that, not a big legal machine.
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ThursdayNext
03/27/09

@TheHeartless: Please read my entire comment before commenting. Especially this bit:

"I am not saying that legislation is the answer,"

All I'm saying is that rules without consequences are too open to abuse.
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Mister Jack started the Save The Lombax Foundation
03/26/09

In reply to Utah Governor Smacks Down Thompson Bill
I have to admit that I did not see this coming. I expected the bill to ultimately fail, of course, but not this way. I'm sure we can all agree that little kids shouldn't be playing GTA or Madworld or what have you, but this bill, especially with its language, was not the way to go about solving that problem. Nice to see a politician listen to our side of the story for once.
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Paradox me
03/26/09

In reply to Utah Governor Smacks Down Thompson Bill
Another one bites the dust

And another one gone, and another one gone

Another one bites the dust
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phicaluk
03/26/09

In reply to Utah Governor Smacks Down Thompson Bill
Utah sense, u-u-u-utah sense!
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nightwheel
03/26/09

In reply to Utah Governor Smacks Down Thompson Bill
AHAHAHAHAHA! That'll teach ya Jack to try and Pass a bill after being Disbared!

Score:

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman: 1

Our crazy friend Jack Thompson: 0

Days like this makes me like the Americas Political System.
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TRT-X
03/26/09

@nightwheel: Until the American Political System reminds you of something called "Veto Override Power".

Not saying it'll happen...but it can.
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EDGE
03/26/09

In reply to Utah Governor Smacks Down Thompson Bill
Thank God for a voice of reason in Utha.
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Dillinger23
03/26/09

@EDGE: Yeah, Who Knew?
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TrueCrime
03/26/09

@dillinger23: When I visit Utha, I always carry Americna Exprsse.
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