2.07.2012

Fourkiller against 'violence'

I live in a very silly state. Here, tattoos used to be banned, it's frowned upon to take a bite out of someone else's burger and it's illegal to pretend to have sex with a buffalo. I was running on the treadmill last week when I heard disturbing news that would happen in a strange state like Oklahoma. Representative William Fourkiller proposed HB 2696, a bill that would charge a 1 percent tax on any video game with the ESRB ratings Teen, Mature and Adult-Only.

According to Fourkiller, these are 'violent' games that encourage obesity and bullying among children. The funds would go to Oklahoma's Childhood Outdoor Education Revolving Fund to fight obesity and the Bullying Prevention Revolving Fund. Although these are good causes, the bill is full of holes and the tax is unjust. 

Firstly, how can one say that all Teen games are violent? Even then, what can be considered as "violence"? Is the booty-shaking in Dance Central 2 too "violent" for children to be participating in? Maybe the intense strumming in Rock Band or Guitar Hero games is too intense. Even if there is violence in a Teen game, it is not the same kind you would encounter in a Mature game. This is a flaw many critics of the HB 2696 have pointed out. 



Secondly, why video games? Movies, books and music can be just as, if not even more disturbing than video games. Fourkiller claimed in his interview with KFOR that it is not his intention to target video games, but everything he has said goes against that. So far, it seems he has no good explanation. 

William Fourkiller's bill had it's first reading yesterday. If this bill is passed, it will be effective as soon as July 1. With as much scrutiny this bill has undergone, I doubt it will be. 

Here is the interview Fourkiller had last week with KFOR. Check it out and tell me what you think about this proposal: 





 

Yours truly, 
HavokRose 

2 comments:

  1. They should charge the parent's of obese children with abuse and fine them for not taking good care of their children/Teenagers! They would get more funds that way than from the 1 cent on the video games.

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  2. Parents should be more responsible for the material they expose their children to. It's not right to punish others because parents don't make their children go outside enough or limit their children's time playing video games.

    As for bullying, I believe television has way more of an impact than video games. Most of the time you are taking down the bad guys, not becoming one of them. Usually :)

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