Where Does The Blame Really Lie?

by Michael Bischoff

Throughout the course of American history there have been certain works in certain media that the public has seen fit to ban. A most famous example is Mark Twain's Huck Finn. Times have changed and our newest media, video games, have come under scrutiny. As of today the top-selling game on the market is Grand Theft Auto 3. Simply put, it is a game where one can commit felonies, run from cops, pick up prostitutes, or anything else the Id can concoct. Obviously this is a game only fit for adults. However some people say it is harmful to minors who play it, and even adults. Although that is a valid argument, the game has a right to be here, courtesy of the First Amendment. Why should this one game be banned instead of say, the Ku Klux Klan?

Of course Grand Theft Auto 3 is labeled as harmful. Since the game rewards the player for bad deeds one can easily see how it can affect a fragile mind. The game is filth along the same lines as pornography and it does cause some people to think violently. Once again these arguments would be perfect except for the fact that all creative works have the right to exist, no matter how ugly or offensive.

Many people are still misinformed about the art of video games. They are created by a skilled team of artists and programmers who work long hours to deliver that perfect product. Because of this they are as much art as paintings or movies. Any intellectual property that is released to the public is guaranteed First Amendment rights. Nobody should be allowed to change or censor its contents. Grand Theft Auto 3 does raise flags though. Many see it being too violent for children to play. Most games are played by children, right?

Again they are wrong. Most people, mainly parents think video games are still toys that children play with. Whoever falls in line with that statement is truly ignorant. The video games industry has evolved to include gamers of all ages, with the majority shifting to adults now. This is the reason why adult games exist; there are many adults willing to play them. In the early Nintendo days when nearly all gamers were children, there were absolutely no adult games on the market (except on the PC, which were tame by today's standards). Because of the influx of adult gaming the industry was smart enough to implement a ratings system in the mid 1990's that is similar to the movie rating system. For those who say that the video game industry is irresponsible, that was probably their most responsible act. The current rating system had been in place well before the most violent and adult of games were released. Since the industry has already acted responsibly, where does the irresponsibility lie then?

That is correct, the parents are the irresponsible ones. The video game industry has already fulfilled their role once. Now the "adults" of America should be making use of a very accurate rating system. Instead of allowing their children to buy games like Grand Theft Auto 3 they should tell them what is appropriate or not. Stores should also be more stringent in enforcing the rating system to keep that from even happening in the first place. Finally parents need to start raising their children, not the media. If these measures were taken then this whole uproar might never even exist.

Parents and censorship advocates are too egotistical to blame themselves. They must always latch onto a scapegoat to direct their ignorant attacks, this being Grand Theft Auto 3. The sane people of the world must protect this game and others like it. It has the unalienable right to live just like every single person in the world. Nobody should be allowed to limit freedom of choice and besides if this freedom is abolished, what could be next?