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Charles Schumer is an Out-of-Touch Boob - His war against the video game "25 to Life"
blogcritics.org ^ | 6/21/05 | Craig Lyndall

Posted on 06/21/2005 6:47:43 PM PDT by qam1

Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said the "cop killer" video game, called "25 to Life," had hit an "all-time low" and discouraged the sale and distribution of the title, due out this summer.

"25 to Life' makes 'Grand Theft Auto' look like 'Romper Room" Schumer said on Monday in comments e-mailed by a spokeswoman. The blockbuster video game series "Grand Theft Auto" from Take-Two Interactive is frequently criticized for its violence...

First of all, if you want people to take you seriously, you need something more effective than a kids show that originally aired in 1953 like "Romper Room."

The article goes on to talk about "25 to Life" which is like Grand Theft Auto and allows a player to choose to either be the thugs or the cops. It is an ultra-violent game about crime. As a criminal, you can kill cops. As a cop, you can kill criminals, etc.

Do I think this game is wholesome? Nope.

Do I think that kids should be playing it? Not at all.

Does that mean, it shouldn't be produced and available for sale? No.

Schumer continues...

"The last thing we need here in New York is to reinforce a destructive culture of violence and disrespect for the law. Little Johnny should be learning how to read, not how to kill cops," Schumer said in separate comments.

Nice soundbyte, you trite, politician, d*****-b**. I agree with you that "Little Johnny" should not be learning to kill cops, but I have no idea why that HAS to be tied to this video game. The video game industry has ratings which should keep young people from owning them. If that doesn't work, then video games have price tags around the $50 mark, and these kids presumably have parents, so they shouldn't have $50 bucks sitting around unaccounted for by their parents, to buy this game. Finally, parents should know what their kids are playing. That is the bottom line.

You can't censor a product because a kid might accidentally get his or her sweet little television-watching hands on it.

On top of that, we need to expand our minds a little bit. VIDEO GAMES ARE NOT JUST FOR KIDS!!! I grew up in one of the early video game generations. I missed out on Pong and some of the Atari stuff, but I grew up playing Nintendo and Sega games. Yes, I did grow up.

I still play games.

IE Games aren't just for kids anymore.

While I am at it, this goes for cartoons too. Just because a TV show, or movie has animated characters and funny voices does not mean it is for kids or is automatically being marketed to them as a result of it being a cartoon. We are now adults, and we haven't given up cartoons or video games. Adults represent a market with a lot more disposable income than kids, so it only makes sense that cartoons and games will be targeted at older audiences than they used to target.

And by the way... this isn't to say that the game isn't tasteless. It is. But, tastelessness has never been a good excuse for censoring something in this country before. It shouldn't start today.

"25 to Life" carries an "M" rating -- for those 17 and older -- from the Entertainment Software Rating Board for blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, strong language and drug references, according to the Eidos Web site.

If this offends you, then don't buy the game. I won't be buying it, but mostly because this game style bores me too quickly. It is a choice that I am making as a consumer over the age of 18. Don't deny me my right to choose because of your moral judgements, Chuck.

If you want to pass legislation in your state making it illegal to sell this to someone under the age of 18, be my guest, but don't try and stop these things from coming out altogether.

And please can you answer one question for me, Mr. Schumer?

Aren't there issues in your state that might be a little more important and a little less "newsworthy?"

I'm just saying...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 109th; 25tolife; chuckiecheese; culturalentropy; decencydeficit; schumer; videogames
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To: qam1
[insert graphic of a boob that is out of touch here]

decided not to actually post the image, since it would certainly be deleted.

21 posted on 06/21/2005 7:58:20 PM PDT by T. P. Pole
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To: Strategerist

I have a game where I get to kill a dragon. However, I have no desire to kill one in real life. Besides, I don't PETA on my @$$.


22 posted on 06/21/2005 8:14:06 PM PDT by opinionator
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To: Quick1; indcons

Video game ping list (Bare with me, this is just starting).

Freepmail me if you want on or off.


23 posted on 06/21/2005 8:14:09 PM PDT by Sofa King (MY rights are not subject to YOUR approval.)
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To: tflabo

"We need to protect out children against mind-damaging video games like this violent video garbage."

Fine. You stop your kids from buying them and playing them, because they don't play these games anywhere but on a home video game system. They're rated M for mature. You can look at the box before they buy them, and the box after they bring them home, and tell very quickly they are inappropriate. The same M is advertised in the commercials.

How would you go farther? Movie theaters have essentially the same system. I don't see a lot of agitation on this board for banning R rated movies, but I'll look forward to hearing anyone forwarding that agenda being laughed at here. The free market system is not one that is supposed to be open only to products for sale to kids. If that we true, we'd all be stuck playing Candyland instead of poker and drinking Koolaid instead of Budweiser. And if you think that the world would be a better place without adults playing an occasional game of poker and drinking a cold can of Budweiser after work, then you probably ought not even waste your time replying to me.


24 posted on 06/21/2005 9:37:55 PM PDT by LibertarianInExile (<-- sick of faux-conservatives who want federal government intervention for 'conservative things.')
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To: Choose Ye This Day
This is nothing more or less than violence pornography.

I am for the most part a libertarian, and I live like one for the most part (not proud, just honest.) But I completely agree with you on this one. Treat it just like pornography. That's pretty much what it is. Interactive fantasy violence. You hit the perfect balance in a free society. It shouldn't be banned, but decent people should shun it.

25 posted on 06/22/2005 5:07:11 AM PDT by Huck (Don't follow leaders)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

"I discourage the sale and distribution of it, too. I think Wal-Mart and other major retailers--who don't sell Playboy, remember--should be ashamed if they sell this."

I think they should sell Playboy. Put it in its own section. If I recall, Playboy is not illegal. If you don't want to sell it, don't. Same goes with the game. If Walmart doesn't want to carry it, they don't have to.


26 posted on 06/22/2005 5:16:47 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Liberal Talking Point - Bush = Hitler ... Republican Talking Point - Let the Liberals Talk)
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