Dahlia Lithwick writes one of the funniest recaps of a Supreme Court session ever. I’d pay good money to get a recording of this being read outloud by Nina Totenberg.
The state of California is attempting this morning to defend a 2007 law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to anyone under 18. Offenders may be fined $1,000 for each game sold. The law was struck down on First Amendment grounds in both the district court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. So much for the legal angle. The more profound story playing out in court today goes something like this: Gamers: Meet the old people. Old people: Try to find the power-on button. Everyone else, search for James Madison’s avatar and ask what he thinks of Grand Theft Auto.
keristor
Oh, I want that court case on video!
silvenstar
I find this whole thing amusing. If a minor doesn’t understand that they aren’t supposed to drag a guy out of his vehicle and steal it, or cleave someone’s head with an axe, I would consider that a parenting failure. Art imitates life. I remember that when I was growing up, my parents would preview movies and games to make sure they were appropriate for me.
The entire quote was rather amusing, though.
judifilksign
Right now, growing up, my children have to go through the parental filter before they can watch certain shows on T.V. or play certain video games.
Would that more parents thought about these things, too. (Although my line in the sand is not as strict as those of many of my friends.)
But I think that this article was the most amusing summing up of a Supreme Court case I’ve ever read!
silvenstar
That makes you a much better parent than a lot of people. You’ve decided what your children can’t handle yet and prevent them from seeing it. If only more parents were as smart as you are.
judifilksign
My older boys now have a very good sense of what my line is, and will turn off shows before I veto them. “I’m pretty sure that’s not on the approved list,” they’ll tell me.
And because I’ve had the rules, their comfort zone for not only violence, but also rudeness is much narrower than kids their age.
silvenstar
That’s awesome. I’m glad to know that works. It gives me hope for my plans for my daughter 🙂
sibylle
I am so passing that on to my “Landmark Cases of the SCOTUS” class students. Thanks for the link!
snippy
Please please please may I gank your icon? Because Adventure was my favorite game of all time and I still miss my Atari 2600!
Rob Wynne
Absolutely.
You can get a CD-ROM edition for the PC with all the old Atari 2600 games on it. Some years ago, when was visiting with her son, who was then 11, I got into a conversation with him about video games. At the time, he was playing Unreal Tournament or some other similar first person shooter.
“When I was your age, graphics in video games weren’t nearly that good.” I said.
“What were they like when you were my age?” he asked skeptically.
“Let me show you,” I said, and loaded him up Adventure.
“You’re a block? And that arrow is your sword? This is kinda lame.”
He played that game for 4 and a half hours.
Anyway, feel free to grab the icon. The credit is on my icons page. I don’t recall immediately who made it, but I took it from someone else (with permission).