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See the original image at arstechnica.com

Parents: Severed heads in games bad for kids; sex is worse

arstechnica.com — A survey suggests that parents find sexual video game content far more problematic than violent content. Considering the FCC's fixation with fleeting f-bombs and pixelated naughty bits on TV, the results may not be all that surprising.

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  • Tawney, on 04/13/2008, -2/+151Would violent sex be more or less offensive?
  • theaceoffire, on 04/13/2008, -2/+198As a person no longer classified as "kid", all I can say is:
    Don't buy games you don't want your kid to play, Don't let them buy games you don't want them to play, and Don't ***** up all games because you failed at the first two items.
    • supermanred, on 04/13/2008, -3/+20Ramen,

      What these morons need to realize is that THE GAMES ARE NOT FOR KIDS and are labeled as such. If we take their mentality and expand it throughout the world, then nobody would be allowed to drink beer or ever have sex because "it's not appropriate for children"

      The problem is people who buy games that contain offensive material for their children, or parents who let kids lock their bedroom doors and have computers and tvs in their rooms behind the closed door. Basically, parents should parent their own kids, not the government or game makers.

      Personally, when I shoot a terrorist in the head in Rainbow Six Vegas, I want to see pink spray and brains, not a huge flag with "KAPOW" come out of their head.
      • gidd, on 04/13/2008, -1/+12Although, "KAPOW" mode would be a good hidden extra. It should also include anvils and Acme-brand rocket rollerskates.
      • WilliamDavis, on 04/13/2008, -1/+7Obama says: "We need to give parents the tools and information they need to make choices about what programs their children are watching or what video games they are playing." "And even if the industry does do some responsible self-policing, there’s still a role for the federal government to play. We need to understand the impact of these new media better. That’s why I supported federal funding to study the impact of video games on children’s cognitive development."

        Obama FTW!!!
    • 1legend, on 04/13/2008, -2/+7Well for me personally I'm not into the whole gore thing. I've never found out why people find it fascinating to see blood n guts everywhere and have things that would be terrible to see in real life in video games. I mean I'm all for realism but there seems to be many people that get a thrill out of seeing blood and guts everywhere and play the game specifically for it (which I think is a little disturbing). I think that is what parents are worried about (I'm 20 years old btw).
      • WoollyMittens, on 04/13/2008, -5/+6So because you take a personal dislike to something, makes it okay to forbid it for everyone? Sweet.
        • 1legend, on 04/13/2008, -0/+4I never said it was okay to forbid it. I'm all for freedom of choice. Parents should have the responsibility to take care of their children properly rather than companies/others. I'm just stating my personal opinion -- I could care less about what other people like or dislike.
        • YamiJim, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1"should" is always the problem..... =/
    • Mootabolife, on 04/13/2008, -2/+2I'm into gore. Al Gore.
    • saffystaffy, on 04/13/2008, -0/+0your comment is so very true, it just takes a lil common sense .....
  • kmotiv1, on 04/13/2008, -2/+229Sex with a severed head is definitely a no-no then.
    • browwiw, on 04/13/2008, -1/+23You, sir, are lifestyle guru material.
    • Majorkerina, on 04/13/2008, -1/+9Kudos. Although, I do worry that that was the first place my mind went as well...
    • Artea, on 04/13/2008, -3/+89Why stop there? Why not combine all 4?

      Having gay sex with a severed human head while yelling "***** YEAH I'M ***** A SEVERED ***** HEAD. *****!"
      • UsedToVacation, on 04/13/2008, -1/+12How does one have gay sex with a severed head?
        • worldchanger, on 04/13/2008, -3/+21just use a lisp when you say "YES! YES! YES!" ??
        • unearth, on 04/13/2008, -1/+45It's not gay unless the balls touch. In this case, that would be the eyeballs.
        • bagboyrebel, on 04/13/2008, -5/+2Jesus Christ
    • oatdc, on 04/13/2008, -2/+2what about the rest of the body? ;)
    • ericrous, on 04/14/2008, -0/+1Depends on the level of decomposition.
  • freakon, on 04/13/2008, -6/+142Where did all the loving go? Sex is great, everyone should be *****, not slicing each others head off.
    • eyepatch100, on 04/13/2008, -3/+12"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."

      -Paul McCartney
    • schnikies79, on 04/13/2008, -6/+19We have these things called STD's.
      • xkorbin, on 04/13/2008, -2/+47Speak for yourself.
      • fragged23, on 04/13/2008, -1/+26I have yet to get a STD from a video game...
        • H0tKarl, on 04/13/2008, -1/+18I got one from a Wii controller once. It wasn't pretty.
          • Coffeedemon, on 04/13/2008, -0/+6Now thats an immersive experience
    • Rambeezle, on 04/13/2008, -29/+3Encouraging kids to have sex is fine if you are pro-choice. I am pro-life and this premature sexualization of adolescents is a bit disturbing.
      • fragged23, on 04/13/2008, -2/+18...So you would rather your child sever someones head than have a child? I fail to see the logic.
        • Rambeezle, on 04/13/2008, -8/+3No, violent video games almost never lead to severed heads. How many people play first person shooters and how many heads to we find severed by adolescents?
          • Coffeedemon, on 04/13/2008, -1/+7Well whats to assume that a depiction of sex would lead to sex? Is it because sex is more common in the real world so its easier to inflate the "relationship" between virtual sex and real sex?

            This might make a rational person think that the drive to have sex for an individual is stronger than what could have been caused by their exposure to video games as the behaviour is found in individuals who have AND have not been exposed to this evil.
        • BruceBogtrotter, on 04/13/2008, -2/+7So you would rather have them find out about sex all at once when they are 20+? ***** that. They will just watch porn when you aren't looking.
          • Rambeezle, on 04/13/2008, -10/+3God you are a retard. Did i say anything resembling "derr kids should only learn about sex when they are 20+"?
          • kayala, on 04/13/2008, -1/+9You have a point. Pretending that sex doesn't exist isn't going to stop it.
      • Nick22, on 04/13/2008, -1/+15The sexualization of youths has already happend and is continuing to happen my friend. Just go to any lame ass girls clothing store, or turn the channel to MTV or much music.
        • Rambeezle, on 04/13/2008, -7/+3I want it all to stop that is why I am against this.
        • xkorbin, on 04/13/2008, -1/+4Ever been to the 80's?
        • neuromachine, on 04/13/2008, -1/+11There's no stopping horny teens.
        • dynelol, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1Neuromachine, no ***** there's no stopping it. We don't have to promote it with clothing lines, subliminal and BLATANT advertising. We're making a society that seems to be all for kids having sex at or after 13 or 14, it seems. If you don't think that's ***** up, then you're a pedophile and you're probably attracted to that Lazy Town girl.
        • Blandyman, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2She was asking for it. What the ***** was I supposed to do, IGNORE it?
        • kayala, on 04/14/2008, -0/+1Neuromachine is right, guys. There's no stopping horny teens - whether you encourage it or not, teenagers are going to grow into and explore their sexuality. The question is whether they do it safely or not.
      • kufu91, on 04/13/2008, -2/+21Encouraging kids to kill is fine if you are pro-deathpenalty. I am pro-life and this premature aggravation of adolescents is a bit disturbing.
        • Rambeezle, on 04/13/2008, -8/+3Violent video games almost never lead to adolescents killing people. I don't know why you bring up the death penalty, please explain. I am glad that you are pro-life though.
        • TheFuzzyOne, on 04/13/2008, -1/+5Kids are never violent, but kids are always horny.
      • jedisushi, on 04/13/2008, -5/+0I hate you.
      • hojo05, on 04/13/2008, -1/+8OHS NOES!!!1 Kids are learning about sexs fromz video gamez which means theyz arez goingz to get PREGOZZZ!!!!1
        Doesn't make any sense to me, I guess. I don't see what being pro-life has to do with kids learning about sex at an earlier age. If safe sex is practiced, then I don't see the problem. I can see religion being an issue when it comes to kids learning about sex, though.
      • kayala, on 04/13/2008, -0/+10If you're pro-life, then you should be completely in support of comprehensive contraceptive information to avoid the abortions that you don't believe in. I always thought it was rather silly that anti-abortionists also opposed birth control, which is the single best way to avoid an unintended pregnancy and consequently an abortion. Abstinence ain't working.
        • staticneuron, on 04/13/2008, -0/+3I never understood pro-life. Chances are if these kids are born into a situation where the parents are unable or unwilling to raise them then this poses a big problem. As soon as the kid is born by law that parents would have to take care of them. The lifestyle of these so called babies could always be called into question because they could become an emotional scar for rape victims. Get introduce to an impoverished life and be more inclined to lead a life of crime or just wanton violence. I don't really hear people just getting abortions because they don't feel like having a kid. The only situations I've ever heard about in real life from people trying to get an abortion have only come about by negative situations and environments.

          Honestly, Maybe it is where you live and what you experience that makes someone think that pro-life is ok for everyone. But that day when a result of that may come around and rob or kill them I would find complete irony.
        • SpazticChips, on 04/13/2008, -1/+4Agreed. The true reason is that Christians, the pro-life crowd at least, want to reproduce more of their kind. Birth control and abortion prevent both, and information would have them questioning more than just their religion's view on sex.
        • Rambeezle, on 04/13/2008, -4/+0I am for birth control and the reason I'm against abortion has nothing to do with Christianity, so keep your unbelievably simplistic analysis to yourself.
          • kayala, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2Wonderful! Then you, being fully supportive of safe-sex education to prevent STDs and pregnancy, shouldn't be so nervous about people growing into and exploring their sexuality.
          • Rambeezle, on 04/15/2008, -2/+0haha sex ed stops pregnancies?
          • kayala, on 04/16/2008, -0/+2Did I say that? It's called "sex education class," not "stop pregnancy class." But the information imparted in good, comprehensive sex education classes helps dramatically reduce unwanted pregnancies.
    • Picaroon, on 04/13/2008, -2/+30Sex and violence are both a normal part of every person's life. However, sex is a desirable part; violence is not. Hence, sex should never be something we think is worse than violence.

      And to Rambeezle, dude, I'm not a fan of abortion but that doesn't make it wrong to have sex. Calm down.
      • Rambeezle, on 04/13/2008, -14/+4Young teens should not be having sex. I am pretty sure that having sex at a young age leads to a statistically significant increase in abortions. You might not be a fan of abortions but given this information you certainly aren't very convicted.
        • vault, on 04/13/2008, -1/+8I don't think anyone wants a higher rate of teen pregnancy regardless of their feelings on abortion. I'm not sure what your solution is...abstinence-only education doesn't increase the age at which kids begin puberty.
        • WoollyMittens, on 04/13/2008, -0/+10And how do you figure videogames that have an 17+ age-label is somehow to blame?
          • staticneuron, on 04/13/2008, -2/+1What don't you understand? Thats 3 more years of "teen"hood they could be getting pregnant and aborting hundreds of times in that time period.

            Are you just ok with killing 100 people? I guess you don''t see my logic? I am not jumping to conclusions......

            Quit staring at me.
        • hojo05, on 04/13/2008, -1/+5Actually, abortion rates have decreased in all age groups in the United States last time I checked. My girlfriend is doing data analysis on the topic of young teens and abortion, and abortion rates have decreased at the ages of 13 - 17.
          • staticneuron, on 04/13/2008, -1/+3Oh great, someone always has to bring facts into an opinion fueled debate. My truthiness says your wrong buster. And not only have violent crimes increased in the past year but also abortions among the 13-17 range......... and the 1-12 range as well.
        • SpazticChips, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2Answer me this, why not grant the kids an informed decision, rather than pretending the problem doesn't exist at all (rather sex doesn't).
    • drugged, on 04/13/2008, -2/+4But then video games would only be 12 minutes long.
      • Andy460, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1And it would all be cutscenes. And not many of the good ones either.
    • dengzhi, on 04/13/2008, -2/+2it went away with the 60's...
    • Viriatus2, on 04/13/2008, -2/+2In the Butt?
    • robthom, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1Fat chance of that. Unless you happen to be personally wealthy no chick is gonna let you ***** without slicing a few heads off first.
    • bdbr, on 04/13/2008, -0/+4"Sex is great, everyone should be *****, not slicing each others head off."

      We have 6.6 billion people in this world. Everybody IS *****!

      Seriously though, I think its mostly an American thing - sex is more restricted than violence on TV, too.
  • mywhitenoise, on 04/13/2008, -17/+11This has been submitted how many times now? But since BabyMan is submitting it, it should finally hit the front page.

    With that said, I'd be most offended by realistic limb severing (like that ***** Manhunt game...if it's a fantasy game with green blood I don't really care). followed by cursing, then the kissing, and sex.
  • kentifer, on 04/13/2008, -15/+52Must have interviewed a lot of christians.
    • bwdd, on 04/13/2008, -3/+23I don't see why you're getting buried:

      Two Men Kissing - 27%
      Severed Heads - 26&
      • JedicodeWarrior, on 04/13/2008, -0/+4What about two men kissing severed heads??
        • marx2k, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1What about the severed heads kissing them back?
      • Darkhacker, on 04/13/2008, -0/+6One of these days, I'm going to stand outside a church Sunday morning and totally make out with my boyfriend just to piss them off.
    • tendonut, on 04/13/2008, -7/+9I forgot that God would rather you kill someone then have sex with them, especially if it is a female

      I am not arguing against your arguement btw, I am agreeing with it.
      • lougoose, on 04/13/2008, -1/+6Naw, all those fundamentalists are much more against homosexuality than heterosexuality.
        But you are right about the killing (at least for Westboro...not the others).
        • nogayskthx, on 04/13/2008, -3/+2which retards are against heterosexuality?!
    • MrFisty, on 04/13/2008, -1/+7And all this time, Al Quieda could have just shown us two guys kissing and got to us a whole lot worse than all these beheadings.
    • Natetendo83, on 04/13/2008, -0/+3Meh, as a Christian myself I would have been looking for the "none of the above" option. Then again it takes a lot to offend me, and half the time it isn't even Christian related.
  • mali1, on 04/13/2008, -4/+43Nothing offends me.
    • browwiw, on 04/13/2008, -1/+64Sounds like a challenge, to me. Stay put while I go get my latex gloves.
    • Typhoon2009, on 04/13/2008, -2/+14I'm actually about the same. The only things that really offend me are those Westboro "Baptist Church" nutcases. Shooting people, running over people, 3D sex, kissing, swearing don't affect me. Why? Because they're either all virtual so I know they're not real, or they're just words.
      • browwiw, on 04/13/2008, -1/+38Hey, man, I only have so many pairs of latex gloves. Wait your turn.
      • Newspaper, on 04/13/2008, -0/+7At first i thought you were making a list of all the things the Westboro Baptist Church were doing o.O
    • tcpip4lyfe, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2US soldier throws puppy off a cliff?
    • Nekiruhs, on 04/13/2008, -1/+4Not even Goatse?
      • Typhoon2009, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2Nope. Even 2Girls1Cup only made me think "lol that's nasty." BME Pain Olympics certainly made me cower in the corner for a bit, but that and the aforementioned images are the only things that offend / disgust me.
        • dynelol, on 04/13/2008, -0/+32girls1cup was a bit disappointment. I expected much worse. What about when it's a video of someone vomiting into someone else's mouth?
      • Frogee, on 04/13/2008, -0/+3LEAVE GOATSE ALONE
    • bdbr, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2A few things offend me (like "reality" TV), but its easy enough just not to watch or buy it.
  • jimmick, on 04/13/2008, -1/+78If your kid's going to be a f***ed up sociopath he's going to do that on his own time.
    Better he be killing prostitutes in a game than torturing small animals
  • souljaboytellem, on 04/13/2008, -2/+19I still don't understand how people think video games causes kids to do stupid stuff, if your kid is that impressionable don't let him watch the news or go outside of his house
    • Pake, on 04/13/2008, -1/+6Or read anything from 8th grade and on.
    • worldchanger, on 04/13/2008, -7/+1easy: scientific studies say they do.
      • WoollyMittens, on 04/13/2008, -0/+6I wouldn't call those biased political pamphlets science. That's an insult.
        • worldchanger, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1neither did I.
          there are numerous studies that have been done on the topic, and they all come to the conclusion that games [as well as music and TV] influence people tremendously.
    • falafelkiosken, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2if they already are mentally ***** up, the game wont change them, if they're not, the game wont make them sociopathic, it's as simple as that
  • MacHarborGuy, on 04/13/2008, -0/+79okay, true story time for a sec...

    My nephew was up visiting two years ago and he was BIG into the latest Star Wars films (he's a child, he doesn't know better). We were playing around with his toy light sabers, and he told me to get on my knees so he could cut my head off. THEN I remembered the amount of body parts getting cut off in the Star Wars films. Lets count them...

    Ep1 - Darth Maul sliced in half
    Ep2 - Anakin's arm cut off, Spy in bar gets hand/arm cut off
    Ep3 - Anakin's arms and legs cut off and Anakin is burnt up. Dooku's hands and head cut off
    Ep4 - Cantina patron's arm cut off
    Ep5 - Luke's hand cut off, Luke cutting off Vaders head on Dagobah
    Ep6 - Vader's mechanical hand cut off (violence against machines :P )

    But Star Wars gets a pass because it is sci-fi fantasy.


    Unless you cover all your bases and go after ALL forms of entertainment equally, stop attacking the game industry. Most of the ESRB stuff started with Night Trap, and most of us look back on that game and just laugh. Hell, even back then Night Trap would have been something that could have aired on the USA network's "USA Up All Night" program.
    • PeppermintPig, on 04/13/2008, -2/+11"Unless you cover all your bases and go after ALL forms of entertainment equally"

      As if that were even possible. It's not good to encourage more censorship. Can I get a '***** the FCC' in heah!?!
    • Emnsta, on 04/13/2008, -10/+2Is your nephew Japanese?
    • lougoose, on 04/13/2008, -0/+9Let's not forget how graphic Anakin being burned is. That is by far worse than any of the other stuff in Star Wars. I'm not offended by it, and it was an interesting decision to include, and I respect George Lucas for not folding to outside pressure.
    • snareguy17, on 04/13/2008, -4/+3Dugg for Night Trap reference.
    • Jesusridesabike, on 04/13/2008, -6/+2"Unless you cover all your bases and go after ALL forms of entertainment equally"

      But All Your Base are-...

      Oh my god I am so sorry.
    • LETHARGICpirate, on 04/14/2008, -0/+2Jengo gets his head sliced off in episode 2 also...................I feel like a nerd for knowing you missed that.
      • lougoose, on 04/14/2008, -0/+1Good call. I noticed that too, but I decided it was better to keep my mouth shut :)
        • MacHarborGuy, on 04/15/2008, -0/+1AH HA, I may have missed it BUT it didn't fall out of the helmet when Boba picked it up, which is why it was forgetful on my part. I had high hopes, and they were dashed to bits.
  • Karna101, on 04/13/2008, -27/+29both republicans and democrats can suck my dick
  • keviniskool, on 04/13/2008, -1/+38Explains Uncharted. That game has loads of gratuitous violence and blood but nary a single hot girl. Hence, a Teen rating.
    • mywhitenoise, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2Yeah I don't get that, the bullet in the head part should have given the game an M rating.
    • AmICoolNow, on 04/13/2008, -5/+2Am I the only who thought that game was horrendous at best?
    • staticneuron, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2I would have gotten it on with the reporter chick. Her redesign looks alot better then the first one they showed.
  • dho331, on 04/13/2008, -3/+4Yes, but have they considered that maybe their children will someday be interested in Guro Manga, as the world globalizes and media and information are communicated instantaneously, wouldn't it make sense that young adults may be interested in 1080p H-Anime? I really don't think the internet can be stopped, and kids that are denied access to this stuff will probably be more inclined to turn to Warez, because Pop Culture is quite disturbing in many countries.
    • Ellipsys, on 04/13/2008, -1/+4I disagree with you on many counts... but you can redeem yourself if you could point the way to 1080p H-Anime.... for you know, proof and verification purposes...right...
    • dynelol, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1Since when the ***** is guro popular on that sort of level?
  • thejames, on 04/13/2008, -3/+62this just in: parents are idiots concerning video games
    • samurimaster, on 04/13/2008, -3/+2Not all of them my parents my not know much about it but they trust me.
      • bwdd, on 04/13/2008, -1/+5Okay, just the ones who fill out these polls.
  • Punk27, on 04/13/2008, -2/+131Two Men Kissing - 27%
    Severed Heads - 26&

    Are you ***** kidding me...
    • dho331, on 04/13/2008, -4/+19they did it for the lulz
    • someone173406, on 04/13/2008, -6/+13Most people that even bother with this kind of issue are christians.
    • bfrank72, on 04/13/2008, -2/+49Clearly sexist. They need to include two women kissing.
      • BruceBogtrotter, on 04/13/2008, -1/+32As a male, I see no problem with that. In fact, I encourage it.
        • tcpip4lyfe, on 04/13/2008, -0/+4I, for one, welcome our lesbian overlords.
        • Darkhacker, on 04/13/2008, -1/+5I think you should encourage two men kissing too. That just leaves more available women and knocks out some of the competition for you straight guys.
    • serif69, on 04/13/2008, -6/+8I use simple arithmetic to explain this phenomenon. As a heterosexual male, woman = good and man = bad, in terms of turning me on. So, 1 woman good, 2 women better. 1 man bad, 2 men worse.
      So, I'd personally rather see a severed head, because it doesn't affect me, while 2 men kissing turns me off.
      • H0tKarl, on 04/13/2008, -1/+13What about two dude's severed heads kissing?
      • dho331, on 04/13/2008, -2/+11ME CAVEMAN. ME VOTE POLL. ME NO GAY.
      • SkinnerIJA, on 04/13/2008, -9/+3That's very ignorant and homophobic of you...
      • MarkTaiwan, on 04/13/2008, -0/+4What about 2 girls with 1 cup?
        • dynelol, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1A little hot. The math ends up with 1.
      • Darkhacker, on 04/13/2008, -0/+3Wait... did you just admit that a severed head turns you on more than two men? Dude...
    • Naryuu, on 04/13/2008, -21/+3personally, homosexuality is the most digusting thing to me. i agree with the 27% of voters
      • yahoofrom, on 04/13/2008, -0/+11dude, seriously which would you want to watch? one naked man and one naked woman having fun or two naked woman having fun? Just like me, I bet you would find the latter more entertaining and hot.
    • robthom, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2I'll take the severed heads.
    • ahhell, on 04/13/2008, -1/+9If your kid sees 2 men kissing, he could catch teh ghey!!
      • dynelol, on 04/13/2008, -0/+4It's the most contagious this time of year.
      • Tetraca, on 04/14/2008, -0/+1I don't have to worry. They got their vaccines this year.
  • killbert24, on 04/13/2008, -2/+95I'm sick of the U.S. being so afraid of sex. In the U.K. they have posters with breasts fully exposed, TV shows that explicitly talk about real life sex on main TV channels and so forth. Meanwhile the U.S. is so hellbent on keeping children from seeing anything remotely related to nudity/sex because of some pathetic notion that they will go on to be promiscuous. Here's a hint: making sex seem so bad makes it more intriguing. People in the U.S. are just as promiscuous in the U.K. so please stop with this ***** like "Oh no Mass Effect showed the side of an alien breast!" and get a life like, I don't know-- protesting the War in Iraq and shady weapons selling of the U.S?
    • Buavesy, on 04/13/2008, -1/+18Completely agree with you! Problem in the US though is that no one wants to take responsibility for their own actions. In the eyes of many parents, it's NOT THEIR responsibility to monitor what their kids play, watch, hear surf on the Internet for that matter. Apparently turning off the idiot box and radio, along with Internet is too hard. They rely on the Government to protect their children from "provocative" things, which is complete ***** because as you said kid's are naturally going to rebel against rules or anything proclaimed bad/evil i.e. Drinking age of 21 is all I have to say. However, a certain part of the populace seems to misunderstand or rather completely ignore this aspect of human nature. I think Stewie Griffin said it right to Lois "For God sakes, get off your ass and do some damn parenting!"
      • bobthegreat1224, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1Gotta love a culture where we can only reference pop culture to bolster our arguments. Even better when we're calling for parents to turn off the TV and summarizing things with a TV quote.
    • fragged23, on 04/13/2008, -28/+4...wow sounds like you think you can do a better job at running a country. Too bad you don't have royal blood huh? Because power should always be decided by your bloodline, I mean, it makes lots of sense. Stop thinking you are making a difference by posting an anti-american comment on digg.
      • killbert24, on 04/13/2008, -6/+7Stop thinking you are making a difference by writing a comment about my comment which isn't making a difference. So why did you write this comment? Oh, its because you watch South Park, which doesn't have violence OR sex, thats right.
        • makkaveli19, on 04/13/2008, -2/+7it's a knee jerk because his view of his "perfect" country has been disoriented. america is perfect just so you know, and anyone who disagrees supports terrirists.
      • skywake, on 04/13/2008, -1/+16"Too bad you don't have royal blood huh? Because power should always be decided by your bloodline, I mean, it makes lots of sense."
        Yeah, because the UK monarchy has SOOO much power and the US system works SOOO much better
        *sigh*
        • Newspaper, on 04/13/2008, -1/+9You're commenting on someone who took that comment as Anti-American... Do you seriously think he took anytime to research anything else besides Bud Light Girls and Nascar?
      • TheCatsPants, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1The monarchy in the UK had its power removed centuries ago. And you think america is any different? Wait until your president is George II, oh wait..
      • SpazticChips, on 04/13/2008, -0/+3The monarch in the UK is a figure-head, no power for a long time now. Talking about issues within one's country is much more patriotic than closing debate on the faults of one's own country and calling anyone who tries to talk about it "anti-american" or "unpatriotic."

        You are the epitome of the ignorant scum that roam our United States, you hinder any progress to forward simple campaigns to greatly expand out freedoms. A lot of great ideas were first implemented in other countries, and lots of mistakes have been made others should learn from. Such as what killbert24 brings up, he is merely suggesting that we take the much less restrictive approach on the topic of sex in the media. Killbert24 then cites how the more lax restrictions in the UK bring the same results that do the rigid restrictions of the U.S. when it comes to sexual promiscuity.

        I only wish you knew that there is much more to being patriotic than waving a flag or a placing bumper sticker on your car proclaiming your support of the troops.
      • ericrous, on 04/14/2008, -0/+1Royal blood? You mean like George W. Bush?
    • neuromachine, on 04/13/2008, -6/+3Isn't the U.K. known for having trouble with teens?
      • WoollyMittens, on 04/13/2008, -1/+9If you're talking about school shootings, then... no. What is your point?
      • xstarsprinklesx, on 04/13/2008, -0/+16If by "the U.K." you mean "Earth," then yes.
      • josephhallett, on 04/13/2008, -0/+5Nah... we're all alcoholics though!
    • TheGreger, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1It's the same with the drinking age.
    • stoanhart, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1Say, what would be the legality of driving around the US with TV screens facing out your car window playing hardcore porn? I would love to see all the mothers jumping to cover their childrens eyes and all the dirty looks.
    • branjb, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1Logged in simply to digg this comment. I commented to a friend earlier after reading this article: What's worse than people blaming guns for killing people? Parents blaming video games for their failed parenting skills.
  • tgmoo, on 04/13/2008, -1/+35and I thought this was written by the onion. Crap.
  • JasonCox, on 04/13/2008, -0/+17I'll digg it; even though its been on the frontpage 2 or 3 times already... Kevin, can we setup the text on the 'check for previously submitted stories' button to be about 72px and flash red and yellow?
  • loganhuddleston, on 04/13/2008, -2/+6you can stop people from killing others by putting them in jail, but they're still gonna jerk off in their cell.
    • Aensland, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2"Officer! Lemme outta here! Look at what that perv in the next cell is doing!"
  • iDoraemon, on 04/13/2008, -4/+7Isn't it true that the reverse is true in Europe, that parents over there think violence is worse? Sex doesn't seem as big of a deal in comparison beyond the pond. As for Asia, it's just all sorts of weird over there.

    /looking right at you, Japan
  • PeppermintPig, on 04/13/2008, -1/+18People who think games make them do stupid stuff are rather stupid themselves. They're the kind of people who, when the opportunity arises, will choose not to take responsibility for their action, or inaction in regards to parenting.

    The mindset that considers sex to be worse than violence comes from puritanism.
  • Elliottx, on 04/13/2008, -3/+12Priorities...we has dem.
  • Gloogle, on 04/13/2008, -1/+22I find beheading videos on the internet bad for kids. Because it's real.
    • dynelol, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1I can't believe how many people insisted that i watch the Nick Berg one. I don't see how people can sit there and watch ***** like that.
  • Noonward, on 04/13/2008, -2/+23That does not make sense.

    Sex is good. Beheading is bad.
  • mitch77, on 04/13/2008, -30/+4Look you can think all you want that this is a joke but there have been many many studies that have proven the fastest way to break down the moral structure and sense of self of a child it to introduce thenm to seroius sex. The more pervers the better. During the Afgan war the soviets stole 7 to 11 yr olds and sent them to Bulgaria to be 'converted' they inundated the kids with sex, esp homosexual and after a few weeks they reintroduced them to their tribes. Tribal leaders said they tried everything to make those kids human again and nothing worked. They said the kids would cut their own mothers throat and giggle while doing it. That is a direct quote.
    This technique was used the some MOST of the groups who trained serious killers throughout history. Look into the HUGE percentage of homosexual mass murderers. The fact that homosexuals were most of the top killers in Hitlers SS. The huge number of Mafia hit men as well. Look into the history of killer organizations that used sex like one of the 1st ever known the thugges (sp) of India or even the Japanese kamakazees. There is much much more. However the key fact is to look at sociological studies of kids tested in western cultures. Introduction to sex at all before going through puberty messes up kids..bad. And the longer they wait the more stable they are. I was introduced to HARD CORE mag porn at 11 and went from an A student to F inside a few months.
    This is why when I learned of this in college I read a great deal on it.
    • Typhoon2009, on 04/13/2008, -2/+10I was introduced to softcore porn at the age of 11 or 12. I was introduced to hard core ***** a few years later. I've gotten straight As without working too hard in all my math classes and science classes in high school. This isn't some piss-easy school either.
    • killbert24, on 04/13/2008, -1/+3Well, you still got into college, right?
    • mharroun, on 04/13/2008, -1/+16You are either a troll or one of the most ignorant posters on this site. You either made that BS up or read about it on some website from witch the author made up.

      Sex is natural, breasts are natural, either parents teach their 15 year olds whats up, or they will learn whats up from playboy or "blacksonblondes.com". Either way their hormones will push them towards it and who do you thing will be the better teacher....
    • Emnsta, on 04/13/2008, -1/+6That's an interesting theory though, but maybe most people are disagreeing because you're focusing on homosexuality, you're saying it causes violence, and thats where i disagree to
      • dynelol, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1He's saying that forcing a young and impressionable person into a sexual lifestyle will cause severe emotional damage to them. Often times, enough to leave them seeming empty and heartless. Hell, haven't you ever had a gf that's been raped in the past and has emotional problems and phobias that stem from it?
        • scribat, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1Whoa you totally missed the point there. There is a MASSIVE difference between being introduced to what sex is and being raped.
    • netdroid9, on 04/13/2008, -1/+3I can't seem to find anything indicating that the soviets exposed children to serious sex. If this was the case, I think Germany'd be a lot more screwed up than it is today, considering stuff like the notorious 'Korper, Liebe, Doktorspiele' pamphlets (http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww ...
    • AmICoolNow, on 04/13/2008, -1/+12[many citations needed]
      • tehknotte, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2But he said "That is a direct quote".
    • Newspaper, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2THE BUTT BUDDIES ARE ALSO BEHIND 9/11!!!
    • ashleegirl, on 04/13/2008, -0/+3I started masturbating at around age 7 and I haven't killed anybody...
    • SpazticChips, on 04/13/2008, -0/+4Wow, excellent citation of controlled experiments. This is just a random quote, out of context, that will hopefully bring legitimacy to your shallow argument.
    • ericrous, on 04/14/2008, -0/+1Nope, you're not nuts at all.
  • Hetman, on 04/13/2008, -2/+86As a parent this is what i feel is most offensive in video games.
    Horrible game mechanics 45%
    Horrible storyline 25%
    Horrible graphics 30%
    Errors due to multiplayer fun.
    • gcauthon, on 04/13/2008, -8/+3Did you cheat in your own poll by voting more than once? Maybe you just don't understand how a poll works.
  • Armakillo, on 04/13/2008, -10/+20Children will potentially imitate sex, but they won't imitate severing heads.
    • slartibartphast, on 04/13/2008, -6/+15Finally someone said it... exactly.
      • AmICoolNow, on 04/13/2008, -3/+7Whoops, replied to the wrong comment, bury me.
    • TheFuzzyOne, on 04/13/2008, -9/+7Oh, that's right, children are never violent. In fact, I never got into any fights at all through elementary school. I sure had lots of orgies, though!
      • deadmann, on 04/13/2008, -0/+11I hope there were no complications in your head re-attachment surgery.
    • Klisk, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2*****, chrildren think the opposite gender has cooties, and they're not really hormonal enough to care. They're too busy watching cartoons and trying to convince their parents to buy them toys.
      • xstarsprinklesx, on 04/13/2008, -0/+3I guess you've never heard of playing doctor?
    • haleym, on 04/13/2008, -0/+4Right, kids have never been known to commit graphic acts of lethal violence. Oh, wait...
    • haleym, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1Addendum: you're especially right about the 'severing heads' part. Kids would never do that, even if they would commit other violent acts. Oh, wait:
      http://digg.com/world_news/Japan_boy_severs_mother ...
    • staticneuron, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2I am pretty sure video games do not contribute to this. I am thinking about any love or sex scene I have encountered in a video game and honestly I do not remember anything that could be more suggestive then what they would show on late night TV.
  • Typhoon2009, on 04/13/2008, -1/+36I've played "violent" video games since I was 11 or 12. I'm pretty much fine in the head. Just the occasional urge to run someone over for money.
    • combatchuck, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2That happens to the best of us. AW, MY RIDE!
  • Nitrodist88, on 04/13/2008, -3/+18This is just ridiculous.

    Yes, parents find it less acceptable for a *normal* human act that 99% of people will do almost on a daily basis than for something will most likely never happen.
  • jedisushi, on 04/13/2008, -2/+33I live in the US and the sex-phobia here is laughable. Depending on where you live in the US or the kind of secondary school you attend, your sex education classes in grade school may range from 'abstinence' education ("Don't have sex or the devil will git yoo!") to "You can get aids from saliva, and you can get pregnant from oral sex!" The lucky students receive education based on sound science that includes contraceptive use and safe-sex practices. I don't understand how so many parents can confuse their teaching choices and responsibilities (read: religion) with those of the state.

    It's a joke. Abstinence-only curriculums fail consistently. Meanwhile, it's okay to send teenagers off to see Hostel as long they go to church on Sundays. The violence/sex hypocrisy is ridiculous.
    • countkrempshaw, on 04/13/2008, -0/+0I grew up in what I was pretty sure a kind of ultra-conservative area, but we did get proper sex education. We even had a real person with AIDS come in and tell us the real deal about it. I guess I was just really lucky.
      • marx2k, on 04/13/2008, -0/+0As opposed to an unreal person with AIDS? :D
  • bfrank72, on 04/13/2008, -2/+25So creation of life is more offensive than destruction of life?
    • slartibartphast, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2It wasn't what parents found offensive but what was problematic. Of course it's more likely your kids would be desensitized into having sex and creating life than becoming a murderer.
  • Harboggles, on 04/13/2008, -2/+10Studies like this just reinforce my idea to move to norway.
    • Adamande, on 04/13/2008, -1/+5The second largest Norwegian newspaper printed this story yesterday, and the most dugg reader -comment was "They're Christians. Says it all." If you do move here, prepare for a fair amount of atheism ;-)
    • rumblebelly, on 04/13/2008, -1/+3I'm with you man, I'm getting the hell out of North America as soon as possible!
    • kayala, on 04/13/2008, -0/+3That's the right sentiment, but... move to Sweden!
    • dynelol, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2You can't see lions in Norway, though.
  • odmonk, on 04/13/2008, -6/+1Hey, if you view them in the order they were made, it makes a more linear progression:
    Ep4: (bad guy) Cantina patron's arm cut off
    Ep5: (Dream sequence of Luke cutting off (bad guy) Vader/Luke's head); (good guy) Luke's hand cut off
    Ep6: (bad guy) Vader's mechanical hand cut off
    Ep1: (bad guy) Darth Maul cut in two
    Ep2: (bad guy) spy in bar gets hand/arm cut off; (good guy) Anakin gets hand/arm cut off
    Ep3: (bad guy) Dooku's hands and head cut off; many (good guys/bad guys) die;
    (bad guy) Anakin/Vader burnt and arm and legs cut off
    That can be viewed as either dramatic buildup or society's increasing tolerance for violence.
    • Lachlan91, on 04/13/2008, -0/+6The Cantina patron's arm had blood, the rest of them had nothing. So if anything, the earlier movie was 'worse'.
    • luftrofl, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1T_T
  • mharroun, on 04/13/2008, -2/+14This is really stupid... Sex is so hyped because parents make it a forbidden fruit. The "THATS EVIL STAY AWAY FROM SEX" additude only makes children curious. Breasts are banned from public view... this has created a fetish of some sorts with males... it is now a goal or major achievement for a man to see a womans breasts. The vice a versa is not true because of course males can be topless.

    The same applies with clothing... throughout history outfits are becoming more and more revealing... why? Because some women hundreds of years ago propped up her skirt to show her ankles, this got mens attention... so more women did it... when it become common and accepted in society some women propped her skirt of to show her calf so she would be the new forbidden attraction.. and so it has continued. You cant stop natural desires, only show children how to handel them responsibly.
  • Rosco, on 04/13/2008, -1/+15Play Postal 2, best of both worlds! Lots of sex, lots of severed heads (if you choose to do so), how can you go wrong?
  • Leomarth, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2I've long said people, especially parents, have their values screwed up. And we're the worse for it.
  • jintaehuan, on 04/13/2008, -1/+3Parents forget that sex is a natural process of life (what type of sex can be argued). Kids are always going to seek some kind sexual influenced media (eh hem internet :p) partly because of curiosity and partly because of trying to trying to find ways to indirectly imitate adults (with a big influence from hormones). Plus They're going to have to learn about it eventually. I mean look at japan. All this "adult" influence everywhere and ye japan's population birth rate have been decreasing every year.

    I would be more worried if my kid was going out of his way to search for "faces of death" type material.

    And I think this is a good response even though it was about the girl beating.
    (don't mind the title, its just something to grab your attention)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7iYaAGm7M
    • jedisushi, on 04/13/2008, -1/+0Dugg for cursing and common sense with an Australian accent.
  • Planets, on 04/13/2008, -10/+2They're both just as destructive, in my opinion.
    • marx2k, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1Sex is creative, just so you are aware
      • Planets, on 04/15/2008, -0/+1Yes, and quite original. It's only used in 95% of movies.
  • JulyZerg, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2That complete ***** at the beginning is too much... "ratings are good, blah blah blah"
    Come on. Those ratings do absolutely nothing.
    It's not like putting up a bunch of ratings on the front of video games is going to stop people. The issue is not violence in games, it's poor parents letting their children get games with violence.
  • glibpaxman, on 04/13/2008, -1/+3so creating life is terrible but destroying it is ok? well i guess we do have an overpopulation problem and have been killing each other in violent wars at an unprecedented rate for the last 100 years or so. go team humanity!
  • sensical, on 04/13/2008, -1/+5It makes sense because if your kid gets knocked up or knocks someone's daughter up, then you'll probably have to spend a lot of time taking care of the kid. But if your kid kills someone, he would probably go to jail, but you wouldn't have to take care of anyone. You'd probably have less to take care of since he'd be taken care of by the state :)
  • Vladamir, on 04/13/2008, -0/+12As someone who has played SOCOM since he was in elementary school, I would like to say this:
    Violent games are a RELEASE for kids, not a way for them to plan their assassination of the president. When I am well and truly ***** furious (which happens frequently, I'm a high school student after all) sometimes I feel the need to well and truly ***** something up. I am (as is 99.999% of the non-mentally challenged population) sane enough not to go shoot up a school, and video games are an excellent way of releasing my anger in a healthy and non-destructive way.
  • AntzNZ, on 04/13/2008, -1/+3I think a South Park episode needs to be created to settle things once and for all.
  • bungoman, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2This should come as no surprise given America's history. And for anyone who has a problem with it, you have to realize the people surveyed's opinions on what is good and bad is no more or less valid than anyone elses... You find violence offensive? Well guess what, some people find sex more offensive (for whatever reason). Cry about it.
  • Nubli, on 04/13/2008, -5/+8Two Men Kissing getting 27% of the vote is probably more offensive than anything listed in that poll, including Two Men Kissing (which isn't offensive in the first place.)
    • jimv1983, on 04/13/2008, -4/+2Two Men Kissing is very offensive! Saw that once at a restaurant and lost my appetite.
      • marx2k, on 04/13/2008, -1/+0Dont let homophobia ruin your lunch.
    • falafelkiosken, on 04/13/2008, -0/+2well said
  • DavidGX, on 04/13/2008, -2/+9Wait wait wait.... severed heads? Sex in games? Kids? What are these parents buying their children? They buy this stuff and dare to complain about it? I guess we're going to have to have someone smack them at gamestop and yell "ESRB RATINGS *****, DO YOU READ THEM?"
  • scarz99, on 04/13/2008, -7/+3TWO MEN KISSING IS FAR MORE WORSE THAN A SEVERED HEAD OR TWO WOMEN KISSING!!!!!!!!!!! ftw
  • Zlorp, on 04/13/2008, -1/+2dont you think that if this kind of stuff was bad for kids that it might have actually affected one by now?
  • TwineHornet, on 04/13/2008, -0/+8Well I don't know, watching sex DOES make me want to have sex (even more so when I was going through puberty). Watching violence though does not make me feel violent nor want to be violent.
    • Evocati, on 04/13/2008, -0/+1Without the sex the violence would be more appealing.
    • marx2k, on 04/13/2008, -0/+0With sex, you need another willing participant (most of the time). With beheadings, you'll rarely find another willing participant.
  • oatdc, on 04/13/2008, -1/+1they should make a parenting video game that tells parents not to focus so much on video games but more on how to be an actual parent and not seclude their children from 'bad' video games until they're old enough to buy them. thats what ***** kids up, not video games. if you're a good parent your kid can play those games and realize that video games aren't real life.

    actually they should just make a marilyn manson video game so parents can ***** bricks. i would buy it.
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