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NORTHANTS POLICE: GAMES ARE TOO VIOLENT FOR KIDS with Comments from Chip Shop Man

24/3/2015

8 Comments

 
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As reported by MCV, the Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner has called for violent video games to be labelled "Adults Only", following publication of a new report that suggests children as young as five have been "deeply affected" by exposure to graphic images.

According to the Northants PCC statistics - drawn from a panel of 13,000 Northants parents and children aged between 5 and 18 (presumably that's just the children) - one in four primary school kids have been exposed to something online that has upset them, most typically sexual or violent content contained within video games. Five-year-olds are particularly affected by graphic images, with 42% saying they have seen something that they've been rattled by.

The report found that just over a quarter of children had accessed games that they knew they were too young to play, with over one in ten very, very, very, very, very, very, very naughty children aged eleven saying they had downloaded a Call of Duty game.

SEND FOR SIMMONDS!
Adam Simmonds, Police & Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire, yelped: “Controversy creates cash. However, today’s report shows that children as young as five are being subject to graphic scenes while playing video games that have left them feeling extremely upset.  

"Many parents might not be fully aware that these games contain such disturbing scenes. It is time for the industry to play a more proactive role in protecting young minds.
 
“A new Adult Only rating alongside parental locks on consoles will better support parents in safeguarding their children. If companies fail to do this, games involving extreme violence or sexual content should be banned altogether.”


Other statistics revealed by the report include: 

  • Online gaming is the most popular activity (84 per cent) for primary school-age children while YouTube (87%) is the main reason why young people of secondary school age are accessing the internet.
  • 30 per cent of children and young people are viewing material online for which they are under-age, most commonly accessing games, music and television programmes. 
  • A quarter of 11-15 year olds, and nearly half of 16-18 year olds, have talked to people they have never met in person online.
  • 30 per cent of children and young people are viewing material online for which they are under-age, most commonly accessing games, music and television programmes.

If you ask us, the statistics are obviously deeply concerning, but we're not sure that slapping "Adults Only" labels on games, which are already labelled "18+", will do the trick. That's a bit like adding a sign that reads "NO REALLY - WE WEREN'T JOKING ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT, MANG" to a 30mph zone. 
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CHIP SHOP MAN SAYS: "Sorry, mate - were you talking to me? Yeah, sorry, sorry. Not really with it today. Been up since five, 'cause we've got a new supplier, and he keeps turning up early. Last time he got here five minutes before I did, and would've driven off with a lorryload of plaice if I hadn't rocked up.

"And then - get this - last night me other half kept me up until gone midnight, 'cause he's started doing that kundalini meditation rubbish before he drops off. It's all that New Age whale noise and gongs going bong and that. And apparently, he can't switch it off 'because it's relaxin'', but... bloody ada! Relaxin'? I've listening to a load of monks trying to out-sigh one another.

"Anyway, what was you saying? Something about kids playing violent video games? Yeah. Don't really know what you expect me to say about that. I only know about chips."

8 Comments
Mr Smith
24/3/2015 09:45:32 am

So... The police are basically saying if parents are unable to be parents and actually parent their kids, we should just ban anything that's not for kids?

I don't like this idea, because I happen to like many, many things that are not for kids, and the idea that I might lose access to them because someone, somewhere, couldn't stop little Timmy from getting his hands on it, irritates me greatly.

Notice I haven't mentioned the word "games". Am I being obtuse here? What's the difference between a bottle of whiskey, lottery ticket, bookmakers betting slip, bag of tobacco, extra strength painkillers, car keys (with car), fireworks, farmer's shotguns, pornography, 18 rated film, or 18 rated game? All of them require a certain age before being able to buy, and most are available online but only behind a pay wall requiring a credit card.

I'm not a parent, but I am completely unable to grasp the logic behind suggesting any ban. Unless you're going to ban all of the above, in which case fair enough for being consistent, but then I'm moving to Russia.

If you give a minor access to other restricted materials there's serious penalties. Surely that's the solution. If you give your son an 18+ game, it should be treated the same as if you gave your son a bottle of whiskey or a shotgun. Fine if you're going to take responsibility for the consequences, but you can't run to the authorities and whine when it goes wrong.

I'd like to see developers free to create whatever they like, safe in the knowledge that they do not need to be responsible for protecting someone else's kids.

Reply
Gaijintendo
24/3/2015 10:44:00 am

I don't want to accidentally be evil, and I an an adult

Contains mild shooting good guys.

I think my xbox should email my mum telling her all the naughty stuff I have been up to. That would stop me.

Reply
Bo
25/3/2015 03:33:47 am

Where did they mention banning anything? I didn't see that.

Reply
Mr Smith
25/3/2015 01:12:34 pm

"If companies fail to do this, games involving extreme violence or sexual content should be banned altogether."

Malcolm Macdonald link
24/3/2015 12:12:18 pm

Why not try using a couple of chip forks as makeshift earplugs to block out the monk music.

Reply
HUSMAGNET
24/3/2015 03:47:50 pm

He pays a fortune for them forks. He can't just stick 'em in his ears willy-nilly

Reply
ChorltonWheelie
24/3/2015 12:32:46 pm

If kids are brought up surrounded by love and books they're probably going to be all right.

If they're brought up in brutal, food bank poverty or by aloof career obsessed bread heads then it probably won't end well.

It'll have little to do with bannings, age ratings or police reports either way.

Reply
IgotPinkAcidBootsON
25/3/2015 04:45:30 am

The very same commissioner has also been a bit one sided in his funding of religious groups.

http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2015/03/police-and-crime-commissioner-criticised-for-awarding-tens-of-thousands-of-pounds-to-christian-groups

Reply



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