Attorney General counsels parents to read ESRB ratings

by Blake Snow { Nov 17th 2006 at 4:55PM }

Utah Attorney General Mark Shutleff gets it. Not because he and I both share a love for "computer games" and GameCubes, but because he appears to be one of the most level-headed politicians around. His above TV ad regarding the use and guidance of ESRB ratings is so simple and so non-confrontational in such a "duh" and non-mudslinging type way. Three cheers for sound judgment and class rarely seen in politics!

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Vlad Bien-Aim� @ Nov 17th 2006 5:01PM

This is seriously one of the best ads I've ever seen. What a great guy. Jersey could use someone like him. Even someone half as good would be amazing.

Retrofied @ Nov 17th 2006 5:07PM

Finally, someone tells parents to look at the ESRB ratings instead of banning games altogether.

1up_clock @ Nov 17th 2006 5:11PM

Bravo. We need more politicians like this man.

Nintendo_Fanboy @ Nov 17th 2006 5:15PM

RUN FOR PRESIDENT! Seriously, he'd get my vote! Joystiq, make a poll for this! Please!

Twokinds @ Nov 17th 2006 5:17PM

I have to say, I'm impressed. Finally, a politician that tells it like it is, at least as far as video games are concerned. Read the labels, don't ban games.

Zo� K. @ Nov 17th 2006 5:19PM

A politician after my own heart.

WiiThePeopleOfTheGamingUniverse @ Nov 17th 2006 5:24PM

Finally, someone gets it...

Killzig @ Nov 17th 2006 5:25PM

It's ShuRtleff.

DiahrreaMan @ Nov 17th 2006 5:29PM

Smart man. He knows he can't beat 'em, so might as well join 'em. Except that only helps if the parents know what the esrb ratings mean, and if they're not lazy to the point where we end up on square one.

STILL WAITING FOR GOLDEN SUN 3 DAMMIT!

adam @ Nov 17th 2006 5:32PM

this gut must have read my post here:

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/10/the-political-game-going-negative/#c2632450

:)

Shlomo @ Nov 17th 2006 5:38PM

HURRAH! Seems like a nice guy, it's good that the game industry is getting more acceptence. Some games really arn't made for younger people and have mature themes, just like movies.

You wouldn't take your seven year old to terminator, right?

You would?! They did?!? Maybe my parents were too harsh...

steve @ Nov 17th 2006 5:42PM

"RUN FOR PRESIDENT! Seriously, he'd get my vote! Joystiq, make a poll for this! Please!"

What if you found out he was for invading Canada, charging more for healthcare, banning of all alcohol, pro gay marriage but anti gay divorce, and accepted kickbacks from NAMBLA?

But he likes games!!!1!

rodan32 @ Nov 17th 2006 5:55PM

Shurtleff is a class dude. Probably the most sensible politician we've got in Utah.

Kool_Kid_Joe @ Nov 17th 2006 6:01PM

Sonic Mega Collection FTW!

Mark @ Nov 17th 2006 6:02PM

I'm sending this to Tallahassee. Thanks, Joystiq!

Evan @ Nov 17th 2006 6:09PM

There is a serious lack of "E" rated games, of quality, for the PS3 and 360. I don't think any of the PS3's exclusive launch games are appropriate for kids.

Triforceowner @ Nov 17th 2006 6:36PM

It's good to see these guys supporting the ESRB instead of going after the developers every now and than.

Shaymus22 @ Nov 17th 2006 6:41PM

THANK YOU!!!! FINALLY!!!!

grable @ Nov 17th 2006 6:46PM

This is good and all, but are people realy so stupid that they dont even know about ESRB ratings?!?

They manage to pick up proper DVD's for their kids, but the fact that games can be rated is pure fantasy to them?

otakucode @ Nov 17th 2006 6:49PM

My family and I like to do things together. One of the things we like most is to read. But how can we know which books are appropriate? Well, we go by the ratings released by the Written Content Approval Foundation. The WCAF tells me what books are appropriate for my kids, and what type of thoughts it's appropriate for them to be exposed to. Just last week they let me know I should never let my kids read Fahrenheit 451 or 1984 or Brave New World. They label the books clearly that they are only meant for mature readers and contain subversive and dangerous ideas. Thanks to those ratings, and the cooperation of local retailers I trust, those books are no longer available for purchase except through limited outlets. So do like I do, keep you and your childs minds clean and consistent with current social norms by referring to the ratings!

grable @ Nov 17th 2006 7:02PM

#20: good one dude ;) Those book are on my favorites list too!

Triforceowner @ Nov 17th 2006 7:04PM

@ otakucode

I've thought about what you've said for a few years. Why is there all this sex and what not in books read nationally by high schoolers, and they're not allowed to go to an R movie?

otakucode @ Nov 17th 2006 7:47PM

Triforceowner: Because as time has gone by, the resolve of the public has faltered. All the arguments against movies, videogames, and any other form of popular media that can convey ideas, are irrational and completely baseless. But people get tired of arguing. On one side, you have people who know that fiction is fiction and even children can distinguish this. To them, the argument seems ridiculous and they don't think it'll possibly get any traction. On the other side, you have people convinced, for whatever reason, that ideas can corrupt, and they get very emotionally invested in fighting the free expression of ideas. Over time, the emotional arguments, even though they've never gained any substantive backing, start to win out bit by bit.

Read about early radio, read about the Comics Code, read about any form of culture you can think of, they have all faced these challenges. As time has gone by, the public has simply gotten tired of fighting and they have too much faith that those in the position to rate and restrict ideas in whatever form will not go too far. Books won their battle because the people saw very vividly what can happen when the status quo controls speech. They've won an almost unlimited reprieve. That freedom that books enjoy is something we should LEARN from. There are books out there with truly repugnant content. Try out Naked Lunch by William S Burroughs as a quick example off the top of my head. Gay pedophilia, rampant drug abuse, everything you wouldn't want your kids getting wrapped up in in real life. But the book doesn't have an effect on its readers. At least, not the effect that fearmongers will claim if the same content is put into a videogame or movie.

With movies, the government fought hard to put censorship in their hands. The movie industry fought back with the public behind them because facism was rampant in the world at the time and they knew the dangers they could face. Today, people think the idea of facism is dead and suggesting it could happen again, and right here, seems insane to them. They need to read "It Couldn't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis.