Mass. legislators considering 'games-as-porn' bill
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Mar 17th 2008 at 1:45PM }
Tomorrow the Massachusetts legislature will discuss a bill that would make it illegal for minors to buy video games deemed too violent by the state (not through ESRB ratings such as M or AO). No similar law exists for movies, music or books. House Bill 1423 is dubbed a "games-as-porn" bill because the rationale used to prevent minors from buying violent video games is the same used on porn. The original bill was drafted by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (pictured) with assistance from Jack Thompson and legislative sponsor Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry (D).GamePolitics points out HB1423 is based on a failed Utah bill and, given the history of other similar bills, it seems odd that Massachusetts would potentially be putting itself (and taxpayer dollars) at risk of repaying the ESA for fighting this bill in court.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
License to ill @ Mar 17th 2008 1:50PM
Look his neck is smiling...
Burritoclock @ Mar 17th 2008 1:52PM
Doesn't really sound that odd. This is typical legislative show boating, pass a bill to appear to be doing something, even when you know what will happen. The reason is the main stream media jumps all over this part of the story, dumb lazy parents eat it up, then the bill is taken to court, beaten, the tax payers eat that bill. However, that part of the story gets little to know press so the sheeple may hear the bill was shot down but know one ever points out to them that a knowingly flawed bill was passed just to make it on tv. And the cycle repeats in a 1000 different ways from the city level up to the federal level...
Burritoclock @ Mar 17th 2008 1:53PM
I apologize for repeatably using "know" instead of "no", at least if I had been speaking you wouldn't have no'ed...
Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 17th 2008 2:20PM
Bah! You got in before I could post obligatory your opinion doesn't matter when your grammar fails you for a second comments.
Rocketboy @ Mar 17th 2008 3:18PM
You misspelled people as sheeple as well.
Sheeple is only used by arrogant twits.
Or are you an arrogant twit?
Joe @ Mar 17th 2008 1:54PM
I bet 10K this does not get passed seeing as all the other bills like this have failed and in no way are game porn. This has to be a joke. If they really think games are porn then God help me seeing as I let my cousin play Halo and He is only Eight and His dad likes
Halo too so I guess we are both bad.
The sad part is this will for sure not get pasted and then tax payers have to pay for this guy being an A$$.
MrBlank @ Mar 18th 2008 9:56AM
I wish hard-core game porn really did exist. That would rule. I can see it now: Ron-ic the Hedgehog.
Isa @ Mar 17th 2008 1:57PM
This kind of bill has failed before. Why aren't people more outraged at the obvious waste of money this bill will bring?
Politicians are so overzealous about jumping on the family friendly bandwagon, they don't care where the money goes for stupid laws like this.
MikeB667 @ Mar 17th 2008 1:57PM
Perhaps Mayor Menino should spend more money on Boston public schools, specifically english classes. Menino could've benefited from better pronunciation and grammar when he was in school. That guy can barely form a sentence.
Phranctoast @ Mar 17th 2008 2:24PM
I thought he died in a plane accident. ;)
Space_Butler @ Mar 17th 2008 2:40PM
"Dear Fahmer Bawb. The byarn... the barn.. is full"
Rocketboy @ Mar 17th 2008 3:19PM
Naa, he died in a car accident down in Florida. I heard that there was a lightning strike in the area.
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 17th 2008 2:10PM
"games-as-porn"
I read that as "Gay-Mass-Porn". I thought it was about Mass Effect, again. It was only when I reached my third sentence that I spotted my mistake.
Donald @ Mar 17th 2008 2:10PM
"No similar law exists for movies, music or books."
Epic fail detected. Please insert 100k into the ESA bank account to continue.
Jcarpio @ Mar 17th 2008 2:15PM
10 bucks says he is part of a prostitution ring like the NY Governor.
Honestly, the only legislation that needs to be passed is make sure a minor can't purchase an M-Rated game.
They have to be carded just like one would, if they were to go to an R-Rated movie.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 17th 2008 2:58PM
There are no laws on the books anywhere in the US that mandates a theater must card for R movies, nor is there a penalty for theaters that let children into R rated movies. They do so under self regulation, just like the VG industry does. There is absolutely zero need for legislation on this issue.
gamedude420 @ Mar 17th 2008 3:47PM
you do not "have" to be carded to see an r rated movie its not illegal o do so. but it is up to the movie theatre to do so, if they choose to card people.
Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 17th 2008 2:15PM
That looks like MCNamara. If McNamara is against us I think it's time for us to jump ship. It's a regular code Kermit.
Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 17th 2008 2:33PM
Take not that I say "looks like" and not "is".
LuigiHann @ Mar 17th 2008 2:16PM
So I'll be able to get free games on the internet? AWESOME
Reuben @ Mar 17th 2008 2:25PM
I realize that this thing will never get passed, but that doesn't make it any less sickening... and it is sickening.
Dan Davis @ Mar 17th 2008 2:28PM
I bet he uses a very wide stance when in the crapper.
The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Mar 17th 2008 2:31PM
It doesn't matter to me
I'm 18 :P
Dr. Stabbingworth @ Mar 17th 2008 5:00PM
So when the government wiretaps phones, would you say, doesn't matter to me, I don't use a phone?
Neebs @ Mar 17th 2008 2:41PM
gotta at least protect the lesser evil.
Mr Khan @ Mar 17th 2008 2:43PM
Contrary to what both sides think, the anti-game lobby is owned by neither side of the left-right political spectrum, although it is owned by the Authoritarian side of the less/more government spectrum, something that is not tied to the left or right wing
Burritoclock @ Mar 17th 2008 2:50PM
Oddly enough this is the exact same way to tell on the evening news the party affiliation of a governor that is involved in a sex scandal...
Kujel @ Mar 17th 2008 3:05PM
Join the GLA (Gamer Liberation Army), fight for gamer freedom!
Rocketboy @ Mar 17th 2008 3:23PM
I'm sure that Fox news has something to do with it as well...
It's always the sheeple who watch Faux news that's the problem, isn't it?
coolforever4537 @ Mar 17th 2008 3:28PM
Oh my GOD. This sucks for me cause I live in MA.
Good thing I'm over 18, but my brother is still under aged.
zelderman @ Mar 17th 2008 3:48PM
Have him give you the money, and BAM, you beat the system.
Kassu @ Mar 17th 2008 3:37PM
The USA - A country that never seizes to amaze me.
Donald @ Mar 17th 2008 3:47PM
*ceases to amaze
Kassu @ Mar 17th 2008 3:52PM
Sorry ;)
Fadobo @ Mar 17th 2008 3:45PM
You americans dont know how lucky you are. In germany there are some politicians that wanna see brutal violent games be treated like child-porn. So Police units track you through the internet, convict you and you go to jail for playing them... I hope thius wont ever happen though..
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 17th 2008 5:19PM
Yeah, thats why I'd rather live in America rather than anywhere else in the world. We have our flaws, but it always could be worse.
fawazr @ Mar 17th 2008 3:50PM
I stopped caring about these stories when I stopped being a minor. Thankfully, I can now go into any store and buy anything the keeper is peddling: porn, ammunition, alcohol, tobacco, and now games intended for mature audiences. So I don't really feel bad that some 12 year old can't do the same.
krazy @ Mar 17th 2008 3:54PM
These old morons know nothing, trying to find something to blame everything wrong in the country on, they don't know anything and just judge and put their ideals onto it.
Deck @ Mar 17th 2008 4:06PM
Don't they have better things to be doing?
Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 17th 2008 4:09PM
Like being involved with prostitution rings.
thispaceforsale @ Mar 17th 2008 4:17PM
dammit, why does this ahole get elected, why is he in a position to make any form of legislative overseeing anyone. And why aren't there enough voters out there to get these clowns out of office
tmacairjordan87 @ Mar 17th 2008 4:55PM
someone should tell him that obesity is more dangerous to a person's health than violent video games. Then again he'd probably just tell you that having 3 necks keeps him warm in the boston winter.
whistlepig @ Mar 17th 2008 5:03PM
if games are gonna be considered porn then i want midgets in my games !
Batzarro @ Mar 17th 2008 5:14PM
Jeez, what a brazen name. It's exactly what I said they'd do last year. Too bad it's destined to fail...Or is that "I jump of joy 'cause it's destined to fail"
The Fuzz 53 @ Mar 17th 2008 5:37PM
I'm sure the liberal ass-bags here in New Jersey will follow suit now that Taxachussetts is trying this.
Words can't describe how much I fucking hate liberals.
kilaban @ Mar 17th 2008 6:21PM
The problem with video games is that they're such an easy target. They're also misunderstood by most politician-age people, so therefore even more of a target.
Between the ESRB ratings and INVOLVED PARENTS (key words here), what more do we need?
hey_big_dck @ Mar 17th 2008 9:46PM
question why is porn wrong for our youth?
Ed @ Mar 17th 2008 11:03PM
Someone put Denny Crane on the case!!! QUick!
Hardcore @ Mar 18th 2008 12:47AM
God damn mumbles Menino god I hate him, he makes us Bostoninites' lives hell. Such a huge gas bag, not to offend people with disabilities but i'm convinced he has down syndrome.
Keef @ Mar 18th 2008 7:50AM
he reminds me of ripburger from full throtle.... http://www.tentakelvilla.de/vollgas/ripburger.gif