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Help Stop the Purchase of Violent Video Games

reprinted from The Prism, newsletter for Detroit PWP

Did you know that according to a recent survey, 92% of children and adolescents play video games? About 40% of those who play “mature” rated video games are under age eighteen. Did you know that there is a rating system?

Many moms, dads and grandparents probably do not know the games their kids play are violent, pornographic and marketed to children. In 2002, Americans spent more than $10 billion on video games — more than they spent going to the movies. The technology is interactive and fun. Instead of being mere spectators, as is the case with TV and movies, gamers are part of the action. There is something for virtually every taste—but the top-selling games in America are full of explicit sex and violence, leading many to ask, just what kind of values are in video games?

The messages for most of these games, especially the ones young boys are playing are: violence is fun; violence is entertaining; no one really gets hurt, and if they get hurt, it’s funny, or it doesn’t hurt them. When you spend hours playing these games, you are getting those kinds of ideas in your head, as opposed to ideas of empathy, compassion, values of helping people, or doing anything socially constructive.

The “Grand Theft Auto” series, top selling games, have gamers go on a carjacking crime spree. It is total anarchy. Not only do you grab someone’s car, but you can run them over, beat them up, shoot them, in addition to stealing the car. You can hijack police cars, you can get prostitutes, you can kill prostitutes. Racism and sexism are rampant within these videos. Most parents would be shocked. Though there is a “rating” system for the sale of these games, most retailers do not ask for ID before sales to children.

The PC(USA) Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) Committee has begun to engage both retailers and producers of the games.

What are  Presbyterian Women doing to see that their children and grandchildren and the children of their congregations are not being subjected to this violence?

Info for this article taken from Children & Violent Video Games, a new resource, is available at www.pcusa.org/child/videoviolence.pdf (Adobe Acrobat required) or by calling Pat Chapman at 888/728-7228 x5838.

Instant Messaging and Chatroom Safety

The following was taken from www.protectkids.com/youthsafety/imchatipskids.htm