You have commented 338 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Home Front: Culture Wars
Connecticut town to burn violent video games as Sandy Hook returns to school
2013-01-06
[GUARDIAN.CO.UK] A Connecticut community is to hold an amnesty of violent video games in the wake of last month's mass shooting in Newtown.

Organisers Southington SOS plan to offer gift certificates in exchange for donated games, which will be burned. The group, a coalition of local organisations, says its actions do not assert that video games were the cause of the killings in nearby Newtown, but argues that violent games and films desensitize children to "acts of violence".
I agree with them that violent -- sometimes hideously violent -- video games are bad for children. I have a hard time with the idea of public burnings. They're too much like book burnings for my taste.
Pupils from Sandy Hook elementary school, where 26 people were killed on 17 December, returned to classes for the first time on Thursday in the neighbouring town of Monroe. Sandy Hook elementary is still being treated as a crime scene and it is unclear if it will ever reopen.

The video game amnesty will take place on 12 January in Southington, a 30-minute drive east from Newtown. The town of Southington has provided a dumpster, organisers said, where violent video games, CDs or DVDs will be collected.

"As people arrive in their cars to turn in their games of violence, they will be offered a gift certificate donated by a member of the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce as a token of appreciation for their action of responsible citizenship," the group said in a statement.

"Violent games turned in will be destroyed and placed in the town dumpster for appropriate permanent disposal."

John Myers, chairman of Southington YMCA and member of Southington SOS, was not immediately available to speak to the Guardian, but tech website Polygon reported that the works would be incinerated by town employees.

The press release accompanying the announcement said that Southington SOS's action should not be "construed as statement declaring that violent video games were the cause of the shocking violence in Newtown on December 14".

"Rather, Southington SOS is saying is that there is ample evidence that violent video games, along with violent media of all kinds, including TV and movies portraying story after story showing a continuous stream of violence and killing, has contributed to increasing aggressiveness, fear, anxiety and is desensitizing our children to acts of violence including bullying.
Posted by:Fred

#11  
Posted by: Pappy   2013-01-06 18:03  

#10  If Mayor Blossomburg had been mayor of NYC on 9/11 NYC would have rounded up all box cutters and fight similators for burning. Its the liberal thing to do.
Posted by: Dino Shomomp7692   2013-01-06 14:39  

#9  Weed Eaters, hedge trimmers, and edgers take their toll as well. Where can I turn mine in ?
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-01-06 11:51  

#8  Simply a show for the Headlines.

NOT Intended to do anything else but cause people t jump at the sight.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2013-01-06 11:40  

#7  Where's the outrage over all the pollutants that will result from this? plastic cases, plastic CDs, this will surely casue the polar ice cap to melt....
Posted by: USN,Ret.   2013-01-06 11:06  

#6  The can burn my Atari PacMan when they pry it from my cold, dead hands (if I can remember where it is.)
Posted by: Glenmore   2013-01-06 10:17  

#5  "What is government if words have no meaning?"

Giffords gave Loughner the wrong answer when he asked her the question above, so he decided to murder her.

Adam Lanza reportedly did not feel (or mentally process) physical pain.

The truly mentally ill will show an abnormal reaction to stimuli. Censorship would be useless.

If these neo-puritans were really concerned about realistically violent popular culture they'd go after the Gangsta Rap section of the music industry.

Gansta Rap is both music industry and organized violent crime.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2013-01-06 09:30  

#4  lulz Raj..."Headshot!"
Posted by: Frank G   2013-01-06 09:22  

#3  CF, the rating system isn't a joke. It's parental responsibility that demands other do the parenting for them that's the sad cultural joke. Back when I was a wee tot, they were blaming comic books. Got to find someone/something to demonize for the ritual burning ceremony. Human nature hasn't changed from the first recordings of history.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-01-06 08:04  

#2  So, I should not install my old copy of Unreal Tournament (on Windows 7, x64)?
Posted by: Raj   2013-01-06 01:47  

#1  Some video games are inapproprate for children (or mentally ill). The ratings system is a joke.
Public burnings is going a bit far (and since a lot of games are distributed over the net - there's nothing to burn...)
Posted by: CrazyFool   2013-01-06 01:28  

00:00