'Gamers Have got to Just Quiet Down. Gamers Have no Credibility in this Argument' Says California Senator Regarding Violence

[Shawn Zipay]

California state Senator, Leland Yee, has essentially said that gamers have no right to defend themselves from the absolute asinine allegations being thrown around by people like him when it comes to violence and the cause of it.

"Gamers have got to just quiet down. Gamers have no credibility in this argument. This is all about their lust for violence and the industry’s lust for money. This is a billion-dollar industry. This is about their self-interest."

And it's about ignorant people like Yee trying to find a scapegoat when it comes to violence and gun violence.

Yee is no stranger to trying to attack video games. In 2005 he helped write California state bill AB1179 which would "require violent games to be labeled as specified and would prohibit the sale or rental of those violent video games, as defined, to minors." Failure to abide by the bill would have resulted in fines of up to $1,000 per violation. That bill was overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States.

IGN also notes of yet another Senator, Connecticut's Christopher Murphy who is trying to again pin the Sandy Hook lunatic's actions on video games. He says, "there's a question as to whether (he) would have driven in his mother's car in the first place if he didn't have access to a weapon that he saw in video games that gave him a false sense of courage about what he could do that day."

Since video games are the only places where things like this are taught, I'm wondering why these wonderful people aren't also blaming racing games for reckless driving. Or how Mario taught kids to jump on turtles for points and eat random mushrooms to "grow big and strong." And Pong? Well damn, that game made me a professional tennis star.

Seriously, isn't it about time these guys finally pulled their heads out of their asses?

[jimykx]

I ain't getting along with gamers anymore cause they be violent heartless killers

[Koin-Koin]

http://www.ted.com/talks/daphne_bavelier_your_brain_on_video_games.html

[K-16]

I swear we just got trolled in order for us to send death threats and give him more evidence we're desensitized monsters. No doubt most of us just send him furious E-mails and tweets saying we'll kill him and his family. And no doubt we will be too ignorant to realize we gave him more ammunition and credibility while losing our own. I believe the more proper term is "provoking?"

[spoiler=Instead, we should...]Honestly, the proper way to counter is with metaphorical Judo. By that I mean continue protesting peacefully and publicly (since he can't legally shut us up), and support charities (both gaming and non-gaming themed). If he taunts us more, then lets pull off a reversal and talk less, but act more. If our actions show improvement in society, then doesn't that make him an ignorant fool who doesn't know when to get off his high horse? Eventually his provoking will fall on deaf ears even to non-gamers as we would've siphoned all of his credibility. THAT would be a beautiful revenge. We've beaten Jack Thompson, so I think it's time to take on the next boss. Should be fun.[/spoiler]

[CptainCrunch]

Yeah, don't fall for this baiting. Its the same thing they do for gun advocates.

This is the time for Americans to pay attention to what the politicians are saying. See what yours is saying and if you agree with it or disagree with it, you need to write that down for the next time you vote. It's easy to forget about these things in a few years.

Also, write to them and let them know your thoughts, in an intelligent, professional manner. I know this might sound crazy, but a lot of politicians actually don't have an opinion one way or another and writing a few letters can make a huge difference. The important thing is to write to YOUR representative. Writing to someone else means nothing because you can't help them when its time to vote.

American gamers don't have to quiet down. If you are a United States citizen and are the legal age to vote, you have the right under the First Amendment to speak your mind in professional fashion. (Actually you have a right to the 1st Amendment without having to be of age to vote, but it helps)

Its funny, the politicians seem to be going after the First and Second Amendment at the same time.

[cikame]

Haha, i saw that news piece with the old lady a couple days ago on tv, i was going to look for it but you found it for me jimykx, thank you so much.

[CptainCrunch]

So as if Games and Guns isnt enough, here is one for you all:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/now-illegal-unlock-cellphone/story?id=18319518

And that took no change of laws at all, just re-interpretation of some really bad ones to begin with.

[Linux]

I hate my state [California] with pure passion because its bullcrap like this that comes out of our government appointed people.
It seems lately that all the gun and game crap keeps coming out of California one of the most progressive and liberal states we have in the United States. If they didn't waste their time on this stuff they might be able to balance and fix our budget and economy problems in this state. But in stead they waste time and money on pointless topics like this, so annoying to see stupid things like this come out of my state -_-.

[CptainCrunch]

Dont feel bad Linux, there is plenty of stupid coming out of a lot of States.

[Linux]

Dont feel bad Linux, there is plenty of stupid coming out of a lot of States.

Ya true, I am just extremely disappointed about California, we use to an awesome state but now all I have left is the awesome weather in SoCal xD. Oh well, we can only hope that maybe a newer generation of political people get into office who have a clue about things and maybe will let the voice of people be hear by the facts and not by bs opinions of people who think blaming video games is the right now for everything :/.

Here to hoping for better times I guess lol.